Naturopath Hormone Testing
Of the many diagnostic methods available to a naturopath, hormone testing is one of the most commonly used.
Our poor old hormones – they get blamed for everything, from teenage angst to pregnancy brain, old age crankiness and midlife weight gain!
There are plenty of jokes and quotes about their unpredictable nature. Whilst mostly our complaints are flippant comments made in passing, when hormones are out of balance, it can be anything but a laughing matter …
What are Hormones?
Essentially, hormones are your body’s chemical messengers.
They are produced in the endocrine glands, and they help to coordinate the different functions of our body by carrying messages through the bloodstream to the tissues and organs. Scientists have identified over 50 hormones in the human body so far.
Hormones help to control many of the body’s major processes including:
- digestion;
- reproduction;
- mood;
- our stress response;
- sleep;
- growth and development.
Reasons for Hormonal Imbalance
The human body has a pretty delicate chemistry so even small changes or fluctuations of hormones can have serious effects on your whole body.
There are many reasons why an imbalance of hormones can occur, such as:
- high stress levels;
- insufficient sleep;
- inadequate diet;
- diabetes;
- menopause;
- pregnancy;
- thyroid conditions.
When Might Naturopath Hormone Testing be Useful?
There is a very broad range of signs and symptoms that may indicate a hormonal imbalance, and these will depend on which hormones or glands are not working properly.
Common signs are:
- painful periods
- family history of Endometrosis, Fibroids or Reproductive Cancer
- sudden weight gain or loss;
- fatigue;
- hair gain;
- hair loss;
- increased stress levels,
- increased anxiety or depression;
- muscle aches, stiffness or weakness;
- increased or decreased heart rate;
- sweating;
- menopause hot flushes;
- low libido;
- sensitivity to hot or cold;
- increased thirst or hunger;
- changes to the length or intensity of your menstrual cycle, and associated symptoms such as sore breasts, cramps, pain, mood changes;
- and many, many more.
All of these symptoms are very non-specific, and it’s important to note that having one or two of them doesn’t necessarily mean you are suffering from a hormonal imbalance. However, any signs or symptoms that are new or persistent should be checked out.
The hormonal test most commonly used by our Naturopath Tony is the 2/16 Oestrogen metabolite test. This test helps show how your oestrogen is being cleared from your system. This is important because most female reproductive conditions are Oestrogen dominant. Too much Oestrogen in the system can contribute to conditions as as Endometriosis, Fibroids, Painful and Heavy Periods plus some reproductive cancers. Helping your body assist clearing excess oestrogen can not only help reduce reproductive and period related symptoms but can also be a great preventative in terms of female reproductive health.
Rectifying an Imbalance
A great place to start is to have your hormone levels tested by a Naturopath; usually a simple saliva test can provide all the necessary information required for a diagnosis. In addition to hormone testing your Naturopath is trained to understand your signs and symptoms and can assess imbalance accordingly.
Depending on the type of hormonal imbalance, there are many natural supplements that may be prescribed by your naturopath to help reduce symptoms, including:
- black cohosh;
- sage;
- dong quai;
- red clover;
- shatavari;
- chaste tree;
- broccoli sprouts;
- and evening primrose oil.
Simple lifestyle changes are also part of the holistic approach to better health, as practised here at Capalaba Natural Health. For example:
- maintaining a healthy body weight;
- eating a nutritious, balanced diet;
- eliminating foods that you may be intolerant to;
- regular exercise;
- and reducing stress.
Don’t let hormonal issues take control of your day-to-day living. Book an appointment with our Award Winning Naturopath for hormone testing and treatment, so that you can enjoy life to the full!
