Hormone Replacement Therapy And Natural Alternatives

As you may know the FDA is coming down hard on compounding pharmacies who offer bioidentical hormones. This is absurd! The Ratio Matters Estrogen is actually a group of related steroidal hormones, the major forms being estradiol, estrone, and estriol. Estradiol is by far the strongest and most active. Estrone, which is converted in the intestinal tract from estradiol, is implicated in hormone-mediated cancers. Estriol is the weakest, but also the most benign type of natural estrogen. Levels of this hormone rise dramatically during pregnancy studies suggest that estriol may actually protect against breast cancer. So check with your medical advisor and consider finding a compounding pharmacy if this applies to you.

If you prefer not to use hormone replacement, consider phytoestrogens, plant-based compounds which have mild estrogenic activity in the human body. Phytoestrogens are not only helpful when hormone levels are low, as in menopause, but they also protect against conditions caused by high estrogen levels, such as breast cancer. Plant estrogens are very weak, about 1/400th the strength of estradiol. Nonetheless, they fill estrogen receptor sites, including those in the breasts, and prevent stronger, potentially harmful estrogens from occupying those receptor sites. Interestingly, the cancer-protective drug tamoxifen works on the same mechanism. Estriol is thought to have the same effect.

Soybeans are very high in phytoestrogens, and in fact, it is believed that Japanese women have a much easier time with menopause than their American counterparts (only 7 percent of them experience hot flashes versus 55 percent of American women) because of their high intake of soy products. A study of postmenopausal women who consumed the equivalent of 2/3 cup of soybeans daily showed they had a measurable increase in estrogenic activity and noted improvements in vaginal dryness. I recommend that you add some soy to your diet. Browse your health food store—you’ll be surprised at the choices—soybeans, tofu, miso, soy milk, high-quality soy protein and soy powders.

Herbs Can Help Your Hormones, Too Several herbs also have mild estrogenic activity. These include dong quai (Angelica sinensis), a mainstay of traditional Chinese medicine, and black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), a Native American remedy. Both have been shown in clinical trials to significantly relieve menopausal symptoms. These herbs are available in health food stores; reliable brands include Dong Quai by Zand and Remifemin by Integrative Therapeutics. Use as directed.