Progesterone Resource
Center
The
Natural
Hormone Solution
by Henry C. Sobo, M.D.
Synthetic female hormones are among
the most widely prescribed medications in our country
today. They are prescribed most often at menopause
for symptoms such as hot flashes, but also as a preventive
measure against osteoporosis. In younger age groups
they are prescribed for other hormone related problems.
There are many side effects associated with hormone
therapy (just look at the package insert) and there
are also great concerns over the long term risks, such
as an increased risk of cancer. Many women thinking
that there is no choice but to accept the risks, are
among the millions on standard synthetic hormone replacement.
Other women knowing about the side effects and risks
refuse to take hormones, possibly denying themselves
help with problems they suffer from. Many women are
switching to the use of natural hormones to get the
help they need and avoid the side effects and risks.
What
are "natural" hormones? There are some
misconceptions about them. First, natural hormones
are not herbs, and they are not combinations of nutrients
and plant sources which are meant to mimic the effect
of hormones. Natural hormones are true hormones made
by a compounding pharmacy and available by a doctor's
prescription only. You might ask, how are they called
natural if they are hormones made by a pharmacy? Natural
hormones are also called "bio-identical" hormones
because the compound, extracted from a natural source,
such as soy or yams, is the same hormone that the women's
body has produced for itself over the years. Therefore
when these natural hormones are prescribed, what the
women is getting is a replenishment of something that
has become deficient in the body. The logic of the
treatment is that it seems safer to replenish a deficiency
of a hormone by giving it, rather than using a synthetic
chemical to mimic the effects of the women's own natural
hormones. Studies showing risks of hormone replacement
have been done on women taking the synthetic hormones.
One
more comment about what passes as "natural" hormones
in many cases. Over the counter in health food stores
are what are labeled as natural progesterone creams.
These creams may not reliably deliver progesterone
to the body. It's important to understand that applying
a cream made from yam is not the same as a pharmaceutical
extraction from yam leaving you with true progesterone.
Finally, it is important to mention we can treat men
as well as women with natural hormones. From young
adulthood to the elderly natural hormones may be used
to treat many conditions including PMS, mood swings,
sleep disorders, migraine and other headaches, weight
gain, bloating, breast tenderness, food cravings, hair
loss, hot flashes/ night sweats, depression/anxiety,
loss of sex drive/ difficult intercourse, osteoporosis,
digestive problems and acne.
Dr.
Sobo practices Holistic Medicine in Stamford, CT.
More information is available at: www.drsobo.com.
Dr. Sobo can be reached at 203-348-8805 or contacted
at
optimalhealthmed@aol.com. Dr. Sobo completed his
Medical residency training in Internal Medicine at
the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.
He is a Board Certified Member of the American Society
of Bariatric Physicians. This is the certifying national
organization of physicians with a specialty interest
in weight reduction. He is also a member of the American
College for Advancement in Medicine. This is the
largest national organization of doctors practicing
nutritionally oriented medicine.
