Author name: TrueHealthSolutionsClinic

“THE GUARDIAN ANGEL OF BREAST CANCER” Physiologic Effects of Estrogen and Progesterone Estrogen Effects Causes proliferative endometrium Causes breast cell stimulation (fibrocystic breasts) Increases body fat and weight gain* Causes salt and fluid retention* Causes anxiety, depression and headaches* Causes cyclical migraines* Causes poor sleep patterns* Interferes with thyroid hormone function* Impairs blood sugar control* Increases risk of blood clots* Has little or no libido effect* Causes loss of zinc and retention of copper* Reduces oxygen levels in all cells* Causes endometrial cancer* Increases risk of breast cancer* Increases risk of prostate cancer* Restrains bone loss Reduces vascular tone(dilates blood vessels) Triggers autoimmune diseases* Creates progesterone receptors Relieves hot flashes Prevents vaginal dryness and mucosal atrophy Increases risk of gallbladder disease* Improves memory Improves sleep disorders Improves health of urinary tract Relieves night sweats Progesterone Effects Maintains secretory endometrium Protects against fibrocystic breasts Helps use fat for energy Acts as natural diuretic Acts as natural antidepressant and helps anxiety Prevents cyclical migraines Promotes normal sleep patterns Facilitates thyroid hormone function Helps normalize blood sugar levels Normalizes blood clotting Helps restore normal libido Normalizes zinc and copper levels Restores proper cell oxygen levels Prevents endometrial cancer Helps prevent breast cancer Decreases risk of prostate cancer Stimulates new bone formation Improves vascular tone Prevents autoimmune diseases Increases sensitivity of estrogen receptors Necessary for embryo survival Precursor of corticosteroid biosynthesis Prevents coronary artery spasm and atherosclerotic plaque Causes sleepiness, depression** Causes digestive problems** * Indicates that these effects are causes by estrogen dominance, or an imbalance of estrogencaused by too much estrogen and/or too little progesterone**Indicates that these effects are caused by an excess of progesterone© Copyright 2001 Hormones Etc Progesterone has 300 jobs in the body and over 9,000 genetic mechanisms. Progesterone is endogenously produced at a rate of 4-28mg/day with ovulation, which starts to occur sporadically by the mid-30’s, making progesterone the first hormone to decline, leading to many unwanted symptoms. Pregnancy produces levels of 300-400%higher Progesterone deficiency leads to unbalanced estrogenprogesterone ratio (estrogen dominance) and development of these unpleasant symptoms:  PMS Cramps Breast pain/benign cysts Heavy periods Irregular cycles (periods too close together)Spotting before period or breakthrough bleedingFibroidsEndometriosisInfertilityMiscarriage https://truehealthsolutionsclinic.com​ Oral supplementation results in approximately 90% of the hormone to be destroyed in the GI tract within 15 minutes of ingestion, these metabolites now going to the liver where along with the remaining 10% of real hormone are transported into the bloodstream. 80% of what is measured as ‘progesterone’ by conventional serum testing is actually inactive metabolites of progesterone. (Progesterone is very lipophilic and thus it is transported on the cell membranes of the RBC’s; while serum is the ‘water’-fraction of the blood after the RBC’s have been spinned down and removed) Metabolites are not as likely to get into saliva, therefore saliva testing is a more accurate measurement of bioavailable progesterone. More is NOT better! Chronic high doses of progesterone over months of treatment cause progesterone receptors to run off, reducing its effectiveness. Also, excess progesterone down-regulates estrogen receptors, desensitizing tissues to estrogen and thus exacerbating symptoms of estrogen deficiency, when actually estrogen is plentiful. Any hormonal replacement MUST be done to restore PHYSIOLOGIC levels of these hormones Serum progesterone testing does not accurately reflect the bioavailable progesterone at the tissue and cellular level, therefore relying on these results can erroneously lead to increases in oral dosing, leading to side effects of excess progesterone. Topical administration of progesterone in the form of creams cannot be assessed with serum testing; saliva testing is best in these cases to monitor and guide any possible dose adjustments How To Use Progesterone If testing correlates with symptoms of progesterone deficiency, progesterone may be prescribed in the form of topical cream, oral capsule, SL lozenge, IM injection, or vaginal suppository. Oral supplementation may be preferred in women suffering from anxiety and irritability, because it helps calming down, secondary to sedative effects of pregnenolone, the alphametabolite of progesterone. If progesterone is desired in topical cream form, most women need about 20 mg per day during the luteal phase of the cycle, but correct dosing varies on case-bycase basis, and testing is paramount. Progesterone cream may be applied to the arms, legs, behind the knees, abdomen, face, or vulvo vaginal area. Altenate application sites daily to avoid over saturating tissues Progesterone is the first hormone to start naturally declining by the early age of 35, leaving estrogen unbalanced and creating a state of “estrogen dominance.’  B vitamins especially B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine) are important cofactors in the production of progesterone. B3, B5 and NAD stimulate cellular mitochondria to boost production of hormones. Supplementation with B vitamins is therefore very important. If people cannot tolerate B vitamins, this suggests gut microbiome dysfunction and this needs to be further evaluated with Functional stool studies. Methylation (metabolism of hormones) is also very important, and there are therapies to improve utilization of vitamins. Progesterone exerts effects at the gut wall. This is why remission of auto-immune diseases occurs in pregnancy, when levels of progesterone are 300-400% higher. Progesterone upregulates occludins-adhesive proteins that hold together the enterocytes (intestinal cells)-thus helping in the treatment of ‘leaky gut.’ Topical or vaginal form of administration of progesterone helps in this case. Progesterone is also anti-inflammatory. Did you know that progesterone is now given to post-Covid patients to increase Treg differentiation and break down the cytokine storm? Did you know that loss of sense of smell is also associated with progesterone deficiency? Corpus calosum in the brain responds to progesterone therapy and improves the sense of smell. Did you know that acid reflux and H. pylori infections are actually caused by low stomach acid? Sounds counterintuitive, but very true! Stomach acid supplementation, along with B vitamins and progesterone mediate this treatment. Progesterone also helps with the treatment of: nicotine addiction traumatic brain injury Alzheimer’s disease diabetic neuropathy crush injuries stroke atypical early bone loss remyelination of nerves in patients with MS (multiple sclerosis) Symptoms of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) and its associated neurosis can be alleviated with progesterone. (PMS signals an

   BHRT (BIOIDENTICAL HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY) Bioidentical hormones are plant-derived hormones from non-GMO soy and wild yam, processed in a laboratory to obtain a final product that is completely devoid of the original plant-based source and only contain the pure hormones that have the same chemical structure as the hormones naturally and endogenously produced by the human body. By having the same exact chemical structure, bioidentical hormones attach onto the same receptors, have the same properties and side effects, and exert the same effects onto human cells and tissues as our endogenously produced hormones. Not all hormones are the same. Progestins are synthetic look-alike but NOT progesterone in structure or function. Ethynyl estradiol and conjugated equine estrogen (CEE) are NOT estradiol in structure or function. Yes, conjugated equine estrogens are natural, derived from the urine of pregnant mares, but the chemical structure of CEE is not identical to endogenously produced estradiol or any of the estrogen molecules. It is the molecular difference between non-biologically identical hormones and biologically identical hormones that is responsible for their different actions in the human body. It is also especially important to note that this molecular difference also carries a different risk profile especially when it comes to cardiovascular, clotting and breast cancer risk factors. The route of administration also makes a huge difference. Orally administered estrogens, whether biologically identical or not, raise the risk for cardiovascular and clotting events due to the first pass metabolism, while the topical transdermal (through the skin) administration of estrogens renders this risk negligible. Oral contraceptives and hormonal IUDs contain a combination or bioidentical estradiol, or CEE and progestins; or solely contain progestins alone. Progestins are designed to block ovulation and thus prevent fertilization of ovum and prevent pregnancy. Oral contraceptives and hormonal IUDs thus deprive a woman’s body of a significant production of progesterone, which leads to estrogen dominance state (abnormal balance of progesterone-to-estrogen ratio) which contributes to increased risk of estrogen-dominant related diseases such as endometriosis, breast cancer, endometrial cancer. Non-biologically active hormones used for contraceptive reasons also deplete the body of very important vitamins and minerals which are the very cofactors necessary in the production of endogenous hormones. Following the newsflash and publication of the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study findings, in 2002, many women on conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) went off HRT due to the fear of risk from breast cancer, heart attack and stroke. The average age of the women participants in the WHI study was 63, and they were placed on high doses of synthetic hormones containing estradiol and medroxyprogesterone acetate with oral administration. The findings showed that medroxyprogesterone acetate (a synthetic form mimicking, but not identical to progesterone) raised the risk of breast cancer. Regretfully, a blanket statement was issued by the media which produced confusion and raised the fear frenzy against hormone replacement. No distinction was made between synthetic and bioidentical progesterone. Numerous studies demonstrated that CEE alone (conjugated equine estrogen, natural but not bioidentical estrogen) is not associated with increased risk of breast cancer, even with long-term use, and actually it lowered the risk of breast cancer by 23% when compared to placebo. Since the WHI study, a lot more research was conducted, and trial results published which helped us learn a lot more. In the WHI study, there were only eight cases of breast cancer yet the risk of osteoporotic fractures, and colon cancer were decreased and so was death from other causes. In the US, it is important to note the leading causes of death and disability: Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death Colon cancer is the second leading cancer in women Colorectal carcinoma is the third-most common cancer in the world, and second-most common cause of cancer-related mortality only after lung cancer Half of all women over the age of 50 will experience an osteoporosis-related fracture at some point in their lifetime 1 in 9 people will develop dementia, while 1 in 8 may develop breast cancer (most of these women are not on hormones since menopausal women make some estrogen in their adrenal glands and adipose tissues, but it is not the type of estrogen that is protective). 10–20 % of hip fracture patients are institutionalized following a bone fracture Age-related loss of hormones can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease, dementia, osteoporosis leading to fractures, increased occurrence of genitourinary tract infections, insomnia, loss of sexual health, depression and anxiety, mood changes and overall loss of quality of life. Women with these symptoms need hormone replacement, support, and re-assurance that their quality-of-life matters! Decades of medical research and hundreds of published studies conducted in the US and Europe have repeatedly demonstrated bioidentical hormones to be equally or more effective than non-bioidentical hormones for symptom management and cardiovascular, brain, bone, and sexual health protective effects, as well as safety. Bioidentical hormone therapy allows women to feel like themselves again, have energy, mental clarity, strong bones, deep restful sleep, freedom from hot flashes, night sweats and mood changes, and a healthy libido. The fear of hormone replacement kept them from realizing these goals. Even though many physicians have been providing relief to women, the medical societies have finally blessed the use of hormones and recognized that the benefits outweigh the risk in most cases. The North American Menopause Society recently issued statements in July 2022, and many other organizations now recognize that the benefits of Hormone Replacement Therapy outweigh the risks. Notwithstanding the flaws in the studies that prompted women to go off hormones and physicians to be reluctant to prescribe them, new evidence and a deeper review of the data from old studies clearly shows that there are big differences.

FERTILITY HEALTH / INFERTILITY Fertitlity health / Infertility is assumed when couples have been unable to achieve pregnancy after one year of unprotected intercourse. With more and more women choosing to delay pregnancy until they are financially stable and on solid ground from a career perspective, it is assumed that advanced-age maternity is the only reason for infertility. Nothing could be further from the truth. Infertility is in reality 40% of the time due to a female factor, 40% of the time due to a male factor, and the remainder of 20% includes a combination of factors and unexplained infertility. Therefore, when trying to conceive, both partners must be evaluated. This is efficient and saves time in the conception timeline, especially if the mother is approaching what is considered an advanced maternity age. A male’s sperm count, motility, morphology and DNA fragmentation can easy to assessed from the comfort of your home, even ahead of approaching potential invasive diagnostic tests to evaluate a woman’s possible gynecological problems. Many factors could contribute and are frequently overlooked when trying to conceive naturally, which could erroneously lead couples to believe they are infertile: Mistiming intercourse outside of a woman’s fertile days or frequency of intercourse Lack of knowledge and understanding of a woman’s natural menstrual cycles and the changes that occur Misfocus on tracking the basal body temperature, ignoring or not emphasizing the changes in the cervical fluid throughout the cycle Inappropriately timed serum and other tests Some women are affected by the very medication intended to stimulate ovulation. Clomid (clomiphene citrate) is supposed to stimulate egg development in the ovaries. However, it can dry up the cervical fluid that is important in sperm transport through the cervix; it also blocks estrogen and progesterone receptors in the uterus affecting the uterine lining, making it less optimal for embryo implantation in some women. Women may experience alterations in their cycles, some of which may potentially disguise a miscarriage, especially since spontaneous miscarriages happen early in a woman’s cycle. Men may have been on testosterone replacement therapy, which directly affects and negatively impacts sperm production Serum and specialty Functional Medicine tests can dig deeper into the possible reasons for inability of a couple to achieve natural conception if all the above factors have been explored and corrected. Body habitus, insulin resistance, hormonal imbalance, sexually transmitted infections, gut infections, yeast overgrowth, chronic stress, endocrine disruptor exposure, chronic inflammation, gut dysbiosis, toxin accumulations, increased oxidative stress, nutritional status, lifestyle, dietary choices, exercise, all these can contribute to infertility and should be assessed and treated to optimize a couple’s ability for natural conception. Maternal obesity was noted to be associated with gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, Large or small for gestational-age babies, prematurity, increased rates of c-section and postpartum hemorrhage, and congenital birth defects. Medical studies have shown that children of obese mothers are at increased risk for obesity during childhood and adulthood, eevated blood pressure as early as age 5-6, and increased risk for developing diabetes. Studies performed on couples who had two or more failed IVF attempts showed that women who consumed 3 alcoholic drinks per week had a 30% chance of conceiving within 3 years, and even women who drank just 1 or 2 glasses of wine a week showed a reduction in their 3-year success rate to 66%. Researchers suggest the same patterns would be seen in couples trying to conceive naturally. Studies have also shown that five or more cups of coffee a day reduce the clinical pregnancy rate by 50% and the live birth rate by 40%, which is comparable to the negative effect of smoking. Smoking is associated with increased risks of spontaneous abortion and ectopic pregnancy. Known obstetrical complications include low birth weight, preterm labor/delivery, placental abnormalities, children at greater risk for SIDS, asthma, colic and childhood obesity. Stress and adrenal dysfunction inhibit the female reproductive function, directly inhibiting LH and ovarian production of estrogen and progesterone. Hormonal imbalance will affect proliferation of the ovarian follicles and maturation of the dominant follicle, impacting ovulation, adequate estrogen and progesterone levels for maintenance of a healthy uterine lining and implantation, with inability to sustain pregnancy. Exposure to various toxins and endocrine disruptors which have an estrogen-mimicking function, disrupt the hormonal balance much needed for fertility. Dietary inadequacy, lack of adequate vitamins and minerals crucial in the formation and function of the steroid hormones, as well as untreated gynecological and gut infections alter the microbiome health hindering ability to conceive. Even if couples are considering IUI or IVF interventions, prospective parents should still be concerned with their health and work on optimizing their health to the best of their ability. This is because the egg and sperm development and maturation take about 4 months and the quality of these at conception affects the health of the baby. Optimal prenatal care should start 3-6 months prior to conception, to give prospective parents ample time for improvement. Preconception care offers the very preventative aspect of Functional Medicine that ensures development of healthy adults. Make your health and your family’s health a priority. Call now to request your FREE 15-minute discovery call or schedule a comprehensive consultation. I can work with your schedule to meet your health needs.

Fatigue Fatigue is a vague symptom description encompassing many possible underlying medical problems leading to hormone imbalance. Fatigue can reflect any of the following: chronic inflammation, anemia, hematological malignant syndromes, food sensitivities, intestinal permeability, gut dysbiosis, adrenal dysfunction, thyroid dysfunction, blood sugar imbalance and insulin resistance, liver or kidney dysfunction, heavy metal toxicity, estrogen dominance with prolonged or heavy menses, progesterone deficiency, testosterone deficiency, chronic degenerative diseases, immune dysfunction, stress, etc. Symptoms of thyroid dysfunction for example can overlap with symptoms of other steroid hormone and adrenal imbalance. All hormones need to be in balance for optimal metabolic function and overall relief of bothersome symptomatology. This is because the hormones’ production and function within the human body is inter-related, and the impairment of one hormone can trigger a cascade of hormone imbalance. Let’s consider thyroid function for a moment and evaluate all the possible factors that affect it. Cofactors (vitamins and minerals) are needed for production and conversion of thyroid hormones into active ones. A picture is worth a thousand words. Internal or external factors as illustrated in the picture also play a very important root-cause role. Thyroid hormones also help clear glucose and insulin, so a reduced thyroid function can trigger insulin resistance. Not to mention the other hormones of estrogen, progesterone and cortisol that affect the thyroid health. Thyroid hormone transport and receptor response require normal cortisol levels, ferritin in optimal levels, and vitamin D in adequate therapeutic levels. Progesterone is important for thyroid hormone utilization. Deficiency in progesterone reduces the conversion of inactive to active thyroid hormone. One can see how problematic this becomes as women start to experience an age-related decline in progesterone levels from around the age of 35. Estrogen competes with active thyroid hormone at receptor sites, so a relative estrogen dominance (low progesterone-to-estrogen ratio) will inhibit thyroid hormone function. Oral estrogen supplementation, as with the case of oral contraceptive use, will increase TBG-thyroid binding globulin, a transporter of thyroid hormone, thus binding more thyroid hormone and making less active thyroid hormone available for utilization at cellular and tissue level. Cortisol makes cells resistant to thyroid hormones and inhibits conversion of inactive to active thyroid hormone, leading to more conversation to reverse T3 (non-functional form of thyroid hormone), but competes with active T3 at the receptor sites. Low cortisol levels can cause functional thyroid deficiency, meaning that one has enough thyroid hormones, but they don’t function properly at the cellular level. Thyroid hormones help clear cortisol. If you are given thyroid medication to treat symptoms of fatigue, without checking cortisol levels (and these are already low), the exogenous thyroid hormones will further clear and lower the already low cortisol levels, amplifying the fatigue (fatigue is also a presenting symptom of cortisol deficiency). Adrenal dysfunction also known as HPA-axis dysfunction (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) plays a major role in the overall hormone balance and must not be overlooked in the presence of fatigue and other symptoms of hormone imbalance. Do you feel fatigued, or perhaps worn out, feeling like you’re running on empty, have trouble falling or staying asleep, wake up tired and drag through the day and maybe rely on caffeinated stimulants to get you going until you have a second wind of energy after dinner, and if you manage to stay up past 11 pm you could work or stay awake till 2 or 3 in the morning, only to wake up tired again and repeat this cycle? Have you noticed that you’re getting more allergies and sinus-related symptoms more so lately than in previous years? Have you noticed that your body no longer has that youthful resilience when faced with the common cold and you succumb more often to frequent respiratory infections, while recovery is protracted and end up feeling like you never fully recovered? Have you developed more food allergies or intolerances that you did not have before? Are you having salt and sugar cravings? These can be symptoms of adrenal fatigue, which can become life threatening if not addressed promptly. Cortisol is our body’s natural anti-inflammatory. When toxins, injuries, disease, or stress affect us, our body releases cortisol to defend itself from the harmful effects of the above. However, long-term ongoing stressors can deplete the health of the adrenal glands, thus cortisol is no longer appropriately secreted or released for prompt protection, and when severe, we succumb to disease without possibility of improvement, despite external medical interventions. If you experience any of the above symptoms, please seek immediate medical attention. Embrace the principles of Functional Medicine to give you the tools to evaluate the root-causes of your symptoms, so that treatment can be directed at eradication, and not masking of underlying reasons. Stop chasing the TSH levels by adjusting the thyroid medication dose, get a full and comprehensive medical evaluation. Call now to request your FREE 15-minute discovery call or schedule a comprehensive consultation. I can work with your schedule to meet your health needs. Optimal health starts with Hormone Balance!

FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE Our human body has an amazing innate ability to heal itself from within. If you give your body what it needs to heal and remove the obstacles to healing, the healing will follow! Functional Medicine explores the very root-causes of symptoms and disease to isolate and eliminate them, while providing the necessary means and ingredients to help the body heal. Traditional preventative medicine is geared towards early detection. A closer look at this sheds better light onto the fact that traditional medicine attempts to detect disease earlier, therefore nothing has really been prevented, but rather signs of disease were observed earlier. In other words, physicians are busy treating disease, leaving little time for patient education in healthy lifestyle practices that avoid development of chronic diseases Functional medicine not only explores the root-causes ofalready present signs and symptoms of disease, but also focuses extensively onpatient education as it pertains to lifestyle choices, healthy and mindfuleating, stress management and healthy supplements to truly prevent developmentof chronic diseases. Of course, patient accountability encourages and motivatespatients to stay on course with healthy living, as it requires motivation,dedication and perseverance. 

MENS HEALTH Mens health outcomes are a worldwide problem. Studies show that men have about twice the risk of heart attacks when compared with women. Males are also more likely to develop obesity, insulin resistance, and diabetes. The prevalence of sexual dysfunction is likely underestimated due to perceived stigma, yet current data indicates that up to 40% of women and 30% of men report some level of dysfunction. Often these dysfunctions stem from hormonal imbalances and are remediable with proper treatment and guidance from well-trained clinicians, but awareness remains lacking. It is my role, as a physician, to bring such awareness to the forefront. Testosterone and hormone levels decline with age. More andmore men younger than 40 are experiencing symptoms of androgen deficiency. Thecause of male hormone imbalance is multifactorial. As you notice, the thyroidgland, adrenal glands and male hormones work in unison to render a man’swell-being optimal, and many factors influence such collaboration. Lifestylefactors, poor nutrition and metabolic dysfunction continue to contribute in abig way, and environmental causes are wreaking havoc more than ever. Chemicalsof our modern era, collectively referred to as ‘endocrine disruptors’ (phthalates,bisphenol, benzophenone, PCBs, Glyphosate, DDE, DDT, soy genistein to name afew) inhibit one or more enzymes much needed in testosterone biosynthesis. Itis up to us to become aware and educated about them so we can eliminateexposure. Testosterone is not just for libido and sexual performance. Testosteroneimproves insulin sensitivity, increases bone mineral density, increases musclebulk and tone, maintains lean body mass, strength and stamina, increases thesense of well-being, improves mood, energy and memory, supports self-esteem, improveslipid profile and prevents heart disease, increases oil production in the skin,and increases hair growth. If testosterone replacement is being considered, a man’s desire to maintain fertility should be explored and help dictate the form of treatment. This is because exogenous testosterone replacement disturbs that hypothalamic-testicular negative feedback which will inhibit the natural sperm production, leading to possible undesired infertility. In 2004, investigators at Wayne State University examined testosterone levels in men enrolled in a large aging study. They found that for every 50% increase in free testosterone in the bloodstream there was an associated 26% decrease in the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Men who went on to develop decline in cognition and Alzheimer’s disease had about half the free testosterone in their bloodstream as men who did not. (Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci. 2005. 1055: 80–92) Studies have shown that when it comes to chronic blood sugar dysregulations, it is insulin resistance, rather than glucose elevations alone, that predicts cognitive decline, especially memory decline, in people with prediabetes. (BMJ Open Diab Res Care 2020;8:e001741). Yet, conventional medicine hardly checks the insulin levels. Lifestyle choices, dietary considerations, exercise regimen and stress management should be at the forefront of prevention of prediabetes and diabetes. It is never too late to implement such measurements, as type 2 diabetes IS an entirely reversible process!  Men’s health pathologies, including BPH and androgenic alopecia, are related to hormonal disruptions. Most cases of prostatic inflammation (prostatitis) are non-infectious in origin and may be treated effectively with anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients.  Androgenic alopecia aka male-pattern baldness is NOT a disease and causes no morbidity other than emotional turmoil. It is extremely common (one half of men will have some degree by age 50). DHT is a key mediator of the effect of androgens (male hormones) on the hair (DHT stands for dihydrotestosterone: it is 5x more potent than testosterone, and results from conversion of testosterone via an enzyme called 5-alpha reductase). Type 1 of this enzyme is the most common type found in the scalp and sebaceous glands, while Type 2 is found in the prostate and hair follicles and seems to be the culprit in androgenic alopecia. It is important to note that people born with 5-alpha reductase deficiency (which affects only type 2) do NOT develop baldness. (Asian Journal of Andrology (2014) 16 274–279) Conventional medicine offers treatments in the form of topical Minoxidil and oral Finasteride, which have been approved by the FDA for androgenic alopecia but only about 30% of patients continue medication for over a year in private practice. Oral finasteride was found to decrease libido (sex drive) and ejaculate volume, or cause erectile dysfunction, whereas topical minoxidil can cause scaling and itching of the scalp. (Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2014; 2014: 549721) Functional medicine, instead, offers the power of naturopathic healing with natural products such as pumpkin seed oil, saw palmetto, and stinging nettle root and leaves, oral or shampoo treatments, which have been found to be more effective in preventing and reducing hair loss than placebo at every assessment point, as well as offer benefits in the treatment of BPH (benign prostatic hypertrophy) without the side effects of the conventional synthetic medications. (Acta Dermatovenerol APA 2018;27:51-57; Skin Appendage Disord. 2020 Nov;6(6):329-337; Avicenna J Phytomed. 2019 Nov-Dec; 9(6): 499–504) It is within men’s ability to modulate and nurture their physiology to achieve and maintain well-being, by using the healing power of nutrition, lifestyle changes, modulation of stress, and use of bioidentical hormone therapy in injectable, transdermal or pellet form.  

WOMENS HEALTH ESTROGEN has an estimated 400 crucial functions in our body and plays many different roles in a womens health, maintaining female reproductive function, cardiovascular health, memory function, bone turnover and weight control by modulating regulation of body fat. For a woman, the ovaries make 60% of estrogen while the other 40% comes from other sources, including the adrenal glands. The body converts androgens such as DHEA and testosterone made by the adrenals or ovaries into estrogen. Likewise, estrogen plays a vital role in a man’s physiology as well, regulating maturation of sperm and maintenance of libido. But did you know that estrogen is not a molecule? It is rather a group of three different forms of estrogen: Estrone: produced in the ovaries before menopause, it becomes the predominant circulating estrogen in post menopause. Estradiol: is the major form of estrogen produced in the ovaries in pre-menopausal women, though also produced by the adrenal glands and placenta. It is estradiol that helps with the development of secondary sexual characteristics related to breast development and feminine patterns of fat distribution in young women. Throughout a woman’s menstrual cycling life, estradiol plays an important role in cardiovascular health, memory, bone growth and turnover, and normal maintenance of the female reproductive tract. Estriol: is the predominant estrogen of pregnancy, with placental production source. It is much weaker than estradiol. Estrogens can also be produced by gut bacteria, or derived from plants, called phytoestrogens, or come from a synthetic source, called xenoestrogens, and these form the class generally known as ‘endocrine disruptors’ because they mimic the effects of estrogens and have an overall cumulative effect on the total estrogen levels. All these estrogens, with their cumulative overall levels, as well as their metabolism and their balance to each-other, will exert a modulating effect on disease risk. In other words, a hormone imbalance stemming from inadequate hormone ratios and inadequate hormone metabolism and excretion will raise one’s risk of development of chronic inflammatory, auto-immune, degenerative diseases and malignancies. The opposite holds true: hormonal balance leads to protective cardiovascular benefits, maintenance of bone density and avoidance of osteoporosis, memory preservation and brain health, as well as balanced mood and sexual health. Most women who suffer from decreased estrogen levels and imbalance in progesterone-to-estrogen ratios will present with the following symptoms: Hot flashes/night sweats Headaches or migraines Inflammation Insomnia or sleep disturbances Poor memory/concentration or forgetfullness Hair loss Dry skin/eyes/hair Thinning /aging skin and wrinkles Bone loss Insulin resistance Increased cholesterol Poor carbohydrate metabolism with resultant weight gain Heart palpitations Oily skin /acne Lighter/non-existent periods Vaginal dryness Urinary tract infections Incontinence Depression or depressed / low mood Weeping Anxiety Carbohydrate cravings Low libido PROGESTERONE has 300 jobs in the body and over 9,000 genetic mechanisms. The ovaries are the main source of progesterone production before menopause, making approximately 4 to 28 milligrams of progesterone during ovulation from the corpus luteum left behind after the rupture of the dominant follicle releasing the oocyte, ovulation which tends to occur sporadically by the mid-thirties. This means that progesterone is the first hormone that begins to decline leading to many symptoms of hormone-ratio imbalance.  Women who underwent a total hysterectomy (ovaries were removed as well) and women on oral and hormonal IUD contraceptives that block ovulation are more than likely progesterone deficient. This is because the synthetic progestins block ovulation, therefore that corpus luteum does not form and the main source of progesterone production is eliminated, leaving many women feeling awful with symptoms listed below: Weight gain   Fluid retention Low body temperature  Hypothyroidism (under-activity of the thyroid gland)  Headaches – especially before periods  Pain and inflammation  Allergies/sinusitis  Insomnia or sleep disturbances  Hair loss  Bone loss  PMS Cramps  Breast pain/benign cysts Heavy periods Irregular cycles (periods too close together)  •         Spotting before period or breakthrough bleeding •         Fibroids •         Endometriosis •         Infertility •         Miscarriage •         Depression •         Anxiety •         Irritability •         Mood swings •         Tendency to be stressed easily Progesterone is your friend, your happy hormone, but more is not better and little goes a long way. These hormones work with each other and influence and modulate how each exert their actions in the body. Therefore, no hormone should be looked at or treated alone in isolation from the others. TESTOSTERONE is erroneously thought of as a male hormone, but women also need and make testosterone for good health. The ovaries make about 60% of the total testosterone, while the rest comes from DHEA conversion in the adrenal glands. Women suffering from testosterone deficiency will present with the following symptoms: •         Hot flashes/night sweats •         Aches and pains •         Fatigue •         Insomnia •         Poor memory •         Thinning skin •         Loss of muscle tone •         Bone loss •         Heart palpitations •         Loss or thinning of pubic hair •         Vaginal dryness •         Incontinence •         Loss of libido •         Impaired sexual function or female sexual arousal disorder Instead of fearing testosterone and its replacement in females, let’s explore the beneficial, protective effects of testosterone: It increases bone mineral density, reduces fractures, increases muscle bulk and tone, maintains lean body mass, strength and stamina, increases libido, increases sense of well-being, improves mood, energy, and memory, lowers cholesterol and prevents heart disease, thickens skin and increases oil production in the skin, increases hair growth, and improves insulin sensitivity. Any testosterone replacement, if desired and certainly proven by laboratory parameters correlating with presenting symptoms, should be done to restore physiologic levels that lead to resolution of offending symptoms, while providing all the aforementioned protective effects.   DHEA is made by the adrenal glands, and it contributes to the formation of other hormones. About 40% of our estrogen and testosterone are made from the conversion of DHEA. Therefore, a deficiency in DHEA can trigger significant shortages of these hormones. DHEA levels decline with age, dropping to about 50% of youth-age levels by the time we reach the age of fifty. In our sixties, we typically produce only about 20% of what we did in our youth. Chronic stress

GUT HEALTH Gut health: Our gut actively participates in the digestion and absorption of the nutrients present in our foods and supplements, eliminates by-products of metabolism and various toxins, and also provides a major source of our immune defense. Stomach acid must be acidic (pH 2-3) in order to break down and digest the food and kill any harmful bacteria/viruses/parasites that may enter the stomach. Acid reflux is actually a paradoxical symptom of low stomach acid. With low stomach acid, foods stay longer in the stomach undigested, increasing abdominal pressure and chances of food being propelled upward into the esophagus. Medications such as histamine blockers and PPIs may make the symptoms feel better temporarily, but they are not correcting the root-cause: acid reflux. They lower the acid in the stomach, further compounding this process. What symptoms are associated with low stomach acid? Abdominal fullness, bloating, gas distention and burning in the upper abdominal area immediately after meals Undigested food making its way to the intestines and contributing to ‘leaky gut’ symptoms Findings of undigested food particles in the bowel movements Multiple food allergies Nausea after taking supplements Rectal itching, because undigested food promotes fermentation in places where none should happen, therefore leading to gut dysbiosis and overgrowth of yeast species. You’ve heard before the notion of ‘leaky gut,’ but do you know what are the things that lead to this intestinal permeability? Poor diet, lifestyle choices, medications such as histamine blockers, PPIs (proton pump inhibitor medications such as Nexium, Dexilant, etc), NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, Motrin, Ibuprofen, etc.), antibiotics, dysbiosis (abnormal balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut), food sensitivities, environmental factors; all these lead to perpetual inflammation which ultimately leads to ‘leaky gut’ aka intestinal permeability. Intestinal permeability leads to activation of the immune system to attack your own organs, with predilection for thyroid, joints and kidneys, and development of chronic auto-immune diseases, it also leads to hormonal imbalances, and all sorts of mental and behavioral problems. Gluteomorphins and caseomorphins are formed as a result of the poor digestion of gluten (from wheat) and casein (from dairy products), and these products of partial/improper digestion stimulate opium receptors in the brain, leading to all kinds of mental and behavioral problems. With a ‘leaky gut’ these gluteomorphins and caseomorphins easily get into the blood stream and travel to cross the blood brain barrier where they cause easily recognizable symptoms of agitation (fidgety behavior), depression, attention deficit, brain fog and impaired memory recall. The gut is also the major factory of about 85-90% of your serotonin production. In the presence of gut dysbiosis (abnormal balance between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ bacteria in the gut), food sensitivities, acid reflux, constipation, diarrhea, gut bacterial/parasite/fungal infections, etc., the production of this happy neurotransmitter also declines. SSRI medications (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors) such as Prozac, Zoloft, Celexa, Lexapro work by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin, but if the gut is inflamed by the very things mentioned above, the very substrate needed to be inhibited for reuptake is missing in action, and medication treatment fails to achieve the intended goal of reducing depression, without reversing the root-cause nor eliminating the symptoms of depression. Correction of the root-causes of intestinal permeability leads to resolution of the following: Depression Irritability Anxiety Hormonal imbalance Digestion problems Food cravings Thyroid problems Recurrent infections Brain fog and impaired memory recall Stubborn, excessive weight that’s been hanging around despite you practicing calorie-counting The gut is arguably the most important organ of detoxification because it excretes most of what the liver is busy packaging for elimination. Therefore, if aggressive detoxification is considered, the first step should be to heal the gut, reduce inflammation, and make sure that you have at least one bowel movement daily. If gut elimination is not working properly and daily bowel movements are elusive, estrogen will also not be properly detoxified and eliminated, and thus will be reabsorbed via the bile acids to go back to the liver for a second round of metabolization. Estrogen metabolism has its own dedicated microbiome calledestrobolome. Imbalance in the estrogen levels is linked to an impaired estrobolome.  Microbes in the estrobolome produce an enzyme called beta-glucuronidase which alters estrogens into their active forms, binding to estrogen receptors and exerting estrogen-related physiologic effects on cells and tissues. When gut health is not optimal, this gut dysbiosis causes alterations in the activity of this beta-glucuronidase enzyme. Therefore, the more beta-glucuronidase enzyme the impaired gut microbiome produces, the less estrogen is being excreted, so more estrogen remains in the body to recirculate, bind to estrogen-receptors and exert estrogen-related physiologic effects. This leads to estrogen dominance, even in the presence of age-related ‘normal’ estrogen levels. Estrogen dominance occurs in relative imbalance to progesterone levels and leads to increased risk of endometriosis, endometrial hyperplasia, uterine fibroids, breast, and endometrial cancers.  As the gut mediates hormone metabolism, microbiome dysbiosis reduces bacterial diversity which can also lead to low production of the beta-glucuronidase enzyme resulting in low testosterone levels. The gut microbiome health is not only affecting women, but men also.  The gut’s 5-α and 5-β reductase enzyme activity will also impact progesterone metabolism, for both men and women.  Working directly with me will give you the knowledge you need to evaluate, manage and eliminate gluten intolerance vs celiac disease, acid reflux, bloating/excessive gas, intestinal permeability, SIBO (small intestinal bacterial overgrowth), H. pylori gastritis, chronic yeast infections, chronic constipation, or diarrhea, asthma, allergies, and heal your gut, detoxify correctly, restore hormone balance and feel amazing! 

DETOX Detoxification is the body’s natural ability to first neutralize (Phase 1) and then eliminate (Phase 2) toxins through our many organ systems (colon, kidneys, lungs, lymph, skin). Many people, depending on their toxin exposure, accumulate these toxins at a faster rate than their detoxification systems can handle. And this is where the problems start! Accumulation of toxins leads to inflammation, this in turn leads to intestinal permeability, wrongful activation of the immune system to attack our own organs, and thus development of chronic degenerative inflammatory diseases, with huge impact on our own health, quality of life, increasing costs of healthcare with band-aid approach of treating symptoms but never addressing and eliminating the causative factors that led to the development of very debilitating symptoms. Detoxification has 2 phases which occur in the liver, followed by elimination outside of the body via the colon. During Phase 1, the liver breaks down fat soluble toxins into water soluble intermediates. This is a process that can temporarily make compounds more harmful, and it also produces free radicals (raising the oxidative stress). Supplementing with antioxidants or making sure that your diet supplies plenty of them, can address the potential oxidative load affecting the body during this phase. An antioxidant is a substance that has the ability to give an electron to a free radical to balance out the unpaired electron and neutralize the free radical. Our body produces three main antioxidant defense systems: glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase. We get most of our antioxidants from fruits and vegetables: Vitamin C, Alpha Lipoic Acid, N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC), Zinc, Green Tea (EGCG), Curcumin, Resveratrol, Garlic, Fish Oils. Cruciferous veggies (like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, etc.) are a great source of antioxidants. During Phase 2, after toxins have gone through the process of becoming water-soluble through phase 1 of detoxification, the liver eliminates the toxins through the bile (which dumps into your gut) and urine. Many natural supplements can help this process called “conjugation:” milk thistle, curcumin, glutathione and SAMe. Adequate protein, alliums such as onions & scallions, and cruciferous vegetables naturally help support this process. How much and which ones to use when? This is where a Functional Medicine physician can help you hone in on what’s necessary, at what dosage and when. Properly detoxifying the toxins you are exposed to requires optimum functioning of your gut and your liver, plus several other elimination channels such as kidneys, lymph and skin. While you hear mostly about the liver when it comes to detox, gut function must be addressed first. Why? Because the gut excretes most of what the liver packages for elimination. The gut is arguably the most important organ of detoxification. If adequate detoxification is pursued, the first step should be to heal the gut, reduce inflammation, and make sure that you have a daily bowel movement. To know if you’re ready to undergo a detox, you should have: Effortless bowel movements at least once daily to reduce the potential for toxins to be reabsorbed rather than eliminated. 25-30 grams of fiber per day in your diet, to bind toxins and pull them out. Maintain adequate hydration: half your body weight in ounces of water daily. Here are some of the benefits you will enjoy from detoxification: Improve the metabolism of your hormones Eliminate endocrine disruptors that affect your hormones Weight loss benefits Improved digestion Relieve constipation Reduce or eliminate bloating Improve acid reflux Eliminate parasites if any Eliminate toxins and heavy metals Treat candida overgrowth Improve blood sugars Reduce inflammation Improve and reduce muscle and arthritis pain Improve sleep Better concentration Reduce mental fog and improve mental clarity Improve skin condition Reduce cholesterol levels Eliminate food cravings Learn to eat when you’re truly hungry and not reach for food for emotional support or validation Boost your mitochondrial function Reduce oxidative stress that leads to accelerated aging Aim for a good detox at least twice per year or for 7-14 days every season. Not every detox program is the same. Starving yourself or consuming juice products for 7-14 days is not an adequate way of detoxification. Seek professional medical help and let Functional Medicine show you the path toward self-healing.

TRUE HEALTH SOLUTIONS CLINIC True Health Solutions Clinic is helping more people achieve the exciting and fulfillingdream of starting a family. The fertility experts have taken proven approaches to addressspecific issues. They offer a free fertility guide and consultations to clients. East Lansing, MI – More people looking forward to and dreaming of becoming a family cannow take advantage of the fertility services offered at True Health Solutions Clinic. The fertility clinic focuses on helping clients and patients make healthy, happy families one step at a time by equipping them with what they need as they embark on the journey. New clients can take advantage of the free fertility guide the experts put together or enjoy a free 15-minutes of an initial consultation. The True Health Solutions Clinic fertility guide is an essential resource for people looking to start a family. The free guide takes readers through how they can improve their chances of a successful pregnancy, whether they’ve chosen the natural path through natural conception or IUI/IVF path. In the guide, readers will learn about common issues affecting their ability to conceive and achieve their desired goals of bringing a new life into the world. The resource also goes over the approaches to addressing those issues, focusing on comparing conventional and functional medicine. With the functional medicine approach adopted at True Health Solutions Clinic, clients and patients can expect an overall health-oriented, patient-centered, holistic, and naturopathic treatment. The fertility experts also consider not just the symptoms or the issues affecting fertility but the deeper-lying conditions or problems that may have caused those symptoms. Patients who have gone through the free guide or those interested in skipping to the solutions can contact the clinic’s expert for fertility consultations. New clients and patients can take advantage of the free 15 minutes consultation service offered by the lead fertility expert at the clinic, Dr. Elena Alawa. Welcoming more clients to take the free consultation offer, Dr. Elena Alawa said: “Before you consider expensive assisted reproductive techniques at fertility clinics, please consider first a consultation at True Health Solutions Clinic. We will explore a comprehensive root-cause analysis of your symptoms and implement individualized medical protocols to help you improve your fertility so you can conceive naturally.” The consultation meeting will cover the common factors affecting the client or patient’s ability to conceive and how those factors can be addressed. Our fertility expert can also help patients coming off contraceptives and having difficulty conceiving those struggling with weight control and blood sugar imbalances, and patients with menstrual irregularities, endometriosis, or PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). True Health Solutions Clinic provides individual and couples consultations to help clients explore and navigate the reasons behind infertility and arrive at corrective strategies. Patients are welcome to book a virtual consultation via their website to get started. The fertility clinic can be reached via phone at 517-898-7832.