Hormone imbalances and changes to hormones can occur at any age. Symptoms of fatigue, weight gain, hair loss, low libido, mood changes, acne, insomnia, temperature changes, cycle length and flow changes can all be related to hormones. Outside of thyroid disorders, commonly treated conditions include PCOS, peri-menopause, adrenal dysfunction (stress), menopause, endometriosis and insulin resistance. The first step if not already diagnosed is to test and determine which hormones are too low or too high so an individualized treatment plan can be initiated.

By blending the symptoms picture and detailed hormone testing, a combination of herbs, nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants), diet, lifestyle and optional hormone therapy is prescribed. For example, many times acne is caused by insulin resistance or estrogen dominance and both can be confirmed with testing. Insulin is best controlled by a low sugar diet, intermittent fasting and supplementation whereas estrogen dominance requires strong liver detoxification and often progesterone (either herbal or prescriptive) for balance. Bio-identical hormone replacement (BHRT) is a safe way to prescribe progesterone and estrogen in cases of deficiencies or menopause. Many women re-gain their lives back when hormone balance is achieved. Dr. Luis has been prescribing BHRT for over 10 years and regularly upgrades skills and stays current for the best practice of prescribing.

The term liver detox has become pretty mainstream. Health stores are full of the latest and greatest liver cleanse combo kits and many people participate in 30-day challenges. When the body doesn’t know what to do with a substance or has finished using a hormone, the liver takes over. By using a variety of different chemical reactions, these hormones are broken down and excreted out of the body through urine or stool. These reactions have different names such as methylation, sulfation and glucuronidation and require different vitamins and minerals to work. Some people genetically have difficulties with groups of reactions, most famously methylation known as the MTHFR variation, others have genes that make it difficult to remove the by-products of hormones. When looking at the whole picture of hormone regulation, it is important to understand the barriers to balance – is it too much, too little or inability to remove the “used” hormones properly? With a well-rounded hormone protocol, liver processing is considered and supplementation of nutrients and anti-oxidants become an integral aspect of balance. It is often not enough to prescribe estrogen and progesterone, usually supportive resveratrol, glutathione, phosphatidylcholine and a lot of dietary fibre are important too.

Most women in my practice are being introduced to the many health benefits of resveratrol. Dating back to 2008, a published paper (Mutat. Res. 2008 Jan-Feb 6581-2: 68-94) discussed the use of resveratrol for cancer prevention and early adjunct treatment, atherosclerosis in cardiovascular disease, platelet formation in coronary diseases and as a neurological protectant against Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and Huntington’s diseases. This list has evolved to include pushing healthy estrogen metabolism pathways in the liver for those with decreased capacity to do so or those who are taking natural estrogen therapy as well as contributing to an increase of telomeres for anti-aging. Sound amazing?

Resveratrol is an antioxidant extracted from the skins of grapes. The fermentation of red wines causes a fair amount of resveratrol to be present, but the metabolism of the antioxidant results in a poor amount present in the blood, which means drinking lots of red wine won’t get you the health benefits! Some individuals are genetically unable to detoxify certain chemicals or hormones very well using sulphated and  glucuronidated pathways however resveratrol can improve those enzymatic reactions. What this means is less hormonal symptoms such as PMS, heavy periods and may help reduce risks of breast cancers. Resveratrol can be taken orally as a capsule daily however only reputable supplement companies should be trusted for good bioavailability and absorption. 

By blending the symptoms picture and detailed hormone testing, a combination of herbs, nutrients (vitamins, minerals, antioxidants), diet, lifestyle and optional hormone therapy is prescribed. For example, many times acne is caused by insulin resistance or estrogen dominance and both can be confirmed with testing. Insulin is best controlled by a low sugar diet, intermittent fasting and supplementation whereas estrogen dominance requires strong liver detoxification and often progesterone (either herbal or prescriptive) for balance. Bio-identical hormone replacement (BHRT) is a safe way to prescribe progesterone and estrogen in cases of deficiencies or menopause. Many women re-gain their lives back when hormone balance is achieved. Dr. Luis has been prescribing BHRT for over 10 years and regularly upgrades skills and stays current for the best practice of prescribing.

Both men and women can benefit from the use of the hormone progesterone in a natural form. To understand the benefits of supplementing with either plant-based or bio-identical pharmaceutical progesterone, it is important to understand what it does in the body.

Progesterone is part of a group of steroid hormones in the progestin family. The hormone (or endocrine) system is very complex, one hormone is converted into another and then another… and progesterone and it’s family have many roles.  Progesterone is what is termed a “precursor hormone” to other sex, adrenal and stress hormones and even brain hormones interactions.  This is why when an individual is not making enough progesterone to meet their needs, symptoms can be very wide-spread to include depression, insomnia, PMS, hair loss, acne, low libido and anxiety to name a few.

In males, progesterone is made in the testicles and in females the ovaries.  The hormone once produced travels through the blood to all tissues in the body.  In the brain, progesterone supports normal development and protection of brain cells.  Progesterone also contributes to serotonin regulation in the brain and a correlation has been made in some people with addictions to nicotine, alcohol or other substances with lower levels of blood progesterone.  Elsewhere in the body, progesterone has been determined to help regulate the immune response and act as an anti-inflammatory.

Females often exhibit symptoms of low progesterone with respect to their menstrual cycle. Short cycles, heavy flow with pain, PMS, breast tenderness and  mood swings are attributed to an imbalance of the sex hormones.  These symptoms can be worse when under stress because more progesterone is used to support the stress response and less to support sex hormones.

Progesterone levels can be tested by blood, saliva and urine.  The best method depends on symptoms but often urine levels show the most comprehensive analysis in comparison to the other sex and adrenal hormones.  Once it is determined that an individual would benefit from progesterone supplementation, herbs, creams or oral progesterone can be prescribed.  There are many applications for use of progesterone such as in shampoos to stimulate hair re-growth, creams to support acne and fertility, oral capsules to promote restful sleep and mood.