Endocrine Harmony
Endocrine Harmony
Endocrine Harmony
David W. Rowland
Rowland Publications Inc.
ISBN 978-1-896651-30-9
Endocrine Harmony
The Mind-Body-Nutrient Connection
Published by:
Rowland Publications
Box 580,ParrySound,ON P2A 2X5
(705)746-5688 Fax (705) 746-6367
email: [email protected]
website: www.rowlandpub.com
Warning
This book is not intended to diagnose disease, nor to provide specific
medical advice, nor to promote the sale of any product. Its intention
is solely to inform and to educate. For the diagnosis of any disease,
please consult a physician.
Contents
Page
The Endocrine System
Pineal
Pituitary
Thyroid
13
Parathyroids
22
Thymus
23
Pancreas
25
Gonads
28
Adrenals
32
Emotional Balance
39
Nutritional Support
43
Multiglandular Conditions
56
The Hypothalamus
The hypothalamus is an area of the brain that serves as a bridge
between the nervous and endocrine systems. The hypothalamus (a)
controls the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the
autonomic nervous system, (b) controls the pituitary gland, which in
turn regulates other glands, and (c) produces releasing hormones that
affect the production of certain other hormones.
The hypothalamus contains cells that help to control body
temperature, fluid balance, sleep, appetite, and the emotions of fear
and pleasure. It also influences heartbeat and the contraction and
relaxation of blood vessel walls.
The hypothalamus is a heat regulation centre. Some of its cells
control the production of heat in bodily tissues, and other control heat
loss from the body.
The hypothalamus also acts as a biological clock. It monitors
light-related information received by the eyes and sends it to the
pineal gland, which in turn influences other glands and organs about
light conditions in the environment. By this means, the hypothalamus
helps to co-ordinate bodily activity with environmental conditions.
Hormones
Hormones are chemical messenger molecules that carry information.
They are released into tissue fluid and the bloodstream and carried to
all parts of the body. The root word from which "hormone" is derived
means "to arouse or excite."
Hormones are part of the body's internal pharmacopeia. They
regulate growth, rate of metabolism, metabolism of specific
substances, the secretory activity of other endocrine glands, the
development and functioning of the reproductive organs, sexual
characteristics and libido, the development of personality and higher
nervous functions, the ability of the body to meet conditions of stress,
and resistance to disease.
Hormones can have either specific effects on particular organs
or tissues, or a general effect on the entire body. Examples of
specific-acting hormones are TSH, which acts only on the thyroid
gland, and ACTH, which acts only on the outer portion of the adrenal
gland. Examples of general-acting hormones are thyroid hormones,
which affect the rate of metabolism of the entire body, and insulin,
which affects how every cell in the body utilizes glucose.
The specific tissue acted upon by each hormone is the target
tissue. Hormones affect these target tissues by attaching themselves
to receptors located in their cell membranes or within cytoplasm.
Once attached, the hormone affects cellular metabolism by regulating
the manufacture of proteins.
The active life of hormones varies. Thyroid hormones may
continue to exert their effects for up to two weeks. Most others,
however, act rapidly. The level of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) in the
circulation, for example, may vary from low to high within 15
minutes or so.
Chemically, all hormones except the steroids are made from
proteins or amino acids. Steroid hormones (produced by the adrenal
cortex and sex glands) are derived from lipids or fats.
Ideally, each hormone secreted is kept within a normal range by
means of negative feedback. The natural tendency of each endocrine
gland is to oversecrete its hormone, exerting a gradually increasing
effect on the target tissue. When the target tissue becomes too active,
feedback to the endocrine gland causes it to decrease its secretory
action.
The following is an example of how negative feedback works:
Starting at puberty, the hypothalamus begins to secrete releasing
hormones that trigger the release of FSH and LH by the pituitary.
These hormones are secreted continuously in the male. The activity
of the hypothalamus is in turn regulated by a negative feedback
mechanism involving testosterone. As the level of testosterone in the
blood increases, the hypothalamus secretes less releasing hormone.
As the level of testosterone decreases, the hypothalamus secretes
more releasing hormone. In the female, rising levels of estrogens in
the blood act as feedback to the hypothalamus to inhibit the release of
FSH and stimulate the release of LH by the pituitary. Rising levels of
both estrogens and progesterone act as feedback to the hypothalamus
to inhibit pituitary release of both FSH and LH. The same kind of
negative feedback mechanism to the hypothalamus and pituitary is
also triggered by rising levels of thyroid and adrenal hormones.
Pituitary (Anterior):
GH
Promotes growth of all bodily tissues.
TSH
Stimulates thyroid to produce its hormones.
ACTH
Stimulates adrenal cortical hormones.
PRL
Stimulates secretion of milk by mammaries.
FSH
Stimulates activity of ovarian follicles & testes.
LH, ICSH
Causes development of corpus luteum in
females and stimulates testosterone in males.
Pituitary (Posterior):
ADH
Oxytocin
Thyroid:
Thyroxine
Calcitonin
Parathyroids:
Parathyroid hormone
Thymus:
Thymosin
Pancreatic Islets:
Insulin
Glucagon
Ovaries:
Estrogens
Progesterone
Relaxin
Testes:
Testosterone
Adrenal (Medulla):
Epinephrine
Norepinephrine
Dopamine
Adrenal (Cortex):
Cortisol
Aldosterone
Sex hormones
The Pituitary
The pituitary (or hypophysis) is a small, gray, rounded body about the
size of a cherry that is attached to the base of the brain. This gland
consists of two parts: (a) a larger, oblong, anterior lobe resembling
thyroid tissue, and (b) a smaller, round, posterior lobe consisting of
nerve tissue and glandular cells.
The pituitary is often referred to as the master gland because it
releases hormones that affect the functioning of other glands,
including the thyroid, adrenals and gonads. Poor pituitary function
can produce abnormal fat deposits, loss of hair, loss of sexual power
and disturbances of ovaries and testicles.
Although the pituitary plays a pivotal role in the functioning of
the entire endocrine system, it cannot on its own decide the
appropriate levels of hormones for given situations. Higher level
decisions regarding pituitary hormones are made by the
hypothalamus, which is directly connected to the pituitary by a stalk
known as the infundibulum.
Hormones produced in the anterior pituitary lobe are not
released until chemical messengers (releasing hormones) arrive from
the hypothalamus. These releasing hormones are sent to the anterior
pituitary by way of a circulatory pathway called the portal system. By
means of this circulatory loop, some of the blood that leaves the
hypothalamus travels to capillaries in the anterior pituitary before
returning to the heart. As blood circulates through these capillaries, it
delivers the hormones that stimulate the release of anterior pituitary
secretions.
The hormones of the posterior pituitary lobe are actually
produced in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary
lobe until needed. Their release is controlled by nerve impulses
directly from the hypothalamus.
11
Sluggishness
Cold hands and feet, cold all over.
Infertility or impotence.
Migraines, headaches affecting one side of head.
Excessive urination.
Pain in left upper neck.
Pain in left little finger.
Overweight from waist up.
Overweight from waist down.
Abdominal "apron" of fat.
Fluid swelling in ankles, fingers, feet or under the eyes.
12
13
Many people with low thyroid function feel as if they have lost their
jobs, family, and all their friends -- even when they haven't.
14
15
16
17
so. Record the time of day each reading was taken and the resultant
temperature. Continue to take these daily readings each day for at
least a week, at exactly the same time each day. At the end of each
day, average the four readings. Average readings below 370C
(98.60F) indicate hypothyroidism. Those above suggest either
hyperthyroidism or fever caused by infection. Because oral
temperatures taken during the day are not strictly indicative of basal
metabolic rate, it is necessary to average a series of routine readings
in order to reduce the possibility of extraneous influences.
18
Undiagnosed Hypothyroidism
By regulating the rate at which metabolic processes take place in the
body, the thyroid gland serves as a "gatekeeper." Normal thyroid
function protects against disease; low thyroid function allows it easy
access. As thyroid activity declines, so does immunity, circulation
and almost every bodily function.
Some of the many conditions linked to low thyroid function
include:
acid indigestion, acne, allergies, arthritis, asthma,
atherosclerosis, breast disease (benign), cancer (of all kinds), canker
sores, cellulitis, diabetes, eczema, emphysema, gallstones, gout, hives,
hypoglycemia, impetigo, infertility, insomnia, irritable bowel
syndrome, lupus erythematosus, mental depression, menstrual
irregularities, migraine headaches, miscarriages, obesity, panic
attacks, premature aging, premenstrual syndrome, psoriasis,
respiratory infections, rheumatism, sexual dysfunction, tinnitus,
toxemia of pregnancy, and urinary tract infections. Anyone with any
of the preceding abnormalities needs to do both a BTT and a thyroid
symptom survey [see "Symptoms of Thyroid Imbalance" above] to
see to what extent hypothyroidism may be involved. In fact, anyone
with any condition that has not responded well to treatment needs to
check out possible hypothyroidism as a contributing factor. One
underlying problem can produce such a wide range of symptoms and
diseases because it affects a fundamental process on which so many
other functions depend.
Hypothyroidism is both rampant and underdiagnosed. The
main reason it goes undetected is because doctors tend to rely
exclusively on laboratory tests for making their diagnoses. Most
people with hypothyroidism, however, have normal levels of
thyroxine (T4) circulating in their bloodstream. Their problem is not
that their thyroid glands do not produce enough T4, but rather that
19
their bodies do not convert enough of this hormone to its active form
(T3) in order to be able to utilize it efficiently.
Most conversion of T4 to T3 takes place outside the thyroid
gland, in bodily tissues. If this conversion process takes place
inefficiently, then there can be adequate levels of T4 circulating in the
bloodstream even though bodily tissues may be starved for T3.
There is, however, no laboratory test that can determine which cells in
the body are receiving adequate thyroid hormone and which ones are
not. The most reliable way we have of assessing thyroid function is to
measure its effects on body temperature and the symptoms produced
by its imbalance. As reliable as the basal temperature test (BTT) and
symptom surveys are, they are not part of the training that most
medical doctors receive. The effectiveness of the BTT is well
documented, however, by Dr. Broda O. Barnes in his book,
Hypothyroidism: The Unsuspected Illness, and by Dr. E. Denis
Wilson in his book, Wilson's Syndrome.
T3 hormone initiates chemical reactions within each cell of the
body, and by so doing has a regulating effect on both metabolic rate
and body temperature. Body temperature affects the rate at which all
biochemical processes take place in the body. That is because
temperatures above or below the ideal 370C (98.60F) alter the
physical shape of enzymes (biochemical facilitators), making them a
poorer "fit" for the substrates for which they were designed. Body
temperature also affects the physical shape of antibodies, sometimes
turning them into "renegades" that attack healthy tissues (i.e.,
autoimmune disorders).
Low levels of T3 have a reducing effect on body temperature.
Low body temperature, in turn, decrease the efficiency at which cells
convert T4 into T3. It is a "catch-22" situation. The body becomes
stuck in a rut of reduced capacity, sometimes referred to as a
"conservation mode." This is a natural form of adaptation in which
the body allocates its scarce energy resources to only the most vital
functions. Survival becomes the overriding goal. Other activities,
such as physical exercise and sex, become a much lower priority.
20
21
The thymus gland is a mass of lymphoid tissue that lies beneath the
breastbone, in the upper part of the chest above the heart. It consists
of two flattened, symmetrical lobes, each divided by fibrous cords
into many lobules. Each of these contain a cortex and medulla. The
cortex is composed of dense lymphoid tissue containing many cells
(thymocytes) closely packed together. The medulla has fewer
thymocytes but also contains thymic corpuscles.
The thymus gland is important to immunity. It is a seedbed for
certain small white blood cells called T-lymphocytes. These are sent
to the spleen and the lymph nodes, where they multiply. The
development of the body's ability to resist infection of all kinds
depends on this normal seeding and proliferation of T-lymphocytes.
The hormone of the thymus, thymosin, assists in the
maturation T-lymphocytes (T-cells) within the thymus and promotes
the growth and activity of T-cells after they have left the thymus
gland and taken up residence in lymph nodes throughout the body.
Thymosin also stimulates the spleen and lymph nodes to produce
more lymphocytes from their own plasma cells.
As we get older, the thymus gland tends to shrink in size
(atrophy), making the body more vulnerable to infections. Agerelated deterioration of the thymus is both undesirable and
preventable. This valuable gland can be kept active and healthy by
means of the "thymus thump" (explained below) and by assuring a
generous intake of the specific nutrients that it requires (e.g., vitamins
A, C, E, zinc, iodine).
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Thymus Stimulation
The thymus gland can be stimulated simply by thumping the
breastbone gently with one's knuckles or fingers. There are several
ways to do this, but one of the most effective is to tap with the tips of
the index and second finger held together, making counterclockwise
circles about three inches in diameter, the top of each circle reaching
the notch in the top of the breastbone between the two collarbones.
Do this for about 10 seconds and you may directly feel a calming,
balancing effect over your whole body. For prolonged benefits,
perform this "thymus thump" every morning upon arising, during
moments of stress, or whenever you feel a need for endocrine balance.
The Pancreas
The pancreas is a compound gland situated behind the stomach in
front of the first and second lumbar vertebrae, in a horizontal
24
position, with its head attached to the duodenum and its tail reaching
to the spleen. The pancreas produces both an external and an internal
secretion. Thus, it has both exocrine and endocrine functions. Its
exocrine function is to produce digestive juices and release them
through a duct. Its endocrine function is to play a primary role in
carbohydrate metabolism. It is this latter function with which we are
concerned here.
Scattered throughout the pancreas are small groups of
specialized cells known as the islets of Langerhans. These cells
comprise the endocrine portion and function independently from the
exocrine part of the pancreas. The two hormones secreted by the islet
cells, insulin and glucagon, work together to regulate blood sugar
levels. Other endocrine glands involved in glucose metabolism are
the pituitary and the adrenals.
25
26
The Gonads
The gonads, or sex glands, are the ovaries of the female and the testes
of the male. In addition to producing the sex cells, these glands also
have endocrine functions. The hormones they produce are necessary
for the development of sexual characteristics and for the maintenance
27
Ovaries
The ovaries are the primary female sex organs. They produce the ova
and female sex hormones and are active from puberty to menopause.
Estrogens are secreted before ovulation; estrogen and progesterone
are secreted after ovulation. The actions and interactions of these
hormones result in the menstrual cycle, preparation for pregnancy and
the secondary female characteristics. After menopause, the secondary
female characteristics are maintained by estrogens and progestins
secreted by the adrenal cortex.
Each ovary has two areas, the follicles and the corpeus luteum.
The follicles produce estradiol and other estrogens. These hormones
are involved in the regulation of cellular respiration and the
development of primary and secondary sexual characteristics.
Through feedback, they also inhibit follicular stimulating hormone
(FSH) from the pituitary. Low levels of estrogens can result in
atrophy of the reproductive system and in reduction of secondary
sexual characteristics.
The corpeus luteum manufactures progesterone, which
stimulates secretions of the oviduct, uterus growth in pregnancy.
Through feedback, progesterone inhibits leutinizing hormone (LH)
from the pituitary.
The ovaries are affected by the action of distant glands, such as
the pineal, thyroid and pituitary. Hypofunction of the pineal gland,
for example, may lead to early sexual development. If the thyroid is
underactive, menstruation may be diminished or absent (amenorrhea)
even though the ovaries and uterus are normal. Hyperthyroidism may
cause profuse menstruation, and if a pregnancy occurs during this
time it may be subject to metabolic and toxic disturbances. Blood
clots occurring in the uterus during menstruation may be caused by an
abnormally functioning thyroid gland.
28
Testes
The testes are the primary male sex organs. Interstitial cells of the
testes produce the male sex hormone, testosterone, and other
androgens. These hormones govern development and control of the
sperm, sexual urges, and the physical and functional aspects of
masculinity.
Testosterone production is stimulated at puberty by LH (luteal
hormone) from the pituitary and thereafter is controlled by negative
feedback from the hypothalamus. Testosterone also inhibits FSH
(follicular stimulating hormone) from the pituitary.
29
30
31
32
3.
33
34
35
nervousness.
negativity.
strong preference for being alone.
uneasiness or dislike for being the centre of attention.
perfectionism, setting overly high standards.
avoidance of complaints, discomforts or inconveniences.
worry or unusual concern about things left undone.
inferiority complex.
36
37
38
Emotional Balance
The endocrine system is the primary means by which the body
translates emotions into physical responses. This process happens all
the time, automatically, whether or not we are aware of it. Every
feeling we have affects our bodies in some way. It is impossible to
stop the process, no matter how hard we might try or wish it might be
otherwise.
Those feelings we express immediately affect our physical
functioning in the moment, then gradually dissipate. Those feelings
we deny, suppress or repress, however, stay unresolved with us for as
long as we try to hold them back. They continue to affect our
functioning in indirect ways, contributing to nervousness, anxiety,
depression and physical disease processes. It doesn't matter whether
we consider a particular feeling to be either "good" or "bad." The
mere fact of holding it back has inevitable physical consequences. If
we continue our resistance long enough, we can make ourselves sick.
The only way to truly contain an emotion is to give it all the room it
needs.
Every feeling we have gives us automatic, instantaneous
feedback about how a particular person or situation affects us. We
cannot choose to have a particular feeling; it is just there. Our only
choice is to let it flow or to restrict it.
If we would like our hormones to flow in harmony, we need to
experience and express the fullness of all of our emotions. We cannot
give our bodies full life if we deny full life to our feelings. They are
two interrelated aspects of the same being.
There are really only two fundamental kinds of feelings, love
and fear. All other feelings can be reduced to these two basic,
underlying ones -- and so can all of our motivation. Whatever we do,
we do for only one of two fundamental reasons: either because we
desire the experience for the sheer enjoyment of it, or because we are
afraid of the consequences of not doing it.
Fear disrupts our endocrine system and its effects on our
bodies. Love is harmonious and balancing to our entire being. If
39
what you are experiencing is not genuine desire, joy or love, then there
has to be a hidden fear lurking somewhere. That is a blessing our
endocrine system gives us. Every time we experience anxiety,
agitation, nervousness, depression, anger or a "fight-or-flight"
response not related to imminent physical danger, it is an invitation to
look for unresolved fear of some kind. It is challenging us to find the
imbalance and restore it. If we do not, our endocrine system will
continue to deliver the message until we finally get it.
All of the emotions that affect our endocrine system adversely
are different faces of fear. Resentment, hatred and criticism often
mask a deeper layer of anger. Anger prevents one from feeling one's
underlying fear by projecting the cause of one's suffering elsewhere
and by giving one the illusion of being in control. Depression is a
way of hiding grief. Grief masks one's fear of being alone.
Judgement and rationalization are often covers for guilt. Beneath
guilt lurks fear of being rejected. Anxiety is a way of experiencing
the edges of fear in an out-of-context way, without facing it head on.
Apathy is an attempt to suppress all emotions and with them a
particular fear. And so on. Think of any emotional state that has
affected you adversely or any feeling that you have been deliberately
holding back. Dig deeper and in every case you will find a hidden fear
of some kind.
Everyone experiences fear. It is a necessary part of being
human. Fear is a natural way of alerting us to potential danger of
some kind. Identifying our fears gives us the opportunity to face them,
to work through them and to find whatever resolve and peace may lie
beyond them. When we deny our fears, however, we make their
resolution impossible. We have no incentive to face or overcome
what we refuse to admit exists.
Why do we obstruct and divert our fears? It is because we are
afraid of experiencing them. We fear fear.
Often we judge our feelings and ourselves for having them. We
believe that some feelings are "bad" and so we try to deny, hide or
minimize them. In truth, feelings are neither good nor bad. They just
are.
Sometimes we refuse to express strong feelings because we feel
that to do so would mean being ruled by them -- that we would lose
control and perhaps harm someone. Expressing a feeling does not
40
necessarily mean being ruled by it, nor does it have to lead to taking it
out on another person. Holding a feeling back, however, will
definitely harm someone -- you.
There are constructive ways to release feelings. You can do so
in complete privacy. It is most important to let yourself feel whatever
is there, as fully as possible. Put the feelings into words. If tears
come, let them flow. If anger comes and you feel like acting it out,
punch a pillow or break a pencil or dish or something else of little
consequence. Once you have expressed your feeling to yourself, you
are then in a better position to decide if you want to share it with the
person whom you feel may have triggered it in you. If you do decide
to share your pain and frustration with this person, recognize that
what you are sharing is your experience of that person and not
necessarily who she really is -- just as what another shares with you is
his experience of you and not necessarily who you are.
Recognize also that those who "push your buttons" are actually
doing you a favour. They are showing you where your particular fears
are hidden. If you have no fear about a particular situation, then no
one can bring out that fear in you.
It helps a great deal to share your feelings with those who truly
care about you -- those who love and accept you as you are. Often a
good friend can help you get in touch with feelings you may not have
known you had. If you are like most people, you are probably loved
more than you realize.
The next time your heart pounds, your pulse races, your
muscles tense, your breathing tightens, or your nerves feel on edge
and there is no danger present, your endocrine system is giving you an
important message. Listen to that message and see if you can find
what hidden fear it is pointing out.
There is one practice that is most restorative to emotionalendocrine balance. That is to devote some time each day to silence.
As little as 15 minutes alone in silence can be most restorative.
Relax. Turn off the radio and television. Eliminate all extraneous
sounds, particularly those of human voices. Shut the door of your
room or office and ask not to be disturbed until an appointed time.
Silence your telephone and answering machine. If you cannot
eliminate all background noise, filter it out with soft, gentle
instrumental music (no vocal). Keep your eyes open or shut, as you
41
prefer. If possible, sit or walk outside where you can hear only the
sounds of nature. Do not try to accomplish anything with this silence.
Use it simply to relax, unwind, and let go of tension. Observe what
thoughts or feelings come to mind. Do not do anything with them,
just notice them, feel them and let them go wherever they wish.
Silence is nourishing and balancing to every aspect of one's being -physical, emotional, mental and spiritual.
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Nutritional Support
Each gland in the body requires specific nutrients in order to function
properly and to fulfil its genetic potential. Raw materials are required
both to help rebuild and maintain the glands themselves and to act as
precursors to the hormones that the glands must produce.
Sunlight
The human body is dependent on sunlight -- so much so that sunlight
ought to be considered an essential nutrient. In addition to its well
know role in stimulating vitamin D production, sunlight affects the
human body in a number of significant ways.
As sunlight strikes the retina of the eye, it sets up impulses that
profoundly affect the endocrine system and revitalize the entire body.
Sunlight stimulates the thyroid gland to increase its hormone levels,
thereby increasing rate of metabolism. It tends also to increase the
level of sex hormones. Sunlight acts as a mood elevator by
decreasing levels of melatonin, a pineal hormone that depresses mood.
Sunlight also tends to reduce high blood pressure and high
cholesterol, as well as to increase the efficiency of the heart. Sunlight
assists in weight loss and may reduce dental cavities.
Natural sunlight provides an entire range of pulsating
frequencies (both visible and invisible) under which all life on this
planet has evolved. When these rays strike the body together, in
concert, they have a normalizing effect on the body. Conventional
artificial lighting, however, provides only a narrow range of light
frequency that the pineal gland may experience as disruptive,
confusing, stressful and potentially harmful. The ideal light for
influencing the pineal, therefore, is sunlight -- exactly what nature
intended.
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44
incorporated into cell walls, weakening them and leaving the cell
vulnerable to invasion and mutation.
The consumption of deep fried foods, margarines, shortenings,
and processed vegetable oils has skyrocketed during the last 50 years
or so. So has the incidence of cancers of all kinds. It is more than a
mere coincidence.
Butter and olive oil are the two most stable fats to use for
cooking. Organic flaxseed oil capsules make an excellent supplement
for essential fatty acids [see next section on "Nutritional Support"].
The fat-soluble vitamins, A and E, protect cellular membranes from
ultraviolet damage.
Consider the following balanced approach to sunlight.
Whenever possible, sit or walk in sunlight for 15 minutes each day.
Use sunglasses only when needed to reduce glare when driving a car
or boat. Use sunglasses with polarized lenses, ones that reduce the
intensity of sunlight but without eliminating any of its valuable
frequencies. Use skin sunscreen agents sparingly, but never
deliberately try to get a suntan either. Make sure that the cells of the
eyes and skin are bathed in vitamins A and E from both diet and
supplements. The preceding are merely suggestions. Each of needs
to find ways of balancing the benefits of solar energy with its
potential for harm.
Amino Acids
All hormones except the steroids are manufactured from amino acids.
Therefore, to ensure adequate production of these chemical
messengers, one must have a sufficient daily intake of high quality
protein. If protein intake is too low, hormone production will suffer.
If total calorie intake is too low, hormone production will also suffer
because the body will convert proteins into fuel in order to maintain
enough energy for physical activity. Low protein diets, severe weight
loss diets and prolonged fasting can thus be detrimental to endocrine
function.
How much quality protein a person needs is very much an
individual matter that depends on age, bodyweight, lifecycle, activity
45
46
Supporting Vitamins/Minerals
Pineal
Pituitary
47
Thyroid
Parathyroids
vitamin D.
Thymus
Pancreas
Gonads (female)
Gonads (male)
Adrenals
48
49
Glandular Concentrates
Above and beyond the basic nutrients discussed thus far, there may
also be intrinsic cellular factors that promote the regeneration of like
organs and tissues. Supplements containing glandular concentrates
thus appear to have a unique and significant role in helping to restore
optimal functioning.
Consuming organ tissue is not a new idea. Wild animals, for
example, devour their entire prey, starting with the nutrient-rich
internal organs and finishing with the muscles. They may even crack
the bones and lick out its marrow. By so doing they achieve what is
for them a balanced diet. Each organ consumed contributes different
nutrients.
Many of our ancestors of not so long ago also consumed organ
meats regularly -- heart, liver, kidney, stomach, pancreas, brain, eyes,
etc. Nowadays people tend to eat only the less nourishing muscle
meats, depriving themselves of valuable nutrients and specific organ
factors. Fortunately, glandular concentrates can help to compensate
for this lack.
For many years doctors have been injecting liver extracts to
treat certain disorders, such as stubborn cases of anemia. Some
attribute the beneficial results of this therapy to the natural iron and
B-complex vitamins that liver contains. If, however, the iron and Bvitamins are used alone, the results are not as good. This fact
suggests that animal glandular tissues provide some intrinsic factors
over and above their vitamin, mineral and protein content.
Radioactive isotope tracing demonstrates that if an organ
extract is injected into the bloodstream, it is absorbed by the
corresponding organ (e.g., pancreas extract goes to the pancreas, heart
extract to the heart, etc.). The intrinsic cellular factors are thus "organ
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51
Female
52
Adrenal
Brain
Heart
Hypothalamus
Kidney
Liver
Mammary
Ovary
Pancreas
Pineal
Pituitary
Spleen
Thymus
Choline
100 mg.
20 mg.
40 mg.
20 mg.
40 mg.
70 mg.
30 mg
40 mg.
30 mg.
40 mg.
30 mg.
20 mg.
20 mg.
40 mg.
Combination Formulas
The following are three examples of nutritional formulas that synergistically
combine vitamins, minerals, glandular concentrates and amino acids to support
key glands in the endocrine system. They are usually used as adjunct formulas
to be taken in addition to a general formula, such as the Basic VitaminFormula described earlier in this chapter. Unless otherwise specified, the
quantity beside each nutrient is its suggested daily intake.
Adrenal Support Formula:
Pantothenic Acid
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
600 mg.
675 mg.
53
1,000 mcg.
150 mg.
150 mg.
20,000 I.U.
3,000 mg.
120 mg.
25 mg.
25 mg.
25 mg.
56 mg.
4 mg.
5 mg.
63 mcg.
4 mg.
5 mcg.
75 mcg.
63 mcg.
8 mg.
125 mg.
In this last case, the above quantities represent the amount to be taken
for a single dosage. This formula provides nutrients (a) to nourish the
thyroid gland and enable it to produce its hormones, and (b) to enable
bodily cells to produce the deiodinase enzymes necessary to convert
T4 hormone into T3.
The above nutritional thyroid formula can sometimes be made
even more effective by taking a homeopathic remedy with it at the
same time. The best one for this purpose is Liothyronine (30C),
taken 20 drops under the tongue immediately after taking the
nutritional Thyroid Support Formula. Liothyronine is a salt of
triidothyronine, (the T3 hormone.) Its presence, either as a physical
remedy (available by prescription only) or in the form of a
homeopathic dilution, signals the body that it is time to shift from its
conservation mode back into full activity.
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The most effective way to take the combined nutritionalhomeopathic support is from eight times daily (e.g., every two waking
hours) for the first two weeks. At the end of two weeks, scale the
supplements down to four times per day (e.g., every four waking
hours). Take oral body temperature at least four times daily. When
the average daily temperature reaches 370C (98.60F) consistently for
at least four consecutive days, then taper off the thyroid supplements
gradually over the next three days. In some cases, this program can
help to restore thyroid function to normal in as little as two weeks.
Others may take up to three or four months. Some cases are
incredibly stubborn, however, and may require supplementary
hormones. If no significant progress has been made on the
nutritional-homeopathic thyroid program at the end of three months, it
would be wise to consult a holistic medical doctor who can offer
prescription liothyronine as a stronger "jump-start" to the body's T4T3 conversion process.
Multiglandular Conditions
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Stress
Any form of stress -- be it the physical trauma of injury or disease, or
the emotional triggers of anxiety or pleasure -- cause both the nervous
and endocrine systems to respond in harmony. The nervous system
response, the "fight-or-flight" reaction, is mediated by the
hypothalamus of the brain and by the autonomic (involuntary)
nervous system. The hypothalamus also triggers the release of ACTH
from the anterior pituitary. ACTH causes the adrenal cortex to
release hormones that raise blood sugar, inhibit inflammation,
decrease the immune response, and limit the release of histamine.
Growth hormone, thyroid hormones, sex hormones and insulin may
also be released. These substances help the body respond to stressful
situations, but if overproduced they can be harmful to the body and
may contribute to stress-related disorders as high blood pressure,
heart disease, ulcers, back pain, and headaches.
Stress is an integral part of living. We cannot avoid it. We
can, however, support our bodies to handle stress so that it does not
become "distress." Biofeedback, meditation, relaxation, and regular
physical exercise all help to mediate stress.
We can also support the body nutritionally to be better able to
handle stresses of all kinds. The following is an example of a broad
spectrum formula that covers all of the vitamin-mineral bases, but
with particular attention to those factors most helpful to the adrenal
glands (e.g., pantothenic acid, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin B-12,
adrenal concentrate). The quantity listed beside each nutrient is its
suggested daily intake.
Stress Formula:
Vitamin A (palmitate)
Vitamin D-3
Vitamin E (d-alpha tocopheryl succ.)
Vitamin C (ascorbic acid)
Vitamin B-1 (thiamine)
Vitamin B-2 (riboflavin)
Vitamin B-6 (pyridoxine)
Vitamin B-12 (cobalamin)
Niacinamide
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12,000 I.U.
800 I.U.
600 I.U.
2,200 mg.
100 mg.
100 mg.
100 mg.
600 mcg.
100 mg.
Pantothenic Acid
Folic Acid
Biotin
Choline
Inositol
Calcium (carbonate)
Magnesium (oxide)
Potassium (chloride)
Iron (ferrous fumarate)
Zinc (gluconate)
Chromium (proteinate)
Manganese (gluconate)
Silicon (dioxide)
Selenium (proteinate)
Iodine (potassium iodide)
Molybdenum (sodium molybate)
Vanadium (HVP chelate)
Adrenal concentrate
Lemon Bioflavonoids
Betaine Hydrochloride
1,330 mg.
1.2 mg.
220 mcg.
220 mg.
100 mg.
800 mg.
500 mg.
400 mg.
22 mg.
33 mg.
330 mcg.
22 mg.
22 mg.
200 mcg.
1.2 mg.
220 mcg.
12 mcg.
44 mg.
100 mg.
44 mg.
Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) is a very common disorder that
involves discord among several endocrine glands. Consumption of
concentrated sugars or sweets causes blood sugar to rise rather
rapidly. The body's normal response is to produce insulin in order to
bring blood glucose back to normal levels. If, however, the pancreas
over-reacts by producing more insulin than necessary, blood sugar
plummets. When that happens, the pancreas sends glucagon to the
liver and the adrenal glands also send some of their hormones to the
liver. The effect of both these pancreatic and adrenal hormones is to
stimulate the liver to convert some of its glycogen stores into glucose.
If, however, the adrenal glands are weak, glycogen stores have been
depleted, or the liver is overworked, the needed increase in blood
sugar does not happen in time and ill-effects are felt. Other glands
that may be involved in hypoglycemia are the pituitary and thyroid. If
these two glands are functioning well, then the pancreas and adrenals
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tend to also.
It is not only concentrated sugars that cause untoward increases
in blood sugar. Caffeine, tobacco, alcohol and many drugs tend to
produce the same effect. Allergies are also common provokers of
hypoglycemic responses. [For a full explanation of this phenomenon,
please my book, One's Food is Another's Poison.]
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
The brain and central nervous system are highly dependent on blood
sugar. Although they comprise only about two per cent of body
weight, they require over 20 per cent of the body's glucose. For that
reason, a person usually experiences mood changes, brain "fog" or
nervousness when blood sugar is too low.
Symptoms of hypoglycemia include:
Premenstrual Syndrome
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Symptoms of PMS
The following symptoms, only if they occur within 14 days prior to
and two days after the menstrual period, are indicative of
premenstrual syndrome:
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Menopause
As a woman advances beyond her childbearing years, the ovary
glands gradually become less active until they eventually stop
producing reproductive hormones. Some women go through this
change completely symptom free. Many, however, experience hot
flashes around the face, neck and upper body, accompanied by
feelings of heat and suffocation. Such episodes may happen 20 times
per day. Sweats may follow these flashes, or occur independently.
Other symptoms may include dizziness, headache, palpitations of the
heart, and difficult breathing or shortness of breath. Mental
depression frequently occurs also.
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the adrenal glands to increase their production of female hormones -the ones that maintain secondary sexual characteristics. In a healthy,
well nourished woman the transition happens so naturally that it is
scarcely noticed, if at all.
The reason that most women experience menopausal symptoms
is that their adrenal glands have been overworked and undernourished
for most of their lives and struggle to produce the female hormones
demanded by the "change of life." Also, if the liver is not healthy, it
cannot moderate fluctuations in hormones.
The ideal way to avoid menopausal symptoms is to prepare the
body for the changeover before it happens. Eliminating the usual
adrenal stressors (e.g., sugar, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco) and
supplementing with the previously described Stress Formula can be of
significant benefit in this regard.
Once menopause appears imminent, it is of benefit to switch to
the following nutritional formula, which is one that provides suitable
amounts of the factors needed at this time. It may be taken from the
first hint of menopause until the transition has been completed
(usually about one year). The quantity listed beside each nutrient is
its suggested daily intake.
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