Sitting down to write a blog about woman’s health, I became very overwhelmed! It seems like the list of things women deal with is a mile long – from fertility issues, pregnancy, menopause, thyroid issues, endometriosis, breast health, PCOS, uterine cysts, mood swings, hot flashes – just to name a few!
What is a common link between all of these? HORMONES! Hormone balance is a contributing factor to all of these issues that are unique to women. So, what is going on with these hormones? Why are they so out of whack? Bear with me, we’re going to dig into the science behind hormones.
The body creates a dynamic state of balance, in which internal conditions constantly change, but always remain within relatively narrow limits. This state is called homeostasis. Communication within the body is essential for homeostasis and is primarily accomplished by the nervous and endocrine systems.
The endocrine system consists of glands that secrete hormones, or chemical messengers, into the bloodstream that are necessary for vital body function. Specifically, some of the glands of the endocrine system are the pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal glands, ovaries, and the hypothalamus (remember this one, it will be very important later on). The hormones that are released by these glands are under control of a mechanism called feedback – this is similar to a thermostat regulating your furnace. When hormones are produced up to a certain point where they aren’t needed anymore, your body will stop producing them until they are needed again. This “turn on” and “turn off” is under direct control of the nervous system.
When your body is in a state of homeostasis or balance, the precise amount of hormones are released into the bloodstream and the body functions smoothly. However, when that control mechanism malfunctions, and too much or too little of a hormone is produced, the effects can be severe.
The limbic system is the part of the brain that maintains homeostasis, and the hypothalamus is an essential part of that limbic system. The main function of the hypothalamus is to maintain status quo within the body. It is responsible for keeping factors like blood pressure, body temperature, fluid levels, electrolyte balance, and hormones within a narrow range – BUT, constantly changing to suit the needs of the body from moment to moment. (Pretty tough job, huh?)
To achieve this, the hypothalamus must receive input about the state that the body is currently in – to see if anything needs to be changed. It gets this information in the form of MILLIONS of nerve messages from all areas of the nervous system. The effectiveness of the hypothalamus is directly dependent upon the functional capacity of the nervous system to send and receive messages, and maintain the integrity of those messages and they travel along the nervous system.
Do you see how closely related the endocrine and nervous systems are? Those signs of hormonal imbalance could be caused by a dysfunction or interference in your nervous system that affects how the hypothalamus is regulating hormone production. Exactly the goal of chiropractic – to check for those areas of interference within your nervous system.
To learn more about restoring the balance, CLICK HERE!
– Dr. Niki Pearson
“I was diagnosed with Poly-cystic Ovary Syndrome in my early twenties, and I was told medication was the only way to manage the symptoms. I began to do lots of research into natural methods and learned medication was not the only way. I stopped all medication, changed my diet (which continues to be ever evolving), and got into exercise. When I moved to Omaha I was introduced to Dr. Niki and began to see her 4 years ago and started consistent chiropractic care with Dr. Niki and Dr. Bethany over two years ago. Changes weren’t instant, it took almost a year of consistent care to see significant improvement in my PCOS symptoms. I began to notice patterns and I actually felt like my body was doing what it was supposed to do. In September my husband and I truly learned what ‘healing from the inside out’ meant when we found out we were expecting!! I feel confident that my body is functioning better than it ever has and for that I am grateful! ” -Jess G.
