How a naturopath approaches hormone imbalance - And what you need to know!
Hormonal imbalances can be very frustrating and overwhelming, initially when people think of hormonal imbalances they consider irregular cycles, poor skin and those major changes that happen around puberty, fertility and of course menopause.
However when I sit in front of a patient hormones are always at the very forefront of my mind because they impact just about every single cell in the body, and in many cases symptoms you would think would never be linked to your hormones are in fact connected, like your;
Fluctuating moods
Poor gut function
Sleep
Memory- brain fog
Energy
Hair growth
And much more
Hormones in many cases act like messengers in the body telling cells how to behave, regulating metabolism, cell growth, and development. Whether you’re suffering from an irregular cycle, infertility, or menopausal symptoms fluctuations in hormones have a far reaching impact on just about every system. It’s could all be connected.
How does a naturopath approach hormonal imbalances?
Which hormones are imbalanced? and what’s causing the imbalance? These are the two questions we ask as naturopaths so that we can effectively support you to a healthier balance.
So to get these answers we take a deeper look at your unique symptom picture and any recent testing you’ve had done. This includes;
Recent blood tests done with your GP.
Cycle mapping if you still have a menstrual cycle.
Taking waking temperature to see if there could be a potential thyroid imbalance.
Keeping a short diet diary.
Keeping a short symptom diary which includes, gut symptoms, stress/anxiety and other symptoms.
Looking at family history and your personal health history which can provide us with more insights.
The initial consultation with a naturopath really is about gathering as much information as possible to see if we can identify any potential ‘cause’ for the hormonal imbalance. But also so that we can put a clear plan in place to bring about healing and balance.
Are there hormone tests I can have to get more clarity?
Depending on the individual I’m working with we may choose to do more in-depth hormone testing, I have written an entire blog post on the DUTCH test which gives us a great amount of insight into your current hormonal status. For more info on this test head across to this post.
Full thyroid panel- In most cases patients come to me having only checked TSH this is an issue as this thyroid stimulating hormone can show as normal and yet other markers may be out, thyroid imbalance is on the rise and can have a significant impact on your cycle, fertility and if you’re menopausal it can contribute to a worsening of symptoms.
There are many other functional pathology tests on offer, however if we take a detailed case history this may well give us enough information to get started.
Testing can be very insightful and go a long way to giving us clear goals with working to re-balance your hormonal status, but it is an additional expense, so have a clear and open discussion with your naturopath about this.
What’s causing my hormonal imbalance?
Please note this list is not by any means complete there are many potential causes of hormonal imbalances including;
Chronic stress
Environmental hormone disruptors like BPA’s and phalates
Poor diet- mono-diets, with little variety in foods consumed. High histamines and food sensitivities.
Poor gut function
Nutrient deficiencies
Genetic pre-dispositions
Long term contraceptive pill and other synthetic hormone medications.
Pharmaceutical medications.
Poor liver function and clearance of hormones.
How does a naturopath balance hormones?
Once we have a clear idea of your current health status and any potential causes of your current hormonal issues then we can get on with supporting you through the application of herbs, nutraceuticals, dietary and lifestyle changes that are specific to you.
Herbal medicine and foods for balancing hormones:
Some herbs are specific for helping with symptom management like sage for hot flushes or Beth root for heavy periods and others are hormone modulating meaning they can influence the hormones and receptor sites in your body. Let’s look at just a few…
Red Clover- this herb has been used for hundreds of years as a ‘blood cleanser’ It is what we call a photo-oestrogen, meaning that it has components that have an oestrogen like effect in the body. It may be useful for menopausal women as an alternative to HRT to help manage menopausal symptoms.
Flaxseeds- This is an example of one way we work through the diet, flaxseeds are known to have a very mild oestrogen like effect in the body as well as being a very good source of omega 3 fatty acids.
Glycyrrhiza- This is a herbal extract that has been found to have a mild affect on both oestrogen and androgen receptors as well as sex hormone binding globulin. It has been reported to inhibit the creation of excess testosterone. Making it a useful herb in PCOS and acne where there is an increase in these hormones.
Black cohosh- In research studies has been found to help reduce the severity and incidence of menstrual migraines. Possibly through its hormone modulating effects.
Raspberry leaf and blue cohosh- These herbs are often referred to as a uterine tonics, and have been found to help with abnormal bleeding patterns, uterine pain and to help with tone of the uterus postpartum and as we age.
Siberian ginseng- This herb helps with endurance and stress. It is very useful in PMS or during times of chronic stress which may be impacting your overall hormonal health. It is also a great one for after childbirth which in itself is a very stressful event for the body.
Herbs and food to help support hormone clearance which include broccoli extract, dandelion root, turmeric and others. These are useful if there is a sluggish liver which is struggling to clear out oestrogen and other hormones.
There are many many more herbs that could be listed this handful is just a snapshot to illustrate how herbal medicines are very useful in helping with all sorts of hormonal imbalances. The most common application in my clinic is through hydro-ethanol extracts, so herbal liquids that are custom blended for you.
Herbs are taken in very small doses but over time have a very good effect on overall health and well-being.
There is more and more research coming out on the application of herbs in hormonal imbalances but we also have hundreds of years of traditional use to go by.
As a naturopath what else do you do for hormonal issues?
I can’t stress enough just how vital diet is to helping to balance hormones, we know that a histamine sensitive individual is more likely to end up with hormonal issues including acne and PMS if they’re consuming a diet high in histamines.
Food sensitivities like gluten and dairy have also been linked to a worsening of endometriosis and other female hormonal imbalances.
So in my naturopathic clinic we are likely to spend some time looking at how your diet may be impacting your hormonal health and any changes that you can make to start balancing things out.
Many patients come to me frustrated that they’ve tried many different diets and over the counter supplements and herbs with little to no improvements, understand that as a naturopath I don’t treat disease, I look to treat you as an individual.
Your symptoms are present because of an imbalance, we need to identify the imbalance and then work to support your body’s own healing process to bring you back into balance.
Why haven’t my over the counter herbs worked?
This is often a question that comes up in my initial consultations…
Many of the over the counter products simply don’t have what we call a ‘therapeutic dose’ in them, and the quality of the herb is generally fairly low.
They’re not tested for efficacy- in many cases there is no testing of over the counter products testing their success in specific hormonal conditions.
They’re generic- A ‘hormone harmony’ tablet that is made for menopausal symptoms can have up to 10 different herbs in it, with no real clear target in what it’s trying to achieve clinically.
How long does it take for a naturopath to get results with hormones?
Generally speaking most of my clients come in with hormonal issues that they’ve struggled with for years, and I ask in these cases that you stay consistent for at least 3 months. While we often see improvements earlier than this, hormones are often slow to change and can take some time.
If you’re struggling with menopause we can generally see some symptom improvements within 4 weeks. If you’re having infertility issues I generally go back to the 3 month rule, but in these cases it can take up to 6 months.
So the journey with a naturopath is different for everyone, at our first session together you will set clear goals for what you’d like to achieve together so that we’re both clear and can work towards getting results.
If you have any questions about working with a naturopath please feel free to book yourself in for a complimentary call below.