Dr. Gerann Murphy

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Hormonal Health

Hormones are molecular messengers produced by various glands throughout the body that regulate behaviour and physiology

What are hormones?
Hormones are molecular messengers produced by various glands throughout the body that regulate behaviour and physiology. All hormones interact with and effect each other. When balanced, they help us to age well, feel rested and energized, maintain a healthy weight, preserve proper immune function, regulate reproductive health, etc. An imbalance in any single hormone can affect the entire endocrine (hormonal) system, and ultimately other systems (immune, digestive, nervous, etc.) with which the endocrine system interacts.
How do hormones become imbalanced?
  • Stress – emotional upset, mental exertion, over-exercise, etc.
  • Poor diet – sugar, inflammatory foods, lack of nutrients to produce hormones
  • Lack of sleep – healthy hormones require healthy sleep-wake cycles
  • Chronic illness, infections and pain – forms of physiological stress
  • Medications – interrupt hormone pathways and deplete vitamins and minerals necessary for hormone production
  • Food sensitivities – causing chronic inflammation and nutrient malabsorption (both physiological stressors)
  • Toxic exposure – many environmental toxins are hormone disrupters
Hormonal imbalances commonly treated:
Estrogen dominance:

  • Fibroids
  • Heavy and/or painful menstruation
  • Fibrocystic breasts
  • Breast tenderness
  • PMS
  • Low libido

Associated with:

  • Hypothyroid symptoms
  • Autoimmune disease

Progesterone deficiency:

  • Menstrual irregularities
  • Repeat miscarriages
  • Anxiety
  • Acne
  • Insomnia
  • Fluid retention
  • Low libido

Healthy ratios of estrogen and progesterone are protective of cardiovascular and bone health, and preventive for hormonally driven cancers. Both hormones can be tested via blood, saliva or urine.

Insulin resistance:

  • Bloating
  • Weight gain around abdomen
  • Difficulty losing weight
  • Depression
  • Brain fog
  • Poor focus
  • Sleepiness after meals
  • Increased hunger

Associated with:

    • Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS)

Elevated blood sugar, triglycerides and fasting insulin, and low SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) on blood tests are diagnostic of insulin resistance.

Hypothyroidism:

        • Fatigue
        • Cold intolerance
        • Hair loss
        • Dry skin
        • Brittle nails
        • Constipation
        • Weight gain
        • Mental fog
        • Menstrual changes

A TSH (blood test) above 2.0 combined with symptoms may be suggestive of this condition.

Adrenal stress:

        • Fatigue
        • Achy
        • Morning sluggishness
        • Allergies (new or worsening)
        • Increasing infections
        • Difficulty recovering from infections
        • Poor blood sugar control
        • Low blood sugar
        • Low blood pressure
        • Low libido
        • Impaired memory
        • Feel unable to cope
        • Inability to handle stress
        • ‘Burnt out’ feeling
        • Fertility concerns
        • Salt and sugar cravings
        • Tired, but wired

Adrenal stress (or fatigue), appropriately coined the 21st Century Stress Syndrome (by Dr. James L. Wilson), is one of the most common endocrine conditions, and results from unrelenting stress. It’s often implicated in the cause and/or worsening of other hormonal imbalances. A salivary hormone test assessing 24 hour cortisol and DHEAS levels can help to determine the degree of adrenal stress, as well as how to best approach treatment.

Perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms:

        • Irregular periods
        • Hot flashes and night sweats
        • Mood changes (depression, anxiety, irritability)
        • Sleep difficulties
        • Loss of libido
        • Vaginal dryness
        • Weight gain
        • Fatigue
        • Hair loss or thinning
        • Poor concentration
        • Allergies
        • Headaches
        • Muscle tension
How are hormonal imbalances treated?

Given that all hormones interact with and affect each other, there is often overlap in different types of hormonal imbalances that will present uniquely from patient to patient. Accordingly, treatment is customized to reflect these unique symptoms, as well as the needs of each patient.

Treatment could include a plan for reducing stress, nutritional counseling and liver support to optimize hormone metabolism, help establishing healthy sleep-wake cycles, acupuncture, and the use of herbal medicines or bioidentical hormones to balance hormonal excesses or deficiencies.

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