BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY

By Lawrence Wilson, MD

Revised © 2007, LD Wilson Consultants, Inc.

 

                  More and more physicians agree that synthetic hormone replacement therapy is fraught with problems.  A growing number of holistic doctors, however, offer the less toxic bio-identical hormone replacement therapy.  In our experience, bio-identical hormone replacement is much better than the synthetic hormones.  However, there are still problems with it, as it usually does not correct underlying causes such as toxic metals and other metabolic imbalances that caused the hormone imbalances.  For this reason, it should be used only with caution and preferably only as a temporary solution and when no other solution will work.  Here are some concerns with hormone therapy that one should consider:

 

BIO-IDENTICAL HORMONE THERAPY PROBLEMS

 

1) Hormone therapy is often not needed if chemistry is balanced.  We find that if one corrects the diet, toxic metals, the oxidation rate and other imbalances through nutritional balancing science, many hormonal problems go away without the need for any hormone replacement.  If nutrient therapy is not sufficient, herbal therapy and other natural therapies are also often excellent.

 

2) Hormone therapy rarely addresses the cause of health problems.  Instead, it mainly treats symptoms.  Causes of hormone imbalances are nutrient deficiencies, toxic metal excesses, toxic chemicals and the effects of radiation, emotional imbalances and stress from other causes.  The only time hormone replacement addresses the cause is when the organ that produces the hormone is irreparably damaged so that it cannot function. 

                  For example, at menopause or after a hysterectomy with oophorectomy, the adrenal glands should produce enough estrogen and progesterone to prevent hot flashes and other symptoms.  Millions of women do just fine without hormone replacement if their adrenal glands are functioning normally.  Improving the adrenals and thyroid activity and balancing body chemistry often suffices to prevent and correct hot flashes and other symptoms associated with menopause.  In some cases, however, supplementary progesterone, in particular, may be helpful.  

                  For diabetics, Type 1 diabetes may require insulin.  However, many Type 2 diabetics can lower their blood sugar with dietary and lifestyle changes.

 

3) Hormone replacement therapy masks underlying problems.  One may receive relief from hot flashes, exhaustion or other annoying symptoms with natural hormone therapy.  However, underlying problems such as heavy metal toxicity, nutrient deficiencies or chemical toxicity continue unrecognized and unaddressed.  This can and does lead to more serious problems in the future.

 

4) Hormone replacement upsets the delicate hormone feedback systems in the body.  This is especially true of the steroid hormones (DHEA, pregnenolone, estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, androsterone and testosterone). 

                  We have found that hormone replacement may do much more harm than good by upsetting the delicate feedback mechanisms.  Giving a hormone affects others and may affect many areas of physical functioning.  The feedback systems are exceedingly complex.  It is difficult to monitor and figure out exactly how to regulate hormones, especially adrenal hormones.

 

5) One cannot provide the correct dosage of replacement hormones, as natural hormone secretion varies every minute of the day and night.   Replacement therapy substitutes a rigid routine for the delicate balancing act the body performs all day and all night long.  This can have adverse consequences on body systems.

                  A very important determinant in natural hormone secretion is one's lifestyle.  Exercise, rest, mental versus physical activity, emotional ups and downs, eating patterns, illnesses and other biochemical factors all affect natural hormone secretion on a moment-to-moment basis.

 

6) A hormone's metabolic effect is what is most important, not its serum, urine or saliva level.  However, serum, urine or saliva are how they are usually measured.   This is particularly a problem with thyroid and adrenal hormone monitoring.  The metabolic effect depends less on the level of circulating hormone and more on how much enters the cells and is metabolized properly within the cells.   For this reason, cellular tests such as hair mineral testing often reveal a very different picture than blood, urine and saliva tests that measure circulating hormone levels.

 

7) Even bio-identical hormones are toxic.  This is most evident with insulin.  Every physician is familiar with the care that must be used in administering insulin to avoid often-fatal insulin shock.

                  Estrogen is extremely toxic.  Many believe it is the primary carcinogen.  Studies of menopausal women on estrogen replacement would tend to support this.  Some toxicity of DHEA, pregnenelone, testosterone, growth hormone and others is also well-known.  Yet often these are prescribed casually with little consideration of possible toxic effects.

 

8) Hormone replacement therapy is costly.  The cost includes not only the substance itself, but repeated testing required to prescribe them in a responsible fashion.  Yet another cost is the need for long-term therapy.  Since they do not address causes, one is usually forced to remain on the replacement hormones for life.  In addition to the financial burden, one becomes dependent on tests and doctors that in itself extracts a human cost.  While this is better than dying of diabetes or Addison's disease, there are often better ways to handle these conditions discussed below.

 

 

INSULIN REPLACEMENT

                   

                  Diabetics on insulin may still suffer many complications of diabetes including vascular disease, blindness, infections, premature aging and much more.  I consider it unfortunate to put most diabetics on insulin without first addressing nutritional and other factors possibly related to glucose intolerance.

                  Many type 2 diabetics in particular have iron and at times vanadium toxicity.  Lead, cadmium, mercury and other toxic metals are also very commonly present.  They may also have chromium, zinc and manganese deficiencies.  Their cell permeability is often reduced.  Their diets are often high in carbohydrates, and many use stimulants such as coffee or colas that worsen nutritional imbalances.

                  Simply eliminating most carbohydrates from the diet often has a dramatic glucose lowering effect.  Combining this with a nutrition program and detoxification with sauna therapy can reduce blood sugars often in a matter of a few weeks or less.



THYROID HORMONE REPLACEMENT

 

                  The feedback system for thyroid hormone production is simpler than the feedback system for the steroid hormones.  Only two hormones are involved, and their metabolism is relatively simple.  Therefore, thyroid hormone replacement is less harmful and indeed helpful at times. 

                  However, many of the same problems arise as a result of thyroid hormone therapy as with the replacement of other hormones.  It often masks deeper imbalances, and it does not address factors such as copper, mercury or fluoride toxicity which can affect the thyroid and pituitary glands.

                  Adrenal weakness often contributes to thyroid imbalance as the thyroid gland seeks to compensate.  Exhaustion of the sympathetic or fight-or-flight nervous system also contributes to thyroid imbalance.  Adrenal exhaustion even contributes to hyperthyroid conditions or Grave's disease.  This is revealed on hair mineral tests that often reveal low cellular thyroid effect.  In these individuals, cell permeability is impaired and the thyroid gland compensates by secreting more hormones, causing symptoms of hyperthyroidism. 

                  Most people diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in my experience are also pushing themselves with exercise or other activities, which aggravates the hyperthyroid condition.  Copper toxicity is also a factor in many cases.  The solution is not to destroy the thyroid gland or replace hormones, but to correct the biochemical imbalances and lifestyle. 

                  If one must replace thyroid hormones, most patients do better on natural thyroid (Armour thyroid or Westhroid), which contain all the hormones and nutritional factors as well.
 

 

PROGESTERONE

 

                  Of the natural hormones, progesterone is among the safer ones.  We have seen fewer bad effects from progesterone use than from the use of DHEA, pregnenelone or others.



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