Article for 07-2001
HRT's (Hormone Replacement Therapy) -Are they Safe?
Estrogen replacement therapy generates an estimated $853 million
dollars annually. Over sixty million women today are on estrogen
replacement therapy also known as hormone replacement therapy.
Don't be fooled by the PR on drugs like Permarin. Claims that these
drugs will prevent osteoporosis or that it will make the transition into
menopause an easier one are lacking. Get the facts first then decide
if you want to take the risks associated with HRT medications.
What exactly are the risks? Let's take a scientific look at what
Permarin and other hormone replacement medications do to your body.
Research
Scientific research that has proven that oral ingested estrogen depletes
the body's nutritional stores. What exactly does it deplete? Here's a list:
Vitamin B6, B1, B2, B3, B12
Magnesium (needed to prevent calcium loss)
Folic acid
Vitamin C
Selenium
Zinc
You may be saying, "So what!" Well, before you get too cocky, take
a look
at what risks you expose your body to when depleting the body of the above
nutrients.
- Vitamin B6 - Is needed to convert amino acid (tryptophan) into the neurotransmitter
serotonin. Low levels of serotonin can lead to depression and insomnia. Without
B6 you also endanger the lining of your heart. Without B6 your body can't
metabolize homocysteine (a toxic substance that injures arteries and causes
atherosclerosis - a leading cause of heart disease).
- Vitamin B1 - A lack can cause depression, irritability, memory loss, muscle
weakness, and edema.
- Vitamin B2 - This is riboflavin. A deficiency here produces various problems
with the skin, eyes, mucous membranes and nerves.
- Vitamin B3 - The body develops an inability to absorb niacin (a condition
called pellagra). This is a huge disturbance in the body's metabolism and
is characterized by symptoms of gastrointestinal problems, mucous membrane
problems, neurologic and mental problems.
- Vitamin B12 - A deficiency here can cause anemia (lack of folic acid). Symptoms
are fatigue, tiredness, weakness, depression and an increased risk of cardiovascular
disease. Long-term deficiencies produce irreversible neurological damage.
- Magnesium - Depleting the magnesium in your body will produce high blood
pressure, osteoporosis, muscle cramps, PMS, cardiac arrhythmia's, and various
other cardiovascular problems. If you have asthma, it will increase the frequency
and severity of attacks. Taking calcium supplements to prevent osteoporosis
won't do any good. Why? Calcium and magnesium work together in the body to
control blood clotting (excess calcium increases clotting and magnesium thins
the blood), and muscle contraction (calcium causes contractions and magnesium
relaxes muscles). Without your magnesium, your calcium tablets won't do anything
but produce a larger imbalance. These two minerals are counter-regulartory.
For those of you that are taking oral contraceptives (a form of orally ingested
estrogen) you can have frequent side effects of thrombus (blood clots). This
explains why women have more problems around the time of menstruation because
the excess calcium increases the muscle contractions.
- Folic Acid - You've probably heard that folic acid helps regulate and transfer
DNA (genetic material) to new cells in fetuses. Without it, birth defects
occur. You can tell if you are deficient in folic acid with a NHI (Neutrophilic
Hypersegmentation Index) test. Women on birth control have a higher risk of
depleting their folic acid stores and not be able to increase them enough
when they want to conceive.
- Vitamin C - Low levels of vitamin C weaken your immune system, accelerate
aging (especially to the skin) with free radical damage. There is also a suggested
risk of developing glaucoma and cataracts.
- Selenium - This is an important antioxidant which protects you from cancer
and cardiovascular disease. Without selenium, the aging process is accelerated.
- Zinc - A very, very important mineral for your immune system. Without zinc,
your wounds take forever to heal. You can experience a loss of taste, smell,
infertility, sexual dysfunction, and insulin resistance.
Alternatives - What can you do?
Can you say good-bye to Permarin / Provera and feel healthier? Well, it is
up to you.
If you decide to switch from your prescription medications to herbs, you will
need the help
of a licensed physician. You don't want to go cold turkey off your HRT's. You
can put
your endocrine system into shock. If your physician won't wean you off the HRT
drugs, then
search for a Naturopath who has experience with this process. I do not recommend
that
you do this yourself. I also recommend that you educate yourself on the proper
way to
wean off drugs. For instance, you don't want to take a dose today, skip a day,
and take
another dose. You also don't want to half or quarter your doses. The proper
way to wean
is the gradual step-down method. Your physician should reduce the dose little
by little each
day. This will require several prescriptions for lower milligrams of the drug
each day. Some
physicians don't use this method, however it is kinder to the system and you
can avoid
withdrawal symptoms.
There are herbs that can supply your body with the nutrition your endocrine
system needs
to function normally to prevent the symptoms of menopause, osteoporosis, etc.
Herbs can
enhance your circulation and allow your endocrine system to communicate with
your
hormonal system through natural chemical reactions. Your endocrine system of
ovaries,
pituitary etc. will function together to assure balance. Using herbs isn't a
hormone
replacement treatment. Your body simply makes its own hormones in the correct
amounts
with the herb nutrition you've provided. Herbs can afford you the opportunity
to address your
menopause, osteoporosis, PMS, and infertility without toxic medications.
The HRT medications are made from horse urine. These drugs used to be made
from
plants, however horse urine is less expensive and more abundant for the pharmaceutical
industry. The horses are imprisoned in stalls, artificially impregnated, are
catheterized and
drained of their urine. There is a high concentration of hormones in the mare's
urine and it
is used for estrogen medications.
There is medical proof that this type of estrogen is extremely dangerous and
definitely
causes cancer and other debilitating diseases. If you would like to check this
fact yourself,
you can go to your library and ask to see the latest edition of the Physician's
Desk Reference.
There you will find on pages 2588-2601 (editions will vary) is list of the deadly
side effects
of estrogen therapy. The number one prescription of estrogen replacement hormone
therapy
is Premarin with over 46 million prescriptions sold last year. Premarin can
cause hundreds of
diseases which lead to death. In these pages you will read in bold print from
the
manufacturer warning doctors that"
"...an increased risk of uterine cancer in menopausal women who take estrogen
for over one year."
"Estrogens can cause other cancer tumors of the breast, cervix, vagina
and liver."
"Estrogens should only be used when clearly needed."
" Artificial estrogens (like Premarin) increase the risk of cancer 13.9
times."
Also hormone replacement medications kill the organs of the body it is trying
to help. It will kill your
ovaries and it is equal to chemical sterilization. These organs will literally
atrophy.
Where to start?
Educate yourself first. Learn all you can about modern medicine and natural
herbal treatments
for hormonal imbalance. This way you can make an educated decision that is best
for you.
To help, read THE POWER HERBS: 13 Herbs Every Medicine Cabinet Should Have.
You can get a copy online at http://www.thepowerherbs.com or call toll free
at 866-229-3663.
You can find quality herbal formulas to provide the nutrition and balance your
endocrine system
needs. Go to http://www.apothecaryherbs.com and click on Herbal Shop. Look under
female
formulas: Maturity, Cycle Balancer, Female Fertile. Remember, natural therapies
may take
an average of three months or longer to produce results.
Hot flashes and irritability are a few symptoms that indicate hormones are
out of balance.
This alone can be debilitating. You want results and you want to protect yourself
from the
side effects of pharmaceutical drugs. The herbal formulas will remove hot flashes
in
approximately one week. You'll be more in control, calmer and less edgy. You'll
have
your life back.
Please back up your natural formulas with good nutrition, exercise, and fresh
air. Try to eat less
convenience and processed foods. To retain more vitamins, minerals, and enzymes
in your foods
eat more fresh fruits and vegetables and the less cooked foods. Avoid caffeine
and drink
water instead of soda. Feel better!
Sources: Pelton, R., and LaValle, J. The Nutritional Cost of Prescription Drugs.
(Morton Publishing Company) Colorado, 2000 pg. 78-85.
The information contained herein is not intended to diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Please seek medical advice from a licensed medical physician before using any herbal products or natural therapies. The information contained herein is copyrighted by Apothecary Herbs, Inc.
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