Everything and Anything Hormone Wellness
Written by Dr. Suzanne Tang
March 4th, 2024
I love everything and anything hormones and supporting women and their families throughout all phases of their lives. Much of this love came about as peri-menopausal women were flocking to my clinic early in my practice. They were suffering from disruptive and intolerable symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, depression, anxiety, irritability, weight gain, insomnia, and brain fog. Many felt lost and unsupported by the traditional medical model and were seeking guidance and solutions to navigate through their hormonal changes and take control of their health again. Furthermore, as hormones decline during peri-menopause and menopause, women are at increased risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease. Many of these chronic conditions can be prevented with a healthy diet and lifestyle, movement, nutrients, and hormone therapy.
My patient recently shared her story of just how challenging peri-menopause was for her. By choosing a different paradigm of healthcare with naturopathic medicine and acupuncture that gets to the root of the causes and provides key pillars of wellness support, she was empowered to get her health and life back.
“I was hesitant to try a new model of care for my rising cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, anxiety, panic attacks, and disruptive menopausal symptoms but my doctor wanted to give me more medications and I wasn’t feeling any better. The Western model of medicine that compartmentalizes our bodies and reacts to symptoms individually rather than to optimize our health was no longer going to work for me in my peri-menopausal state...and this is coming from a former physician assistant! I was skeptical, yet was no longer living my life fully nor was I able to be present for my family.
I got my life back. My “bad” cholesterol dropped by 90 points! I don’t suffer from anxiety or panic attacks that were plaguing me and my hot flashes and night sweats, insomnia are greatly improved. I no longer need to take my anti-anxiety medications. The best advice I can possibly give for anyone going through this change is to empower yourself by asking lots of questions, doing your own research, advocating for yourself, and aligning yourself with an entrusted healthcare provider like Dr Tang. It might take some time and out of your comfort zone but take back your control!”
-K.G.
Inspiring and helping patients to find their freedom and elevate their health is why I do what I do but the care is not just for peri-menopausal and menopausal women. For the last several years, younger women from their teen years to their early 40’s have been coming to see me for severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Every month they feel debilitated by premenstrual depression, anxiety, cravings, mood swings, breast tenderness, bloating, constipation, diarrhea, insomnia, fatigue, weight gain, headaches, and/or joint pain that would start a few weeks or several days before their period. Rarely given comprehensive lab testing or effective treatment solutions they turned to naturopathic medicine and acupuncture for answers and relief.
There are multiple contributing factors to PMS, such as sensitivity to hormonal fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle, chemicals from household and personal care products that act as endocrine disruptors, vitamin and mineral deficiencies, such as calcium, magnesium, Vitamin D and B-vitamins, imbalanced gut microbiome and low neurotransmitters, serotonin, and GABA.
Proper testing can help elucidate the primary contributing factors and provide a road map for effective treatment solutions. I will often recommend that patients start with the foundational pillars of an anti-inflammatory high protein, low carbohydrate diet, regular physical activity, stress reduction, high-potency multi-vitamin, probiotics, and herbs, such as Vitex and my custom herbal blend, PMS Free, which is based on the classic Chinese herbal formula Xiao Yao San.
Acupuncture, shown to regulate hormones, neurotransmitters, cravings, as well as calm the nervous system and support digestive function, has been very effective for patients with PMS. One 16-year-old patient noticed a significant improvement in her insatiable appetite, uncontrollable sugar cravings, bloating, and mood swings after just a few acupuncture treatments. She recently reported that by eating a high-protein diet and following her customized treatment plan, her excessive sugar cravings and appetite have resolved and she feels like herself again, calm and grounded.
No matter where you are in your phase of life, my team and I are here to support and guide you through all of your transitions to help you feel and be your best self again.
Curious if your hormones are out of whack? Are you experiencing symptoms such as depression, night sweats, memory lapses, dry eyes/dry skin, mood swings, weight gain, headaches, and/or others that might be cause for concern? If you suspect hormone imbalance, we can set up an initial consultation or dive into blood testing right away. My team and I would love to help you rebalance your hormones!
Yours in Wellness,
Dr. Suzanne Tang, ND, LAc
