Hormones are chemical messengers produced by glands. They regulate many critical bodily functions, including growth, metabolism, and reproduction. Women have unique hormones that regulate their menstrual cycle and contribute to their health. Imbalances in these hormones can lead to various health problems, including infertility, mood disorders, and osteoporosis. This article explores the different hormones that women produce and how they affect their health.
Estrogen
Estrogen is the main sex hormone responsible for developing and maintaining female reproductive organs and has a role in bone and cardiovascular health. Estrogen is produced primarily by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells. Estrogen levels fluctuate throughout a woman’s menstrual cycle, with the highest levels occurring during the follicular phase and the lowest levels occurring during the luteal phase.
Low estrogen levels can lead to various health problems, including irregular periods, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. Estrogen also helps protect against osteoporosis, so women with low estrogen levels may be at higher risk for bone fractures. Conversely, high estrogen levels can increase the risk of breast and uterine cancer.
Progesterone
Progesterone is another female sex hormone produced primarily by the ovaries. It regulates the menstrual cycle, prepares the uterus for pregnancy, and maintains pregnancy. Progesterone levels increase during the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and remain high during pregnancy.
Low progesterone levels lead to irregular periods, infertility, and early miscarriage. Women with low progesterone levels may also be at higher risk for depression and anxiety. Conversely, high progesterone levels can cause bloating, mood swings, and breast tenderness.
Testosterone
Testosterone is often labeled a male hormone, but it is also produced in small amounts by women. It plays a role in developing muscle mass, bone density, libido, and sexual function. Testosterone is produced primarily by the ovaries, adrenal glands, and fat cells.
Low testosterone levels can lead to decreased libido, reduced muscle mass, and decreased bone density. Women with low testosterone levels can also experience fatigue and depression. Conversely, high testosterone levels can lead to acne, menstrual irregularities, and excess facial and body hair.
Thyroid Hormones
The thyroid hormones from the thyroid gland regulate metabolism and energy levels. The primary thyroid hormones are thyroxine (T4) and triiodothyronine (T3). T4 is converted to T3 in the body, and T3 is the active form of the hormone.
Low thyroid hormone levels can lead to hypothyroidism, which can cause fatigue, weight gain, depression, and cold intolerance. Hypothyroidism can also lead to irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. Conversely, high thyroid hormone levels can lead to hyperthyroidism, which can cause weight loss, anxiety, and irregular menstrual cycles.
Cortisol
Cortisol is produced in response to stress and regulates blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and the immune system. Chronic stress often leads to high cortisol levels, contributing to weight gain, mood disorders, and weakened immune function.
Low cortisol levels can lead to Addison’s disease, which can cause fatigue, weight loss, and low blood pressure. Addison’s disease is a rare condition usually caused by damage to the adrenal glands.
Insulin
The pancreas produces insulin hormone and regulates blood sugar levels in the body. Insulin transports glucose from the bloodstream into cells, which can be used for energy.
When insulin levels are imbalanced, it can lead to various health issues.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)
FSH is a hormone that stimulates the development of ovarian follicles in the ovaries, eventually leading to ovulation.
Luteinizing hormone (LH)
LH is responsible for triggering the ovary’s release of an egg (ovulation). It also plays a role in forming the corpus luteum, which produces progesterone.
Prolactin
Prolactin hormone is responsible for milk production in the breasts. It has a role in regulating the menstrual cycle as well.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG)
hCG is produced during pregnancy and is crucial in maintaining the pregnancy. It is the hormone that is detected in pregnancy tests.
Melatonin
Melatonin is a hormone the pineal gland produces and regulates sleep-wake cycles. It has antioxidant properties and may play a role in regulating the immune system.
Hormones are critical in women’s health, and imbalances can lead to various health issues. Understanding the different hormones and their functions can help women better understand their bodies and take steps to maintain their health. If you are experiencing symptoms related to hormonal imbalances, it is essential to speak with your doctor to determine the best options.
NourishDoc: Hello, everyone. Women undergo hormonal imbalances from puberty to peri-menopause, menopause, and beyond. Well, that’s what we wanted to discuss today with Doctor Rozita. Doctor Rozita is a naturopathy physician joining me live from San Diego, and she focuses on Women’s Hormonal Health. Welcome, Doctor Rozita.
Dr. Rozita: Thank you. Thank you very much for accepting me and giving me this time.
Role of Naturopathy in Hormone Health
NourishDoc: Great. So let’s understand the role of Naturopathy Medicine. What is the process when someone walks into your door and has a hormonal imbalance?
Dr. Rozita: As a naturopath, they spend too much time with patients. So, on the first visit, I talked to my patients for at least 45 minutes to one hour to let to know them better and ask them many questions because, as a naturopath, we look at the whole person, okay? So, when I talk to them, I find the cause.
What is causing this hormonal imbalance and then after that, I let them know what kind of tools or tests we have for them, and as a Naturopath, we have the best test kit best method of testing the hormones as a natural I test the bad hormones, good hormones, so I look at the whole picture, all the details and then according to the test. The symptom of the patient, I start treating them with natural medicine. So we go step by step.
Therapies Used After Hormonal Imbalance Analysis
NourishDoc: Okay, so after you’ve gone through a very detailed analysis and lab testing, let’s understand the process in the sense of therapies that you are using, right? Whether it’s a diet, lifestyle, or any naturopathic like vitamin C therapy or herbs. So, explain to us what are your two works. What is the secret sauce here?
Dr. Rozita: Yes, as a Naturopath, we have many tools, natural medicine, natural hormones, and all these natural medicines come in either capsules or tinctures, different forms, depending on the patient, what patient is suffering, then, according to the symptom, I put the patient on different patterns, and we have a different method of treating. So I put the patient, depending on her condition, okay?
So we have different age groups from puberty to pre-menopause and menopause. So every age has its hormonal problem, and I treat them depending on the age and symptoms. Let’s say menopause, peri-menopause, I put them on natural medicine, and these natural medicine or natural most that they are put on are in tune with your body.
Natural medicine doesn’t have any side effects. So they treat you, heal you, and are in tune with your body. So depending on what they need. I put them on. Every person is gets treated differently. So I don’t give the same medicine to everyone. I need to see what the symptoms are, depending on the symptom. Age group, I change the dosage or the method of applying those medicine to the patient. So every patient gets treated differently.
NourishDoc: Okay, so is it like I know this is not medical advice? Can you share some of the common therapies? You can take an example, and you can take puberty or a pregnancy or menopause, Common herbs, and common therapies. This is not medical advice, just a big disclaimer here.
Hormonal Imbalance In Menopause
Dr. Rozita: Let’s say for menopause, I look at the bad hormones and good hormones, especially at menopause, let’s say, you go through the hormonal imbalance, your body doesn’t produce enough hormones. So, depending on what the patient is low because if you have different kinds of hormones, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogens, depending on if the patient has any hot flashes or dryness, skin dryness, sleep insomnia, or anxiety.
So depending on the patient’s symptoms, I put them on different hormones, and I banish those hormones with natural medicine, so I put them either on like capsules, right now? Every medicine or natural medicine comes in a professional capsule. So, there are so many professional companies that they have high quality, high dose medicine, and this medicine, and most of them you need help finding in stores or online.
These are professional, long enough supplies of medicine that are good in quality and high doses. As a naturopath, we have access to those medications. I give those to the patient because we know their growth, quality, and dosage. So depending on what they go through, I put them on different natural medicine supplies. For the natural hormones, I put the prescription through the compounding pharmacy; they can get it from the compounding pharmacy that dispenses natural hormones, and we trust the quality and the dosage. So we go from go step by step.
Simple Tips for Balancing the Hormones
NourishDoc: So, what are the tips that you would offer to someone who’s having a hormonal imbalance? Are they common herbs you will say they should have to help you talk about menopause? Is there anything that you can get our viewers some tips, like common tips, a common something using naturopathy?
Dr. Rozita: The thing is that each patient is different. I cannot say; I give the same herb to every patient. No. Every patient is different. So depending on the symptom and hormonal imbalance, some women may have low estrogen or high estrogen. So if they have high estrogen and high bad estrogens, I need to bring those bad estrogens lower.
So I use different kinds of herbs or medicines. If I see a woman is low in estrogens, that bias that estradiol and estriol, I put them on medicine and things that I have to look at the whole person. So when I do blood tests or hormonal tests, I have to make sure that the body is detoxing well and the body is balanced. Hence, as a naturopath, we do complete hormonal tests and complete blood tests to make sure, let’s say, the liver works where the kidneys work where and the mutilation pathway, which is a detox pathway, is okay.
Then according to I balance all these. So I look at when I look at the patient’s case, I look at that patient as an individual. Then I treat that individual individually. So I treat some patients differently. So every patient is different and unique. So depending on what they need, I put them on certain medicine, natural medicine, then over time, let’s say three months, four three months to 6 months.
We can balance those hormones over time Because hormones take time to get balanced. It’s not overnight work. So we need to give the body the time to heal up. So over time, three months, six months, even one year, two years. We need to work on these hormones. Depending on how chronic the condition of that person is. Then we need to go step by step.
Allopathy vs. Naturopathy Approach
NourishDoc: Okay. Thank you so much for educating all of us on how naturopathic medicine works. Unlike a popping film that will fix your problems, the idea was to make people understand this. It’s a continuous process, which I understand from you. Each one of us is different. I might have a completely different symptom from someone else, and you want to treat me according to who I am, not only my physical body but also my emotional body.
Dr. Rozita: Yes, every person is unique. Allopathic medicine gives medicine for medicine, the same medicine to every person. As a naturopath, we treat each person or every patient individually. So, believe that each patient is different because your lifestyle, diet, emotions, and environment affect you differently, and each person gets affected differently.
That’s why as a naturopath, I ask you so many questions on the first visit to know you better. Then I work on the labs, hormones or blood tests, and diet, which is another thing because they say let your food be your medicine, and that’s it; as a naturopath, we work on what you eat, what you should eat. So, all of these get considered for each patient.
NourishDoc: Okay, and that’s what we are propagating. Holistic medicine is personalized medicine. No one size fits all. So keep that in mind and incorporate a holistic lifestyle for your good, and that’s what we are saying. Thank you so much, Doctor Rozita, for being with us. I know you’re very busy.
But help us understand how naturopathic medicine works is critical for all of us to incorporate that into our daily lifestyle. With that, thank you so much, and everyone, please keep supporting us. We are almost at 200,000 followers on Facebook and 50000 on IG. So please keep supporting us and check out our website as well. Namaste. Thank you, and thank you, Doctor Rozita.
