Natural Medicine • Alternative & Holistic Health • Naturopathic Medicine

The month of October especially recognizes the importance of breast cancer and prevention. Hormone testing does not diagnose breast cancer. However, it is part of a comprehensive plan when evaluating a woman's hormonal balance. One of the culprits of breast cancer is estrogen imbalance. Not only does the amount estrogen matter, but the metabolism of estrogen. The goal of hormonal testing is to help a woman understand and reduce their risk of breast cancer. The hormone test I

The fifth female vital sign is the menstrual cycle. Any irregularities, including timing, amount, and premenstrual symptoms, represent a hormonal imbalance. Additionally, hormonal balance also plays a major role in heart health. The heart and its blood vessels love estrogen. It has numerous receptors for it and its metabolites. Estrogen helps keep our blood vessels flexible and strong by supporting the production of nitric oxide. Therefore, it is vital to balance your hormone

Night sweats are usually associated with menopause, which can start as early as your late 30s or early 40s. The average age for menopause in the United States in 51. What happens if you are having night sweats, don't have other symptoms of menopause (mood swings, weight gain, vaginal dryness, low libido, and urinary urgency), and in your 20s and 30s? Here are a few reasons for night sweats, even if you're far from menopause and your cycles are normal: Estrogen Variations When

Do you feel the shift from saying that you're too busy to saying you're too tired? Does no amount of sleep help? The root cause of exhaustion can be complicated. Fatigue cannot be written off as being tired. Here are 5 reasons why you may be feeling chronically exhausted: 1. Adrenal Fatigue This is an imbalance in your cortisol production. Cortisol should be high in the morning, when you wake up, and slowly decrease throughout the day. If you feel, flat throughout the day, th

You may eat soy in your stir fry or use it as a substitute in your morning latte. You can eat soybeans in many forms, including tofu, the beans themselves (also called edamame), soy milk, miso, and soy powder. Soy may not be immediately harmful, but it can undermine your health significantly. Soy can disrupt thyroid and endocrine (hormonal) function. It can contribute to fatigue, constipation, menstrual irregularities, and perimenopausal or menopausal issues. Soy can also int

Just think of your environment. Wondering what you may be exposed to? I say, start with the small things you can do in your daily life to reduce toxin exposure. It's like clearing the clutter - better to take small steps rather than let it all build up. Here are 3 ways you can reduce your exposure to toxin: 1. Avoid microwaving food in plastic. BPA and phthalates found in plastic leak into food when heated. Both are known as "endocrine disruptors," which mimic human hormones,

When you hear about sugar and fruits, many nutritionists will recommend low glycemic fruits, and definitely skip the dried versions altogether. BUT there is a new study that says otherwise! The observational study, published in PLOS Medicine, tracked the health and diet of more than 500,000 adults in China for seven years. It found that those without diabetes at the start who ate fresh fruit daily were found to have a 12 percent lower risk of developing the disease than those

Our skin is our biggest organ and though our cosmetics are only topical, they can still be absorbed into our body. Toxic cosmetic ingredients can cause hormonal imbalances, respiratory issues, and may be carcinogenic. It only takes 6 seconds for the product to go into your bloodstream! Here are toxic ingredients: Benzalkonium chloride: a disinfectant used as a preservative and surfactant associated with severe skin, eye and respiratory irritation and allergies. Found in: suns

Do you have any of the following symptoms? Breast pain Cysts of lumps Fibrocystic changes Breast Tenderness Change in breast size If you have any of these symptoms, it could represent an imbalance of your hormones. Both progesterone and estrogen play a major role in the health of your breast tissue. Estrogen is involved in cellular growth and breast development, and progesterone protects and helps slow tissue growth. A balance between estrogen and progesterone sets up a stag

In celebration of International Women's Day, here are some tips at reducing your breast cancer risk! Add More Fruits and Vegetables to Your Diet: Vegetables found in the brassica family have been shown to be beneficial cancer fighters. These include broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower and many more. Berries, cherries, kale, tomatoes and spinach contain nutrients that promote cellular health and protect the cell from damage. Maintain A Healthy Weight: Being overweight not o

Often times, patients are put on birth control because they are either experiencing acne, heavy periods, PMS symptoms or not even experiencing a period at all. However, is this really treating the cause of your irregular periods or is it just masking the root cause? I tend to think so. The birth control pill, though necessary in certain cases to prevent unwanted pregnancies can be beneficial, is really suppressing your symptoms of something that is occurring on a deeper level

The basic vital signs include your blood pressure, pulse, temperature, rate of breath, and pulse ox. However, females have another vital sign we need to pay attention to. This vital sign is YOUR MENSTRUAL CYCLE - YOUR PERIOD. Your menstrual cycle provides an insight into your overall health, hormonal imbalances, and other deficiencies. I recommend to all my patients to start tracking their periods and symptoms. This can easily be done through your smartphone using period or f

Is it adrenal fatigue? Hypothyroidism? Estrogen dominance? It's never just one thing. These all represent very common symptoms patients are feeling and of those I see everyday in my practice. Women depend on a proper OAT axis - a three legged stool. When one leg is out, the whole system starts to crumble. OAT AXIS = OVARY ADRENAL THYROID Common Symptoms of OAT Dysfunction Fatigue Depression or Anxiety Irregular or heavy periods Hypoglycemia Tender breasts Hair loss Dry skin M