The Natural Hormone
Solution
by Henry C. Sobo, M.D.
Synthetic female hormones are among the most widely prescribed medications
in our country today. They are prescribed most often at menopause for
symptoms such as hot flashes, but also as a preventive measure against
osteoporosis. In younger age groups they are prescribed for other hormone
related problems. There are many side effects associated with hormone
therapy (just look at the package insert) and there are also great
concerns over the long term risks, such as an increased risk of cancer.
Many women thinking that there is no choice but to accept the risks, are
among the millions on standard synthetic hormone replacement. Other women
knowing about the side effects and risks refuse to take hormones, possibly
denying themselves help with problems they suffer from. Many women are
switching to the use of natural hormones to get the help they need and
avoid the side effects and risks.
What are "natural" hormones?
There are some misconceptions about them. First, natural hormones are not
herbs, and they are not combinations of nutrients and plant sources which
are meant to mimic the effect of hormones. Natural hormones are true
hormones made by a compounding pharmacy and available by a doctor's
prescription only. You might ask, how are they called natural if they are
hormones made by a pharmacy? Natural hormones are also called
"bio-identical" hormones because the compound, extracted from a
natural source, such as soy or yams, is the same hormone that the women's
body has produced for itself over the years. Therefore when these natural
hormones are prescribed, what the women is getting is a replenishment of
something that has become deficient in the body. The logic of the
treatment is that it seems safer to replenish a deficiency of a hormone by
giving it, rather than using a synthetic chemical to mimic the
effects of the women's own natural hormones. Studies showing risks of
hormone replacement have been done on women taking the synthetic hormones.
One more comment about what passes as
"natural" hormones in many cases. Over the counter in health
food stores are what are labeled as natural progesterone creams. These
creams may not reliably deliver progesterone to the body. It's important
to understand that applying a cream made from yam is not the same as a
pharmaceutical extraction from yam leaving you with true progesterone.
Finally, it is important to mention we can
treat men as well as women with natural hormones. From young adulthood to
the elderly natural hormones may be used to treat many conditions
including PMS, mood swings, sleep disorders, migraine and other headaches,
weight gain, bloating, breast tenderness, food cravings, hair loss, hot
flashes/ night sweats, depression/anxiety, loss of sex drive/ difficult
intercourse, osteoporosis, digestive problems and acne.
___________________
Dr. Sobo practices Holistic Medicine in Stamford, CT. More
information is available at www.drsobo.com
and he can be reached at 203-348-8805. or contacted at optimalhealthmed@aol.com.
Dr. Sobo completed his Medical residency training in Internal Medicine at
the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. He is a Board
Certified Member of the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. This is
the certifying national organization of physicians with a specialty
interest in weight reduction. He is also a member of the American College
for Advancement in Medicine. This is the largest national organization of
doctors practicing nutritionally oriented medicine.