Natural Anti Aging

You may have come across the terms “Biomimetic Hormones” or “using bioidentical hormones biomimetically” in your reading on the subjects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) , menopause, perimenopause, andropause, etc., and wondered what exactly this means.  Is the word “biomimetic” related to the word bioidentical?  Most definitely these words are related.  The following will explain more clearly the term “biomimetic hormones” and “biomimetic hormone replacement therapy”.

So what are biomimetic hormones?

Biomimetic hormones are natural bioidentical hormones used as hormone replacement therapy in a manner or “protocol” created by T.S. Wiley of Wiley Systems, Inc.  This protocol is known as “The Wiley Protocol”.

The Wiley Protocol is a natural bioidentical hormone therapy which restores declining hormone levels in a manner which more closely imitates the natural rise and fall of hormones in the body of a woman during the month.  Biomimetic hormone replacement uses the bioidentical hormones progesterone and estradiol and differs from the static dosing of bioidentical hormones in that the dosing more naturally replicates the 28 day cycle of the rise and fall of hormones.  Women using this “protocol” report an increased feeling of wellbeing, an end to hot flashes, greater quality of sleep, feel more energetic, happier and less moody.

Doctors who prescribe the Wiley Protocol and compounding pharmacists who fill prescriptions for women and men have all been certified and are qualified to provide the Wiley Protocol to their patients. The difficulty in obtaining the Wiley Protocol could be finding a doctor in Canada who is qualified in this system.  Currently, it is difficult for many, many women in Canada to even find a doctor who will prescribe bioidentical hormone replacement therapy.  There are some provinces in the country which do not even have a doctor to prescribe natural bioidentical hormones in the static dosing method. Hopefully, this scenario will change soon. Millions of baby boomer women are now in peri-menopause or menopause and need to find solutions to the symptoms they are suffering.  Some women are forced to travel to the United States to get the help they need and obtain natural bioidentical hormones.

Who is T.S. Wiley?

T.S. Wiley, the creator of the Wiley Protocol is the author of two books, “Sex, Lies & Menopause” and “Lights Out:  Sleep, Sugar and survival.”  She is also a researcher and lecturer on hormones and menopause and a medical theorist in environmental endocrinology and Darwinian medicine. She devised the Wiley Protocol which mimics the rise and fall of hormones using bioidentical hormones made from plant extracts after 12 years of research.

If you are interested in finding out more about natural hormone replacement therapy using the Wiley Protocol, you can visit the website at www.thewileyprotocol.com.

Hot flashes in menopause can be severe

Hot flashes can occur at any time after middle age for 40 – 90% of women as they reach pre-menopause (also known as perimenopause) and menopause. Hot flashes can be managed by a variety of ways, from herbal solutions, to bioidentical hormones, to changes in lifestyle and medications.

What are hot flashes? Hot flashes are sudden occurrences of intense heat felt in the face and upper body. The face becomes hot and the skin red and blotchy on the upper chest, neck and face. The heartbeat increases, perspiration increases causing a sweaty feeling. When the hot flash subsides, a chilled feeling will follow.

The frequency of hot flashes will vary among women. You may have a couple a day, a few per week or, in severe cases, three to four hot flashes an hour. They can last from a couple of minutes up to half an hour. Hot flashes or “night sweats” can awaken you at night, disturbing your sleep.
Hot flashes can begin in the period of a woman’s life prior to menopause. This time of life is called perimenopause or pre-menopause. They can last for several years or continue indefinitely. Hot flashes are caused by declining levels of the hormones progesterone and estrogen production in the ovaries.

If your hot flashes are infrequent and not disrupting your life, it is not necessary to seek medical treatment. However, if your hot flashes are disturbing your sleep, effecting your quality of life and frequent, there are many lifestyle changes you can make and natural solutions such as herbal remedies or bioidentical hormone replacement. If you do not want to try these natural solutions, you should seek medical attention.

Bioidentical hormones are a valid option to consider. We absolutely do not recommend synthetic hormones such as Premarin or Progestin. If you do not want to make changes in your lifestyle or supplement with natural bioidentical hormones or nutritional supplements, there are also medications which can help with hot flashes.

Diet and lifestyle changes can help with mild occurrences of hot flashes:

• Exercise daily: During menopause years, it is vital to exercise on a daily basis. Not only does exercise increase bone and muscle strength, it improves circulation, promotes a healthy heart and produces the “feel good” hormones in your body which help fight feelings of mild depression. You must exercise for a half hour every day, whether you choose bicycle riding, walking or practice yoga. Find an activity you enjoy and stick with it.
• Diet and alcohol consumption: Reduce your alcohol consumption. Reduce your intake of spicy foods. Increase your consumption of phytoestrogens and soy protein. Add lots of healthy vegetables and fruits and a few nuts to your daily diet.
• Give up smoking: Smoking has been showin to increase hot flashes. Smoking also causes cancer, heart disease and stroke. Nicotin causes our body to convert estrogen into an antiestrogen called catecol estrogen which lowers estrogen levels and increases hotflashes.
• Stress reduction – stress and anxiety increase hot flashes. Try yoga or deep breathing or meditation to help you relax. Learn to deal with stressful situations.
• Stay cool – keep the temperature in your house at a cooler level. Use a fan or open a window. Dress in layers so you can remove a layer of clothing during the onset of a hot flash. Drink a cold glass of water when a hot flash occurs.

Nutritional supplements for menopause can help deal with mild hot flashes. Known nutritional supplements which can be purchased in your local health store can help you. Black cohosh, soy and red clover, isoflavones and Vitamin E are thought to be helpful. They must be taken with caution because some of these have mild estrogenic effects and can also conflict with other medications you may be taking. A naturopath or a doctor with knowledge about menopause and diet can assist you.

Bioidentical hormones replacement therapy is widely used in North America and Europe to balance declining hormone levels which cause hot flashes. Bioidentical hormones are plant derived extracts which are bioidentically exact to the hormones that the body produces. It is in this way that they are a healthier option for supplementing decreasing levels of hormones. After the Women’s Health study in 2002 revealed the dangers of synthetic hormones, more women turned to healthier, more natural solutions. The problem today though is that you have to find a doctor who is trained in prescribing bioidentical hormones and find a compounding pharmacy to make up your individual prescription.

Replacing your diminishing hormones with bioidentical hormones also has many other beneficial side effects of which we have discussed in previous articles on bioidentical hormone supplementation. However, as more and more doctors become aware of bioidentical hormone supplementation, it will become easier to find one and easier to find a compounding pharmacy to mix up your prescribed hormone preparation.

There are medications which have been used for the treatment of hot flashes. Medications such as Gabapentin and Clonedine have been found to reduce hot flashes. However, these drugs carry with them other unwanted side effects such as dizziness, nausea, dry mouth and constipation. Check with your medical practitioner to see if these options are for you.

Menopause is a natural event in a woman’s life and should not be considered a sickness, though some women with severe hot flashes will feel as if they are ill during this period in their life. There are many options to consider and you should explore them all to get rid of those unwanted hot flashes. Find a solution which works for you and monitor your symptoms and re-evaluate your options periodically. Remember, if you are experiencing only mild symptoms, you may not need to do anything. Work with your health care professional to help you find a solution to hot flashes if you are experiencing severe hot flashes. Balancing your hormones and life style changes are one of the best ways to help you deal with hot flashes.

How the Skin Ages

There are four processes involved in the aging of the skin. The process of aging of your skin involves cell turnover, the slowing down of collagen production, the skin drying out as estrogen production and thyroid function decrease and the attack of free radicals on your skin. All of these things are involved in the aging process of the skin.

As we age, the skin dries out because of a decrease in the production of the hormone estrogen and thyroid function. Decreasing thyroid and estrogen production affects the sweat glands which results in the lowering of the levels of moisture available in the skin. Bioidentical hormone replacement can assist greatly in preserving your skin because it replaces the hormones that you are losing as you age.

A part of the aging process involves new cell production slowing down. A natural exfoliation process occurs in the skin throughout our lives. Throughout life, the skin sheds the upper top level of dead skin cells as new cells created deep in the epidermis layer push up and replace the older skin cells. When we are young and our skin is healthy, the process of new skin cells replacing older cells take about 28 days and the older skin cells slough off in approximately 12 days. In older skin this process slows down, newer cells are not created as quickly and the older cells exfoliate at a slower tempo. A process called microdermabrasion will assist greatly with the rate of skin cell turnover. It removes the upper level of dead skin cells encouraging the replacement of new skin cells.

Skin also ages because of the attack of free radicals against the body. Free radicals are unstable oxygen molecules which come from stress, cigarette smoke, pollution and sun damage. The result of this attack of free radicals on your skin causes skin discolorations, cancer and other skin cell irregularities.

And finally, as we age, the levels of collagen and elastin production decline. Collagen and elastin are proteins which give skin its moisture and fullness. When collagen production breaks down, the skin loses its volume and the result is that wrinkles and creases form. There are supplements you can take to assist with collagen production including hyaluronic acid and vitamin C. It is also possible to consult with an anti-aging specialist or plastic surgeon about cosmetic fillers such as Botox, Artecoll or Restylane which replace lost volume and fill out wrinkles in areas around the eyes such as crows feet or nasal labial folds.

Our next article will discuss in depth the most important things you can do to slow down the aging process of the skin including the care of aging skin and some of the best organic skin care products you can use.