hormones Archives - Dr. Fisel, ND

HOW TO ADDRESS HORMONAL IMBALANCE

September 21, 2022 by Matthew Fisel

how to treat hormonal imbalance with a naturopathic approach

“Lately the people in my life have been bristling at the fact that I’m super cheerful one minute and crying the next. My mom canceled our lunch plans because she was worried about who might show up. My best girlfriends sat me down for a talk because they were worried about my mood swings. Even my husband has noticed a change.

“The problem is, we are trying to have a baby.

“I thought for a while my abnormal mood was related to the pressure of getting pregnant. But now I’m wondering if my hormones are out of balance. It adds a whole new layer of complexity and new implications to our fertility journey. “

As a naturopathic doctor, I hear stories like this one from patients all the time. They have exercised all of their conventional options for treatment, but haven’t found anything that gets to the root of their symptoms – just quick fixes.

Taking the conventional approach, after a routine blood panel, a primary care physician might recommend putting a patient on birth control for any symptoms or disruptions related to female hormones. Some of those symptoms might be:

Heavy bleeding
Cramping
Bloating
Mood swings
Headaches
Breast Tenderness
Irregular cycles

You might not want to take birth control to maintain your hormonal balance, though.

But what else can you do?

This is when a naturopathic approach is helpful. By integrating modalities, a naturopathic doctor can help to get the right treatment options for you as an individual.

Naturopathic medicine offers functional testing that goes beyond a normal blood panel and helps to uncover complications that might be more deep-rooted. We address the underlying causes, not just your symptoms.

For symptoms of hormonal imbalance, I like to start with the DUTCH test. DUTCH is a urinary analysis used to determine not only the levels of hormones present in the body – estrogen, progesterone and testosterone – but also to learn how your body metabolizes those hormones.

Mapping hormones over a period of time helps us understand how they are processed rather than just looking at a snapshot of hormones present from a basic blood work panel. This big hormonal picture, in conjunction with blood work, helps your naturopathic doctor develop an individualized treatment plan to address your symptoms.

Patient education is the cornerstone of naturopathic care. Therefore, naturopathic physicians teach their patients how to make conscious lifestyle choices, giving them confidence needed to reach and maintain an optimal state of health. Obviously, there might be issues related to your symptoms that are out of your control. But there are plenty of symptom factors that can be managed when using the proper tools.

If you are experiencing symptoms of severe PMS or hormonal imbalance, here are some things to try from a naturopathic approach to help alleviate them:

Diet/ Nutrition – Food is medicine. What you put into your body directly affects all of your metabolic systems. Your gut is arguably one of the most important components of your health. Try adding or increasing cruciferous vegetables to your diet for hormonal balance. These include: broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Herbs – There are a number of herbal supplements that can support hormonal balance especially when significant symptoms are present. Schedule a free 15 minute new patient consultation with Dr. Fisel to learn more about herbs that are right for your particular body and situation.

Acupuncture – By its very nature, the goal of acupuncture is to restore energetic balance throughout the body. When you are experiencing a hormonal imbalance, such as pre-menstrual syndrome for instance, acupuncture can help alleviate your symptoms and restore your energy to its natural state. Learn about the integrative treatment options Dr. Fisel has to offer.

As a naturopathic physician I can help you get to the root of your symptoms and work through functional testing beyond the basic blood work your conventional doctor may have ordered. I will use the big picture of your hormonal health to help you determine the best course of treatment for you as an individual.

Are you living in the Guilford/ Branford/ New Haven/ Madison/ Clinton area and would like to learn more about integrative solutions for your health care needs.

Call (203) 453-0122 or CLICK HERE to schedule a consultation.

Filed Under: Health and Wellness, PMS, Women's Health Tagged With: hormones, PMS, Women's Health

Beyond An Auto-immune Diagnosis: Ten Things To Look For

May 31, 2021 by Matthew Fisel

Autoimmune diseases, autoimmune diagnosis, autoimmune symptom relief, Dr. Matt Fisel, naturopathic doctor, gut health, stress management, hormonal imbalance

Have you ever felt off, but you just kept pushing through the pain?

You might have experienced symptoms like:

Brain fog, muscle aches, or fatigue.

As time moved on, your symptoms didn’t.

After a battery of tests, you were given a general autoimmune disease diagnosis.

NOW WHAT?

Western medicine tends to give a catchall diagnosis for something that looks and feels like an autoimmune disease. You hear things like mold toxicity or chronic fatigue.

The truth is the immune system is so complex that a diagnosis might feel like a dead end; hopeless. It’s hard for doctors to diagnose…how do they expect you to understand what’s going on in your body?

From a Naturopathic standpoint…I see it as a starting point. Your autoimmune disease is not a life sentence. Working together, it’s a place we can begin to detect and identify where your symptoms are coming from and help you find relief and hopefully some natural solutions.

Here are TEN THINGS WE LOOK AT BEYOND AN AUTOIMMUNE DIAGNOSIS from a naturopathic standpoint:

1. STRESS MANAGEMENT – Ongoing stressors in your lifestyle can cause both mental and physical discomfort. Overwhelm and anxiety can cause inflammation in the brain and then systemically throughout the body. Dr. Fisel looks at root causes of stress in your life and work to alleviate and/ or eliminate them.

2. FOOD SENSITIVITIES – You may be sensitive to certain types of foods and not even be aware of the fact. Dr. Fisel can recommend certain testing or targeted diets to identify and eliminate those foods that don’t agree with your immune system.

3. GUT HEALTH – There is a very important connection between your gut and your brain. What goes on between the two can affect your entire body and how it functions. Often times leaky gut (when your intestinal walls are easily permeated) is a major culprit of autoimmune symptoms. Dr. Fisel can tell you if your gut is adversely affecting your overall wellness.

4. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXINS – You might be living in an older home, or over a land fill, and did not know or realize that pollutants were permeating your environment. Dr. Fisel considers your proximity to heavy metals, mold, pesticides (especially glyphosate), PCBs, cosmetics, and water pollution.

5. MOVEMENT – Studies show an active lifestyle decreases inflammation in your body. You might not feel like running a marathon, but simple movements can increase your circulation and boost your immune system. Dr. Fisel can suggest ways to add movement into your life.

6. NUTRITION – Paying attention to your food intake is important to a healthy immune system. Avoid processed foods that are chemical laden in favor of anti-inflammatory fruits and vegetables like blueberries, broccoli and avocados. Dr. Fisel also looks at nutritional deficiencies and works to enhance the missing nutrients.

7. MEDICATION TOXICITY – You may not be able to avoid prescribed medications (especially antibiotics), but Dr. Fisel can counter-balance their effects with food or supplements that offer pro-biotics.

8. INFECTIONS – Something to consider is the effect of underlying infection on your body’s immune response. For example, Lyme Disease, Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), and Candida, among other infections, can trigger autoimmunity. Dr. Fisel can help you determine if you have an undetected infection.

9. HORMONAL IMBALANCE – Changes in the hormonal balance of your body, as seen in menopause, can trigger changes in immune function. Dr. Fisel can help restore balance in your body.

10. GENETICS – Hereditary factors may cause adverse immune responses in your body. Dr. Fisel can help you sift through your genetic history to determine what if anything may be creating problems.

There is hope beyond your autoimmune diagnosis. Dr. Fisel would love to dig deeper into underlying causes to help you discover ways to feel better while living with the reality of your symptoms.

Dr. Fisel is here to offer you hope beyond your auto-immune disease diagnosis and to help you feel relief from your symptoms. Please call (203) 453-0122 or CLICK HERE to schedule an appointment, today.

NEW PATIENT FREE 15 MINUTE CONSULATION: Dr. Fisel promotes health and healing on all levels, physically, emotionally and spiritually. If you live in the Guilford/ Branford/ New Haven/ Madison/ Clinton area and would like to learn more about the innovative programs Dr. Fisel has to offer, call (203) 453-0122 or CLICK HERE to schedule your free 15 minute consultation.

Filed Under: Diet and Nutrition, Digestive Health, Health and Wellness, Immune Health, Uncategorized Tagged With: auto-immune disease, fatigue, gut health, hormones, Naturopathic, Stress

Understanding and Effectively Treating PMS

July 9, 2012 by Matthew Fisel

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is one of the most common female problems, affecting 30-40% of women during their reproductive years. The most severe cases occur in approximately 2% of women between the ages of 26 and 35. PMS is characterized by recurrent symptoms that appear 7-14 days before a woman has her menstrual period. These symptoms often include decreased energy, irritability, increased appetite (usually sugar cravings), acne, and bloating. Menstrual cramps (dysmenorrhea), while technically a separate diagnosis, can also be attributed to the same hormonal fluctuations that cause PMS. [Read more…]