by Dana Taylor

Being a woman has never been easy. Historically dominated in a patriarchal society, women suffered multiple, unstoppable pregnancies, child birth, child bed fever, early death. All that laundry….

Life now is definitely better, generally speaking–in Western cultures–anyway. Personally, I’ve enjoyed freedom and choices as an American woman heretofore never known in recorded history. However, we gals still struggle with what I call Hormone Hell. Ups and downs, weight issues, irritation, depression, skin problems, fatigue, insomnia, hair loss, mysterious maladies. You know what I’m talking about. Hormone Hell.

At this point I’ve reached a certain age when I’ve experienced most of the stages in a woman’s life (except death). One thing I’ve learned is not to count on doctors and Big Pharma to solve all my health issues. PREMARIN (short for Pregnant Mare Urine) is still the go-to solution advertised for most female complaints, despite decades of revelations of connections to heart disease and cancer. Somehow ingesting horse piss (yes, that’s actually where it comes from) simply goes against common sense. Read an article about PREMARIN at Dr. Mercola for more information here.

So what’s a girl to do? Well knowledge is power. Read some books, open your mind to solutions. Follow your inner guidance. Learning about hormonal imbalances is a good place to start.

The winner of The Indie Spiritual Book Awards this year in the Alternative Medicine Category is Adrenaline Dominance: A Revolutionary Approach to Wellness by Michael Platt, MD.  Dr. Platt lays out a compelling argument for hormonal imbalances contributing to a wide range of illnesses–insomnia, chronic illness, mental instability and much more. From the description:

Adrenaline is a powerful hormone whose effects have been virtually ignored by the medical community. “Adrenaline Dominance” explains how this hormone might be a major underlying cause of many conditions currently considered incurable. This book explains why people produce this “fight-or-flight” hormone even when they are not facing danger. It presents a natural protocol for rapidly reducing excess adrenaline. In most cases, this protocol allows patients to reassess their need for taking prescription medications, which treat symptoms rather than address the root cause of their conditions.

This book brought to mind the now classic books from Dr. John Lee on estrogen dominance and the incredible toll hormones-gone-wrong take on a woman’s life.

These books largely focus on exploring PROGESTERONE levels as the missing link to balanced hormones.  From Natural Hormones.net

Progesterone is key in the normal function of the reproductive system, the regulation of a woman’s menstrual cycle, and a number of other systemic functions including skin, blood, and bone health. Read full article here

Another avenue of exploration is the rise of Bio-Identical hormone treatments, as touted by Suzanne Somers. This is an emerging field and has stirred its own pot of controversy. There are many books on the subject. An overview can be read at Natural Hormones.net here.

Natural Approach

Believing more in nature than laboratories, I explored supplements from whole food sources. Eating well is the first step to hormone balance–green, leafy and organic as much as possible. “When estrogen levels are high, progesterone levels will drop. Studies have shown that diets rich in foods that promote stable estrogen levels such as soy, apples, alfalfa, cherries, potatoes, rice, wheat, and yams go a long way toward regulating or preventing symptoms of progesterone imbalance. Avocados, nuts, seeds, and olives promote progesterone production.” (Natural Hormones.net)

Herbal Remedies

After my first hot flash, I visited my local health food store, which was run by a Korea-trained doctor. She did some muscle testing with various products on me and we chose Transitions from Pure Essence Labs. This blend of female-friendly herbs helped me sail through the often rough seas of perimenopause. I stayed on Transitions for a couple of years.

Progesterone Supplements

Progesterone creams became all the rage for a while. You can read an excellent article about them on How Stuff Works here. Sold as over-the-counter products from health and cosmetic companies, they make many promises for balance and health, but results vary from person to person. The ones I tried didn’t feel balanced. One of my favorite natural health providers claimed they were all too “hot.” Progesterone pills can also feel too powerful.

The product that has worked for me is the Progessence Plus Serum from Young Living Essential Oils. Progessence™ Plus serum is a pure, harmonizing serum that is designed specifically for women. Along with wild yam and vitamin E, Progessence Plus is formulated with Frankincense, Bergamot, and Peppermint essential oils for optimal results.

Just one drop over the thyroid after a shower several times a week has been key in keeping my hormones in balance, meaning I sleep well, have excellent energy, good moods and generally enjoy life.

In other words, I escaped Hormone Hell! 

Reducing stress, eating well, exercising and seeking the right supplements can be the path out of Hormone Hell. Be pro-active about your health. Educate yourself, take back your power, and life can be downright Heavenly.

Wishing you the best of health–

Dana Taylor