COPIOUS HEALTH: Environmental Toxins and Natural Hormone Replacement

Better Living Through Natural Hormone Replacement
Presented by
Lyn Hanshew, M.D. June 26, 2005

There are two major components of a pro-active protocol.
Get the "good chemistry" in and the "bad chemistry" out.
How?
What's the "bad" and what's the "good"?
How much do you have and what do you need?
Accurate testing is imperative! How do you get it?

"Good Chemistry"

Micronutrients: Vitamins, Minerals, Oxygen, H2O, etc.
Macronutrients: Carbohydrates, Proteins, Fats
Normal intake should be 50/30/20.
These are some of the required materials your body needs to make specific Materials for specific functions: Hormones, Neurotransmitters, Antibodies, Enzymes, Muscles, Nerves, etc.
Labs to check "good chemistry" levels.
Amino acids, Minerals, Vitamins Levels, and Fatty Acids Levels.

"Bad Chemistry"

Chemistry that impedes or blocks proper functions of the body.
Environmental toxins : Heavy metals, Mercury amalgam, Pesticides, Artificial sweeteners and colorings, Toxins from bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.
These toxins significantly negatively affect the Endocrine system, Immune system and all other organ systems based upon exposure and genetic capability for detoxification.
Chronic Stress Chemistry: results in high level of Adrenal Hormones, such as, Cortisol and eventually suppresses DHEA, Testosterone, Estradiol, Progesterone and Thyroid Hormones.

Symptoms of Toxicity

Fatigue, Insomnia, Anxiety, Mood Swings, Decreased Concentration, Short-term Memory Deficits
Central Obesity, Decreased Glucose Regulation, High LDL Cholesterol, Low HDL Cholesterol
Decreased Digestion, Decreased Adsorption, Constipation
Numbness, Tingling, Weakness, Cold, Hot Flashes, Skin Rash, Hair Loss
Decreased Libido, Decreased Sexual Function, Menstrual Abnormalities

Symptoms of Hormone Imbalance

Fatigue, Insomnia, Anxiety, Mood Swings, Decreased Concentration, Short-term Memory Deficits
Central Obesity, Decreased Glucose Regulation, High LDL Cholesterol, Low HDL Cholesterol
Decreased Digestion, Decreased Adsorption, Constipation
Numbness, Tingling, Weakness, Cold, Hot Flashes, Skin Rash, Hair Loss
Decreased Libido, Decreased Sexual Function, Menstrual Abnormalities

Testing for Heavy Metals and Other Toxins

It is the liver's major job to detoxify the body through 4 pathways.
Heavy metals are the most destructive. Blood tests are useless
If Mercury Amalgam is present:
Only mild detoxification protocols may be used to test and treat.
Oral IV CaEdta - collect urine
Oral DMSA - collect stool
Oral Nutritional Supplementation And Somatic Therapies
If NO Mercury Amalgam is present:
IV DMPS/CaEdta protocol - collect urine

Accurate Testing is Difficult to Achieve

The American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine recommends that the following hormones be assessed and the following blood tests be done:

Adrenal	Lab Test	Code
DHEA	DHEA - SO4	259.9
Estradiol	Total Estradiol
Testosterone	Total Testosterone
Progesterone	Total Progesterone
Thyroid	Free T3, Free T4
Pituitary
Human Growth Hormone	IFG - 1

Recommendations of the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine

Test Optimal Values
Male Female
DHEA - SO4 >450 mcg/dl >400 mcg/dl
Estradiol <50 pg/dl >30 pg/dl
Progesterone 1.0 ng/dl 1.0 ng/dl
Testosterone >600-1000 ng/dl 30-35 ng/dl
Free T3 4.5-4.9 pg/dl 4.5-4.9 pg/dl
Free T4 1.0 ng/dl 1.0 ng/dl
IGF - 1 >300 ng/ml >300 ng/ml

How Do I Address Any Hormone Deficiency?

A - Nutritionally support biochemical pathways
B - Detoxify any blocks in the pathway
C - Depending on the severity of the symptoms and lab values, Bio-identical Hormones can be used to supplement.
Hopefully, with detoxification and nutritional support, endogenous production of hormones will resume.
Nutritional Support
B - Complex
B - 12 IM, IV
Mg citrate 500 mg/day
Ca citrate 1500 mg/day
Electrolytes, K, Na, Cl
Vitamin C - 6-8 g/day, also a detoxifying agent
Omega 3 Fatty Acids, not 6 or 9
Multi-vitamin with Selenium and Iron

Detoxification Protocols

Oral agents: Fiber- 40-60 g/day
Chlorella
Ambrotose- contains 8 essential glyconutrients
Vitamin C- 6-8g/day
DMSA- weak agent, not effective for Mercury
DMPS- effective for Mercury, best if used IV or IM
Cilantro
IM agents: DMPS, best for Mercury
IV agents: DMPS, best for Mercury
Somatic treatments- Infrared, Ozone, Steam/Dry Sauna, Cranial-Sacral,
Energetic Bodywork, Acupuncture, Lymphatic Drainage, Massage, Oxidative Colonic Therapy, Chiropractic, Electomagnetic Field work

Bio-identical Hormones

Bio-identical hormones are genetic identical to human hormones.
Premarin = Pregnant Mares' Urine and is associated with increased uterine and breast cancer. 26 different horse estrogens are present in Premarin.
Armour is pig-derived and made in a ratio of T4 and T3. You cannot independently adjust the two hormones.
Thyrolar is cow-derived and made in a ratio of T4 and T3. You cannot independently adjust the two hormones.
Bio-identical hormones are available from your friendly, neighborhood Compounding Pharmacy and on-line sources, such as www.NanoMedHealth.com .
There are various routes of administration: oral, sublingual, topical, injectable, patch and suppository.
Hormones levels can be checked every 4-6 weeks to monitor levels.
If your levels do not increased, consider changing route as well as dose.

Starting Doses of Replacement Bio-Identical Hormones Based Upon Labs

In supplementing hormone deficiencies, start with DHEA, the Mother Precursor hormone of the adrenal pathways. Strive for optimal levels of DHEA before addressing other derivative hormones, such as Estradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone. Do independently supplement, Estradiol, Progesterone and Testosterone, if the levels are significantly low, as indicated below:

DHEA (Mother Precursor Hormone)- If less than: 100 mcg/dl, take 25mg/day
(Male and Female) 200 mcg/dl, take 20 mg/day
300 mcg/dl, take15 mg/day
400 mcg/dl, take 10mg/day
Estradiol-Female: If less than 20 pg/dl, supplement independently of DHEA.
Start with 0.5mg.

-Males rarely require Estradiol supplementation.

Progesterone- Female: If less than 1.0 ng/dl, with symptoms, such as, menstrual irregularities, start with 5mg/day supplementation. Again, supplement DHEA as required for optimal levels.
Testosterone- Female: If lab level is 20-29ng/dl, start with 0.625mg/day
10-19ng/dl, start with 1.25mg/day
Male: If lab level is less than 300ng/dl, start with 2.5mg/day
Again, supplement DHEA to optimal levels.

Thyroid Supplementation

Free T3 - Liothyronine (Cytomel) - The active thyroid hormone derived from Free T4.
Free T4 is converted into Free T3 in the liver and kidney by the 5'deiodinase enzyme.
This enzyme is inactivated by the heavy metals, Mercury, Lead and Cadmium.
Liothyronine - compounded, can be made in any dose required and in a slow-release form.
Cytomel is the synthetic form, made in 5, 25, and 50 mcg tablets that can be dissolved sublingually.
Free T3 - If 3.5-4.0 pg/dl, take 5 mcg 2 X day
2.9-3.4 pg/dl, take 10 mcg 2 X day
2.4-2.8 pg/dl, take 15 mcg 2 X day
1.8-2.3 pg/dl, take 20 mcg 2 X day
< 1.7 pg/dl, take 25 mcg 2 X day
Start low and slow with thyroid hormone supplementation. You may titrate up the dose every 3-5 days. Labs can be re-checked every 4 weeks. Blood should be drawn 2 hours after morning dose.
Free T4 - Levothyroxine-(Synthroid) - This is the inactive hormone produced by the thyroid gland. It must be converted into the active Free T3 for proper metabolic function.
Free T4 - If less than 1.0 ng/dl, take 0.05 mg/day
0.05 ng/dl, take 1.0mg/day
Levels can be re-checked every 4 weeks.
Human Growth Hormone Replacement
IGF-1 = <200 ng/ml, take 1-2u/day SQ, may titrate up 1u every 2 months based upon labs.
IGF-1 = 201-300 ng/ml, can try HGH secretogogues. If no improvement, try 1u HGH.

The End