Hormonal Homeostasis

I feel it's time to start addressing a big scary subject....
HORMONES! 
 It is a subject I have taken great interest in over the years as it has been the biggest personal struggle I've had with my own health.

I have done a lot of research on hormones over the years simply to understand my own bizarre imbalances, but in doing so, I have acquired a wealth of information and insight into a broad spectrum of hormonal imbalances and how they are profoundly affecting the lives of MOST women.
Whether its PCOS, Endometriosis, Irregular Periods, Infertility, PMD, etc...it seems to ALWAYS be something with almost every woman I meet or work with.
 It appears the source of these imbalances are related to a combination of lifestyle habits, diet, and environmental factors. For the most part, they are related to things we have some degree of control over, BUT...no shocker here....they are being treated, controlled, manipulated, and masked by synthetic "solutions" that are making the problems worse because they are interfering with the body's natural ability to find its own balance.

NOW, of COURSE I am not suggesting that if everyone were left alone with their endocrine imbalances, they would be ok and naturally everything would work out. Many are left with no choice but to be medically treated. And things don't naturally workout if you are living synthetically. Hmmmmm. How's THAT for philosophic? ;)
Anyway, I am a professional in the field of disease prevention and health promotion. I am not a doctor. I will stick within the realm of what I know, and when it comes to issues regarding health, my blog topics are only to share my own stories, create conversation, educate others, and inspire people to take responsibility for the choices they make about their bodies and the health of their families.

OK. With all that said...let me give you a little info on my own issue.

I have a condition that is actually very rare and is on the opposite end of the spectrum from what most women are suffering from. It is called Hypothalamic Amenorreah. Sounds special, huh? ;)

What is Hypothalamic Amenorreah?

I'll let someone else explain it. Copy and Paste....

 http://www.fertilityauthority.com/trouble-conceiving-and-infertility/hypothalamic-amenorrhea

Hypothalamic amenorrhea is amenorrhea due to a problem involving the hypothalamus, which is the portion of the brain that links the nervous system to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland.

What Happens in Hypothalamic Amenorrhea

The hypothalamus controls reproduction —it produces gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH). GnRH signals the production of other hormones needed for ovulation and after, such as follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH). FSH and LH signal the ovaries to produce estrogen, which thins the cervical mucus and, along with progesterone, prepares the uterus for a fertilized egg.

If the hypothalamus stops producing GnRH, the amount of FSH, LH and estrogen will be reduced, and ovulation and menstruation will stop. This can result in infertility.

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Let me nutshell this for you....

Basically, your hypothalmus sits above your pituitary gland. It sends signals to your pituitary that tell it to produce certain hormones. Hormones for instance that tell your body to ovulate and have a menstrual cycle. 

NOT that I am trying to reproduce!!!! BUT if I wanted to, I couldn't at this point because my body won't ovulate. Why? Because a portion of my brain has gone KAPUT!

Many women have problems with their pituitary gland and their problems can be addressed with certain hormone treatments especially if they are trying to conceive. My problem however begins in the hypothalamus. And there are NO medical treatments for it. When my hypothalamus decides to stop holding back that special little signal that tells my pituitary gland to function, it will, but there is no magic pill for this. In the far distant past, I have undergone different hormonal treatments...none of which have worked and all of which threw my hormones even MORE out of whack.
My cycle usually returns after I've really been stress free and nourished my body with foods that are higher in healthy fats. 

As I said before, my situation is rare. MOST hormonal imbalances are due to Estrogen Dominance or an Insufficiency of Progesterone. Nonetheless, WHATEVER the cause, when our endocrine system gets out of whack, it leads to a myriad of health problems, both physical and mental, that impact our quality of lives. When one thing is off....EVERYTHING is off. And if you know me at all....you know I like everything to be ON! :)

As I commit to going RAW and eating to heal, I am hoping to restore my on hormonal homeostasis. I want to begin addressing hormones in general...I want to look at how they get out of whack and how to get them back on track. I want to start looking for natural remedies and educating others as I learn for myself what the female body really needs in order to thrive in her feminine nature. And femininity, my friends, is a strong and powerful attribute to have. 

I believe that balance in our bodies can be restored by a balance in our lifestyles. Make healthy choices about the foods you eat, the way you exercise, the products you put on your skin, and how you manage stress.

I'm looking forward to the journey back to balance!