The Endocrines

The Endocrines! Navigating Hormonal Balance Through The Eras

Your endocrine system creates the symphony of hormones so elegant and complex that the metaphor of an orchestra with you as the conductor barely does it justice. This article serves as the prelude to the coming philharmonic. In truth there are so many working pieces to your endocrine balance, our goal will be to help you both understand, but more importantly, feel the vibrations, the balances as well as imbalances that guide you to restoring balance.

First some necessary definitions:

  1. Psychoneuroendocrinimmunology (PNEI): “The Web that has no Weaver”, the divine interconnectedness of all your “different” systems. The stress body, the neurological system, the “glands”, and the immune system all influence each other. When you recognize the importance of the gastrointestinal system and microbiome on the PNEI you begin to recognize that there is no such thing as an independent thyroid system or adrenal system or whichever system you might want to reduce your symptoms, yourself to.

  2. Responsibility: The ability to respond creatively to any situation. The opposite of guilt, blame and shame, ancient manipulative retrogressive techniques that disrupt/disease-ify you. True responsibility comes from an acceptance of this moment and finding progressive, forward looking solutions that break the bonds of past conditioning.

  3. Endocrinologist: An MD specialist coming from an Internal Medicine background. They are specialists in diagnosing disease yet woefully misinformed about health or endocrine balance. Drugs are their only tools. Beware.

  4. Endocrine Organ: An organ that secretes a hormone (signaling molecules) directly into the bloodstream regulating metabolism and function at a distance.

The importance of the neocortical-hypothalamic-pituitary-“gland” axis can not be emphasized enough. But that won’t be the primary point of discussion other than to point out that you are truly the “conductor”. Stress management, the control of the “misinformation era” – I truly believe that screen time, misinformation overload, Googling health advice, etc to be the single most important endocrine disruptor we face as a society today. “Burn - out” and adrenal fatigue are so very real. Removing those distractions, practicing self-realization/meditation becomes our most important tool in our philharmonic of hormones. The orchestra needs a healthy conductor.

Since I used the term endocrine disruptor, let me give you the more traditional definition:

Endocrine Disruptor: Environmental chemicals that interfere with hormonal balance by interfering with the production of, binding to receptor sites, and metabolism of hormones. The list of these chemicals grows every day, the following is a typical list:

Examples of Endocrine Disruptors:

  • Phthalates: Found in plastics, cosmetics, and personal care products. High levels found especially in women’s athletic wear!
  • Bisphenol A (BPA) and Bisphenol S (BPS): Used in manufacturing plastics, food cans, and water bottles. Don’t touch any receipt paper!
  • PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances): Used in many industrial and consumer products. Also found in dental floss and even one prescription eye drop (Miebo)!
  • Dioxin: A byproduct of certain industrial processes.
  • Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): Industrial chemicals with widespread use in the past.
  • Pesticides: Used in agriculture and other applications.
  • Some heavy metals: Like mercury and lead.

The latest endocrine disruptor: microplastics! Please read this review for the sobering truth. From the Frontiers of Endocrinology, January 2023 ”A review of the endocrine disrupting effects of micro and nano plastic and their associated chemicals in mammals”

Pub Med: https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9885170/ 

Please live an organic lifestyle, not just foods, but any skin care products that you apply.

By now you must understand that to develop hormonal balance goes so far beyond “getting on the right hormones”. That does help though!

Well, here is a pretty picture outlining the endocrines. Our future articles will focus on the “four legs of the chair” of endocrine balance. Those legs are pancreatic endocrine function, adrenal, thyroid and the gonadal system, either ovarian or testicular. The degree of dysfunction you perceive in any one of these “legs” will depend on how well balanced the other legs are.

We’ll get into the pancreas next!

Your Journey to Health and Healing,

Gary E. Foresman, MD

 

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