Balancing Hormones Naturally

Hormones such as estrogen, testosterone, leptin, insulin and cortisol are extremely important chemical messengers that affect many aspects of your overall health. So when your hormones are out of whack, your life is out of whack!

At the earliest signs of an imbalance in hormones, a salivary hormone profile can be done so that hormonal treatment can be started.

Hormones are the chemical messengers that are produced in the endocrine glands and cause an effect in the organ they are destined to do so in. While the mechanism of how hormones act is simple, a slight imbalance in the levels can put the body in a tough situation, warranting a spiral of side effects. 

You may have yourself experienced the side effects of a hormone imbalance but thought to yourself it was nothing. A hormonal imbalance is easy to go unnoticed as the symptoms too are those seen when you are stressed, having a digestion condition, binge eating, or more. 

Here is what you need to know about a hormone imbalance and how it can affect your body.

What is a hormone imbalance?

The chemical messengers are produced by the endocrine glands and move through the bloodstream bringing about a change in the functions such as the reproductive cycle, pregnancy, sleep, growth, body temperature etc. Often due to triggers such as the lifestyle we lead, the food we eat, the medicines we take, or even the stress we feel, the hormone levels go off balance and this causes a shift in bodily functions. This is a hormonal imbalance. 

What are the warning signs you need to watch out for that would suggest you have a hormonal imbalance? 

Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalances 

Painful periods

Periods that are irregular are not a great sign, but painful periods are something you should pay attention to. The body does undergo a certain amount of pain during the initial days of the cycle. Constipation, lower back pain, and pain during sexual intercourse would indicate the presence of fibroids in the uterus. You should get this checked with your doctor.

Weak bones and joints 

You might be wondering what hormones have to do with the health of bones and joints, as one has always associated calcium with these. But, hormones play a very important role in bone health, especially in women. Estrogen is responsible for bone health and this is why nearing menopause, women tend to have brittle bones. 

Consult a naturopath for what can be done to keep levels of estrogen in check.

Weight gain 

Gaining weight can have a multitude of reasons. However, gaining excess weight in a short span of time would indicate the hormones need to be looked at. Something important that many women do not know about is that creams and cosmetic products that have topical application can drastically impact hormone levels and one should pay careful attention to the creams they are applying. 

Depression and mental health 

Mood is one of the top aspects affected by hormones. Even a slight shift in hormones can alter your mood, causing abrupt mood swings, leaving you perplexed as the body is unsure of how to react. One may think they are in control of their mood, but swiftly changing hormone levels, it becomes a challenge. 

Sleep disturbances 

The circadian rhythm is one of the most detailed processes that happen in the body and is closely controlled by hormones. Inability to sleep is often put down to stress, but what people are unaware of is that even a hormonal imbalance could result in this. Melatonin is responsible for the sleep cycle and changes in levels could lead to insomnia. 

Now that the common signs of hormone imbalance have been discussed, here are some FAQs that have been answered. 

What are the tests to check for a hormone imbalance?

My Vital Health Solutions is a naturopathy clinic in Melbourne that offers saliva hormonal testing. The typical test done here to check if women’s hormone levels are in the determined levels is the female hormone panel. It is believed that by taking samples of saliva at specific intervals, their levels can be checked. 

Can hormones affect your feelings? 

Every hormone brings about a certain kind of feeling or emotion. Therefore, yes. Hormones can cause a person to feel a range of emotions. Serotonin is responsible for feeling happy, dopamine is responsible for feeling rewarded, adrenaline is responsible for being stressed. 

The body is programmed to feel these emotions in times when the situation demands so. But during a hormonal imbalance, there is a cacophony of emotions. 

Take the first step on your journey back to health!

Naturopathy is a science that does not believe in overnight cures or solutions. Instead, the belief is that through addressing lifestyle, diet, and taking a look at habits and changing these, much can be done to help the imbalance in hormones. 

Melbourne naturopath Domenic Pisanelli has helped countless people choose right and get onto the healthy path. Are you next? 

There are many therapies that are available at My Vital Health Solutions. These include allergy treatment in Melbourne, natural treatment for metabolic syndrome, and naturopathic treatment for gluten intolerance. 

The aim is not to address the symptoms and side effects but rather, go right to the root cause and address it. So also in the case of hormone imbalance, the side effects are weight gain, sleep irregularities, mental health changes, and more. But the cause of all these may be something that is part of your daily lifestyle, or stress that has cropped up, or a cosmetic you are using, or some sort of medicine you are taking. 

Once this is identified then the road to betterment is simpler. Naturopathy has shown many that the body is in fact the best help when in a crisis. What is a disease after all? It is a disturbance in the body’s homoeostatic functioning. Hence, for betterment and health, this disturbance should be eliminated. 

Perhaps you have questions you’d like to ask before you make a decision to become a patient. Naturopath Domenic Pisanelli is standing by, happy to answer any questions you may have to determine if Vital health and Natural Medicine is right for you.