A large percentage of the animal products consumed in my home are free of synthetic (or added) hormones. Much of the produce we eat is organic, thus free of pesticides many of which often affect hormone function. A number of years ago when I discovered how these synthetic hormones & hormone disruptors worked it seemed logical to me that if these chemicals were doing XYZ to the animals/insects, why wouldn't it be doing something to me? Maybe at a slower pace, but why would I expect that it wouldn't have some kind of affect on me?

Also at a time when a number of women I knew had begun taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to avoid the symptoms they were experiencing with menopause, another friend told me how her mom went through the cessation of menses. She simply stopped having her period. Her mom had lived in a rural area at a time when massive, unnatural use of hormones was not the norm. Up to that time I didn't realize it was possible...I mean without having hot flashes and all the other uncomfortable, frustrating symptoms that go along with it.

Many women who have been careful in this area (including myself) can testify to the fact that it is possible to avoid these symptoms. However, the reality is that we are so inundated with hormone disrupters in our everyday lives that it is practically impossible to avoid some problems with hormones, and some people do need some kind of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Thankfully a much safer source can be available from your compounding pharmacist in the form of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT)

Read on and learn how to treat yourself well.

Thank you for subscribing to this newsletter!
Do you know someone else who would enjoy receiving Tools for Health? You are welcome to share it. If this issue was passed along to you, take a minute to subscribe by visiting Natural Health Coach for Women, then pay it forward!

In This Issue

• Choices with Hormone Replacement Therapy
• Hormones and Breast Health
• Supplement for Breast Health

NOTE: Resources mentioned in Tools for Health can be found at My NSP Natural Health Coach and Natural Health Coach for Women.

To HRT or BHRT...

The next few paragraphs are quoted by permission from www.citizens.org It is information all women need to be aware of.

"An attack is under way against a woman's right to know as well as her access to bio-identical hormone therapy (BHRT), and the information women need to make their own health decisions is in jeopardy - we need your help to stop it!

"On January 9, 2008, the FDA sent numerous pharmacies an order to stop using estriol as well as banning the use of the term "bio-identical." This was an unprecedented attack on compounders, patients, and physicians because until then NO compounded drug component with a USP monograph had been withdrawn from circulation unless there had been evidence of harm to patients.

"The U.S. Congress has taken a critical first first step toward reining in the FDA's actions, acting to preserve women's right to make their own health and wellness decisions. Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR), together with other members of the House of Representatives, have introduced House Concurrent Resolution 342. This Resolution calls upon the FDA to reverse the change in their policy that would restrict women’s access to prescriptions containing estriol.

"House Resolution 342 also calls on the FDA to respect the physician-patient relationship and states that doctors, not the FDA, are in the best position to determine which medications are appropriate for their patients. It also points out that the FDA has acknowledged that it is unaware of any adverse events associated with the use of estriol over the past three decades. In fact, the FDA's own policy, stating that bio-identical hormones are natural and, therefore, can't be patented, seems to run counter to their actions earlier this year.

"In addition, the FDA has never taken any compound off the market unless there were reports of serious adverse health events. Since the FDA itself has admitted that there have been no adverse events reported for any use of estriol in medications the only apparent motivation for their restriction of estriol is a citizen's petition filed by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals in 2005 intended to undermine women's access to BHRT. (Meanwhile, it comes as no surprise that Wyeth makes Premarin® and Prempro®, synthetic hormone drugs that have seen declining sales due to health problems resulting from their use as well as increased use of BHRT)."

Show Your Support

I encourage you to show your support for House Concurrent Resolution 342 by clicking on the link above or writing directly to your own representatives.

If you are interested, you can read a summary or the full text of the resolution here:

Read a Summary Here

Hormones and Breast Health

http://www.thinkbeforeyoupink.org/Pages/TakeAction.html

And be sure to read General Mill's response to the alert. The link for that is in the left column of the page.

For more information on breast health see the Tools for Health archives link at the bottom of this newsletter.

Supplement for Breast Health

If you are someone who likes to make your own herbal combinations, here are the ingredients: Flax meal, ellagic acid from pomegranate extract powder, kudzu extract, maitake mushroom, lutein, and calcium glucanate.

Herbalists have recommended this formula (2-3 capsules daily with a meal) for women who have a family history of breast cancer as an aid to cancer prevention.

Whatever you choose to do, be sure to do your own research so you can make an informed decision.