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Integrative Management of Endocrine Dysfunction by Joseph Collins, RN, ND |
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It’s Not Just the Levels, It’s the
Listening |
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When addressing non-optimal endocrine function it is
important to understand Endocrine Nutraceutical Consolidated recognizes that
what appears to be an inconsistency between hormone levels, and the symptoms
that a patient experiences is actually a sign that the cells of the body “do
not listen” to the hormones as well as they should. The most well-known of
this clinical situation involving hormone resistance/antagonism is insulin
resistance, a widely recognized condition in which hormone levels and
cellular response to those levels are not congruent. The restoration of peak
hormone function requires both the support of tissues that make hormones, and
the support of cellular response in every tissue that responds to hormones.
Functional endocrinology always requires a more detailed analysis of the
physiological response to hormones, or how well cells “listen” to each
hormone. Cellular response is as important as the function of hormone
production. This function-response connection guides all other concepts
associated with successful restoration of peak hormone function. |
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Lifestyle Management is Critical for Restoration of Optimal Hormone
Function |
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Since lifestyle stress has a great
impact on the endocrine system, appropriate diet, exercise, rest, sleep, recreation,
social interactions, hydration, and detoxification are important issues to
address when first endeavoring to restore optimal hormone function. Properly
managing hormone health always requires addressing lifestyle first. Even
bioidentical HRT cannot make up for unhealthy diet and lifestyle. |
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Vitamins & Minerals are Foundation Cofactors for All Hormone
Production |
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Vitamins, minerals, trace minerals
and other trace nutrients are critical cofactors for the production
and metabolism of all hormones. An effective dosage of these hormone
supporting nutrients should be taken on a daily bases as foundation
nutrients. Keeping hormone supporting nutrients separate from the actual
herbal formulation allows clinicians to adjust the dosage of phytotherapeutic
agents without the risks of toxicity that would result if a specific mineral
were placed within a hormone specific formulation. By not adding zinc and
copper to herbal formulations, clinicians can adjust the dosage without
concerns about zinc becoming antagonists to steroidogenic pathway enzymes.
The Ultra Preventive® X formulation
is a nutraceutical that has the right proportions of
vitamins, minerals, trace elements, and other nutrients to support optimal
endocrine health, without danger of toxic build-up or other side effects It
also provides significant antioxidant support, which is required by adrenal,
gonadal and thyroid tissue. |
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Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) is the Fatty
Acid that Improves Hormone Signaling |
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DHA improves cell membrane health
by changing the lipid structure of the membrane in such a way as to actually improve
the ability of the cell to receive hormone signals. It also affects the
movement of molecules in the cell, affecting organelles within the cell such
as the mitochondria, the principal energy source of the cell. Increasing DHA
in the mitochondria through nutraceutical support
improves the ability of mitochondria to create cellular energy, and to carry
out the message that it received from the hormone. The high DHA:EPA ratio in Opti DHA is critical for cell membrane health |
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Adrenal Function Must Always be Considered When Addressing Any Hormone
Imbalance |
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The Dynamic Interactivity of the Endocrine
System is so profound that it
is virtually impossible to address imbalances in estrogens, progestogens,
androgens, insulin or thyroid hormones unless adrenal gland function is also
addressed. Such phrases; “adrenal-gonadal” and “adrenal-thyroid” reinforce
the fluidity of endocrine interdependence. The phytotherapeutic
formulations for specific hormone functions each interact with the adrenal
glands in a manner distinctive to that particular hormone. While Progesto-Mend™ uses herbs to enhance adrenal
production of progesterone, Testo-Gain™ and Estro-Mend™ support hormone function by improving the function
of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis.
The corticosteroid-inhibiting effect of gymnema contributes to the function
of Glucobrium. The adaptogenic
constituents of Thyro-Mend™ and Testo-Quench™ modulate adrenal
function to restore optimal function of targeted hormones. |
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The Hypothalamic-Pituitary (HP)
Axes Must All Be Considered when Addressing Hormone Imbalance |
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The hypothalamic-pituitary
adrenal (HPA) axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis, the hypothalamic-pituitary
thyroid (HPT) axis are the three primary axes that regulate the Dynamic Interactivity of the Endocrine
System. These axes have feedback loops that ensure optimal hormone levels
that are maintained under various conditions. The hypothalamic-pituitary
glands also affect a number of other endocrine tissues. Supporting optimal
health of the HP axes with targeted phytotherapeutic is an important component of Estro-Mend™, Progesto-Mend™, Testo-Gain™, Testo-Quench™ and Thyro-Mend™. |
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Synergy & Compatibility of Formulations is Required to Restore Dynamic Interactivity of the Endocrine System |
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When choosing the appropriate nutraceutical and phytotherapeutic
formulations, the Phytocrine
Formulations are both synergistic for
the function of the specific hormone that is targeted, and synergistic with
other formulations that may be indicated for other hormonal needs. As such, a
formulation that could be used for symptoms associated with weak thyroid function
must also be compatible with formulations that may be used for weak
progesterone function, or weak testosterone function, or excessive
testosterone function. In addition, formulations designed to support normal
function of a specific hormone must address all of the needs of that hormone.
Formulations that may be used for weak testosterone function must enhance the
function of every tissue that responds to estrogen. In addition to relieving
fatigue and decreased libido, that formulation must also support healthy
function of bone, heart, brain, skin and other testosterone sensitive
tissues. |
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Use “Precursors” & Metabolites Before any form of HRT – Which is the
Last Course of Action |
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Before hormone replacement therapy
is chosen whether it is traditional (HRT) or bioidentical (BHRT), weaker
hormones such as DHEA, pregnenolone or the metabolite and 7-keto-DHEA should be
considered. There will be situations where restoration of optimal hormone
function cannot be achieved with lifestyle, nutraceutical and phytoceutical interventions alone. In those cases, the
use of DHEA 5 MG, Pregnenolone 25 Mg Tab, and 7-KETO can support the hormone producing pathways through supplementation
instead of replacement. Since DHEA, pregnenolone and 7-keto-DHEA have physiological
actions of their own, and provide benefits independent of BHRT, they increase
the efficacy of BHRT if needed, and will allow clinicians to prescribe much
lower dosages with increased success. |
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♦These
statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. |
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YourMenopauseType.com, Inc. |
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