Receiving the diagnosis of a hormone imbalance can be a jarring and confusing experience for those sufferers unfamiliar with the long-term consequences of hormonal irregularities. Unlike hormonally-balanced bodies that harness estrogen and testosterone’s natural properties to regulate complex internal ecosystems, hormonally-imbalanced individuals may suffer from equally uncomfortable and inconvenient side effects.
Too much or too little of these sensitive body-nomads, and you may find yourself forgetting your keys or stocking up on migraine medication. Irregularities arise for various reasons, from pregnancy to puberty to time-of-the-month complications like PMS or PMDD. Emotional issues, physical appearance changes, and unexplained pain or weakness are all frustrating side-effects of hormone imbalances. These hiccups—which show up more frequently in female bodies—can range from annoying to debilitating. However, with naturopathic treatments, regular medical checkups, consistent tracking when symptoms do sneak up, and appropriate diagnostic tests such as a female hormone blood test, wellness is just around the corner.
These hiccups—which show up more frequently in female bodies—can range from annoying to debilitating. However, with naturopathic treatments, regular medical checkups, and consistent tracking when symptoms do sneak up, wellness is just around the corner.
The silver lining amongst the mudslide of health complications is the variety of solutions and treatments available for stabilizing hormones. Although birth control and artificial hormone replacements are popular and, in rare cases, unavoidable, they come with a truckload of short and long-term complications.
Heavy spotting, sharp, abnormal cramping, and future fertility obstacles are all common risks associated with chemical-filled forms of birth control. Unlike it’s man-made, side-effect heavy counterpart, naturopathic alternatives offer consumers easy, safe options that grant the user more agency over their current and future health.
There are a variety of natural solutions to hormone deficiencies and irregularities. For instance, implementing healthy dietary habits, taking daily supplements and vitamins, and making other simple lifestyle adjustments are all feasible solutions to hormonal imbalances and allow individuals to enjoy a long, fulfilling life.
Take a daily supplement
Finding the right hormonal balance can be a grueling process without insider knowledge and resources at your disposal. One way to ensure you’re covering all your bases is to take a natural hormone supplement, which can tackle multiple issues in one go. The type and amount of supplement(s) will depend on your specific needs and unique health concerns.
For those individuals suffering from aches, pains, and all-too-familiar menstrual cramps, chasteberry, calcium, and Vitamin B-6 can be a saving grace. Are you looking for a daily supplement specially designed for period-related emotional irregularities? Consider MixHers HerTime supplements, which can keep rattling mood swings at bay. Besides relieving cramping, bloating, and moodiness, Mixhers HerTime supplements take your hydration rituals with craving-curbing, energizing powders.
Probiotics are another alternative solution to moodiness, as well as mental health disorders like anxiety or depression. When taken daily, probiotics can maintain gut health by sending healthy bacterias to work and regulating sensitivities in the digestive system.
Surprisingly enough, your gastrointestinal tract directly affects serotonin levels, which can be thrown off course by all-too-common hormone irregularities. Other inconvenient side effects of hormone imbalances include decreased sexual libido and pre-menopausal symptoms, like hot flashes or high blood pressure. Maca root—a plant-turned-powder originating from Peru–has medicinal properties proven to regulate estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone levels, all of which play crucial roles in sexual and menstrual health.
Vitamins
Taking daily vitamins is essential for regulating hormones. However, you must consult with your doctor before introducing any vitamin regimes into your daily routine to avoid incorrect dosages. Vitamin deficiencies can cause hormone deficiencies. Therefore, you should immediately address low vitamin D or vitamin B12 levels to maintain optimal physical and mental health.
Vitamin C, also known as ascorbic acid, helps maintain healthy immune systems and decreases inflammation, especially when paired with a balanced diet. Vitamin B6 increases kidney function—an essential organ our bodies rely on for wide-spread regulation–and reduces stress levels, fogginess, and mental confusion.
Vitamin D deficiencies are common and detrimental to multiple systems in your body. Increasing your daily vitamin D intake can boost energy levels, help individuals achieve picture-perfect bone health, and even decrease the risk of falling victim to certain cancers. If direct sunlight isn’t enough, try daily supplements or foods like salmon rich in vitamin D.
Adequate sleep and exercise
Getting enough sleep and exercise is crucial to overall health and, more specifically, hormonal regulation. Lack of sleep causes lapses in brain productivity, which can make it difficult for your endocrine system—the glands in charge of processing and sending hormonal signals—to function at full capacity. Fatigue and lack of physical activity increase ghrelin levels, leading to increased appetite and irregular hormone measurements.
With these consequences in mind, experts recommend a full eight hours of sleep per night to recharge your system and give it the boost it needs to function at its highest potential. Exercise is just as crucial to maintaining healthy hormone levels, as it lowers insulin and reduces weight fluctuations. High insulin levels can lead to spikes in blood sugar, which throws your hormones and your major bodily systems for a loop.
Consume healthy fats
Increasing the healthy fats in your diet could be the solution you’ve been looking for to balance your hormones. Do you feel fatigued, experience irregular bouts of weakness, or find yourself shopping for jeans in a larger size? If so, experiment with implementing foods with high nutritional fat content.
Increasing healthy fats stimulates your hormonal system and multiplies the amount of omega-3 and omega-6 produced, which decreases your risk for obesity by curbing cravings and increasing energy levels.
Essential oils
Essential oils have been used as mood and health regulators for decades. As the essential oil industry continues to boom, so do the benefits of long-term use. Oils such as Frankincense and Lavender are widely known for their hormone-balancing abilities and come in scents known to reduce stress and inflammation.
Lavender also helps reduce pain and headaches, symptoms common in women who are experiencing hormone irregularities. These essential oils can even resolve decreased sexual libido with invigorating rose scents proven to spark your sexual reawakening.
Conclusion
Recognizing, diagnosing, and treating hormone irregularities can be a turbulent and mentally-draining task. However, each health complication and potential hormone imbalance comes with a handy list of naturopathic solutions.
Remember, there’s no need to scramble to your GP’s office at the first sign of irregularities. Incorporating routine supplements, prioritizing consistent sleep, and carving out time for daily exercise can work wonders for the hormonally imbalanced.
For those skeptics out there, an essential oil or two can radically transform your life for the better. Opting for natural remedies nips hormonal imbalances in the bud and stimulates other bodily systems for an all-encompassing solution to common health problems.