Bot Med Week 11: Endocrine and Reproductive Wrapup

[liveonearth]

ABOUT THE FINAL
**look at serms notes for final, there is a question on that
**25 questions on final, she thinks it's not hard
**multiple guess test

REPRODUCTIVE REVIEW
showing aromatase enzymes and alpha 5 reductase enzyme systems on overhead
aromatase converts protesterone-->cortisol
(women w/ stress have menstrual probs because of this)
formulas for PMS, fibroids, endometriosis, breast cysts: include nervines to lower stress
vitex increases prog
support liver with alteratives to conjugate & excrete excess estrogens
panax ginseng and withania ashwaganda to round out formula
formula: promote prog, alterative, stress reliever

aromatase changes estradiol-->estrone
testosterone-->estrone
aromatase in peripheral fat cells
inhibit to decr est load, for b9 prost hypertroph

alpha 5 reductase
activates testosterone to most potent form: dihydrotest
so inhibit to lower test activity

showing her drawing of endrocrine system

HYPOTHALAMUS, DOPAMINE
hypothalamus: neuroendocrine system
dopa inhib releasing hormones of pit
dopaminergic neurons affect vasculature to ant pit
st jw, vitex, melissa: all work on dopa
rh affectors, releasing hormones incl CRH, TRH..., panax and lithosperma affect at hypothal
there is more research of pituitropins and est receptor binders

FSH AFFECTORS
tend to be amphoteric
panax, vitex

TSH AFFECTORS
guggul = CV system herb lowers chol, incr uptake of iodine and thyroid activity
useful in formulas for high chol or high glucose even if not DM
for hypothyroid, sluggish metab, poor energy
melissa, lycopus, leonurus: these three folklorics for hyperthyroidism
won't make normal person hypo
don't suppress, more like balance regulation
leonurus also CV herb, lots of Chinese research
bennies for blood cells, PLTs, RBCs, anti-ox
excellent for women with heart palpitations at menopause
specific indication: for tachycardia or episodic heart palpitations not dt heart dz
but rather due to hormonal stim, also for hot flashes
leonurus may incr FSH and LH??? old books say good for menopausal thyroid disorders,
BP surges, vascular decline
salycylates: seem to break TSH and thyroxine from escort globulin: make it less stimulatory
brings down fever, decreases thyroxine's regulatory effect on body temp
willow bark tea
febrifuge

PROLACTIN AFFECTORS
also affect dopa
salvia
lycopus
serenoa, melissa, vitex, galega, foeniculum
mb known as galactogogues in old days
sage not galactogogue
melissa increases lactation
vitex long used as galactogogue, affects dopa
foeniculum, simple tea good for colic in babies, also for mother's milk, mom drink lots
nursing woman's tea
lycopus = bugle weed, not found in health food store, may find in tincture form
mainly for hyperthyroidism, excessive TSH

LH AFFECTORS
panax
vitex
eleuthero
cimicifuga
gossypium
melatonin

gossypium is cotton plant, cotton root bark historicall used as abortifacient
drink lots of fresh tea, messes with early embryo by disrupting LH
not well researched
also may inhibit spermatogenesis, interferes with mitotic processes
anti-reproductive agent

melatonin
research on reprod cancers
breast ca, prostate, ov
mechanism: feedback loops of melatonin

OXYTOCICS
posterior pituitary
not used much
fenugreek
cystusis scoperius = scott's broom, weed in PNW, not native
can by psychotropic, smoke flowers
brought to US by military person from Hawaii to Vancouver
invasive
oxitocic qualities, begin overdue labor or stalled labor, increase contractile strength
used for postpartum hemorrhage to control bleeding
anecdotal: ND's use cinnamon or ergot better known
is ergot psychotropic? can be

TRH AFFECTORS
vitex, leonurus

CRH AFFECTORS
hypericum
malricaria
scutellaria
avena
passiflora
panax
eleutherococc
wilthania
glycyrrhiza
bupleurum
most are amphoteric
usu excessive CRH, def is rare
emotional response dt stress
bupleurum is used for organ inflam, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, colitis
also anti-stress, anti-inflam

ADH AFFECTORS
no herbs with research
dehydration make more
alco makes you make less

CYCLIC AMP PROMOTERS
amphetamines
coleus
xanthines
intracellular second messenger
stimulator effect
found most in rapid responding cells: adipose, thyroid, liver, muscles in particular
depends on biochem status of individual and cell targetting
coleus often added as synergist in formula for stimulatory effect on sluggish/atrophic tissue
weight loss formula
high chol or high gluc, want to ramp up metabolism
coleus less strong than coffee
drink coffee before workout and loose more weight

ACTH AFFECTORS
incl all CRH affectors
glycyrrhiza
matricaria
panax
macca
eleutherococc
rhodiola

ACTH STIM
amphetamines
methyl xanthines
rare to need these
green tea as methyl xanthine source that is milder than coffee

EST RECEPTOR AFFECTORS
serms = selective est response modifiers
isoflavones
coumestans
lignan metabolites
receptor agonists
decrease risk of hormonally sensitive cancer
decrease exogenous stim
fibroids, pms, etc

AROMATASE INHIBITORS
sereona
pygeum
urtica
brassicas
to decrease est conversion from test
helps BPH or prost ca risk, active hormonal CA
arimidex is synthetic aromatase inhibitor
for high est, endometriosis
can be used in foodlike way: brassicas = cruciferaceae = cole family veggies
flower 4 petals at right angles crucifer

INDOLE 3 CARBINOLS
DIM = di indole methane
brassicas
nasturtium, hot spicy flavor
allium
capsella = shepherd's purse, hot spicy flavor**
can tell by flavor if it's in there: organoleptics
**taste and smell everything always

EST METHYLATORS
indole 3 carbin
flx
lignans becomes equol, weak est agonist
legumes
soy
efa's
all speed metabolic breakdown of active est

ALPHA REDUCTASE INHIBITORS
serenoa
urtica
pygeum
alpha reductase inhibitors

TESTOSTERONE AFFECTORS
for weakness, loss of muscle, incr sperm
panax
serenoa: for low T, also for genitourinary system, elders with incontinence, dribbling
rhodiola: incr endurance, steroid alternative, athletes
glycyrrhiza
tribulus: just now showing up in commercial products
epimedium
rhaponticum
withania
for energy

DONE WITH HORMONE

NOW ACE IN HOLE FORMULAS

PCOS
vitex stim FSH, LH, prog
sereona: genitourinary tonic
glycyrrhiza: adaptogen and hormonal
mb cimicifuga esp if stress is component dt nervine effect
formula fine with just top 3 equal parts
one dropper 3x/day
amenorrheic woman may menstruate within 2 weeks
helps with insulin resistance too

MENOPAUSAL HOT FLASHES
best: salvia even as a simple, also affects dopa, is drying, anti-galactogogue
usu mix with vitex and cimicifuga as general menopausal formula
if mood swings, anxiety add nervines
maybe withania somniferum, not sedative but affects high cortisol and CRH for better sleep
maybe separate night time formula
1 dropper 3-4 times a day is good dose
if it doesn't work within a week double the dose
bedtime: nervines, tea, maybe winddown hour

MENORRHAGIA
all month formula
hardest to control if fibroids are etio
easier if DUB
if fibroids: vitex to build prog, stress herbs incl withania to reduce cortisol shunt
uterine tonic if needed: viburnum, omit if young woman with no kids
alterative for DUB: curcuma for liver, taraxicum, arctia
2 oz of this, 1 oz of the formula below
DURING MENSES
achillea
cinnamon
can take every 2 minutes as needed
also can use for postpartum bleeding
ramp down as bleeding subsides
erigeron for menses? yes, it's a classic
she just got started with achillea cinnamon combo early and has no reason to expiment more
works very well