Menopause Symptoms-- and Alternatives to Traditional Treatment

Throughout a woman's lifetime she may encounter numerous hormone related symptoms or problems such as:

• Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation)
• Mood Swings--Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
• Infertility
• Endometriosis
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Premenopausal symptoms
• Weight gain
• Low libido
• Heart Disease
• Osteoporosis

Replacing hormones naturally provides for relief of menopause symptoms in women by achieving the proper balance required for all body systems to function in harmony.  As women approach menopause, they are faced with a difficult choice: whether or not to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT).  Without it, they face the discomfort of menopause - hot flashes, weight gain, night sweats and anxiety, to mention a few.  On the other hand taking the hormones may increase their risk of breast cancer.  It is unclear exactly what the long term effects of HRT may be since it has only been routinely prescribed for about the past 18 years.  Research suggests this is yet another good reason to eat more soy foods, fruits, vegetables, and grains.  Plant substances called phytoestrogens may offer some help.  The term "phytochemical" refers to the thousands of biologically active non-nutritive components in plants.  The physiologic properties of only a few are well understood.  Phytochemicals possess numerous biological effects, acting as antioxidants, enhancing immune function or having hormone-like characteristics.  Hence the name "phytoestrogens" for plant chemicals that act similar to estrogen.

Natural hormone replacement therapy (Natural HRT) needs to be carefully initiated after a woman's personal history, family history, and current medical condition are reviewed.  Because hormones have many functions throughout the body, the selection of hormone(s), dose and dosage form should be specific to each patient.  Every woman is unique and will respond to therapy in her own way.  Therefore close monitoring is important to be sure that proper dosage adjustments are made, and unnecessary side effects are avoided.

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Male Menopause -- Symptoms, Hormones, and Aging

As men age past year 40, hormonal changes occur that perceptibly inhibit physical, sexual, and cognitive function.  The outward appearance of a typical middle-aged male shows increased abdominal fat and shrinkage of muscle mass, a hallmark effect of hormone imbalance.  Loss of a feeling of well-being, sometimes manifesting as depression, is a common psychological complication of hormone imbalance.  Until recently these changes were attributed to "growing old," and men were expected to accept the fact that their bodies were entering into a long degenerative process that would someday result in death.

A remarkable amount of data has been compiled indicating that many of the male menopause symptoms that middle-aged men begin experiencing, including depression, fatigue, abdominal weight gain, alterations in mood and cognition, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, prostate disease, and heart disease, are directly related to hormone imbalances that are correctable with currently available drug and nutrient therapies.  Onset of these menopause symptoms usually occurs around age 40-50, although with smokers the onset is significantly earlier.  To the patient's detriment, conventional doctors are increasingly prescribing drugs to treat depression, elevated cholesterol, angina, and a host of other diseases that might be caused by and underlying hormone imbalance.

If doctors checked their male patients' blood levels of estrogen, testosterone, thyroid, and DHEA (instead of prescribing drugs to treat symptoms), they might be surprised to learn that many problems could be eliminated by adjusting hormone levels to fit the profile of a healthy 21-year old male.  Few physicians are familiar with the hormone blood tests that should be ordered for men, nor do they have the experience required to properly adjust hormones to reverse the degenerative changes that begin in mid life.  At Ford's Apothecary we provide patients and physicians with the information necessary to safely modulate hormone levels for the purpose of preventing and treating many of the common diseases associated with growing older.

At Ford's Apothecary personalized service is our specialty!  We make every effort to find natural ways to help you get and stay healthy.  Spend a moment with our health and wellness professionals.  We'll help you find and select the appropriate balance of vitamins, herbal products, or natural remedies.

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