A Successful Story utilizing Functional Medicine:
Are you tired of trying different hormone combinations to try to control your menopausal/Peri-menopausal symptoms. Have the hormones left you feeling worse? Did the hormones seem to help in the beginning but now your symptoms are back? Let’s look at a successful case of hormone symptoms that was corrected without adding in hormones.
Janet is a 61 year white woman suffering with hot flashes, night sweats, decreased libido and concerns about the loss of skin elasticity /wrinkles 😦 As prescribed by her OBGYN, she was put on an estrogen patch. In addition, her last chiropractor recommended she try Dong Quai and Black Cohosh.Unfortunately, her symptoms persisted.
Based on her medical history and review of her medical records, I decided to take a look at her estrogen metabolism. In addition, the hormone also evaluated her progesterone, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), estriol, DHEA, testosterone, SHBG, free androgen index.
Unlike the hormone tests ordered by most traditional medical physician which commonly include, FSH, LH and estradiol, the above profile is far superior and provides a wealth of information in helping you zero in on glitches within the hormonal pathways.
In the postmenopausal woman, estradiol arises from estrone. Estrone and estradiol are reversible reactions.
Her test showed that Janet’s estrone was outside the normal range and her estradiol was significantly depressed.
Now something interesting is occurring and this something is quite significant and if overlooked and not addressed will put Janet’s health in further jeopardy.
Remember, this is not something the traditional physician will commonly test and to be quite honest, what you are about to learn is a major component in saving a lot of women from the dread of breast cancer, auto-immune diseases and cardiovascular disease.
Her test showed that there was a biochemical/hormonal glitch in the estrone =======>estradiol pathway. IT WAS NOT A NEED FOR MORE HORMONES!
Why do you think the estrogen patch did not help?
Do you think she would have felt any better with bio-identical hormone replacement like bi-est?
Well, this lies in the fact that she was unable to convert estrone to estradiol. With the treatment protocol I placed her on, Janet’s symptoms quickly improved.
Now I know.. I know… you are asking what did I recommend for Janet to help her? The cookbook approach to nutrition is simply a “crap shoot” and may or may not help you.
Ok.. my main course of treatment was to simply open up the backed up flood gates of estrone to “fuel” the bottomed out estradiol. This was done by adding in supplements such as Cruciferous Complete which contains indole-3-carbinol and Calcium D-glucarate. These two items contained in Cruciferous Complete have been show to facilitate the conversion of estrone to estradiol. She was also encouraged to eat four to five serving of cruciferous vegetables a day.
There is more to Janet’s protocol, however, the above played a significant role in helping her get better. Now isn’t that the way you want to your Doctor to address your health… Evidenced Based Nutrition using Functional Medicine.
Functional Medicine helps us discover the real CAUSE of your problems.
If you would like a more comprehensive way to regain your health utilizing Functional Medicine, please call our office today.