Women's Health At Every Age

A woman’s health needs change dramatically over the years. Use this guide to find hormone-balancing tips and remedies based on your age.

- By Sherrill Sellman, ND

An ancient adage from Chinese medicine says, “A doctor would rather treat 10 men than one woman.” In a way, this validates what women have always known—that we are indeed intricate creatures. At the heart of our complexity are hormones, their ebb and flow influencing all aspects of physical, emotional and mental well-being. When a woman’s hormones are in balance, she feels healthy, energized, and vital. She is also far less likely to experience symptoms during her menstrual cycle or as she negotiates the transition through menopause.

Unfortunately, all it takes is one alteration to this perfectly orchestrated process for hormone havoc to ensue, transforming a reasonable woman into a screaming banshee (sound familiar?). Our modern lifestyles do not help, either, and in fact have had a somewhat disastrous effect on hormonal balance. For example, stress, nutritional deficiencies, hormones in meat and poultry, estrogen-mimicking chemicals in our environment, and the widespread use of birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) have contributed to some of the highest estrogen levels ever measured, according to researchers.

Why do hormones have such a profound impact on your health? Basically, these powerful chemical messengers—including the two main female sex hormones, estrogen and progesterone—stimulate, regulate, and/ or control all vital bodily functions. The delicate equilibrium of these master agents also influences every system in the body. Additionally, hormones affect certain neurotransmitters that determine mood and thinking processes. So, is it any wonder that hormonal balance is key for maintaining optimal wellness throughout your life?

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