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by Linda Page, N.D., Ph.D.
Saying NO to HRT
The new studies keep
coming—Hormone
Replacement Therapy
(HRT) may increase a
woman’s risk of developing
insulin resistance and Type II diabetes. HRT
may increase a woman’s risk of breast cancer,
and long-term HRT use may boost the odds
of one of the most dangerous types of breast
cancer by as much as 85 percent. Many
naturopaths and alternative healers, myself
included, have been saying it for years:
Most women don’t need HRT.
- HRT artificially continues menstruation, spotting and cyclical bleeding. HRT can cause incomplete shedding of the uterine lining. If there is persistent bleeding, then there is increased risk of endometrial cancer.
- HRT still increases risk of breast and bone cancer even when progesterone is added. Endometrial cancer is still a risk, too, although some studies show decreased risk when progesterone is added to estrogen. The Center for Disease Control reported back in 1991 that for a women on HRT for ten years, the risk of cancer of the uterus or breast goes up 30 percent.
- HRT increases appetite, causes fluid retention, aggravates mood swings and localizes fat deposits on the hips and thighs. Many women get PMS-like symptoms, including simultaneous depression, agitation and menstrual migraines.
- HRT can destroy vitamin E in the body, thus actually increasing the risk of heart disease.
- HRT increases growth of uterine and breast fibroids. Estrogen dependent fibroids stay actively stimulated.
- HRT worsens mood swings.
- HRT should not be used by women with high blood pressure, breast or uterine fibroids, high cholesterol, chronic migraines or endometriosis.
Some hormone driven cancers stem from
poor liver function when the liver does not
process estrogens safely. Avoid HRT if you have
a history of breast, bone or uterine cancer, or
thrombosis (abnormal blood vessel clots).
Both gall bladder and liver disease tend to
increase with HRT use. Many physicians advise
against its use if you have diabetes or during
pregnancy.
American medical opinion, however, still
regards HRT as having more advantages than
drawbacks, even in the light of the newest
studies. Women are regularly counseled that
they should be on HRT for life, a practice that
contributes enormous profits to some drug
companies.
Understanding Estrogen
There are three kinds of estrogen: estradiol,
estrone and estriol.
Estradiol is the primary estrogen produced in
the ovaries. Estrone is formed by the conversions
of estradiol and is thought to be the
cancer-inducing form of estrogen. Estriol is
formed in large amounts during pregnancy
and is protective against breast cancer. High
levels of cancer-protecting estriol are found in
Asian women and vegetarians.
Estriol is widely used in Europe as a breast
cancer protective but not in the U.S. The natural
reduction of estradiol and estrone in the
body later in life is thought to help protect a
woman from breast cancer and other kinds of
postmenopausal cancers. A major problem
with Premarin (a widely prescribed hormone
replacement drug made from pregnant mare’s
urine), some other HRT drugs and synthetic
estrogens, is that these drugs are largely
formed of estradiol and estrone. Medical scientists
are aware of this and add progestin as a
balancing factor, as in the drug Provera.
Yet even with this addition, breast cancer
risk does not decrease and the risk of
uterine cancer increases.
Along with the changes in menopause is
the assault on female hormone balance (this
happens in men, too) from man-made
estrogens. Recently, scientists have added
estrogen-containing pesticides, meats and
dairy products to the growing list of breast
cancer culprits.
Hormone Balancing Therapy—Not HRT
How can you safely ease menopausal symptoms
and protect against disease?
The best option, in my opinion, is a combination
of phyto-hormone (estriol) rich herbs
that can help a broad spectrum of a woman’s
needs during menopause. Around the world,
in every culture throughout history, plant hormones
have helped support women through
the discomforts of menopause. Plants like soybeans
and wild yams, and herbs like black
cohosh, ginseng, licorice root and dong quai,
have a safety record of centuries to help eliminate
menopausal symptoms. Remember:
herbs are foods that enter the body through
gentle enzyme activity like foods to safely
balance hormones. Drugs do not.
Quitting HRT
Give your body a chance to make the change.
Pay attention to how you feel. Most women
take from six to eight weeks to gradually wean
from HRT.
Start adding your chosen whole herb formula
while gradually decreasing your HRT
dosage. I have heard from hundreds of women
who were glad they made the change to whole
herbs for menopausal symptoms. Work with a
natural health physician or practitioner for
best results.
For specific programs for menopausal symptoms,
visit www.healthyhealing.com
Resources:
“Hormone Replacement Therapy Heightens Insulin Resistance After Menopause,” NewsRx.com, January 9, 2002.
“HRT and Breast Cancer Deja Vu,” The John R. Lee, M.D. Medical Letter, February 2000.
“HRT May Quadruple Your Risk For Deadly Cancer,” Health Science Institute e-Alert, February 21, 2002.
Page, Linda, N.D., Ph.D. “Dr. Linda Page’s Healthy Healing Guide to Menopause and Osteoporosis.” Healthy Healing Publications, 1997.
Beckman, Nancy. “Phytoestrogens: Plant Chemicals That Have Estrogenic Activity” HerbClip-American Botanical Council, March 1996.
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