Deborah Tosline wrote and published Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare in 2015. Deborah's education and work experience is in science, where hypotheses are tested through observation and experiments. She has Bachelor of Science degrees in geology and ecology. Her approach to skin care is based on that scientific background, a love of research and over 30 years of DIY skincare experience.
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1813 A Classic Negative Feedback Loop.jpg by OpenStax College [CC BY 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

Critical information: hormone balance is essential for all body functions.

Hormones make us feel good and can make us feel very, very bad.

Conundrum – a healthy lifestyle is not as beneficial without hormone balance and it’s difficult to balance hormones without a healthy lifestyle.

All body communications are via an electrical system (nerves) or are chemical via the endocrine system (hormones). Hormones send global and specific instructions to start and stop body functions.

Hormone function is super complicated.

Estrogen receptor+lasofoxifene.png by Doxepine [Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

My extremely simplified interpretation:

It is vital to take prompt action to support hormone balance to function well, feel and look good and to achieve premium Health = Beauty.

You must ensure that your hormones are balanced to achieve supple, healthy, clear skin.

Hormones are carried in the blood stream throughout the body and to specific organs with messages like:

· go, go, go

· grow fast, grow slow

· block pain, or not

· manage fluids, salts and sugars

· store fat

· regulate blood pressure

· stimulate muscles

· maintain skin health

· control manly and womanly functions, including sex stuff

Regarding sex hormones, although women and men each have different levels of testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone, it is vital for each hormone to be present in the right ratios or we, men and women, will probably feel bad. Worse, these imbalances may degrade our health resulting in fatigue, inability to maintain and build muscle, promote acne and bone loss, increase the risk for cardiovascular disease and more.

Men, women, young and old may need to take extra measures to balance hormones due to stress and environmental hormone exposure from dairy, beef, poultry, pork, farm raised fish and from plastic products that emit estrogen mimicking chemicals. The body recognizes these pseudo estrogens and responds, increasing estrogen in all of us.

Hypothalamus pituitary testicles axis.png by Acraciaderivative (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

BPA, phthalates and other estrogenic chemicals are commonly found in the personal care products that we use and in drugs and pesticides that have been shown to impact male and female fertility and women’s health by affecting the thyroid, menstrual cycles, menopause, and breast cancer risk. Pseudo estrogens are pervasive in the environment and may also increase mental health disorders.

Estrogen biosynthetic pathway.jpg By VanillaTrix [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html) or CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

Synthetic Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) was consistently used in the United States until a 2002 study published by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) showed that synthetic HRT’s were correlated with cancer. As a result many women began avoiding hormone therapy resulting in hormone imbalances that have lead to osteoporosis, cardiovascular and other diseases.

Bio-identical, natural, or human-identical HRT’s have been in use for thousands of years with the first record going back to Ancient China. Bio-identical hormones are derived from a plant oil that is chemically altered to exactly match human bio-identical steroids. Evidence indicates that bio-identical hormones are distinctly different from and are more effective than synthetic HRT.

A knowledgeable practitioner must administer bio-identical hormones. Mainstream allopathic physicians may sufficiently and successfully prescribe bio-identical hormones, however a visit to a naturopathic doctor may be more beneficial. Special care should be taken to holistically address each individual to assess the reasons for any hormone imbalance. For example, stress results in cortisol production which interferes with body function. If cortisol levels are out of balance, it may be impossible to balance hormones. Find a hormone expert who will take the extra steps to help assess your personal requirements.

Steroid.jpg By Hyou at English Wikibooks (Transferred from en.wikibooks to Commons.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Of course, for effective results it is imperative that you take control and choose to live a healthy balanced lifestyle AND incorporate ancient healing wisdom and practices to promote hormone balance. Do-It-Yourself home practices may be used to counteract environmental pseudo-hormones, support daily and monthly hormonal changes, and smooth hormonal transitions.

Dr. Josh Axe and Jordan Ruben provide the following recommendations on the Ancient Medicine Today S3 * E37 podcast 7 Keys to Balance Hormones & Manage Menopause. The recommendations include natural ways for men or women to use to balance hormones. Listen to their podcast here for more information.

· Key foods

o Bone broth – (recipe vegan substitute)

o Sprouts

o Fermented veggies

o Cruciferous - veggies great for balancing hormones

o Fermented soy - miso, natto, tempeh

o Cultured dairy

· Herbs - balance hormones with fewer side effects

o Black cohosh – balances hormones better than pharmaceuticals

o Wild yam

o Vitex, raise progesterone levels, clinically proven to relieve hot flashes

· Adaptogens - protection from stress and disease

o Ginseng

o Holy basil

o Ashwaganda

o Rodeola

o Chigandra berry

o Aluthoro

o Panax

o Fenugreek seed increase free testosterone

o Truffle oil, smell it to increase free testosterone

Calcium regulation.png by Mikael Häggström (All used images are in public domain.) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

· Nutrients - essential for the hormone system

o Vitamin D

o Vitamin K

o Boron, great for hormones, building bone, healthy testosterone

o Magnesium

· Supplements - fill nutritional voids

o Collagen

o Glucosamine

o Hyaluronic acid

o Chondroitin

o Omega 3/omega 6 balance

o Hyaluronic acid - drink it

o Probiotic

o Evening primrose oil

· Essential oils - balancing, replace toxic products;

o Clary sage to balance estrogen and progesterone

o Chamomile

o Lavender

o Thyme

o Oregano

o Rosemary

o Ylang ylang

· Chinese medicine

o Dong quai female ginseng

· Medicinal mushrooms

o Reishi

o Cordyseps

o Black diamond truffle - Tuber melanosporum Vitt.

§ inhale, nose has receptors

§ consume

§ naturally boost testosterone

§ reduce menopause symptoms

· Spices

o Licorice phyto-estrogenic

o Sage

o Myrrh

o Thyme

o Fennel

Hormons feedback - Sprzężenie zwrotne hormonow.svg

Take action.

Use this list to research a couple options that suite your paycheck, lifestyle and interest and supply your health cabinet with hormone balancing natural ancient treatments.

Take action.

Figure out how your body is processing cortisol and hormones. Get tested. Dr. Sara Gottfried. M.D. who developed The Hormone Cure recommends special hormone tests that your medical practitioner can order.

Listen to Dr. Sara’s explanation of these tests and download Dr. Sara’s Top Ten Hormone List from her website.

Want more energy, weight management, sound sleep, strong bones and muscles, good circulation, a sharp mind and beautiful skin?

Improve your lifestyle, use ancient medicine for natural balance, work with an experienced practitioner to check your body chemistry and balance your hormones for Health = Beauty. Let me know how it goes.

Well-being looks good on you.

Take good care of yourself and for more skin care tips get my book "Skin Remodeling DIY: An Introduction to the Underground World of Do-It-Yourself Skincare" xo Deborah