Progesterone Deficiency Seen in Men and Women

There are many misconceptions about progesterone. It is widely perceived as not only a “female” hormone, but a sex hormone, because it is produced by the ovaries in females (in men, it's made by the adrenal glands). However, neither is the case – in fact, progesterone plays a large role in the body functions of males and females of all ages, has nothing to do with the secondary sex characteristics which develop during puberty, and is vital to good health for everyone. It is important in many ways, keeping the endocrine system balanced. But that's not all; progesterone is the precursor of lots of other important components (among them, estrogen and testosterone) that keep our bodies in proper balance. It is sometimes referred to as “the mother of all hormones” because it's converted into these other hormones. Its “all purpose” nature explains why the effects of a progesterone deficiency can be so wide-ranging.

For women, adequate levels of progesterone can provide relief from menopausal symptoms, keep the reproductive system in balance, stabilize mood swings, facilitate concentration, normalize thyroid levels, keep the bones strong ... the list goes on and on. For men, progesterone can increase sperm count, keep the energy level high, decrease prostate problems, even improve the complexion – and again, that's just the tip of the iceberg. This is why it's crucial to have the proper balance of progesterone in your body; it's responsible for so many important functions.

DHEA: the "anti-aging hormone"

“Dehydroepiandrosterone” is quite a mouthful. Maybe that's why we call this hormone “DHEA” for short. Whatever you choose to call it, it's the most prevalent steroid hormone in the body, and like progesterone, may be metabolized into other key hormones to achieve proper balance. DHEA levels tend to decrease once a person hits thirty years old, dropping more dramatically as you age. Lowered levels of DHEA have been associated with a range of diseases, including AIDS, anorexia, kidney disease, type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer's and others – which clearly indicates that the more optimal a person's DHEA level, the healthier he or she is. This has caused some to call DHEA the “anti-aging” hormone, since the gradual decline in the body's DHEA level often corresponds with the degenerative diseases that come with aging.

Restoring the body to its youthful level of DHEA has been shown to help with a multitude of problems, among them depression, obesity, menopausal symptoms, osteoporosis, immune system dysfunction, chronic fatigue, and cognitive decline. Ongoing studies continue to extensively test DHEA's benefits. To ensure safety, it should only be used under the supervision of a qualified health pracitioner, and not used by pregnant or nursing women or by those taking certain medications.

"Shots of Ozone Zaps Back Pain!"

I came across an interesting article online yesterday and was actually shocked. We have been using medical ozone/oxygen therapy for years treating a variety of different ailments. From chronic fatigue to chronic pain, ozone can be a very effective way to stimulate the body's immune system to help with recovery. Specifically, talking about back pain we have had significant success. This article is taken from the Society of Interventional Radiology, March 2009 and it finally sheds some light to the "traditional" medical community regarding the benefits of medical ozone/oxygen therapy. It is also somewhat ironic that there are some states that specifically ban the use of ozone as a medical treatment!!

Please read the following article and keep in mind that this treatment has already had significant amount of research and use clinically for years!

Shot of Ozone Zaps Back Pain!

"In just a few years, a shot of ozone could be the "go to" method to relieve an aching back. 
 
Radiologists predict oxygen-ozone therapy will become the standard treatment in the United States to treat herniated disks within the next five years.

"Having a herniated disk can affect how you perform everyday activities and can cause severe pain that influences everything you do; however, you don’t have to undergo invasive surgery," Kieran J. Murphy, M.D., an interventional neuroradiologist and vice chair and chief of medical imaging at the University of Toronto, was quoted as saying.

The non-invasive procedure of oxygen-ozone therapy involves injecting the gas mixture into the disk. It works to limit pain and inflammation by reducing the disk's volume. Compared to a surgical diskectomy, pain and function outcomes are similar, plus the recovery time is significantly shorter."

SOURCE: Society of Interventional Radiology online, March 2009

Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement for Women

Hormone replacement therapies can be a godsend to women suffering from the symptoms of menopause. Recently, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy has been thrust into the limelight as an alternative to synthetic therapies. This raises many questions – and one question always seems to be at the forefront: are bio-identical hormones really better than synthetic? The answer is a resounding yes.

Bio-identical hormones are taken from plant sources such as wild yam and soybeans, then altered in a lab until they are molecularly identical to the hormones that women naturally produce. Since they're just like the hormones found in the body, they are metabolized much more easily, thereby minimizing unwanted side effects. Synthetic hormones are not identical to those found naturally; drug companies cannot patent a bio-identical structure, so they intentionally made synthetic hormones different enough to be able to patent. Some of the side effects of synthetic hormones can include depression, fluid retention, vaginal bleeding, dizziness, and nausea – which makes little sense when you're trying to alleviate symptoms in the first place!

Another advantage is that bio-identical hormones can be given in custom-mixed doses to better target a specific problem, matched to each woman's individual needs rather than the “one size fits all” approach taken by traditional synthetic hormone replacement therapies.

Many women can effectively manage hormone imbalances through lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, high-grade nutritional supplementation, and gentle exercise. But if they still need help resetting the delicate hormonal balance, bio-identical hormones are a decidedly safer choice.