Recently a study released out of the UCLA Medical Center made a connection between prescription hormone use and breast cancer.  Progestin (a synthetic progesterone-like substance) was mentioned.

Progesterone, which is a unique molecule that your body makes is actually health promoting and important to the health of many systems in our bodies.  It differs from “progestin” because the progestin molecule is a progesterone molecule that has been altered in a lab.  In the case of one popular prescription form of progestin (often mistakenly referred to as “progesterone” by doctors and patients), for example… they add a methyl group to the naturally occurring progesterone molecule, rendering the outcome product, progestin, “new to nature.”  That means it doesn’t occur in nature and that the pharmaceutical company that put it together can patent the rights to it.  Obviously we can all understand the need for and uses of being able to patent something.

But is that the best thing for us?

In fact, there are likely no therapeutic benefits to adding the methyl group, and actually many of the therapeutic benefits of real or bio-identical progesterone are lost in the process.  Further, by adding that methyl group and creating this unnatural molecule, progestin, you are actually adding risks and side effects.

Why did the pharmaceutical companies create progestins?  It was not in order to reduce symptoms because progestins often cause so many symptoms that patients ask to be taken off of them.  Progestins were created, in fact, because prior to their creation women were being administered prescription estrogens without any form of progesterone to balance those prescription estrogens.  This scenario created, among other things, an overwhelming increase in uterine cancers.  Instead of taking those prescription estrogen drugs off of the market, they created progestins to reduce the incidence of uterine cancer associated with taking the conventional prescription estrogen drugs. 

How does that work?  It does so by causing the lining of the uterus to shed on an ongoing basis, ridding the lining of any opportunistic cancer cells allowed to grow secondary to the use of those prescription forms of estrogens.  Real, bio-identical progesterone could have worked just as well and without the risks and side effects associated with progestins but alas… the pharmaceutical companies cannot patent something that comes from nature and therefore cannot afford to take it through the FDA drug approval process.  Taking a substance through the FDA drug approval process is very expensive.  So in all fairness to them, if they cannot patent it and control the profits in order to gain a return on their investment they cannot move forward with a substance.  So… they chose to make progestins.

Those of us practicing on the complementary and alternative side of medicine have had a universal awareness of the risks associated with the progestins and prescription estrogens for years.  This set of circumstances represents some of the many reasons that I am a proponent of the use of “bioidentical” hormone replacement and not a fan of the conventional prescription version of synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  The results seen in this “latest study” are no surprise to me.  In fact it further confirms my caution with progestins and prescription estrogens and my support of alternative and complementary methods, such as herbal-based bio-identical hormones, herbal and nutritional support and especially the need for stress-management and a healthy lifestyle.

Some levels of progesterone and estrogens (the naturally occurring forms that your body is supposed to make) actually belong in the body in reasonable levels throughout perimenopause (in a cycling manner each month) and in lower levels throughout menopause and post-menopause (steady levels throughout the month).  A presence or history of stress, and many other factors can interfere with our bodies’ ability to produce adequate levels of these important and health-balancing hormones over time.  For those of us that can produce adequate levels… we enjoy the ability to create balance  between progesterone and the estrogens in our body, resolve “estrogen dominance” and “premenstrual syndrome (PMS)”, support against estrogen-related risks and balance against symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, headaches, migraines, insomnia, depression and anxiety.  Further, many different organs and tissue in our bodies depend on real or bio-identical progesterone and estrogens for their optimal and healthy function.  These includes our bones, brains, immune systems, and cardiovascular systems… the list goes on.  Progestin does not provide the benefits that real bio-identical progesterone provides, and it is also associated with risks.

So, when the body can not consistently provide enough progesterone or estrogens, for a variety of reasons, it can be beneficial to supplement them at low levels in the bio-identical herbally-based form (the exact molecules that your body makes). 

One can not take the research from progestins and prescription estrogens and apply it to real bio-identical herbally based progesterone and estrogens, and vice versa… the substances are far too different.  Admittedly, more research is needed on the use of these bio-identical forms of hormones.  However… as the emerging research on bio-identical hormones does come out, the news gets better and better!

Our office provides a variety of risk-reducing quality-of-life enhancing physician quality supplements, such as:

Est Right – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver

Estro Smart – Non-hormonal symptom balancing support for estrogen in the liver

Calcium D Glucarate – Supports estrogen metabolism in the digestive system

Smart Fish – Non-toxic omega 3 fish oil to support estrogen and whole body health

Restore Multi – High quality bio-available multi with added liver support

Bio Restore – Acidophilus non-refrigerated form, protected from heat and stomach to promote estrogen health in the digestive system

If the numbers are your challenge, there are natural health promoting ways to change them, dramatically and quickly, without all of the risks, dangers and side effects associated with statin drugs.  (Statins may not be considered health promoting as they “cost the body in so many ways.)

If it is risk reduction that keeps hanging on to those statins… did you know that they had to research and re-design the research over and over again, for years in order to get a study to confirm that statin drugs had any value at all at reducing the risk of a heart attack or heart disease?  For a long time… the studies came back “not shown to reduce risk of a heart attack or heart disease.”  You might remember that from the older commercials on tv, for statin drugs.

Finally, they got a study to come back showing risk reduction… and then… they don’t really tell you “by how much,” do they?  It is a shockingly small amount.

On the other hand, something as simple as a non-toxic, stable (not rancid) fish oil, which contains 1,000 total mg of EPA and DHA omega 3 fatty acids, once loaded for 3 months, can reduce risk for an event by 90%!  And fish oil has stacks of research documenting its health promoting effects for every cell in the body.  All upside on this one!

I use more fish oil in my practice than any other single supplement, and yet – I spent 2 years researching my options until I could deliver the highest quality product to my patients.  It had to be stable (not rancid – tested not only for peroxides, but also anisidines) and it had to be non-toxic (tested for 200+ known chemical toxins that can make their way into fish, from their living in the ocean.  Namely, DDT and mercury – but many more).  That is my Smart Fish – non-toxic, stable fish oil.

From the numbers perspective, we have had access to a couple of very promising natural substances, over the years and here are the pros and cons there: 

1.   Niacin – regular niacin is effective at changing the numbers quickly, but it flushes, terribly, for some people, prohibiting their taking it.  “Flush free niacin, or inositol hexaniacinate, should/would/could work – but it really doesn’t seem to.  The answer?  Sustained-released regular niacin… avoids the flushing, and actually elongates the time this B Vitamin is available in the body, increasing its value.  That is my Lipidlo – Sustained-released regular niacin.

2.  Red Yeast Rice – works wonders and fast, but it has a reputation for being toxic.  Why?  Not because it works (in a very small fraction of the way) a statin works, but because during the fermentation process for producing this powerful raw material, a toxic substance called “citrinin” is produced.  Studies have shown that many of the Red Yeast Rice products on the market contain this toxic by-product and it is accepted in the industry as a necessary part of using this otherwise important material.  I never thought so.  I refused to use or recommend it until I could source a Red Yeast Rice that was non-toxic and citrinin-free.  I simply call it Red Yeast Rice.

Finally, in order to support cardiovascular health, optimize the production of cellular energy and oxygen (both critical for heart health – and “two sides of the same coin,” so to speak) the use of a good CoQ10 would be prudent.  CoQ10 is a tricky supplement.  The vast majority of CoQ10 sold on the market today is very poorly absorbed, so care must be taken to make certain that if you buy it and take it, you are actually getting it!  The Q Smart – highly absorbable CoQ10 in my Heart Pack, is perfect for the job!

Over the years, my patients (often women) will ask me “do you have anything for my son/husband/father for his cholesterol?”  The answer, now is “yes!”  I made the Heart Pack just for them.  Of course my patients love it too.  It is simple, because it is one small pack with breakfast and the same with dinner.  Not several bottles to open every day.  The small packets travel well in a pocket, or a suitcase, so it is easy to stay on track.  And of course, it works!  A retest in 3-6 months will reveal dramatic changes that anyone can appreciate.  Its components offer so many health-promoting risk-reducing effects that a statin simply can’t offer.  So if your risk and your numbers are of concern – this is your best solution.

Heart Pack

1. Red Yeast Rice:   Non-toxic Red Yeast Rice
2. Lipidlo:  Sustained-release regular Niacin
3. Smart Fish:  Non-toxic, stable Fish Oil
4. Q Smart:  Absorbable Co Q 10

“If you are living in the United States you are six times more likely to be depressed, than if you were living in China” – according to a Huffington Post article.  And if you are a middle aged woman, your odds of escaping depression are minimized as well – according to Today Health on MSNBC.  From that same piece “women aged 40-69 are more at risk of killing themselves than other women, according to new research on age-specific suicide rates between 1998 and 2007. In 2007, this age group made up 60 percent of the 7,328 suicides reported among women.  There are a few theories as to why, however, attention must be paid to the fact that women in this age group experience more pain and insomnia than in other age groups. 

Interestingly, pain and insomnia are commonly associated with perimenopausal and menopausal hormonal changes.  And this is the time in a woman’s life when perimenopause and menopause take hold.

The sad fact remains, that most women are not well-managed through these changes and even worse, they fear the management so much, that they don’t seek treatment.  After the National Institute of Health halted two major studies – one on Premarin and one on PremPro several years ago, due to the unacceptable health risks associated with the synthetic hormone drugs, women leaped off of their hormone replacement therapy and into a sea of misery.  Without knowledge of their healthier alternatives, they simply went back on those drugs in the following year or so citing (as was the title of a Redbook article back in the day) “I would rather die of breast cancer than live like this.”

Of course, the real health crisis is that women do not know about or do not have access to healthier alternatives.  And yes, they do exist.  And yes there is research to back up the statement “the alternatives are healthier.”

There is so much more than “nothing” we can do at this stage in our lives… not only to survive, but to thrive!  There are simple, natural ways to provide the body with the building blocks it needs to balance brain chemistry.  These simple ways do not come with the unwanted side effects (weight gain and low sexual drive) that conventional anti-depressant drugs are saddled with.  There are healthier hormones in healthier ratios and there are really healthy, risk-reducing, ways to break those hormones down in the liver in order to provide a woman with not only a happier experience than doing synthetic therapy, but a healthier experience than doing nothing at all.  That is called having your middle aged-cake and eating it too!

Read more:  http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/43714272/ns/today-today_health/t/suicide-spikes-among-middle-aged-women/from/toolbar

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/07/27/depressed-countries_n_910345.html#s316418&title=France_21

Estrogen Dominance and Poor Estrogen Processing

In the healthy woman, estrogen and progesterone (the two primary female reproductive hormones) exist in balance with one another.  Estrogen dominance occurs when estrogen is not balanced in the body with enough progesterone.  In this case there might be too much estrogen, too little progesterone, or both.  There are many different health scenarios that may lead to this imbalance.  Further, estrogen dominance is often closely associated with poor estrogen processing, which only adds to the problems and risks associated with estrogen dominance.  Poor estrogen processing occurs when estrogen is broken down in un-healthful ways while passing through the liver.  Estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing are handled most effectively when a trained health care provider works to identify the probable causes of the estrogen dominance and/or poor estrogen processing and then corrects the problems associated with those specific causes.  Since the causes will vary from one woman to the next, optimal results will be achieved when each woman is treated as an individual. 

Symptoms Associated with Estrogen Dominance and Poor Estrogen Processing

Common symptoms of estrogen dominance and/or poor estrogen processing might include:  PMS, irregular or heavy menses, breast tenderness, fibrocystic or lumpy breasts, endometriosis, ovarian cysts, and uterine fibroids.  

Risks Associated with Estrogen Dominance and Poor Estrogen Processing

Breast, ovarian, uterine and cervical health is at risk in the face of estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing. 

Lab Tests and Imaging

 Stool and urine laboratory testing is available to assist the health care provider in determining whether or not and to what degree a woman may be challenged with estrogen dominance and/or poor estrogen processing.  Imaging techniques such as mammography, ultrasound and thermography may assist the health care provider in determining what possible effects estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing maybe be having on breast health.

Non-Toxic Solutions

Establishing a proper balance between estrogen and progesterone while insuring that estrogen is being properly broken down in the liver is the most direct and effective way to support a woman facing estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing.  Specific nutrients have been researched for their ability to target each underlying cause of estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing.  Proper application of these nutrients will support a woman in her efforts to manage estrogen dominance and poor estrogen processing.  Further, establishing and maintaining optimal liver and digestive health serves to promote hormone health and on a long term basis.

Because these supportive measures involve the use of nutritional supplements in lieu of synthetic pharmaceutical drugs, their “side effects” include many other health promoting benefits while simultaneously supporting hormone health. 

What if you could look into your genetic make-up and determine which chronic degenerative disease states you might be pre-disposed to develop?  Well, now you can!  Laboratory testing is now available to show you just that.  The benefit of knowing this information is that you can act preventatively in order to support the specific biochemical pathways in your body that were programmed in a deficient way, allowing you to make up for that deficiency.  With this information I can apply my understanding of natural medicine to your specific genetic deficiencies and create a preventative protocol from the pure, potent, high quality tools (physician-quality nutritional supplements) that you are accustomed to using in my practice, tailored for your individual needs.  This is a dream come true for Naturopathic Physicians and their patients seeking to help prevent, rather than treat disease! 

Genetic experts, previously senior officers with Quest Diagnostics, a world leading authority on genetic testing, have aligned themselves with leaders in the more scientific arenas of natural and preventative medicine to create test panels that will offer me the ability to look into a patient’s genetic make-up and help them create an individualized lifestyle of prevention.  This technology is very new.  It was launched in Los Angeles on Thursday October 16^th 2003 at a continuing medical education seminar that I attended.  Currently there are two panels available.  The first panel is considered a basic panel covering aspects of cardio, immune, detoxification, bone, oxidation and photo-aging health.  The second panel takes an in-depth look into cardiovascular risk.  Further, the testing itself is non-invasive as it involves simple cheek-swabbing for mucosal cells.

Testing is available to patients receiving consultative care in my practice.  It is available to local and long distance patients. 

Why manage arthritis naturally? As a Naturopathic Doctor I work to “treat the cause” for more dramatic clinical outcomes. It sounds nice, but the truth is… when you can identify and work at the causal level, when you can “first do no harm” and achieve your healing through support and nurturing of the body… well, it is simply more effective.

There is another important reason… The medications available to arthritis sufferers are not a good deal. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs have many undesirable risk and side effects. Some forms of arthritis are treated with a prescription medication that was a failed chemotherapy drug originally designed for the treatment of cancer. The side effects of chemotherapy are extremely undesirable! Some of the next generation drugs are documented to actually cause cancer. Further, natural supportive therapies actually help to rebuild joint tissue while over the counter anti-inflammatory medication and chemotherapy facilitate the further breakdown of joint tissue, and consequently, increased levels of pain over time. When it comes to arthritis medications, there simply are no “clean” drugs.

First, in order to manage arthritis, naturally, the digestive system must work properly. The digestive system, auto-immune disease and arthritis are near and dear to me in my practice. I have devoted my career to achieving dramatic and permanent healing in this arena. It is not a simple do-it-yourself process and it takes time, but people get better, finish their work with me and they stay better. For many, this experience is completely life-changing because these types of conditions can completely rob a person of their life. Getting their health back is like getting their life back!

When food that isn’t properly digested into nutrients for absorption, it will, conversely, ferment (rot) into “endotoxins.” Endotoxins are toxic chemicals that are created when the digestive environment in the stomach and intestines doesn’t contain the right digestive enzymes and microorganisms, and isn’t working at the proper pH. The undigested food ferments in this environment, changing the chemical make up of the food from something that should be nutritious – into something that is toxic to the system.

Arthritis is a chronic degenerative disease. Toxins make chronic degenerative diseases worse, and make them harder to treat with conventional or natural therapies.

When your digestive system isn’t operating properly, the unhealthy environment actually destroys the lining of the digestive tract. This scenario has become known as “Leaky Gut” and can drive systemic inflammation and either cause or aggravate a variety of inflammatory and auto-immune conditions.

Some of the key nutrients used for healing and maintaining the digestive system include:

Acid stable digestive enzymes, Quercetin, N Acetyl Cysteine, L-Glutamine, N Acetyl Glucosamine, Phosphatidyl Choline, probiotics, and gentle fiber.

Digestive enzymes break food down into nutrients preventing them from fermenting (rotting) into toxins. The probiotics repopulate the intestines with beneficial bacteria supporting healthy immune function, nutrient absorption and they also compete for space and nutrients with harmful microorganisms that may be present, diminishing their numbers. L-glutamine, N Acetyl D Glucosamine and Phosphatidyl Choline actually help to rebuild the mucous membrane that lines the digestive tract, ensuring proper absorption of nutrients. This is the “back-bone” of the healing process for “Leaky Gut”.

For those suffering with an auto-immune based arthritis, such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, often comprehensive digestive repair is the “treat the cause” strategy most effective for healing. Adjunctive natural anti-inflammatory support can serve as a synergistic approach. Such support may include Omega 3 EPA and DHA, a stabilized lipid fraction of the green lipped muscle, and a curcumin phytosome.

For those suffering with the “wear and tear” form of arthritis, known as Osteo Arthritis, often joint repair support nutrients, combined with anti-inflammatory support, are the most effective strategic interventions for healing. Such support may include Glucosamine Sulfate, MSM, Chondroitin Sulfate, non-polymarizing silica, Omega 3 EPA and DHA, a stabilized lipid fraction of the green lipped muscle, and a curcumin phytosome.

A diet rich in whole grains, organic vegetables and fruit, cold water fish, and fiber while also being low in sugar, fried foods, packaged/processed foods, food additives/preservatives, red meat, dairy products, saturated fat, trans-fats, and refined flour can help to reduce inflammation, increase over all health, and minimize any disease process. Specifically for arthritis, efforts made to avoid tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant, peppers and tobacco (the “night shades” – due to the irritating effects of the alkaloids that they contain) and efforts to increase, purple fruits such as blue berries, raspberries, black berries, cherries and cranberries (due to the anti-inflammatory effects of the proanthocyanidins that they contain) lead to considerably less pain for some arthritis sufferers.

Dramatic nutritional support may include:

Joint Factors – Glucosamine Sulfate, Chondriotin and MSM combined to create the optimal joint support formula.

Pro-Collagen – Silica that will not polymerize once taken. This is important so that it may support collagen production for healthy joints, skin, hair, nails and bone.

Smart Fish – Omega 3 EPA and DHA in a convenient higher dose gel-cap. Documented to be non-toxic and non-rancid (stable)… a very important distinction in the fish oil industry.

Flora Max – High dose and powerful human strains of probiotics that resist stomach acid as they make their way through the digestive system. Probiotics are documented to support the digestive system’s role in the body’s detoxification process.