What is Holistic Gynecology?
Holistic Medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates complementary, alternative and conventional therapies to promote optimal health and to prevent and treat disease by addressing contributing factors. In practice this means that every person is seen as a unique individual. Illness is viewed as a result of physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental imbalance. Healing therefore takes place naturally when these aspects of life are brought into proper balance. The role of the practitioner is as guide, mentor and role model. The patient must do the work – changing lifestyle, beliefs and old habits in order to facilitate healing.
What are some of the basic principles of holistic medicine? Optimal health is the primary goal of holistic medical practice. It is the conscious pursuit of the highest level of functioning and balance of the physical, environmental, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of human experience, resulting in a dynamic state of being fully ‘alive’. This creates a condition of well-being regardless of the presence or absence of disease.
Prevention and Treatment. Holistic health care practitioners promote health, prevent illness and help raise awareness of disease in our lives rather than merely managing symptoms. A holistic approach relieves symptoms, modifies contributing factors, and enhances the patients’ life to optimize future well-being.
Bioidentical hormones have the same chemical structure as the hormones produced within the human body. Most bioidentical and non-bioidentical steroid hormones are chemically-synthesized from Diosgenin, a cholesterol-like molecule found in plants. BHRT differs from traditional hormone replacement therapy, which includes animal-derived and invented molecules that are similar to, but not identical, to human hormones. The primary bioidentical hormones replaced in human females, Estradiol and progesterone, are available in both FDA-approved and individualized pharmacy-compounded products. “BHRT” is sometimes use more generally to describe the practice of using only bioidentical hormones in the treatment of all hormone deficiencies. BHRT proponents argue that studies show significant differences between bioidentical and non-bioidentical hormones, and that replacing hormones lost due to menopause not only relieves symptoms but can improve health and quality of life (http://en.wikipedia.org, 2009).
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Pregnenolone – is a precursor to sex hormones that is synthesized from cholesterol or from soybeans. Has been used for menopausal symptoms, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, osteoporosis, fatigue, stress, memory loss, and other conditions.
Estrogen – is produced in the ovary, adrenals, testis, and are responsible for female secondary sex characteristics, fertility and reproduction. With age, estrogen production declines. Natural estrogens are used for relief of symptoms such as hot flashes, inflammation, vaginal dryness, dry skin, impaired cognition, Osteopenia, etc.
Progesterone – prepared from natural source, used in hormone replacement therapy and in the treatment of menstrual and other gynecologic disorders such as uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, headaches, PMS, infertility, anxiety, depression, fatigue, muscle ache, etc.
DHEA – precursor for male and female sex hormones. The most abundant hormone in healthy adults, declines with age. Used for loss of libido and lean muscle, adrenal insufficiency, mental fog, autoimmune disorders, loss of memory and stamina.
Testosterone – produced in adrenals, ovaries, liver, skin, and brain. Women produce approximately 250mcg daily, men produce 30x this amount. Bioidentical testosterone improves assertiveness, mood, stamina, muscle strength, libido and quality of orgasm.
Melatonin – the only hormone secreted into the bloodstream by the pineal gland. It appears to inhibit numerous endocrine functions, including the gonadotropic hormones, and to decrease the pigmentation of the skin. Improves sleep, antioxidant status, hormonal balance, thyroid function, reduces cancer risk, depression and hot flashes.
Vitamin D – fat-soluble substance chemically related to the steroids found in fatty fish and fortified dairy products and synthesized by the body via sunlight. Has been used to treat osteoporosis and polycystic ovaries (in conjunction with calcium supplementation), high blood pressure, type-1 diabetes, and psoriasis.