What is Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)?

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has been helping women and men relieve symptoms of menopause, andropause and hormonal imbalances for many years now. This form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) comes from natural compounds and contains a molecular structure that is identical to hormones found in the body. The body uses BHRT the same way it uses hormones naturally produced in the body. Supplementing with BHRT can restore and balance hormone levels to increase quality of life and offer greater protection against various diseases.

Why are Hormones important?

Hormones in your body are vital messengers that communicate between body tissues. When hormone levels become unbalanced or decrease, they can leave you feeling exhausted, irritable, depressed, and wear on your physical and mental abilities. If they stay unbalanced for to long they can lead to greater heath risks, including cardiovascular disease, osteoperosis, cognitive ailments, and some forms of cancer.

How do I know if I need BHRT?

There are different reasons reasons to consider BHRT, most commonly it is used for menopause, andropause and hormone imbalances. The need for HRT can be seen through blood tests used to determine our hormone levels.

What types of homones are there, and what should i know about them?

Thyroid & Description

The butterfly-shaped thyroid gland is located in the front of your neck and wraps partially around the windpipe. The gland is responsible for making thyroid hormones that control the metabolism of all cells in your body.

If the thyroid overproduces hormones, you can have a condition called hyperthyroidism. This condition commonly causes symptoms such as a forceful and rapid heart beat, insomnia, sudden weight loss, breathlessness, nervousness, irritability, sweating, and frequent bowel movements.

Many people can also suffer from different degrees of low or underactive thyroid function, called hypothyroidism. Symptoms of a thyroid gland producing too little thyroid hormone can include a slow metabolism, listlessness, lowered body temperature, weight gain, constipation, muscle soreness, feeling cold, fatigue, depression, high cholesterol and homocysteine, painful joints, dry skin, and hair loss.

There are two types of thyroid hormones: Thyroxine (T4) and Triiodothyronine (T3). T4 is inactive and kept in reserve; T3 is the active hormone. Thyroid hormones control the growth, differentiation, and metabolism of each cell in our body. They also control how fast our body uses the fuel that we consume, particularly carbohydrates and fat. This helps to regulate our body temperature and fat percentage. About 80% of thyroid hormone production is T4, the inactive thyroid hormone that is typically held in reserve by the body. T3 makes up only 20% of thyroid hormone production,but it is the active hormone that the body uses to function. T4 is converted into T3 when thyroid hormone is needed.

The release of the thyroid hormones is controlled by the thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), which is produced in the pituitary gland. Low circulating levels of thyroid hormone are detected by the hypothalamus, which then instructs the pituitary to release TSH. When sufficient amounts are released, the hypothalamus communicates with the pituitary to stop or slow down. Because of this complicated feedback loop, high levels of TSH in the blood often mean the pituitary is trying to stimulate thyroid hormone production, but the thyroid gland is not responding. This condition is known as hypothyroidism.

Benefits of Thyroid

  • Regulates temperature, metabolism, and cerebral function
  • Increases energy, body temperature, and warmth
  • Increases fat breakdown, resulting in decreased weight and lower cholesterol
  • Protects against cardiovascular ailments
  • Improves cerebral metabolism
  • Supports cognitive function
  • Relieves symptoms of thin sparse hair, dry skin, and brittle nails

Side Effects

The most common side effects from too high a dose of thyroid hormone are heart palpitations, increased pulse, excessive sweating, heat intolerance, and nervousness.

Administration

The recommended form of thyroid replacement is an Armour Thyroid Compound, which is a combination of T3 and T4. Studies show that a percentage of patients prefer the combination of T4 and T3 over T4 alone. The combination allows the body to receive the active and inactive form to treat those patients who are not able to properly convert. In contrast, traditional physicians continue to prescribe the synthetic thyroid hormone T4 or Synthroid. Synthroid is only T4 and may not convert to T3.

What is Menopause?

Most common in Middle-aged women. Symptoms may include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, depression, mood swings, low libido, fatigue, vaginal dryness, poor concentration, and unexplained weight gain.

What is PMS?

The main cause of PMS is to much estrogen and not enough progesterone. PMS symptoms may include mood swings, bloating, heavy bleeding, breast tenderness, acne, migrane headaches, menstral cramps, and fatigue. Women who have PMS are more susceptable to postpartum depression.

What is Andropause?

Andropause is similar to menopause, but it affects men. Mostly it is recognized through low libido, but other symptoms may include fatigue, increased irritability, loss of motivation, abdominal weight gain, decreased strength, and even occasional hot flashes. This can all be associated with low testosterone levels, which can lead men to being more prone to cardiovascular disease and prostate cancer

What is “Natural Medicine”?

Naturopathic medicine (NPM) and natural medicine are often used interchangeably, but we mean it to be a philosophy of health care provided by a doctor who is trained and licensed by the State in the application of natural medicines.

What is “Homeopathic Medicine”?

Homeopathy works by treating the person as a whole. It is based on the principle that “like cures like” meaning that the treatment given is similar in substance to the illness it is helping, and encouraging the body’s own defense mechanisms.

There are shared values between homeopathy and natural medicine (e.g. holistic review and encouraging the body to heal itself) but the choices of treatments are different.

What is “Holistic Medicine”?

Any of several disciplines that look at the patient as a whole — including their mental, physical, emotional and spiritual health.

What is Acupuncture and what is it good for?

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment that brings the body’s balance of energy into harmony by placing minute needles at specific points.

It may be effective for a wide range of conditions, but other approaches should also be evaluated at the same time. For example, if dizziness is the symptom, the problem may be excessive ear wax. However, if  traditional medicine isn’t solving the problem, or is quite expensive, or has significant side effects, acupuncture could be a useful option.

If I have a regular doctor, do I need NPM or Acupuncture?

Maybe so, maybe not. We’re not right for every patient. Take a look at our list of the types of patients that are the best fit for our services to see if it matches your needs and personality.

Is NPM safe and effective for children?

Yes.

Do you sell herbal remedies or natural vitamins on the web site?

No.

 What conditions are recommended for Acupuncture by the World Health Organization (W.H.O)?

Respiratory Diseases

  • Acute sinusitis
  • Acute rhinitis
  • Common cold
  • Acute tonsillitis

Bronchopulmonary Diseases

  • Acute bronchitis
  • Bronchial asthma

Eye Disorders

  • Acute conjuctivitis
  • Cataract (without complications)
  • Myopia
  • Central retinitis

Disorders of the Mouth Cavity

  • Toothache
  • Pain after tooth extraction
  • Gingivitis
  • Pharyngitis

Orthopedic Disorders

  • Periarthritis humeroscapularis
  • Tennis elbow
  • Sciatica
  • Low back pain
  • Rheumatoid arthritis

Gastrointestinal Disorders

  • Spasm of the esophagus and cardia
  • Hiccups
  • Gastroptosis
  • Acute and chronic gastritis
  • Gastric hyperacidity
  • Chronic duodenal ulcer
  • Acute and chronic colitis
  • Acute bacterial dysentery
  • Constipation
  • Diarrhea
  • Paralytic ileus

Neurologic Disorders

  • Headache
  • Migraine
  • Trigeminal neuralgia
  • Facial paralysis
  • Paralysis after apoplectic fit
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Paralysis caused by poliomyelitis
  • Meniere’s syndrome
  • Neurogenic bladder dysfunction
  • Nocturnal enuresis
  • Intercostal neuralgia

NOTE

Your body is unique, and your health needs are, too. That’s why we

don’t try to answer personal questions through the web site or by e-mail. If you

have a question of general interest, we may add it to this page at our next update.

Life in not merely living – but living in health
–Martial Epigrams