This Week In The HSI Forum
It appears that quite a few HSI members have found relief from
menopause symptoms with bioidentical hormone replacement
therapy.
In the e-Alert “Matchmaker,” (11/17/04), I told you about bioidentical hormones, which are derived from estrogen-like plant compounds, and are identical to natural hormones in the body. The chemical makeup of synthetic HRT is not identical.
A member named Barb starts off one of the several bioidentical HRT threads on the HSI Forum with this question: “Have read a couple of books about bio-identical (natural) hormone replacement therapy for women after menopause. Is anyone currently on a protocol for this and what has been your experience?”
Barb receives some very informative responses, including this one from a member named Seana: “I have been on a variety of hormone replacement options over the years. Regardless of what I tried, I had many unwanted side effects (acne, sweating, fluid retention, etc. etc.). About 3 years ago, I started seeing an excellent endocrinologist. At the time I was only taking estrogen. He started me on bio identical testosterone at that time – I had no side effects. I had more energy, libido, improved skin texture and felt better overall. Because I still experienced some beneficial results from the estrogen I was taking at the time, he didn’t want to tamper with it. After reading up on bio-identical estrogen, I asked to be switched to a bio-identical tri-estrogen compound. All side effects I experienced with other therapies went away almost immediately.
“I have been very happy with the results whereas I had been miserable for years with other therapies. My doctor prescribes these bio-identical hormones through a compounding pharmacy called Women’s International Pharmacy. They mail me both the estrogen and testosterone each month.
“Since each person reacts differently to hormone therapy, I recommend keeping a daily journal of how you respond to the therapy. A good doctor and knowledge of treatment options are a must. I wish you good luck and patience – any of these therapies take some time to build up a therapeutic value in your system.”
A member named Mary describes how taking the synthetic Prednisone caused her adrenals to atrophy. Her therapist prescribed a natural “adrenal formula” designed to nourish the adrenal glands and help with calcium absorption. After describing the details of this formula, Mary writes: “She also advised that I not skip meals, and pay attention to my protein intake as protein moves the hormones through the bloodstream. The hot flashes stopped within two weeks and I am blessedly free of the menopausal symptoms that plague so many of my friends. I have recommended the adrenal-support approach to several other women – none of whom have had hysterectomies – and all found it successful.”
A member named Leppert stresses the need to find the right balance of hormones. “My Naturopath had me start on one combination for ten days and then ‘tweaked’ it. The very first night I had the best sleep since I don’t remember when. Apparently I needed mostly progesterone to start and then she added a couple different natural estrogens so that it is balanced. Am doing great and no hot flashes. She did do an adrenal test and has me on an adrenal support remedy too. She also has me taking 100 mg of DHEA every morning. This is not a do-it-yourself job. You need to get some testing done and then work with your Dr. to adjust it as needed.”
Leppert’s advice is absolutely correct. If you feel that this type of HRT may be right for you, it’s essential to find a health care practitioner who is knowledgeable about bioidenticals. Physician referrals can be found on the web site for the American College for the Advancement in Medicine (acam.org), or the American Academy of Environmental Medicine (aaem.com).
Other topics on the HSI Forum this week include:
Blueberry juice
Weight loss help
What should I know about MRI’s?
Calcium/magnesium
Heart palpitations
Nausea and hayfever
To join in with any of these discussions, just go to our web site at www.hsionline.com, find your way to the Forum, and add your own insights and comments about health, nutrition and natural treatments.
Monday, November 29, 2004
Searching for Willard Scott
If you’re a woman with diabetes, you might have been alarmed to come across news reports stating simply that vitamin C may increase mortality in diabetic women. But it turns out there’s a lot
more to it than that. And a lot less too. We’ll take the scare out of the scare headlines with a vitamin C reality check for diabetics.
http://www.hsionline.com/ea2004/ea_041129.shtml
Tuesday, November 30, 2004
Dining by the Sea
On the final day of Diabetes Awareness Month, we examine a new study from Italy that demonstrates how a famous diet may help overcome insulin resistance and lower heart disease risk while
addressing other health problems associated with type 2 diabetes. tp://www.hsionline.com/ea2004/ea_041130.shtml
Wednesday, December 1, 2004
Ready to Rumble
Something very destructive is headed our way, and it will have a deeply negative impact on your right to make your own healthcare decisions. We’ll take a look at some of the warning signs that
reveal the urgency of this critical health issue.
http://www.hsionline.com/ea2004/ea_041201.shtml
Thursday, December 2, 2004
Train off the Track
Which is healthier? Trans fatty acids or saturated fats? That’s sort of like comparing cigarette smoking to nail biting: they’re both bad habits, but one of them just might lead to an early demise. A recent survey showed that 40 percent of consumers would take trans fats over saturated fats. We’ll tell you why that choice is dead wrong.
http://www.hsionline.com/ea2004/ea_041202.shtm
RAVEN MAD
RAVEN BAD
RAVEN SAD
A few people have tried to talk to me about itthe game, that is. But I just tell them, “Oh, didn’t you know? The Ravens didn’t play this week.”
Sure, there was a group of men in Raven uniforms that went to New England for a football game. But the team that I know didn’t show up – at least not after half-time.
Let me assure you that I am not one of those fans that gets angry at the team when they don’t do well, or calls for the heads of individual players. And nothing frustrates me more than people
that “boo” their own team. So this isn’t about anger or even disappointment. It’s genuine sadness.
It’s sadness over watching my team essentially fall apart in the worst way. Just as Kyle Boller was starting to get some honest kudos from the sports press, he throws his first interception in 120 pass attempts. Later, we have two blown snaps – one that was fumbled and returned for a touchdown.
It’s easy to pile on the excuses: Boller’s only ever played one game in the rain in his entire life – including high school; the field was a terrible mess; Jamal Lewis was out; the Pats are undefeated at home for some ridiculous period of timethere are a million excuses. But none of them explain why they had such an easy time moving the ball on us in the second half. One of the fiercest
defenses in the history of the game – the heart and soul of the franchise – melted in the rain like they were right out of the Wizard of Oz.
We didn’t just lose on Sunday, we got creamed. That’s something that doesn’t usually happen to this team. What worries me most is the fork in the road they’re facing. The playoff race in the AFC is a tight one and got even tighter on Sunday. They can chalk it up to a challenging learning experience and come out swinging, like the Jets did (after they lost to Baltimore in overtime they went on to win their next two games). Or they can follow the example of the Raiders (and so many others) whose teams fell apart after particularly bad performances in big games.
If I were Brian Billick, I would get Boller a tape of every great quarterback – Montana, Marino, Manning, Brady, Favre, all of ’emhaving a really awful game and then show the tape of them lighting up the stadium a week or two later. Because great players bounce back. Boller isn’t great yet, and if he lets Sunday’s game define him, he never will be.
Personally, I think they will bounce back. But if they thought it was going to be easy to reclaim their strength against the Bengals this Sunday, they better think again. The Bengals won an old
school shoot-out against the Browns, with the second highest combined score ever in the NFL. They’re coming off a week of great offense and a lot of exciting press. And it doesn’t help that we beat them at home earlier in the year so it’s a grudge match for Cincy. If I were a Bengals fan, I’d be doing a rain dance all week. If I were a Ravens coach, I’d make my team practice under sprinklersjust in case.