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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 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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