Hormone Health

Normal hormone balance is an essential part of one’s physical and emotional wellbeing. The hormonal communication system is very delicate and can go out of balance from a variety of causes. Some of these causes include poor lifestyle, the standard American diet, chronic stress, genetics, chemical/toxin exposure, an imbalance with the gut microbiome, chronic infection, and impaired detoxification pathways. As one ages, hormone production often declines, which can affect one’s physiology. Although age related hormone insufficiency is part of the normal aging process, it can cause a myriad of negative symptoms.

Western medicine uses a variety of hormone based medications such as birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy to address hormone imbalances and hormone insufficiencies. In some cases these interventions can cause significant symptomatic relief, however, they are masking symptoms of a deeper hormone imbalance or hormone production issue rather than addressing the root cause of this imbalance and insufficiency. Our clinic uses Chinese medicine and functional medicine to address hormone imbalances and insufficiencies naturally. 

Chinese medicine uses acupuncture and herbal medicine to regulate hormone output at the glandular level in order to optimize hormone production and keep hormones balanced. Acupuncture is typically recommended twice weekly for 8 – 12 weeks to balance hormones. In some cases, Chinese herbal medicine will be recommended ongoing to keep the hormone levels optimized and balanced. Additionally, Chinese medicine treats symptoms associated with hormone insufficiency for aging men and women. Although Chinese medicine works well to balance hormones, improve hormone production, and treat symptoms of hormone insufficiency, it does not always address the root cause of a hormonal imbalance. To identify the root cause, functional medicine is recommended.

Functional medicine uses specialty lab testing to identify both the type of hormone imbalance presenting as well as the root cause of the hormone imbalance or hormone insufficiency. The specialty lab tests we recommend for hormonal imbalances and hormonal insufficiencies may include the following: male/female hormone testing and their metabolites, adrenal stress testing, hormone detoxification markers, microbiome and gut pathogen screening, comprehensive nutritional testing, intestinal permeability assessment, and a food sensitivity panel. The functional medicine treatment approach for hormonal imbalances and insufficiencies includes dietary recommendations, lifestyle changes, supplement therapy, herbal remedies, and bioidentical hormones to target both the underlying cause identified as well as the specific hormone imbalance presenting.