“Hormone Replacement Therapy is thought to reduce the risk of heart disease in menopausal women by up to 50%, however it may increase the risk of breast cancer by the same degree.”  Always pay attention to the ‘however’ in any statement it’s usually the most important part.

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Trivia

It seems the average life expectancy for US women today is 84 years which means that many women spend around 50% of their adult life as a menopausal or post-menopausal female.   If that is the case, then it definitely pays you to take the most positive attitude — and as much chocolate as possible — to make the transition smooth!

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Quote

“Is it called menopause, because every time a woman who’s menopausal hears a man speak, she needs to pause or she’ll clobber him?”

(Unknown male!)

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Trivia

In case you were wondering, it was in 1812 (otherwise famous for that Overture), that the term ‘menopause’ was first used by the French physician, C P L de Gardanne.

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Quote

“Rock and menopause do not mix. It is not good, it sucks and every day I fight it to the death, or, at the very least, not let it take me over.”

Stevie Nicks (Fleetwood Mac)

For more information go to www.exodushc.com

He is board certified by and a member of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine (A4M) (passed exams December 2005) and also a member of ACAM.

Dr Dach was originally trained in clinical medicine, and worked as an Emergency Room doctor in Illinois. He then worked 25 years as a hospital based physican as a Diagnostic and Interventional Radiologist.

After retiring from radiology in 2004, Dr. Dach returned to clinical medicine and founded a new clinic specalizing in Bioidentical Hormones, and natural thyroid for low thyroid conditions.

Dr. Dach has attended many medical meetings and training courses, including physician’s training at the Cenegenics Institute, ACAM, A4M, and ICIM covering bio-identical hormone supplementation and natural medicine.  You can view videos of Dr Dach talking about bioidentical hormones and natural medicine posted on You Tube.

Dr. Jeffrey Dach and TrueMedMD receive NO funding from the pharmaceutical industry or government.  Dr. Dach is an advocate of patients’ rights and supports informed consent.

To read more on Dr Dach’s work please visit his website at www.jeffreydach.com If you have any questions or comments you can contact him via the website.

Dr Bailey regularly holds training workshops both with the public and practitioners, and speaks on a variety of topics including digestive health, depression, chronic fatigue syndrome and children’s disorders. Dr Bailey has authored peer-reviewed articles in leading science journals, as well as having written for national trade magazines.

Dr Bailey received her PhD in Cell Biology from Cambridge University. Her doctoral research was conducted under the supervision of Prof. Sheila Bingham at the Dunn Human Nutrition Unit, Cambridge.

More information can be found on her website at www.drninabailey.com

He served for six years on the Research Committee of the Prince of Wales’ Foundation for Integrated Health as a naturopathic physician.

Most recently he has held the appointment of Director of Medical Research at two major Clinics in London (The Hale Clinic and The Diagnostic Clinic).

For more information on Dr Gaier’s work go to www.drgaier.com or to keep up to date with health news visit drgaier.wordpress.com or follow him on twitter at www.twitter.com/DrGaier.

It is often mistakenly said that there is no scientific or research reference material on the use of natural progesterone.  This is simply not true, as there exists plenty of information and data in peer-reviewed medical journals but these are simply often not quoted or known about widely enough.   The following is a list of some of the many articles from journals that are widely accepted by authorities to be legitimate and well researched.

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2007;101:125-134 - “Estradiol and progesterone demonstrated no increased risk of breast cancer. Synthetic estrogen (Premarin® ) and synthetic progestins (medroxyprogesterone and noresterone) all dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer. This was a ten year study of over 100,000 women, the largest and longest study to date comparing natural hormones to synthetic hormones”.

Fertility Sterility 2005 Dec;84(6):1589-601 - “The WHI trial had major design flaws that led to adverse conclusions about the positive effects of hormone therapy. The study included mostly older women that already had cardiovascular disease. The study utilized only medroxyprogesterone (Provera® which we know negates any beneficial effect of estrogen, rather than the bio identical hormone, progesterone”. Multiple other studies with estrogen started early in menopause demonstrate beneficial effects.”

American Family Physicians 2000;62: 1339-46. - “Due to the side effects of synthetic progestin’s, natural progesterone is preferred. Progesterone has proven bio-availability and no side effects making it the preferred hormone for menopause.

Obstetrics Gynecology 1989;73:606 - “Natural estrogen and natural progesterone offer substantial clinical benefit over the synthetic hormones and should be the agents of choice for menopause.”

Maturitas 2003 Dec;46(1):555-58 – “Progesterone reduces proliferation of breast cancer cells and induces cellular apoptosis (kills breast cancer cells)

Japan Journal of Cancer Research 1985June;76:699-04. American Family Physicians: 2000;62(8):1839. – “Mammary tumor stimulation was reduced both by progesterone and Tamoxifen, more so by progesterone by Tamoxifen which is the drug of choice to treat cancer.”

Mayo Clinic, Women’s HealthSource: August, 1999, pg 3. – “The multitude of side effects associated with the synthetic analogues called progestins has stimulated an interest in natural progesterone. Natural progesterone is obtained primarily from plant sources. Natural progesterone has improved bioavailability and fewer side effects when compared with synthetic progestins. Natural progesterone has not been shown to affect mood or cholesterol levels. The synthetic progestins differ from the natural progesterone since they cause fluid retention, abnormal increase in cholesterol, headaches, mood disturbance, depression, and are frequently a cause of discontinuation of hormone therapy”.

Journal of Women’s Health Gender-based Medicine: 2000;9(4):381-7. – “The side effects of the synthetics include bloating, nausea, and depression were eliminated by using natural progesterone. In fact, unexpected improvement in the feeling of well-being was observed when natural progesterone was used.”

Endocrine Reviews: 28(4): 387 – 439 – “Progesterone has metabolic and hepatocellular effects (decreased insulin sensitivity, increased levels and activity of IGF-1, decreased levels of SHBG), which contrast the opposite effects induced by oral estrogen. Within the nervous system, the neuroprotective and promyelinating effects of progesterone are promising, not only for preventing but also for reversing age-dependent changes and dysfunctions. There is strong evidence that the ageing nervous system remains sensitive to the beneficial effects of progesterone, this may also extend to peripheral tissues including the breast, blood vessels and bones.”

Further research on natural hormones…

_______________________

www.bio-hormone-health.com

Combining a Harvard education and a lifetime of practicing natural and preventive medicine, Dr. Weil is the founder and director of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine (AzCIM) at the University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, in Tucson, where he is also a Clinical Professor of Medicine and Professor of Public Health and the Lovell-Jones Professor of Integrative Rheumatology. Dr. Weil received both his medical degree and his undergraduate AB degree in biology (botany) from Harvard University.

Dr. Weil is an internationally-recognized expert for his views on leading a healthy lifestyle, his philosophy of healthy aging, and his critique of the future of medicine and health care. Approximately 10 million copies of Dr. Weil’s books have been sold, including Spontaneous Healing, 8 Weeks to Optimum Health, Eating Well for Optimum Health, The Healthy Kitchen, Healthy Aging, Why Our Health Matters and Spontaneous Happiness.

Online, he is the editorial director of drweil.com, the leading web resource for healthy living based on the philosophy of integrative medicine. He can be found on Facebook at facebook.com/DrWeil, Twitter at twitter.com/DrWeil, and Dr. Weil’s Daily Health Tips blog at drweilblog.com.

He authors the popular “Self Healing” special interest publications, and is the Director of Integrative Health at Miraval Life in Balance Resort in Tucson, Ariz. As a columnist for Prevention magazine and a frequent guest on Larry King Live, Oprah, and the Today Show, Dr. Weil provides valuable information and insight on how to incorporate conventional and complementary medicine practices in one’s life to optimize the body’s natural healing power.

Although Doctors are aware of the facts on natural optimal hormone replacement, it can be helpful to see brought together the many reports published in peer reviewed journals which are widely accepted by authorities to be legitimate and well researched.

Also, many patients like to see proof from medical literature that it is both beneficial and safe before their Doctor recommends it to them.  Such material is widely available, but not always widely publicized and there is certainly plenty of information available.  Here you will find listed such data from those peer-reviewed medical journals.

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PROGESTERONE

Breast Cancer Res Treat 2007;101:125-134 – “Estradiol and progesterone demonstrated no increased risk of breast cancer. Synthetic estrogen (Premarin®) and synthetic progestins (medroxyprogesterone and noresterone) all dramatically increased the risk of breast cancer. This was a ten year study of over 100,000 women, the largest and longest study to date comparing natural hormones to synthetic hormones”.

Fertility Sterility 2005 Dec;84(6):1589-601 – “The WHI trial had major design flaws that led to adverse conclusions about the positive effects of hormone therapy. The study included mostly older women that already had cardiovascular disease. The study utilized only medroxyprogesterone (Provera®) which we know negates any beneficial effect of estrogen, rather than the bio identical hormone, progesterone”. Multiple other studies with estrogen started early in menopause demonstrate beneficial effects.”

Female Patient 2001 Oct; 19-23. - “The main reason women discontinue HRT is due to side effects. Synthetic progestin’s (Provera®) cause may side effects: breast swelling and tenderness, uterine bleeding, depression and mood disturbance, weight gain, bloating and edema. Natural progesterone has no side effects.”

American Family Physicians 2000;62: 1339-46. - “Due to the side effects of synthetic progestin’s, natural progesterone is preferred. Progesterone has proven bio-availability and no side effects making it the preferred hormone for menopause.”

National Academy Science USA; 2003 Sept. 2;100(8):10506-11. – “Estrogen and progesterone are neuro-protective against cerebral damage. These beneficial effects were blocked by MPA (medroxyprogesterone).”

Obstetrics Gynecology 1989;73:606 - “Natural estrogen and natural progesterone offer substantial clinical benefit over the synthetic hormones and should be the agents of choice for menopause.”

Maturitas 2003 Dec;46(1):555-58 – “Progesterone reduces proliferation of breast cancer cells and induces cellular apoptosis”

American Family Physician 2000; 62:1939-46 - “Due to the side effects of synthetic progestin’s, natural progesterone is preferred. Progesterone has proven bioavailability and no side effects making it the preferred hormone for menopause.”

Obstetrics Gynecology 1989;73:606-611. - “Progesterone raises good HDL cholesterol, whereas MPA (Provera®), lowers good cholesterol. Progesterone increases estrogen beneficial effects whereas MPA reverses estrogen’s benefits. Progesterone has no side effects, whereas MPA has many”

Fertility Sterility 1998;69:963-69. - “Progesterone decreases Breast stimulation 400%, and down regulates breast receptor sites, thereby protecting against breast stimulation.”

Japan Journal of Cancer Research 1985June;76:699-04. - “Mammary tumor stimulation was reduced both by progesterone and Tamoxifen, more so by progesterone by Tamoxifen which is the drug of choice to treat cancer.”

American Family Physicians: 2000;62(8):1839. – “The multitude of side effects associated with the synthetic analogues called progestins has stimulated an interest in natural progesterone. Natural progesterone is obtained primarily from plant sources. Natural progesterone has improved bioavailability and fewer side effects when compared with synthetic progestins.

Natural progesterone has not been shown to effect mood or cholesterol levels. The synthetic progestins differ from the natural progesterone since they cause fluid retention, abnormal increase in cholesterol, headaches, mood disturbance, depression, and are frequently a cause of discontinuation of hormone therapy. (Again adequate documentation in our literature of the protective benefits of natural progesterone without all the side effects of synthetics. It is very well supported in our medical literature, yet unfortunately unrecognized by most physicians.) ”

Mayo Clinic, Women’s HealthSource: August, 1999, pg 3. - “Women prefer the use of natural progesterone over synthetic progestins. Natural progesterone made a difference in overall quality of life, menopausal symptoms, and satisfaction.

Natural progesterone is not associated with the abnormal metabolites from synthetic progestins. These abnormal metabolites are substances that are responsible for the side effects. Natural progesterone is the same substance you are making naturally, and therefore side effects are avoided. ”

American Family Physician: 1999;16(1):264. – “A better alternative. The side effects of the synthetics include bloating, nausea, and depression were eliminated by using natural progesterone. In fact, unexpected improvement in the feeling of well-being was observed when natural progesterone was used.”

Journal of Women’s Health Gender-based Medicine: 2000;9(4):381-7. - “A better alternative. The side effects of the synthetics include bloating, nausea, and depression were eliminated by using natural progesterone. In fact, unexpected improvement in the feeling of well-being was observed when natural progesterone was used.

When compared to the synthetic progestins, women using micronized, natural progesterone experienced significant improvement in symptoms without the side effects of the synthetics. The natural progesterone offers improvement in quality of life in comparison with the synthetic progestin.”

J Steroid Biochem Mol Biol. 2005 May - “Progesterone, unlike synthetic progestins, does not have a detrimental effect on breast tissue. Synthetic progestins (MPA and 19-Nortestosterone derivatives) which have non-progesterone-like effects which can potentiate the proliferative actions of oestrogens.

Progesterone has metabolic and hepatocellular effects (decreased insulin sensitivity, increased levels and activity of IGF-1, decreased levels of SHBG), which contrast the opposite effects induced by oral oestrogen.”

Endocrine Reviews: 28(4): 387 – 439 - Within the nervous system, the neuroprotective and promyelinating effects of progesterone are promising, not only for preventing but also for reversing age-dependent changes and dysfunctions. There is strong evidence that the ageing nervous system remains sensitive to the beneficial effects of progesterone, this may also extend to peripheral tissues including the breast, blood vessels and bones.”

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OESTROGEN

Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of North America; 1995 October; Vol. 6 (4):653-675 – “This manuscript presents a protocol for hormone replacement therapy with natural estrodial, progesterone, testosterone, DHEA and melatonin. Using the natural sex steroids which occur naturally in humans represents replacement to ensure attainment of pre-menopausal levels and adequacy of therapy. This is inexpensive therapy that gives relief of symptoms, is well tolerated, provides minimal side effects, protects the endometrium, and results in excellent compliance. This replacement of natural hormones is based on sound physiologic principles that have been demonstrated to be the preferred method of hormone replacement.”

JAMA 2004;291(24): 2947-2958. – “Fear of breast cancer is the strongest factor limiting postmenopausal hormone use. The most powerful study to date definitively demonstrated that estrogen does not cause an increase risk for cancer. The increased risk was associated only with taking the progestin (Provera®) and not estrogen.”

Female Patient 2004 Oct;Vol 29: 35-41. - ”The largest study to date, the Nurses’ Health Study, demonstrated a 100% decrease in heart disease and cancer for estrogen users. It is never too late to initiate estrogen therapy to arrest the progression of osteoporosis and hip fractures.”

J Gen Internal Medicine 2004;19(7): 791-804 - ”In the final analysis of the estrogen only arm of the WHI; there was no increased risk of breast cancer or heart disease. There was a 35% decrease in hip fractures, 35% decrease in diabetes and a 60% decrease in urinary sepsis. This leads to a significant decrease in all causes of mortality.

Family Practice News 2003 June;Vol 33(11):1-2. – ”New findings in 4 recent studies counter the results of WHI and HERS. Estrogen replacement results in a dramatic decrease in cardiovascular disease. There was no coronary artery disease deaths were reported in 6,000 women taking estrogen. The results of the WHI do not apply to younger women.”

Geriatrics:1996;51(8):16. - “Women are skeptical about estrogen replacement therapy. They are unconvinced about its efficacy. Side effects are reported as the primary reason for discontinuing therapy. Physicians and patients require continuing education to emphasize estrogen’s potential benefits.”

Biomedicina: 2000;3(1):5-20. - “Estrogen improves quality of life, decreases hot flashes, night sweats, and depression. Estrogen maintains youthful appearance, avoids wrinkles, improves sex-life. Estrogen keeps strong and healthy bones from deteriorating. Estrogen avoids heart problems, memory loss.”

“Estrogen enhances skin smoothness, firmness, and elasticity. Estrogen moistens skin and mucus membranes and prevents urogenital atrophy. Estrogen prevents sexual dysfunction.”

“Estrogen reduces the risk of heart disease, osteoporosis, colon cancer, improves memory and neurologic function, prevents against Alzheimer’s disease, enhances immune function, and improves well-being.”

“Estrogen preserves independence, prevents morbidity, and enhances well-being.”

Hospital Practice: August, 1999: 102. - “Estrogen dramatically reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease in women by up to 50 percent. This effect was felt to be through improvement of the lipid profile.”

“Most of the survival benefit has been found to stem from a direct antiatherosclerotic, anticoagulatory, and vasodilatary effects of estrogen. (The recent HERS study showed an increased risk of heart attack in women taking estrogen if they had a prior history of cardiovascular disease. This is a very small percentage of women, overall. It is due to congenital clotting abnormalities and is an extremely small percent of the total population. Most healthy women will benefit from this replacement.)”

“Estrogen therapy has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of macular degeneration by 70 percent. (Currently this is the only proven therapy to slow down the most common cause of blindness in our society.)”

“Superior dental health of estrogen users was the result of bone preservation and maintenance of collagen in the supporting gingival structures.”

“Estrogen reduces the incidence of urogenital complaints such as vaginal dryness, urinary infection, and loss of supporting structures. (This should give women something to smile about.)”

Infertility and Reproductive Medicine Clinics of North America: October, 1995;6(4):653-660. - “This manuscript presents a protocol for hormone replacement therapy using natural estrogen, testosterone, DHEA, and progesterone.”

“Serum hormone levels are measured and replaced to premenopausal levels using the natural hormones. We believe this method of hormone replacement therapy is based on sound physiological principles. It ensures establishment of premenopausal levels of circulating sex steroids. (This was a landmark article in the obstetric/gynecology literature that went unnoticed. This excellent article not only discusses the method of replacement, but also emphasizes the lack of side effects associated with this therapy as it maintains premenopausal levels of the natural hormones as opposed to using the synthetic, which were associated with a significantly higher incidence of side effects. Remember as stated at the beginning, women stop estrogen therapy because of side effects. Using natural hormones eliminates these side effects and significantly increases compliance.)”

Archives of Dermatology: 1997;133: 339-342. - “Estrogen therapy is associated with a significant decrease in skin wrinkling and skin dryness in women, increase in dermal and total skin thickness, and preservation of skin texture.”

“There is a 30 percent decrease of collagen after menopause, resulting in loss of skin thickness and elasticity. These changes are reversible with estrogen replacement therapy. (If that will not increase compliance, I don’t know what will.)”

Consultant Magazine: December, 2000: 2312. - “Multiple epidemiologic and observational studies from more than 27 studies performed over the last two decades demonstrate a significant reduction in heart disease mortality in women who took hormone therapy.”

Chemical Research and Toxicology: 1999;12(2):204-13. - “A major metabolite of equilin auto-oxidized to a potent uncogenic metabolite equilenin, a component of Premarin It is easily metabolized to cytotoxic metabolites that can stimulate breast tumors. (Natural hormones follow normal metabolic pathways so that the active metabolites formed are easily metabolized by the body. Therefore, administration of bio-identical hormones to humans can eliminate the production of problem causing metabolites, which are probably responsible for the side effects as well as the increased cancer incidence of the synthetic hormones.)”

Obstetrics and Gynecology: 1989;73:606. – “Women that were prescribed natural estrogen and natural progesterone had a decrease in total cholesterol and an increase of HDL. Those on synthetic conjugated estrogens and medroxyprogesterone (Provera) had no change. This study demonstrates that administration of natural hormones results in symptomatic improvement, minimal side effects, improved lipid profile, and protection of the uterus. (Again another article from our medical literature supporting the use of natural hormones to avoid side effects and complications of the synthetics.)”

Further research on Natural Progesterone…

_______________________

www.bio-hormone-health.com

She is a qualified Nutritional Biochemist and State-Registered Nutritionist and is the Nutrition and Technical Manager at Lifeplan where she is responsible for all aspects of nutritional science.  She has an extensive knowledge of nutrition with a particular interest in the nutritional aspects of digestive and immune health.

For further information or enquiries, Julie Lamble can be contacted at Lifeplan Products Limited on 01455 556281, enquiries@lifeplan.co.uk or visit the company website www.lifeplan.co.uk.

Patrick started his academic career in the field of psychology and while completing his bachelor degree in Experimental Psychology at the University of York, he researched the role of nutrition in mental health and illness. He became a student of the late Dr Carl Pfeiffer, director of Princeton’s Brain Bio Center, and later a student of Dr Abram Hoffer, Director of the International Schizophrenia Foundation in Canada, who were leading the field in mental health and nutrition. In 1980 he started treating mental health patients with nutritional medicine.

In 1984 Patrick founded the Institute for Optimum Nutrition (ION), a charitable and independent educational trust for the furtherance of education and research in nutrition. Today, ION is the largest training school in the UK offering a degree-accredited course in nutritional therapy and is widely respected as a leading edge organisation by professionals and media alike. Patrick formed a relationship with the late Dr Linus Pauling, who became the Patron of the Institute for Optimum Nutrition. During his years as director of ION, Patrick ran many educational campaigns that brought attention to the importance of zinc and pyrolluyria, disglycaemia, antioxidants, methylation and homocysteine, IgG food allergies, essential fats in mental health – factors still greatly underestimated in the treatment of mental illness. Patrick retired as Director of ION in 1997 to focus on writing, teaching and researching.

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For further information on Patrick Holford and his work please visit www.patrickholford.com for details of his books, including the new Say No to Cancer and his upcoming tour in the UK and Ireland on cancer, infections and allergies.