Naturopathic Approach to Balance Women’s Hormones

Hormonal imbalance in women is one of the most common reasons women seek naturopathic care. Your endocrine system is responsible for the production and regulation of hormones. If disrupted, your endocrine system will produce too much or too little hormones throwing off a harmonious balance.

Hormonal imbalance in women looks differentlyin every woman and can include the imbalance of sex hormones such as estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones such as TSH, T3 and T4, as well as insulin, cortisol, and many more. Hormonal imbalance inwomen often present as a result of underlying conditions such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, pituitary conditions, eating disorders, insulin resistance and diabetes, adrenal condition, menopause and more.

A naturopathic doctor will approach women’s hormonal imbalance through comprehensive testing and investigation to get to the root cause of symptoms.

Signs and Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance in Women

Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women are vast and complicated. An assessment by a naturopathic doctor can help get to the root cause of the symptoms of hormonal imbalance. Women can also commonly experience many different hormonal imbalances at once.  Symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women can include, but are not limited to:

• Irregular menstrual cycle

• Painful or heavy periods

• Mood swings

• Infertility

• Insomnia

• Low sex drive

• Weight loss or weight gain that’s unexplained

• Bowel changes (constipation or diarrhea)

• Hair loss

• Skin changes

• Acne

• Fatigue

• Hot flashes

• And much more!

Causes of Hormonal Imbalance in Women

The causes of hormonal imbalance can include: underlying physiological conditions that alter hormone levels such as polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), endometriosis, fibroids, and thyroid conditions, medications such as birth control pills, stress, eating disorders and malnutrition, pituitary conditions, adrenal conditions, hormone replacement, perimenopause and menopause, pregnancy and postpartum and more. Causes of hormonal imbalance can also include external and environmental factors such as the use of plastics in food, pesticides, and exposure to radiation or environmental toxins.

Women Hormone Imbalance Testing and Treatment

Hormonal imbalance testing is important to determine which underlying condition or body system may be responsible. Hormonal imbalance testing can involve the use of laboratory testing, such as blood testing, as well as functional testing, such as urine or saliva hormone testing. Hormonal imbalance testing often involves testing the body’s key hormones based on presenting symptoms.

Hormonal imbalance treatment by a naturopathic doctor is completely tailored and individualized to the patient’s unique needs. No two hormonal imbalances will present the same and the hormonal imbalance treatment is therefore carefully personalized to everybody’s own unique needs.

Female Hormone Balancing Diet Plan

You really are what you eat! A hormone balancing diet plan focuses on optimizing the body’s nutritional needs to ensure the proper functioning of hormone production and use.

A hormone balancing diet plan is unique to every body’s needs. After all, not everybody will thrive on the same foods! However, a hormone balancing diet plan can include, but is not limited to:

• Adequate protein intake: Making sure your body is receiving high quality plant and/or animal sources of protein with every meal.

• Ditching inflammatory foods: Refined grains such as white flours, processed sugars such as prepackaged candies, and inflammatory oils such as those high in omega 6 and arachidonic acid like canola oil are all foods that can cause an increase in inflammation.

• Adequate healthy fat intake: Making sure you are consuming enough healthy fats daily for proper hormone functioning! This includes nuts and seeds, olive oils and polyunsaturated oils, avocados, and fatty fish.

How Naturopathy can Help with Women’s Hormones

A naturopathic doctor can help you get to the root cause of your symptoms of hormonal imbalance! Naturopathic doctors use both traditional and modern, evidence-based approaches to treat your body using a holistic, mind-body approach. Seeking a naturopath for hormonal imbalance can help you on your health journey to balanced hormones, clearer skin, better moods, and so much more.