Hormones

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemicals that your body produces that are carried by the bloodstream to organs or tissues elsewhere in the body and that regulate how your body works and your behaviour. When we use the word hormone, we are often referring to the reproductive hormones although there are many other substances in your body that act as a hormone.

List of Hormones and their Actions

For the purpose of this article, we’ll limit our discussion to the reproductive hormones, so this list is not inclusive of hormones that do not directly impact the reproductive organs.

Estrogen – stimulates the development of secondary sex characteristics in women, promotes the growth of the endometrium, myometrium, maintains the health of the skin and bones, and has neuroprotective functions. In men, estradiol modulates libido, helps with erectile function and sperm production
Progesterone – it enhances sodium excretion, prepares the endometrium for implantation, decreases maternal immune response, decreases uterine contractility, activates the milk-producing function of the breasts, influences skin health, antispasmodic, anti-inflammatory, enhances the function of serotonin receptors in the brain, moderate cravings by moderating the effects of dopamine
Testosterone- it promotes protein synthesis, increases muscle mass, bone density/growth/maturation, maturation of sex organs, development of secondary male sex characteristics, libido, sperm production
DHEAs – in the brain it promotes neuroprotection, neurite growth, neurogenesis and neuronal survival, apoptosis, catecholamine synthesis and secretion, as well as having antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-glucocorticoid effects
Androstenedione – a weak androgen and an intermediate in the production of testosterone and estrone
DHT/Dihydrotestosterone – has an essential role in the development of the male external genitalia & is the primary androgen in the prostate, seminal vesicles, skin & hair follicles. Excess can cause male androgenic alopecia & is involved in BPH & prostate cancer. It may be involved in female androgenic alopecia, acne, hirsutism & seborrhea
Prolactin – has anti-stress effects, stimulates milk production, suppresses fertility
LH – surges to cause ovulation, promotes progesterone production after ovulation, stimulates testosterone release in males
FSH – stimulates egg follicle growth and rise in estrogen in women, influences sperm development in men
GnRH – made by the hypothalamus and controls release of LH and FSH
Oxytocin – produced by the hypothalamus and released by the pituitary, regulates maternal behaviour and social attachment

What are the hormone-producing glands?

For the reproductive hormones mentioned above, the organs that produce them are the ovaries, testes, pituitary, adrenal glands and hypothalamus. Fat tissue can also produce estrogen.

The Pituitary

The “Master” gland
The size of a pea, attached to the base of the brain by a thin stalk
Situated just below the hypothalamus which is the communication centre for the pituitary
Hormones produced: ADH, Oxytocin, TSH, ACTH, Prolactin, MSH, GH, FSH, LH

The Adrenal Glands

Situated atop the kidneys
Responsible for blood pressure, fluid & electrolyte balance, regulation of metabolism & blood glucose, immune regulation/suppression, production of androgens & stress response
Hormones produced: Aldosterone, cortisol (hydrocortisone), cortisone, corticosterone, DHEA, DHEAs, androstenedione, small amounts of estrogen & progesterone

The Ovaries

Situated beside the uterus
After puberty and until menopause, they are responsible for developing egg follicles into eggs, releasing the hormones estrogen and progesterone and ovulating (releasing an egg each month)
Hormones produced: estradiol, testosterone, progesterone, DHT

The Testes

Produce sperm & androgens, primarily testosterone
Hormones produced: testosterone, DHT, estradiol

Signs and symptoms of hormone imbalance in women

Because hormones impact so many different systems in your body, the signs of hormone imbalance can be many and depend on the hormone and whether it is too high or too low. Here is a table by hormone of the symptoms of hormone imbalance in women:

Signs of Hormone Imbalance in Women

Hormone	Signs of Excess in Women	Signs of Deficiency in Women
Testosterone	Hirsutism, amenorrhoea, acne, hair loss, genital abnormalities, depression, deeper voice, infertility	Depression, low libido, low muscle mass, low energy/drive or motivation
DHEAs	Hirsutism, amenorrhoea, acne, hair loss, genital abnormalities, depression, deeper voice, infertility	Fatigue, depression, anxiety, hypersensitivity to noise, loss of libido, dry eyes, skin, and hair, loss of head hair, axial (armpit) hair & pubic hair
DHT	Hirsutism, amenorrhoea, acne, hair loss, genital abnormalities, depression, deeper voice	Depression, low libido, low muscle mass, low energy/drive or motivation
Estradiol	Heavy periods, acne, clots in menstrual flow, breast tenderness, depression, highly emotional, endometriosis, PMS migraines, fibroids	Vaginal dryness, UTI’s, irregular periods, hot flashes, h/a or migraines, irritability, mood swings, depression, cognitive decline
Progesterone	Low libido, depression, anxiety, mood swings, weight gain, UTIs, fatigue, muscle weakness, fibroids, stomach upset, edema, hives	Anxiety, waking at night, endometriosis, hot flashes, dysmenorrhea, fibrocystic breasts, PMS, bone loss, low libido, infertility
Prolactin	Irregular periods, vaginal dryness, nipple discharge, acne, hirsutism, decreased estrogen, depression, anxiety, hostility, memory deficit, psychosis	Fatigue, loss of pubic and underarm hair, and inability to produce breast milk (alactogenesis)
Oxytocin	Emotional hypersensitivity & hyper-reactivity to the emotions of others	Poor communication, irritability and inability to feel affectionate, more anxiety, difficulty achieving orgasm, sugar cravings, lack of joy, disturbed sleep, muscle aches

Signs or symptoms of hormone imbalance in women

Signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance in men

Here is a table by hormone of the symptoms of hormone imbalance in men. The table displays both signs of an excess of the hormone and deficiency of the hormone.

Signs and Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance in Men

Hormone	Signs of Excess in Men	Signs of Deficiency in Men
Testosterone	Acne or oily skin, prostate enlargement, worsening of sleep apnea, hypogonadism, increase in RBC’s, hair loss, infertility	Depression, erectile dysfunction, low energy, low muscle mass, low libido
DHEAs	Usually asymptomatic, but may result in estrogen excess	Fatigue, depression, anxiety, hypersensitivity to noise, loss of libido, dry eyes, skin, and hair, loss of head hair, axial (armpit) hair, and pubic hair
DHT	Prostate cancer, male pattern baldness, aggression, acne	Depression, irritability, low libido, lethargy, low muscle mass, increase in body fat
Estradiol	Prostate cancer, BPH, heart disease, depression, gynecomastia, low libido, low muscle mass	Low bone density, low libido, erectile dysfunction, increase in abdominal fat, low sperm count
Progesterone	Prostate cancer, BPH, heart disease, depression, gynecomastia, low libido, low muscle mass	Depression, low bone density, low libido, increased abdominal fat
Prolactin	Erectile dysfunction, gynecomastia, low body hair, low libido, decreased testosterone, retrograde orgasm, depression, anxiety, hostility, memory deficit, psychosis	Unknown
Oxytocin	Emotional hypersensitivity & hyper-reactivity to the emotions of others	Poor communication, irritability and inability to feel affectionate, more anxiety, difficulty achieving orgasm, sugar cravings, lack of joy, disturbed sleep, muscle aches

Signs and symptoms of Male Hormone Imbalance

Testing for Hormones

At Forces of Nature, our naturopathic doctors can order blood tests for each of the above tests. Saliva testing can also be done to determine whether hormones are passing into the tissues.

Natural Ways to Balance Hormones

Naturopathic treatment for hormonal imbalance involves first identifying the exact hormonal imbalance and may require testing all of the above hormones to determine the exact cause of hormone problems. Natural therapies that may help balance hormones include changes to your diet, exercise, stress reduction, herbal medicine, acupuncture, Traditional Chinese Medicine, massage therapy and even chiropractic treatment to allow proper nerve transmission to the hormone-producing glands.

Contact us for more information about how we can help you achieve optimal hormone balance at 416-481-0222 or email Info@ForcesofNature.ca