Hormone imbalance is a very common condition in our society these days found not only in women, but men as well, and the root of many undesirable and disruptive psychological and physiological symptoms.
Hormones have a profound impact on the brain and body and play a major role in our physical and psychological health and well-being. Among other things, they regulate mental processes, mood, metabolism, growth, prenatal development, sexual development and function, metabolism and tissue function.
They play a major role in depression, anxiety, memory and other mood related disorders because they have a significant impact on neurotransmitters in the brain like serotonin, dopamine, GABA, norepinephrine, acetylcholine and beta-endorphins, as well as neurons and receptors. Estrogen has an excitatory impact on the brain, while Progesterone has a calming effect. Testosterone can decrease neurotransmitter levels, but enhance neuron function.
Most of the women’s sex hormones are produced in the ovaries and in the testes for males, however a very small percent is produced in the adrenal cortex. Additionally, after mid-life the sex hormones are primarily produced in the adrenal glands, therefore adrenal fatigue is a crucial issue in hormone imbalance.
If balance is restored to the ratio of hormones, many symptoms of both female and male hormone imbalance can be alleviated.
Before treatment of hormone imbalance, it is important to identify your hormone levels with a blood test so you know which imbalance you have.
- Bioidentical hormones
Many people are able to bring their hormones into balance with bioidentical hormones. Unlike traditional hormone replacement, these are natural hormones that are more compatible with body and don’t carry the same health risks. Depending on which hormone imbalance you are trying to correct, this may involve using Progesterone, Estrogen or Testosterone or a combination of one or more.
