My interest in holistic and more natural approaches to health started when I was a teen (thanks acne). It didn't take long before I started to notice an overwhelmingly large number of links between mine, my friends, and my family members health troubles and their hormones. The more research I did the more obvious it became that our hormones are WAY more important than we are lead to believe! 

    Hormones are the body's chemical messengers. They travel through the blood, passing signals to organs and tissues. For the most part, they work pretty slowly, affecting growth and development, mood, sexual function, and metabolism. Hormone levels can spike and fall, which leads to a variety of health, emotional, and oodles of other problems. Some hormones are linked to personality traits and behaviors, while others signal specific reactions that keep the body functioning normally.

     Sleep, mood, energy levels, libido, body temperature, weight and metabolism are all controlled by the communication of our hormones. They also have a large impact on our mental health, imbalances or major fluctuations in hormone levels can often be misdiagnosed as anxiety or mood disorders. So you might not just be "moody" or "emotional" it could be that your hormones are outta wack.

     Cortisol, norepinephrine, serotonin and dopamine are some of the better known hormones with a close relationship to mental health; however, sex hormones for sure play a big role in brain chemistry and emotional health. Understanding the relationship between hormones and mental health can help us address many of the symptoms that commonly occur as a result of hormone dysregulation. 

     The top 10 symptoms of hormone imbalance are

1. Difficulty falling asleep

The most common symptom in young mothers and women in general! Insomnia after childbirth is the result of a progesterone drop. A hormone that is usually abundant, progesterone aids the maintenance of sleep patterns. It ensures deep sleep and makes waking up more difficult. This is, among other reasons, why young mothers usually cannot sleep well.

2. Alterations between moods, anxiety, and depression problems

Another hormonal problem that affects mostly women. Even though men can also experience it. Estrogen is the main hormone at fault for this one, but low cortisol also plays a role. By experiencing estrogen spikes, your body has emotional stress. You will often feel like you have less control.

3. Unusual weight gain or loss

Guess what plays a role in maintaining a healthy metabolism? Yup you guessed it HORMONES!!! The way we burn calories and how we store them is due in part to hormones. Two glands are usually tasked with these responsibilities the adrenal and the thyroid glands. These glands can sometimes malfunction and are affected mostly by your diet. Usually, increasing your protein intake will do the trick. This helps stabilize the levels of glucose in your blood.

4. Belly fat that won't go away

Most people experience weight fluctuations, but sometimes that extra weight simply won't go away. Since fat is most stubborn when it's in the mid-region, a hormonal imbalance may cause it to persist in these areas. The adrenal gland may be the problem here. Its hormone, cortisol, can cause weight accumulation in high doses.

5. Muscle mass going away

Exercise and protein intake aren't the only things that maintain good muscle mass. The main factors for muscle maintenance are GH or somatotropin and testosterone. For you to have normal and stable muscle mass, these two hormones need to work together. If they fail to do so, your muscles may experience atrophy. Exercises like squats are a big testosterone booster. Sleep is also essential in promoting the production of GH. It leads to the growth hormone and testosterone.

6. Digestive problems

Discomfort in the gut area may also be the result of a hormonal problem. Bloating, flatulence and diarrhea are connected to the malfunction of glands. Aside from such malfunctions, improper nutrition and sleep patterns may also be the cause. Secretin, glucagon and many peptides may work out of sync.

7. Increased Cravings for food

Nutrient deficiency can often be the cause of increased cravings, but sometimes it's even more serious. The pancreas, the thyroid, and the adrenal glands (all controlled by hormones) can be the root of this problem. If you see that your body wants more and more sweets or salty foods, something just might be wrong. The key to recognizing such changes is body awareness. If you know that you have eaten recently, cravings probably shouldn't occur.

8. Sweating too much

There are some conditions can cause excessive sweating. Your brain may not be sending clear signals to the sweat glands. Because of this, they can go crazy and start excreting sweat more and more. Your hormones can also influence how much you sweat. This problem usually stems from an improperly functioning thyroid gland. Women might experience this because for two reasons. Firstly, some birth control medication may confuse both brain and thyroid gland. Secondly, it could be a normal imbalance due to menopause or the pre-menstrual period.

9. A low libido

There is one part of the body that depends solely on hormones, it's the reproductive organs. A loss of sex drive (libido) is a general sign that something is wrong with your hormones. Your environment, your lifestyle, and diet all affect your libido. When sudden lifestyle or diet changes occur this can almost immediately effect on your libido.

10. Persisting fatigue

Welcome to the "I have no energy so I'm stressed, I'm stressed so I have no energy" cycle. When you're stressed out due to hormonal problems, you spend more energy than usual. Because your hormones are out of place, the body goes into fifth gear. Such a rapid activity change has effects on alert you are. You will find yourself prioritizing less physical activity and focusing more on internal thoughts.

Supplements For Hormone Imbalances

     Boron is my go to, it's the very first thing I grab when I'm facing hormone issues! When it comes to the sex hormones (testosterone & estrogen) I haven't found anything better than Angstrom Minerals Boron it is superior to every other Boron supplement out there!  

• Testosterone

   It is a common fact that testosterone levels in the body drop as both men and women age. This drop can cause health and sexual performance issues. A boron supplement may help boost your levels by making the testosterone that is already present work better. Boron helps increase the natural level of testosterone your body is able to produce, then converts it into a hormone helpful to the body. Adequate supplies of testosterone hormones can help sharpen memory, increase muscle mass, boost energy levels, and improve concentration.

• Estrogen

   Women will be glad to hear boron can also play a large role in regulating the presence of estrogen in the body as well. Estrogen is responsible for proper bone metabolism, glucose levels, regulation of food intake, and controlling glucose and insulin. Women who have low levels of estrogen can experience a wide host of health problems, but studies have shown boron can naturally boost estrogen levels in postmenopausal women.

Nigella seeds

    Nigella sativa, also known as Black seed oil, kalonji, or fennel flower. Its flowers produce tiny black antioxidant-rich seeds. Which have medicinal properties, as they contain thymoquinone — a type of phytonutrient, or plant compound. Researchers are investigating nigella seed’s protective and therapeutic effects in those living with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is a disorder associated with abnormal hormone levels, among other symptoms, in women of reproductive age. Nigella seed extracts have helped regulate insulin, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and thyroid hormone levels, among others. What’s more, Nigella sativa extract exhibits estrogenic activity, meaning it acts similarly to the hormone estrogen in your body. My favorite Black Seed Oil Supplement I really like the price on this one and it usually ships pretty quick.

Ashwagandha

   Ashwagandha, also known as winter cherry, Indian ginseng, or Withania somnifera, is an evergreen shrub from the nightshade family. It’s highly regarded in herbal medicine, with many ashwagandha supplements, teas, and root powders widely available I don't really have a favorite on this one you can pick up a good quality supplement at pretty much every store that sells vitamins.

Chasteberry 

   Chasteberry is another common herbal supplement that’s available in extract or capsule form. It’s often combined with other herbs like black cohosh and marketed as a remedy to treat symptoms of menopause and support women’s reproductive health. Chasteberries are the fruit of the Vitex agnus tree, which is also called chaste tree, monk’s pepper, or vitex. The berries contain diterpenoid compounds, which may be responsible for this supplement’s potential effects on hormones like prolactin and the neurotransmitter dopamine. Multiple literature reviews have found that chasteberry might lower levels of prolactin in the blood. Elevated levels of this hormone are often associated with PMS. The supplement may also treat certain symptoms of PMS like breast pain. This adaptogen is thought to help your body overcome stress by moderating the brain’s hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. The HPA axis produces and releases multiple hormones — including cortisol — that initiate your body’s response to stress.

Marjoram

    Marjoram and other types of herbal shrubs, such as oregano, have been used in traditional medicine for various ailments. The herb contains bioactive plant compounds like flavonoids and phenolic acids, both of which are likely partially responsible for its medicinal properties. One small human study had people with PCOS drink marjoram tea twice daily for 1 month. Compared with the placebo treatment, marjoram tea was linked to significant reductions in fasting insulin hormone levels, which could indicate improved blood sugar management. While available many places Good Nature has my favorite Marjoram tea.

Other Natural ways to Balance Your Hormones

Medicinal herbs and minerals are just one of many treatment options for hormonal imbalances.

• Eat a healthy diet. A balanced diet that’s rich in lean protein, healthy fats, and fiber but contains limited amounts of processed sugar may help balance the hormones that regulate your appetite, metabolism, and mood.
• Drink green tea. Green tea may help balance insulin in some people by improving the body’s response to the hormone, although the potential effects of green tea extract on insulin resistance warrant further investigation.
• Get regular exercise. Engaging in physical activity appears to influence appetite hormones and improve the body’s use of the hormone insulin.
• Manage your stress. Too much stress can drastically change levels of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. Calming activities like yoga, listening to music, or taking a walk in nature might relieve stress and keep these hormones in balance.
• Get enough sleep. Getting too little sleep or being exposed to artificial light during nighttime hours may lead to disruptions in melatonin and cortisol. It may also influence insulin resistance.
• Avoid endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are compounds in the environment, such as tobacco smoke, pesticides, herbicides, plastics, flame retardants, and fragrances in lotions and cleaning supplies, that may cause hormonal imbalances.

Hormone Balancing Supplement

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