Case of Estrogen Dominance

Julie was in her late 40's and had 'estrogen dominance.' Her complaints were irregular, heavy periods, vaginal pain and fatigue. Other symptoms of estrogen dominance can include - breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, PMS, mood swings, passing clots, bloating, migranes and headaches, weight gain and foggy thinking.

Estrogen dominance means that the ratio of estrogen to progestrone is off. Progestrone should far exceed estrogen and when it doesn't we often suffer some of the above symptoms.

It’s well known that hormonal imbalances may be the cause of problems such as PCOS, endometriosis, hot flushes, vaginal dryness, PMS, dysmenorrhea (painful periods), cyclical acne, mood swings, and various other complaints.

Recently, the term 'estrogen dominance' has increasingly been put forward as an explanation for most, if not all of these issues. The question that often goes unanswered is, “what caused the hormonal imbalance in the first place?” Theories include the influence of toxic, estrogen-like hormones in our environment, drugs and medical treatments (especially hormonal birth control), nutritional deficiencies or excess foods in the diet containing phyto-estrogens, such as polyunsaturated fatty acids. We also need to consider how well we are meatabolising (getting rid) of excess estrogen.

Back to Julie - we looked at all her health complaints, taking a description of what they feel and look like and any other symptoms she may have had that didn't necessarily fit under 'estrogen dominance', which in her case, where a skin complaint and some food intolerances.

The reason many women (including Julie) seek a holistic approach is because conventional medicine, while wonderful at life saving emergency medicine - usually fails to identify and address the cause of hormonally based health complaints. In additon, their treatment rarely corrects the underlying problem, but suppresses the symptoms while sometimes causing side effects.

Homeopathic medicine has over 230 years of practice in Europe, the U.S., South America and India, long before theories of which hormones might be causing what came into play and yet it has effectively addressed hormonal health complaints.

Homeopathy can address the root cause without needing to know what that root cause is.

Why? Because symptoms never lie…..we select the most suitable homeopathic medicine for your complaints based on your specific symptoms, which is why we need the details of exactly what is happening. So, if you are suffering from heavy painful periods – we'll be asking about whether you pass clots, an approximation of how large, is it changeable or consistent month to month, the darkness or lightness of the menstrual blood, the nature and location of the pain, what makes it feel better or worse?

Based on your particular symptoms an appropriate homeopathic medicine is selected and then we decide on the dosage and strength.

In Julie's case, she had fatigue, vaginal pain, irregular periods and flooding. She was given a homeopathic remedy to take daily – her first period was less painful, the next one was a lighter and less pain again and they started to come regularly and her energy lifted.

Homeopathy treats the symptoms regardless of what the cause is, and regardless of whether we understand which hormone is causing what symptom. It assists the bodies natural intelligence to find its way back to homeostasis or balance.