Every year, thousands of women seek treatment for hormone imbalance. This imbalance is brought about by the aging process, environmental factors, and genetics.

In the past, physicians prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT),  which used synthetic hormones to treat those symptoms. However, HRT is not a natural treatment, and it caused unfortunate side effects in some patients.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has emerged as an alternative to HRT. Since its development, BHRT has been used to treat women who suffer from symptoms related to Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and to help with menopausal side effects.

The advantage BHRT offers over traditional treatment is that its hormones are derived from plants, making BHRT a natural and safer alternative to synthetic hormones. BHRT hormones contain the same molecular structure as those produced naturally within the body. Thus, a person registers no difference between BHRT hormones and those produced within her body. Another advantage is that BHRT is unique and tailored to meet the exact requirements of the patient, as opposed to the one-size-fits-all approach of HRT.

Just as a prudent consumer would check product quality regarding anything she puts in her body, one should always err on the side of caution and choose natural treatments whenever possible.

In addition to BHRT, an holistic approach would include other facets of your life, such as sleep, diet, and exercise. An adult typically requires seven to nine hours of sleep in a 24-hour period. Some older adults have difficulties sleeping at night, but daytime naps can help make up for that lost sleep.

Depending upon your oestrogen levels, as determined by your physician, your diet may need include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, and cabbage. These greens will help modulate oestrogen.

If your oestrogen levels are low, it may also a good idea to include phytoestrogens in your diet. These abound in soya foods, flax seeds, sunflower seeds, bean sprouts, and legumes, such as beans and peas. These foods can help balance your hormones naturally. Your physician may also suggest other dietary supplements as necessary.

Exercise should also be part of a complete treatment program. While you do not have to devote hours of your time to the local gym, a reasonable amount of moderate exercise is necessary to facilitate a healthy internal system and body weight. This can be accomplished with regular cardio or aerobic workouts, or at the very least, a regular walking or jogging exercise routine as recommended by your physician. When you maintain a healthy weight, your body can moderate your hormones naturally.

Stress management is also important for a complete addressing of hormone imbalance. In addition to regular exercise and an informed diet, meditation is a valuable tool to lower stress levels. If you do not meditate, simply practicing deep breathing for 15 minutes a day, twice a day can improve your sense of well-being and thus, lower stress.

BHRT, when used in a comprehensive medical treatment program that includes a nutritional diet, regular exercise and proper sleep, can lead to faster healing, a reduction in symptoms, and a natural and higher quality of life.

If you would like to know more about how an holistic approach to medical treatment can benefit you, please contact me.