Balancing Hormones Naturally
Hormones — such as insulin, thyroid hormone, estrogen, testosterone, leptin, melatonin, and cortisol — are important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. So when your hormones are out of balance, your life feels out of balance!
Understanding The Endocrine System
Your endocrine system is responsible for producing the hormones necessary for many essential functions – from regulating metabolism to maintaining healthy tissues, sex drive, reproduction, sleep cycles, and mood. The endocrine system pairs specific hormone functions to each organ and coordinates which chemicals need to be released at what time and for what purpose.
The pituitary gland, a small pea-sized gland located on the underside of the brain, is sometimes called the “master gland,” as it controls the other endocrine glands and organs in your body. It produces many hormones, like growth hormone (GH or somatotropin), while stimulating other glands to release additional hormones.
Other important glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland, which regulates melatonin and circadian rhythms; the thyroid gland, which is important for thyroxine (T4) production; the thymus gland, which is responsible for childhood growth and releasing disease-fighting T-cells; and the adrenal glands that regulate cortisol levels and sex hormones.
The glands that are part of your endocrine system work together, like a complex hormonal symphony, to control the level of hormones that circulate throughout your body at any given time.
So when just one of these glands is “out of tune,” the resulting imbalances can lead to widespread health issues.
Symptoms of hormone imbalances can manifest in many ways, including:
- Painful or irregular periods or PMS
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss and changes in appetite
- Depression, anxiety, or brain fog
- Fatigue or low energy
- Insomnia or lack of deep sleep
- Low libido
- Digestive or skin issues
- Hair loss and thinning hair
- Feeling too hot or cold
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances can range quite a bit depending on what role that specific hormone plays in the body.
When patients present with hormonal imbalances, most traditionally-trained clinicians typically focus on making a diagnosis and then prescribing a drug protocol to treat the symptoms – for example, synthetic hormone replacement therapies.
Unfortunately, this drug-first approach frequently “misses the boat.” Hormonal imbalances can be triggered by a combination of lifestyle factors including poor diet, lack of exercise, environmental factors, genetics, stress, lack of sleep, and exposure to xenotoxins from plastics, personal care products, cleaning supplies, and even residual pesticides in food.
While medications may be necessary to correct some imbalances, addressing these lifestyle factors can lead to optimal hormone levels along with other benefits including increased energy, weight loss, improved sleep, more balanced moods, and healthier skin.
At the Mood Restoration Institute, we focus on the root cause of your hormonal imbalances so we can craft a personalized plan that addresses your issues from a comprehensive mind-body-lifestyle approach.
Signs & Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalances
Symptoms of hormone imbalances can manifest in many ways, including:
- Painful or irregular periods or PMS
- Unexplained weight gain or weight loss and change in appetite
- Depression, anxiety or brain fog
- Fatigue or low energy
- Insomnia or lack of deep sleep
- Low libido
- Digestive issues, skin issues, or vision issues
- Hair loss and thinning hair
Symptoms of hormonal imbalances can range quite a bit depending on what role that specific hormone plays in balancing your body.
For example, high estrogen levels or storing too much estrogen in the body can contribute to longterm health issues including blood sugar imbalances that may lead to diabetes, unexplained weight gain, changes in appetite, and problems with eyesight.Some issues associated with hormonal imbalances may include:
- Estrogen Dominance: disrupted sleep patterns, weight and appetite fluctuations, increased stress and anxiety, and slowed metabolism
- Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): infertility, weight gain, acne, abnormal hair growth
- Low Estrogen: decreased libido, reproductive issues, loss of menstrual regularity, mood changes
- Hypothyroidism: slowed metabolism and fatigue, weight gain, anxiety, irritability, digestive problems, irregular menstrual cycles
- Low Testosterone: erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass, weight gain, fatigue and mood issues
- Grave’s Disease: anxiety, hair loss, weight loss, IBS or digestive issues, irregular sleep and heartbeats
- Diabetes: weight gain, neuropathy, vision loss, fatigue, trouble breathing, dry mouth, skin issues
- Overworked Adrenals: muscle aches, fatigue, anxiety and depression, trouble sleeping, brain fog, reproductive challenges
Potential Causes of Hormonal Imbalances
Hormonal imbalances are created by a combination of lifestyle factors — such as diet, exercise, environment, genetics, stress, and exposure to xenotoxins from plastics, makeup, cleaning supplies and even residual pesticides in food. Some of the major causes of hormonal imbalances include:
- Food allergies & gut flora imbalances: New scientific research shows that the flora in your gut (microbiome) plays a crucial role in hormone regulation and regulating inflammation that is at the root of so many chronic illnesses. If you have IBS, SIBO, leaky gut syndrome or a lack of good gut bacteria residing in your intestines, you’re more susceptible to hormonal imbalances.
- Weight gain or obesity
- High levels of inflammation caused by a poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle along with chronic stress
- Genetic predisposition
- High levels of toxin exposure including exposure to pesticides, harmful bacteria, parasites, viruses, cigarette smoke (even second-hand), excessive alcohol and other harmful chemicals or compounds like lead and formaldehyde
- High amounts of stress and regular release of stress hormones like cortisol, paired with a lack of rest and deep sleep
The earlier hormonal imbalances are diagnosed, the sooner you can start addressing them naturally – feel free to schedule a complimentary phone consultation to see what the best next steps are for you.
Take The First Step On Your
Journey With Me
Perhaps you have questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision to become a patient. Our patient coordinator is standing by, happy to answer any questions you have to determine if Mood Restoration Institute is right for you.
Contact Us
3737 Grand Avenue, Suite 4
Billings, MT 59102
Phone: 406.670.1498
Email : info@moodrestorationinstitute.com