Seminar Report

The seminar was presented by Pamela Smith, MD, MPH. The focus was on the dietary supplement containing prohormones and all-natural nutrients that improves mood and boost energy without stimulants.

Summary- Supplement: ProHormones & All-Natural Nutrients

Cortisol

· Cortisol has to be normal

· Stress for a long time, cortisol becomes too low

· Best way to meaure cortisol metabolically salivary testing is best way to measure cortisol

· If cortisol is too high or too low we can give adaptogenic herbs

o ginseng & ashwagandha

o stress reduction technique

· Elevated Cortisol can be treated with calming herbs

o Lemon balm

· Low Cortisol (Adrenal Fatigue)

o Can treat with licorice root

§ Don’t give licorice to those that are hypertensive (can drive up their blood pressure)

§ Deglycyrrhizinated licorice (DGL) is good for treating gut

§ Regular licorice root works for Adrenal glands

o If treatments mentioned don’t normalize cortisol levels, then it might need to be suggested to start on Cortef.

§ More information on Cortef (read safe usage of coristol)

§ 20mg a day of Cortef is augmenting and replacement of cortisol

· 7.5mg in morning, 5mg in afternoon, 2.5mg at 5pm

§ Only use this treatment for 6-12months with adaptogenic herbs

· Optimal is to have normal cortisol

• Takes 1 to 2 years to normalize coritsol
  • changing lifestyle for the better can normalize cortisol
• Note* For adrenals to run well we must be nutritionally sound
  • all the basic nutrients affect how the adrenal act

Serotonin (Happy Neurotransmitter)

• Is made in the gut....
  • 5% is made in the brain (platelts and retina of the eye)
  • 90% made in the gut
  • If one has reflex, diarrhea, constipation, yeast overgrowth, IBS, etc...it can cause the effect of serotonin (affecting happy mood)
  • The gut is 70% of the immune system

Energy

• Hormonal fluctuations: imbalances causes headaches, irritability, lack of sleep and fatigue
• Roadblock to fulfillment: lack of energy can prevent active participation in exercise, hobbies, family activities, excelling at work and quality time with spouse/partner
• Lack of energy and sleep can lead to poor health:
  • worsening of blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Increased stress
  • Lethargy and low alertness
  • Overweight
  • Lower levels of serotonin and melatonin

DHEA

• Has to be normal and balance cortisol
• Treating DHEA with those under the age of 60, we must treat cortisol if levels are not normal
• If you give DHEA to a patient and they are young (under 60)...and its due to stress

without treating cortisol with such things like adaptogenic herbs, DHEA will even go lower.

• Note* Always Always Always if cortisol levels are abnormal cortisol and the person is young, and you are treating them for DHEA, make sure you treat adrenals at the same time.
• If person cortisol is abnormal and they are hypothyroid ...you never treat the hypothyroid until you treat the adrenals first.
  • At least 6wks of treating the adrenals...the reason is because if you give thyroid therapy first you will rave up the system and there is nothing to rave up
    • It will give them symptoms of hyperthyroidism when they not even hyperthyroid (heart racing, headaches, etc...)
  • Note* Fix cortisol (adrenal) first then the thyroid

Thyroid

• Vital to run these test for thyroid function
  • TSH - should be under 2 for optimal functioning , if it runs at 4.5
  • Free T3 - dead center of normal or slightly above
  • Free T4 - dead center of normal or slightly above
  • Reverse T3 - dont want it to be high or they will be storing too much
  • Thyroid antibodies positive thyroid anti bodies and have hashmito disease...it’s important to give a synthetic form of thyroid hormone
• Many things affect the conversion of T4 to T3
  • Toxins metals, too much calcium, too much cooper, stress
  • Bad sleep hygiene
    • Need minimum of 6.5hrs
    • People who go to bed after midnight and get up before 5am are sheding 10yrs off their life.
    • Hard to normalize cortisol level with bad sleep hygiene
    • Studies show insulin will climb in the body and move towards diabetes/insulin resistance.
    • Weight gain occurs

Hormonal Mood

• Hormonal fluctuations: hormones affect mood, often, imperceptibly. low or inadequate hormone affect can cause a woman to feel irritable, off balance and moody
• Depression: depression is twice as common in women as in men
• Bad moods have bad health indicators: higher blood pressure, elevated stress levels, strained relationships, increased depression
• Estrogen (important when it comes to mood)
  • Has 400 functions in a womans body
• Progesterone is key
  • If too high or too low...these symptoms follow, anxiety, insomnia, mood swings, depression,
• Normal testosterone is important (for male and female)
  • Testosterone = the hormone of desire
  • Pro hormone DHEA and pregnenolone in supplement are the nutritional building blocks of natural testosterone
  • Testosterone are prohormones decline with stress and age
  • Supplement includes pro sexual nutrients"tribulus terrestris, damiana, black cohosh, chrysin, korean ginseng, naturally boost testosterone effect.
  • If too high, can be agitated and angry
  • Can increase risk of heart disease, weight gain, and diabetes
  • If too low causes low self-esteem and low self confidence
• DHEA is too high in woman and men it can cause roid rage

Lifestyle

• Must have passion throughout your life
• Active sex life is key
• Important to exercise
  • Decreases stress, helps maintain memory, and mood
• Proper diet
• Nutritional supplement
  • You can’t eat your way to good health…must supplement your diet
  • Supplements are formulated to:
    • Boost energy and mood without stimulants
    • Ignite desire and passion
    • Support optimal women's heath
    • Relieve normal PMS or menopausal symptoms