Struggling with Hormone Imbalance

Living with hormone imbalance is challenging to say the least, not only does it have the power to make our relationships with those we love more difficult but it can also leave us feeling overwhelmed.
If you struggle with the symptoms of female hormone imbalance such as frequent headaches, hormonal acne, irregular periods, depression, PMS, hair loss or have even been clinically diagnosed with a form of hormonal dysfunction then you may find some of the information on this page helpful.

Most of the information found on 'Life Beyond Hormone Imbalance' is guided towards natural therapies covering several different health alternatives to modern medicine such as Bowen, acupuncture, kinesiology(applied and energetic), reiki, iridology, herbal supplementation and Traditional Eastern medicine.
It is my belief that in conjunction with a healthy and balanced lifestyle natural therapies are essential to re-balancing the body and bringing it back to a state of better health.

Firstly I would like to say that I personally have never been formally diagnosed with a hormone imbalance by a doctor but in my experience this only means they weren't able to locate the cause of all my symptoms with the use of modern medicine and current diagnostic techniques.
Only 2 years ago did I come to the conclusion that 'modern medicine' just wasn't for me as it failed to give me the results I was looking for.
Since then my direction has moved towards natural therapies as an alternative and I have been very pleased with the results.

HOWEVER, in saying that, if you are currently seeking treatment for any condition under the guidance of a health care professional (doctor) consult him/her, a trained Naturopath or traditional Chinese doctor before you decide to make any drastic changes to your current health care regimen as these changes can often cause more upset to the body and need to be transitioned carefully under the close monitoring of a professional.
Also bear in mind that any health and medical treatment should not be a one size fits all approach but tailored specifically to your health care requirements.
Last but not least... DON'T be afraid to get a second opinion if you are not happy with your current treatment, fortunately there are plenty of amazing alternatives to suit the individual.

'What Can I Do to Improve My Symptoms'?

Firstly, try to remember that everybody is different and what works for one person may not necessarily work for you and vice-versa.
Even most holistic treatments need to be monitored so seek specialist advice from a Naturopath or trained professional before trying new treatments.
I had the unfortunate situation of learning this through experience when I tried maca root, which is remarkable in balancing the endocrine system, unfortunately my body has too much Yang in the form of  'heat' in the body so taking warming herbs such as maca caused added inflammation and aggravation of my symptoms.
If you suffer from hormonal acne (around the chin or jaw line) then I suggest going to a traditional Chinese doctor who practises eastern medicine.

Secondly, a good liver detox will also help the body to eliminate accumulated toxins that store in the liver from alcohol, processed foods, chemicals in the environment, 'bad' fats, non-complex carbohydrates (processed carbs) and products containing refined sugar.
In my experience Sandra Cabot's 'Liver Cleansing Diet' is fantastic and has really worked for numerous people.
Not only does her book contain an 8 week step-by-step detox but it also contains recipes and information that will completely change your perception of food altogether.
Sandra also offers access to personal support and is always willing to respond to emails regarding questions about the program or specific health issues.

Following are a list of things to take into consideration when living with hormone imbalance;

MAINTAIN A HEALTHY DIET

The first thing to remember about dietary intake when suffering from hormone imbalance is to AVOID consuming too much refined sugar and processed carbs.
Insulin production has been proven to affect hormonal bio-chemistry thus exacerbating symptoms.
AVOID foods that contain refined sugars (even raw sugar is a no-no), avoid caffeine, and definitely avoid ALCOHOL.
These days there are numerous other healthy alternatives to refined sugar such as coconut sugar and organic honey which are both available in most organic supermarkets or health food stores.
Personally I even avoid soy because it is highly processed and takes so long for the body to digest with very minimal nutritional benefits.
Nut milks and butters are always a better alternative to dairy or soy.
Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables will inevitably have a positive impact on your overall health; also, try to incorporate fresh vegetable juices into your daily routine and always drink plenty of water, usually in small amounts frequently throughout the day.

Don't starve yourself

Excessive and rapid weight loss has been linked to hormone problems.
The female body needs a healthy amount of body fat to produce oestrogen so don't yo yo diet and maintain a healthy BMI (body mass index).
Maintaining a balanced diet is the key to good health and EFA's are essential to the bodies' neural pathways and organs.

Books;
Encyclopedia of Medicinal Foods, Joseph.M.Kadans
Sandra Cabot's 'Liver Cleansing Diet'
Inner Cleansing, Carlson Wade

STRESS LESS

Stress is known to cause numerous health problems including that of the bodies' natural balance of hormones.
When we get stressed, the body produces cortisol in the adrenal glands; too much cortisol throws out the balance of the other hormone producing glands like the thyroid, pituitary and hypothalamus (the ovaries are also affected by excess secretion of cortisol).
It is easier said than done to simply 'stop stressing' particularly with the enormous pressure on women to perform in the professional sphere at the same time as the domestic.
Women are working anywhere up to double what they used to 20 years ago and with the economic conditions the way they are, women are forced back to work a lot sooner after child bearing.
All these factors contribute to high levels of stress in women.

Take Time Out for YOU

The best way to combat stress is to take time out at least once or even twice a week if possible.
Things like Yoga and Bowen have been noted to dramatically reduce stress levels in women and men leaving more room for the body to recuperate after long periods of stress with no relief.

EXERCISE REGULARLY

Exercise is probably the single most important factor to over all health!
Not only does regular exercise maintain good cardiovascular health, but studies have shown that it also plays an important role in reducing depression and stress.
Additional benefits of regular exercise include;
- lowered risk of developing heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure
- reduces feelings of anxiety and depression
- promotes positive self image and feelings of well being
- releases endorphins the 'feel good' chemicals in the brain
- helps control weight
- increases fitness

GET PLENTY OF SLEEP

Make sure to get adequate rest; try to get at least 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep a night.
Having a better night sleep will help to maintain healthy levels of dopamine and serotonin which can help to alleviate the symptoms associated with endocrine disorders and imbalances.

Herbal Remedies

Important: Before taking any herbal supplements seek professional advice.
Supplements taken in the wrong circumstance and in the inappropriate dosage can have the opposite effect and prolong the healing process.

Good Luck xx


 
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My Story

Living with hormone imbalance has been an incredibly painful and frustrating journey; there have been days where I really felt like giving up on life, I was so helpless with no idea of what to try next.
I still have days where I ask myself 'why is this happening to me?' it's almost as if I see every other woman in the world as being perfect and I'm the one that got lumped with all the effort of managing a body that isn't working quite the way it's supposed to.
Now I know that's not true and that there are other women out there suffering in the same way; only when I was down, I never saw it that way, I always thought I was alone and that I always would be.
For me the hormone problems started to present themselves when I was about 19 but I didn't really understand what hormone imbalance was or that it was the cause of some of my health issues.
I continued living as if nothing was wrong and had my first child at 22 and after 6 months of severe abdominal pain was booked in for a laparoscopy for Endometriosis.
I had numerous blood tests which all came back negative so life went on as normal.
At the age of 28 I fell pregnant with my second child and was not at all healthy, I was depressed and had negative self image. I ate badly, smoked and was completely angry with life.
I had a massive chip on my shoulder which in hindsight must have only contributed to my physical symptoms.
During my pregnancy I gained over 29 kilos and felt really uncomfortable with fluid retention in my face, arms and legs. My face had broken out with hormonal acne and unfortunately as the pregnancy progressed it got worse.
I had never considered before falling pregnant that I had a hormonal imbalance or deficiency and the unfortunate thing that no one tells you is that if you have underlying hormone issues they will most definitely be amplified throughout pregnancy.
After the birth, one of the first things I noticed was an inability to produce milk on demand and although baby and I were feeding like crazy my milk diminished at 5 months.
I was exhausted and people often commented on how tired I looked. I felt drained and didn't seem to be absorbing nutrients from food.
My next major concern was that maybe I was really sick with an auto-immune disorder or worse... cancer!
The headaches started when my daughter was only 6 months and before too long I was waking up in the morning with a headache and going to bed with one as well, in fact I can only remember two or three days in my cycle where I was free from agony.
Approximately two days before my period I would be incapacitated in bed with full body aches particularly in the hips and legs. It took so much for me to keep from crying and no matter how much Panadol or Nurofen I took it didn't stop the pain.
I went on like that for months until I'd finally had enough!
I was tired of my children seeing me like that and for the most part I struggled to have the patience for my daughter who suffered badly from colic.
At that point I wanted answers and most of all a SOLUTION and so my journey began.
I went from doctor to doctor until finally I found one that took me seriously, previous to that I had seen several doctors all of whom said that 'it was all in my head', 'I was suffering from post natal depression' or that I needed to quit smoking and my problems would be fixed, I agreed that smoking may be a contributing factor and at a later stage when I was ready I quit but my symptoms still persisted.
It wasn't until I'd exhausted all avenues in the modern medical system that it occurred to me that I may never find out what's causing my symptoms; so far I'd had an MRI, X-ray, CT Scan, osteopathy, a phenomenal amount of blood tests, a Gastroscopy, Colonoscopy (which was very traumatic due to waking up mid procedure in theatre with instruments still at work, not at all fun and painful)! All of this and still not even one step closer to relief.
Life during this period was a roller coaster and I'm still not sure how our family survived it.

One conversation with a girlfriend changed everything!
Throughout this time I had been in regular contact with a close friend who often spoke of natural therapies, even after having a background in herbal remedies I'd never considered natural therapies and even so I had no idea where to begin. She referred me to a Bowen therapist and I was excited at the possibility that my symptoms may improve with taking up this kind of treatment.
The first appointment was amazing and really opened my mind to the potential of natural therapies. I continued Bowen and noticed considerable improvement in my symptoms with every treatment.
After 6 months I realised that my lifestyle and health had improved dramatically, I was eating healthier, I was exercising and finally the headaches had subsided to once or twice a month not everyday.
The Bowen therapist felt that we needed to be more specific in treating the cause so she sent me to a Chiropractic Kinesiologist for extra diagnosis and treatment.
Kinesiology (applied) was an interesting technique that I had never experienced before, after the treatment I did notice some additional improvements in my health however I had a reaction to the intensity of the treatment and broke out with major hormonal acne due to long lasting dietary and hormonal deficiencies.
The chiropractic side of the treatment was amazing and after only 2 treatments I noticed that my posture was somewhat improved, something that most of us take for granted but is such an important part of our overall health.
I ceased the treatment of Kinesiology only for the fact that I found it difficult to cope with the acne breakout and didn't want my confidence to be affected, after all it was difficult enough having confidence with all the health issues at best.
From there I tried Iridology which again was AMAZING but is not a treatment I could consider for the long term; it was quite expensive but was really great for detoxing the body.
I eventually went back to Bowen which I found to be the most effective option in my situation and in my condition. I could relax when I went there, it was affordable and it was definitely working because I was feeling a lot better than when I started this whole process.
Still there was something not quite right and no matter how many sessions of Bowen I had it was still having a symptomatic affect on my life. Many times when I took the recommended herbs or essences I would suffer severe PMS and aggressive behaviour completely out of my control.
I felt like I was losing it with no understanding why? I was improving but other things were getting worse. Many times I was told that it was a side effect of the healing process sometimes referred to as 'healing crisis'. I took that as a possible explanation and dismissed my concerns.
I still continued Bowen treatment right up until Christmas last year and then decided I would have a break to see how I went. As it stands today I still have many symptoms of hormone imbalance but the main thing is I feel a whole lot better than what I did 3 years ago when I started.
Most recently I found Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and even my GP (who used to be an acupuncturist) has told me that it works wonders on problems that the current medical system can't identify i.e. hormonal imbalances being one of them, I'm extremely excited to see how this new treatment goes and have heard many great things about TCM so fingers crossed.:)
On a final note, always be sure to empower yourself with as much information as you can about any treatment you are considering and most of all don't give up, talk to someone if you ever feel overwhelmed. I believe there is hope for all of us.
You can also follow my personal and regularly updated blog where you can hear about the latest treatments, herbs and supplements that are helping 'hormone imbalance' for me.