Week 4: Treating Hormone Imbalances with

Herbs Dr.AfrouzDemeri,ND,DHMHS,IFMCP

Hormone Health

HealthyHormoneBalance

Production

Regulation

Elimination

•  HealthyStressResponse•  HealthyMenstrualCycle•  HealthyMenopause•  StrongerBones•  EnhancedBrainFunction•  ImprovedSleep•  IncreasedEnergy•  ImprovedMood•  HealthyWeight

Thyroid-Adrenal-Insulin

EnergyWeightSleepMood

ThyroidTSH,T3,T4,rT3,Iodine,

Selenium,Tyrosine,Antibodies

AdrenalCortisolCurve,Tyrosine,Stress

&Resilience,BVitamins

InsulinFastingglucose,FastingInsulin,

HemoglobinA1c,Insulinresponsetofood,Cpeptide,Liverhealth,Diet

GOALS:•  Providedirect

thyroidsupport•  Improveadrenal

glandfunction•  Regulateblood

sugarandinsulinresponse

ThyroidHormoneSupportNutrients:Selenium,Zinc,Iodine,Magnesium,Tyrosine,Bvitamins

Herbstostimulatethyroidfunction:Ashwagandha,PanaxGinseng,Licorice,Cinnamon,Gotukola,IrisVersicolor

Ifautoimmunethyroiddisorder–positiveantibodies:Avoidexcessiveiodine,considerimmunemodulatingherbsincludingGanoderma,Rosemary,Rehmannia,Eleuthrococcus

Consideranti-inflammatoryherbsandnutrients–Curcumin,Boswellia,EFA’s,

Diet–avoidexcessivecold,raw,and“damp”foods–eatmorebakedorgrilledfoods,warmtemperature,andwarmingspices.

Exercise–shortbuthigh-intensityisbest

AdrenalGlandSupportGeneralNutrients:Magnesium,Tyrosine,Bvitamins,VitaminC,L-Theanine,

Herbstosupporthealthyadrenalresponsetostress:Ashwagandha,Ganoderma,Astragalus,Holybasil,Schisandraberry,Eleuthrococcus

Ifadrenalsareweakandneedsomestimulation:ConsiderLicoricerootandPanaxginseng

Ifsuspecthighcortisolduetochronicstress,mayneedtoconsidernervineherbs–Oatstraw,Woodbetony,Scutellaria

Diet–Small,frequentmealswithsufficientproteintoensurebloodsugarregulation–thiswillhelpregulateadrenalactivityanddecreaseexcesscortisolproduction

Exercise–gentleandconsistentexercise.

RegulateBloodSugarNutrients:Chromium,Vanadium,

Herbstostabilizebloodsugar:Cinnamon,Bittermelon,Gymnema,Fenugreek,Ashwagandha,Licorice,Barberry

Diet–avoidexcessivecold,raw,and“damp”foods–eatmorebakedorgrilledfoods,warmtemperature,andwarmingspices.

Exercise–Regularexercisecombiningcardioandweights

An Example Of Herbal Formulas To Support The Thyroid-adrenal Axis

Loose herb tea • Gotu Kola • Holy Basil • Gymnema • Oat straw

• Nettles • Motherwart

• Ginger • Cinnamon bits

Herbal Powder to decoct

• Ashwagandha • Blue flag root • Ganoderma • Cinnamon • Rhodiola • Ginger

• Eluthrococcus

Diet: FoodsSupportingtheThyroid:•  Mustardgreensarehighintyrosine-eatthesecookedsincetheycanbegoitrogenic.Otherfoodsthatcontaintyrosineincludeoats,soybeans,spinach,watercress,sesameseeds,butternutsquash,chives,favabeans,pumpkinseeds,snowpeas,andcabbage.

FoodsContainingGoitrogens:

•  Goitrogensaresubstancesthatblockiodineutilization.Goitrogen-containingfoodsarebestavoidedintheirrawform,butcookingusuallyinactivatesthegoitrogens.Foodsthatcontaingoitrogensincludeturnips,cabbage,mustard,cassavaroot,soybeans,peanuts,pinenuts,andmillet.Allofthecruciferousvegetables,especiallytheuncookedvegetables,andsoyproductssuppressthyroidhormoneproduction.Thecruciferousvegetablesincludebroccoli,brusselsprouts,cabbage,cauliflower,kale,mustardgreens,radishes,rutabagas,andturnips.

Women’s Hormone Health

WeightSleep

TemperatureregulationMood

Cognition

Estrogen/Progesterone

E1,E2,E3,Methylation,COMT,B6,Pregnanolone

ThyroidTSH,T3,T4,rT3,Iodine,Selenium,

Tyrosine,Antibodies

AdrenalCortisolCurve,Tyrosine,Stress&

Resilience,BVitamins

Herbal Powder to decoct

•  Angelica S. • Dioscorea

•  Eleuthrococcus • Rhodiola

•  Ashwagandha • Maca

•  Licorice • Ginger

Loose herb tea • Motherwart • Oat straw

• Lemon balm • Red Clover

• Nettles • Raspberry leaf

• Ginger

An Example Of Herbal Formulas To Regulate Female Hormones

Men’s Hormone Health

WeightSleep

Energy&EnduranceCognitionMood

TestosteroneEstrogen,DHEA,DHT,Methylation,COMT,B6,

AdrenalCortisolCurve,Tyrosine,Stress&

Resilience,BVitamins

Insulin

Fastingglucose,FastingInsulin,HemoglobinA1c,Insulinresponsetofood,Cpeptide,Liverhealth,Diet

Herbal Powder to decoct

• Eleuthrococcus • Rhodiola

• Ganoderma • Ashwagandha

• Maca • Licorice • Ginger

Loose herb tea • Damiana • Holy Basil • Oat straw

• Nettles • Skullcap

• Red clover • Saw palmetto

berries

An Example Of Herbal Formulas To Regulate Male Hormones