Synthetic female hormones are among
the most widely prescribed medications in our country
today. They are prescribed most often at menopause
for symptoms such as hot flashes, but also as a preventive
measure against osteoporosis. In younger age groups
they are prescribed for other hormone related problems.
There are many side effects associated with hormone
therapy (just look at the package insert) and there
are also great concerns over the long term risks,
such as an increased risk of cancer. Many women thinking
that there is no choice but to accept the risks,
are among the millions on standard synthetic hormone
replacement. Other women knowing about the side effects
and risks refuse to take hormones, possibly denying
themselves help with problems they suffer from. Many
women are switching to the use of natural hormones
to get the help they need and avoid the side effects
and risks.
What
are "natural" hormones?
There are some misconceptions about them. First,
natural hormones are not herbs, and they are not
combinations of nutrients and plant sources which
are meant to mimic the effect of hormones. Natural
hormones are true hormones made by a compounding
pharmacy and available by a doctor's prescription
only. You might ask, how are they called natural
if they are hormones made by a pharmacy? Natural
hormones are also called "bio-identical" hormones
because the compound, extracted from a natural source,
such as soy or yams, is the same hormone that the
women's body has produced for itself over the years.
Therefore when these natural hormones are prescribed,
what the women is getting is a replenishment of something
that has become deficient in the body. The logic
of the treatment is that it seems safer to replenish
a deficiency of a hormone by giving it, rather than
using a synthetic chemical to mimic the effects of
the women's own natural hormones. Studies showing
risks of hormone replacement have been done on women
taking the synthetic hormones.
One
more comment about what passes as "natural" hormones
in many cases. Over the counter in health food
stores are what are labeled
as natural progesterone creams. These creams may
not reliably deliver progesterone to the body. It's
important to understand that applying a cream made
from yam is not the same as a pharmaceutical extraction
from yam leaving you with true progesterone.
Finally, it is important to mention
we can treat men as well as women with natural hormones.
From young adulthood to the elderly natural hormones
may be used to treat many conditions including PMS,
mood swings, sleep disorders, migraine and other
headaches, weight gain, bloating, breast tenderness,
food cravings, hair loss, hot flashes/ night sweats,
depression/anxiety, loss of sex drive/ difficult
intercourse, osteoporosis, digestive problems and
acne.
Dr. Sobo practices Holistic Medicine
in Stamford, CT. More information is available at: www.drsobo.com.
Dr. Sobo can be reached at 203-348-8805 or contacted at optimalhealthmed@aol.com.
Dr. Sobo completed his Medical residency training in Internal Medicine at the
Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Board Certified Member
of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. This is the certifying national
organization of physicians with a specialty interest in weight reduction. He
is also a member of the American College for Advancement in Medicine. This
is the largest national organization of doctors practicing nutritionally oriented
medicine.
