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Natural Hormone Therapy & Anti-Aging Medicine
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What is Natural Hormone Therapy?
Natural Hormone Therapy involves prescribing one or more bio-identical hormones to balance and correct conditions resulting from low hormone levels in the body. These natural, bio-identical hormones are highly preferable to the use of synthetic hormones because the human body has receptors for natural hormones and no such receptors exist for synthetic hormones.
What are hormones?
Hormones are bio-chemical messengers produced by glands in the body that circulate in the bloodstream and regulate the actions of nearly every bodily function. The body contains more than 100 different types of hormones. They are crucial to every single function of the human body, including sleeping and waking, blood pressure, growth, stimulation of the body to produce energy and heat, burning fat, controlling reproduction, sex drive, virility and fertility. They stimulate the brain, regulate mood and fight depression. As we age, our hormone levels decrease and signs of aging appear. Good health may begin to fade.
Some of the hormones most frequently used in Natural Hormone Therapy include: Thyroid, Cortisol, Testosterone, Estrogen, Progesterone, DHEA, Human Growth Hormone, Melatonin, and Pregnenolone.
It is rare to find only a single hormone deficiency, and treatment usually consists of "balancing" a number of hormones in the same patient. However, each individual hormone has a general clinical picture. Here are some examples:
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Testosterone Deficiency
- Flabbiness, muscular weakness
- Hair loss in women
- Lack of energy and stamina
- Loss of coordination and balance
- Indecisiveness
- Decreased sex drive
Thyroid Deficiency
- Sensitivity to cold
- Fatigue, especially in the a.m.
- Weight gain
- Poor memory and concentration
- Constipation
- Muscular cramps
- Infertility
- Dry skin and brittle hair
Estrogen Deficiency
- Mental fogginess
- Forgetfulness
- Depression
- Mood swings
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Dry eyes, skin, and vagina
- Headaches and migraines
Human Growth Hormone Deficiency
- Poor general health
- Sagging skin
- Increased anxiety
- Loss of vitality and energy
- Resistance to new ideas
- Increased social isolation
- More body fat
- Reduced muscle mass and strength
- Constant fatigue
Treatment Procedures
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Home Questionnaire
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An initial office visit for evaluation and examination
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Laboratory tests
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A follow-up visit a few weeks later may include diet suggestions, supplement recommendations, discussion of lifestyle factors, goals for the treatment program, and prescriptions for hormones to be carefully formulated by a compounding pharmacy.
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A follow-up visit within 3 months for adjustments to the treatment plan. Additional laboratory testing may be necessary.
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Visits scheduled 6-12 months thereafter for evaluation and maintenance of the treatment program.
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