Women’s Health Hormones and Cancer ...

by Dr. Andrea Purcell, N.D.
[Published in OC-Health Magazine]

PMS, Weight gain, Fibroids, Endometriosis, Constipation, a menstrual cycle length of less than 25 days, painful periods, what do all of these symptoms have in common? They are all symptoms of a hormonal imbalance. These are common symptoms but they are not normal. PMS for example, affects 30-40% of all US women of reproductive age and 15 Million women have symptoms severe enough to disrupt their lives. Any time we have a symptom, it is a way for our bodies to communicate with us. To let us know that something isn’t quite right, the gravel shoulder on the highway of life if you will.

At first glance these may all seem like benign conditions, but when thoroughly evaluated they can point to a situation called Hyperestrogenism. Hyperestrogenism, or too much estrogen in relation to progesterone in the body, can set us up for a host of conditions that are by no means benign. Hyperestrogenism can tilt the hormonal scales in our bodies so much that more serious gynecological conditions can develop such as: Fibroids, endometriosis, irregular bleeding, fibrocystic breasts, ovarian cysts, and hormone sensitive cancers in female target organs.

Hyperestrogen is created from a combination of Lifestyle and Environmental factors:

• Food – Eating processed foods, high in sugar and bad fats, low in fiber.
• Environment – Estrogen mimicking substances in food and cosmetics, hormones, in meat and dairy products, plastic water bottles, and pesticides.
• Medications – Birth Control Pills
• Lifestyle – Stress, sedentary, weight gain.

These Factors disrupt estrogen breakdown in the liver and combined with constipation can cause toxic estrogens to be recycled inside the body instead of being excreted. This causes estrogen levels to rise and creates a Hyperestrogen situation.

Conventional treatments for the above conditions include surgery and birth control pills. Neither of these treatments addresses the underlying hormonal imbalance. Which is why performing a hysterectomy for uterine hemorrhaging as a result of fibroids is not curative. The hormonal imbalance remains and the excess estrogen can be deposited in other tissues specifically, breast tissue. Many breast, and uterine cancers are hormone receptor positive, meaning that an excess of estrogen, progesterone, or both can cause them to grow. Correcting an underlying hormonal imbalance not only will enhance your quality of life but can prevent these more serious conditions from arising.

The best way to address a hormonal imbalance is to assess your symptoms as part of a whole picture, determine your hormone levels, and then correct the underlying imbalance using natural medicine. Natural medicine treats the underlying cause, supports the body in correcting the imbalance, and restores health, all without drugs or surgery. Find a licensed Naturopathic Doctor in your area today. Increasing health on the inside so it shines through to the outside. www.calnd.org.

Andrea Purcell, ND, is licensed as a Primary Care Doctor in both Arizona and California, a certified practitioner of Wilsons Temperature syndrome, the Blood-type diet and the founder of Portal to Healing Naturopathic Clinic with locations in Costa Mesa, CA and Katonah, NY. Dr. Purcell specializes in natural medicine for Women. The scope of her practice includes: Women’s health, hormone balancing, halting and reversing chronic disease, weight loss, and medical nutrition.

Dr. Purcell facilitates bodily repair by identifying the underlying cause of disease and removing obstacles that impede the body's natural ability to heal.