HORMONE IMBALANCES

by Dr. Lawrence Wilson

All information in this article is for educational purposes only. It is not for the diagnosis, treatment, prescription or cure of any disease or health condition.

I. INTRODUCTION

A complex regulatory system. The hormone system of the body is a very complex signaling and regulatory system that exists within all animal and human bodies. It regulates reproduction, most of all. However, it affects every area of life.

Names. The hormone system is also called the endocrine system or the glandular system.

Parts of the system. The hormonal system consists of seven glands, each of which makes one or more of the chemicals called hormones. For the location of these glands, and the names of their hormones, please read The Glands And The 7 System.

Women most affected. Hormone imbalances are especially common among women. One reason for this is that hormones are very important regulators of reproduction.

For this reason, much of this article is about the causes and correction of women’s hormone problems. A section later in the article is for men.

Most people out of balance. Today, the hormone system of most people does not work correctly. The main causes are nutritional deficiencies, and the presence in the body of too many toxic metals and toxic chemicals.

At times, emotional factors, psychological issues, traumas, other illnesses and genetic defects play a role in causing symptoms. However, the most common causes are nutritional problems and toxicity with metals and chemicals.

II. SYMPTOMS OF HORMONE IMBALANCES

Hormone imbalances can cause almost any symptom imaginable. The reason is that hormones affect every body system. However, certain symptoms are most associated with hormone imbalances.

In women, these include premenstrual tension, painful menstruation, cramps, heavy bleeding, no menstruation, mood swings, depression, anxiety and even violence.

Others are weight gain, weight loss, improper distribution of weight on the body, tendency for infections, infertility, problems with childbirth and breastfeeding, birth defects in children, cancers and more.

Symptoms in men include impotence or erectile dysfunction, fatigue, mood swings, premature ejaculation, low sperm count or poor quality sperm, cancers, and more.

III. CAUSES OF HORMONE IMBALANCES

NUTRIENT DEFICIENCIES

In our view, this is the most important cause of hormone imbalances. Everyone today is born deficient in many nutrients, and most people become far more deficient as they grow older.

The reasons are a mineral-depleted food supply, refined food, fast food, and junk food diets, poor eating habits, stress, and sometimes illnesses or other factors. Certain times in life also require more nutrition such as pregnancy, lactation, coping with stress and overcoming illness. For the most part, all of this is ignored by doctors!

Also, we do not agree with what many consider “a good diet”. This is very important, for example:

- Cooking vegetables is most helpful to absorb more minerals from vegetables. Human beings do not absorb many minerals from raw vegetable salads, no matter how good they look or taste.

- Whole foods are best to eat. Smoothies, shakes, health food bars and food powders always tend to worsen overall nutrition, no matter what they contain. The reason is they are poor food combinations and are harmful for overall digestion.

- Meats are important for health. Vegetarian diets are always deficient diets, no matter what anyone claims.

- While vegetables are wonderful foods and everyone needs more, fruit upsets blood sugar, and often contains pesticide residues even if they are “natural” toxic pesticides if it is organically grown. Fruit-eating also makes the body yin, which seriously worsens health.

Improve your diet drastically and many hormone problems go away! For details, read The Slow Oxidizer Diet.

TOXIC METALS

Toxic metals are the next most important cause of hormone imbalances. Everyone has a lot of them today, no matter what any blood, hair or urine test reveals. The reason tests may not show them is that toxic metals hide deep within the body tissues and are very difficult to detect with any type of test. However, as a person gets well with a nutritional balancing program, lots of toxic metals show up on repeat hair tests. This tells us that they were there all along, but were hidden.

The major toxic metals are cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, nickel and aluminum. Others are uranium, beryllium, antimony, strontium and others. Many people also have toxic forms of copper, iron, manganese, and occasionally other minerals, as well. All of these can contribute to hormonal imbalances.

Born toxic. A hidden factor involving toxic metals is that everyone is born today with a lot of toxic metals that are passed on from our mothers. We know this because hair tests on newborns who have never touched adult food or even water often show high levels of toxic metals.

We are sorry, moms. We love you very much, but your bodies need a tune up before your have children, please. Otherwise, you pass on all your toxic metals and nutritional imbalances to your children. To ignore this fact is a monumental failure of the current medical profession and their totally inadequate pre-natal care.

Toxic metals affect hormones by replacing vital minerals in enzyme binding sites. This often blocks production of a hormone, causes excessive production of a hormone, or throws the ratio of hormones out of balance.

A nutritional balancing program will slowly eliminate two dozen or more toxic metals in a gentle and safe manner. To read how this is done, read Toxic Metals. We do not need nor do we recommend chelation therapy, which is harsh, toxic and damages overall nutrition. For details about it, read Chelation Therapy.

TOXIC CHEMICALS - ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

A group of toxic chemicals specifically interfere with the hormone system of the body. They are called endocrine disruptors. Unfortunately, they are very common in our air, food and water. They are also commonly found in body care products, food and other wrapping materials, plastics we touch, and other products.

To restore and maintain health, it is important to minimize your contact and intake of these chemicals. Also, a complete nutritional balancing program will remove most of them from the body. For details about them, read Toxic Chemicals on this website.

HAIR TESTING AND HORMONES

Hair mineral analysis does not measure hormone levels. However, it can sometimes give an indication of the condition of the hormonal system. Let us examine these in more detail.

THE OXIDATION RATE AND HORMONAL IMBALANCES

Most women are slow oxidizers. Most who have endometriosis, cysts and fibroids are very slow oxidizers. Slow oxidation may contribute to these conditions for several reasons:

1. Their adrenals and ovaries often produce less than optimum amounts of female hormones.

2. Many slow oxidizers are copper toxic and zinc deficient.

3. Many slow oxidizers have very underactive thyroid glands, indicated by a high ratio of calcium to potassium. Hypothyroidism is a contributor to some uterine and ovarian symptoms. The thyroid and adrenal glands work together. Imbalances in one may cause a compensatory imbalance in the other.

4. Most have low energy, which impairs all healing.

5. Slow oxidizers usually have high levels of toxic metals which interfere with normal metabolism. Toxic metals may not be revealed on the first few hair analyses if one's energy level is so low that the body cannot excrete the toxic metals.

COPPER TOXICITY

A strong relationship exists between copper and estrogen in the body. Women with female organ complaints almost always have a copper imbalance, as revealed by a properly performed and correctly interpreted hair mineral analysis, using the method of interpretation proposed by Dr. Paul C. Eck.

The hair copper level, as well as serum copper and serum ceruloplasm, are not reliable indicators. However, a hair mineral analysis in which the hair has not been washed at the laboratory provides many indicators of hidden copper imbalances, such as

1. Copper less than 1.0 mg%.

2 Sodium/potassium ratio less than about 2.4.

3. Calcium above about 50 mg%.

4. Potassium less than 5 mg%.

5. Mercury above 0.03 mg%.

6. Three lows pattern.

7. Four lows pattern.

8. Four highs pattern.

9. Sympathetic dominance patterns.

10. Possibly a phosphorus level less than 13 mg%.

As you can see, there are many of these indicators on a properly performed hair mineral test, and some are a bit subtle. Correcting a copper imbalance can significantly improve many female organ symptoms. Correction may occur quickly. However, chronic conditions may take up to several years to correct.

One reason is that the problem is seldom just a copper imbalance. Often the adrenals and thyroid are weak, toxic metals are present, energy is low, and multiple nutrient deficiencies are present. So it is not just a question of "fixing" the copper. However, with patience, persistence and attention to all aspects of lifestyle as well as supplementation, much can be accomplished. For much more on this topic, read Copper Toxicity Syndrome on this website.

LOW ENERGY

Low energy or “adrenal burnout” is another common finding on hair mineral analyses. Interestingly, the client may not even feel that her energy level is low. This is because in some cases, the presence of a toxic metal or a mental/emotional state may keep driving the person forward, masking a low energy condition.

Indicators for adrenal burnout on a properly performed and correctly interpreted hair analysis include:

1. A very slow oxidation rate

2. A calcium shell pattern (calcium above about 170 mg%)

3. Sodium/potassium ratio less than 2.4

4. Elevated toxic metals such as cadmium or others.

5. Three lows pattern.

6. Four lows pattern.

7. Sodium less than about 9 mg%.

8. Potassium less than 5 mg%.

9. Three or more extremely low toxic metal levels. This is called a poor eliminator pattern.

Low energy is a common denominator of illness. Without sufficient energy, any organ or system can malfunction. Low energy permits toxic metals to accumulate. Digestion and absorption of nutrients suffer, often leading to even more serious conditions.

Scientific nutritional balancing programs based upon a tissue mineral analysis can help reverse the vicious cycle of low energy. Once again, several months to several years may be needed to replenish deficient nutrients, eliminate toxic metals and rebuild organs and glands. For more on adrenal exhaustion and burnout, read Adrenal Burnout Syndrome and Adrenal Insufficiency on this site.

SYMPTOMATIC REMEDIES

Within the framework of a complete nutrition program, it is possible to alter hormone levels nutritionally. We have observed a rough correlation between the hair sodium/potassium balance and the estrogen/progesterone balance. Nutrients that increase sodium such as Endo-dren, iron, copper, boron and vitamin E may increase estrogen levels.

Zinc, wild yam extracts, and essential fatty acids such as fish oil, borage oil or primrose oil are anti-inflammatory and tend to favor progesterone. Nutrients that assist the liver can help detoxify estrogens faster. For this reason, GB-3 may help lower estrogen levels.

The nutritional balancing procedures are also very beneficial to balance the hormones. These are coffee enemas, red heat lamp sauna sessions or just using a single red heat lamp, reflexology, deep breathing and the pushing down exercise. Links to articles about each of these are on the Home page of this website.

THE EMOTIONAL CONNECTION

Women's roles and the meaning of womanhood are shifting today. Some women feel caught between traditional roles and values, modern opportunities, and sometimes harsh realities. This may be a factor in the prevalence of female organ symptoms, and a reason why hysterectomy is the most commonly performed surgery today.

Sometimes a woman's symptoms may indicate a need for her to examine carefully her choices and priorities. She may need to assess whether she is just rebelling or conforming to someone else's standards, or living a life that creates the most happiness and fulfillment for her.

These emotional factors can play a powerful role in some women’s pelvic conditions. For more on this subject, read Women’s Pelvic Syndrome on this website.

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