Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come,
Let this blest assurance control,
That Christ has regarded my helpless estate,
And hath shed His own blood for my soul. – Ho­ra­tio G. Spaf­ford

I spent over a year wondering what was wrong with me. That persistent sinking feeling in my chest just wouldn’t go away. My nerves felt like they were consistently on the outside of my skin. The mood swings that possessed me would have frightened Darth Vader (ask my family).

I prayed, cried, repented, sang, prayed some more…and cried some more. I suffered from on going fatigue and edginess. After lunch I felt like crashing for the day. Teaching my children took every ounce of energy I didn’t have. Reading to my children (which is something I love to do) was so draining that it would nearly put me to sleep. And when I tried to skip pages, they noticed.

My memory had gotten so bad that I Googled “Early Signs of Alzheimer’s.” When my children said, “But, Mom, we did ask you if we could eat ice cream before dinner,” I began to believe them.

I was always so cold, even with my electric blanket! Winters were hard for this displaced Texan, shivering here in the Midwest! I was always checking the thermostat, sure that my husband had adjusted it while I wasn’t looking (not that he would ever do such a thing – ha!).

At night, after I had been under a pile of blankets trying to keep warm, I would suddenly wake up, hot and perspiring. So, I would throw off the blankets, only to be chilled to the bone within a few minutes. Shivering, I would crawl back under the blankets again in an attempt to get warm.

I was brought to tears by the smallest things. One day, I would spend the entire evening struggling with a sense of hopelessness and depression, and then wake up the next morning wondering “what was wrong with me last night?” My moods were so strangely “up” or “down” that it was almost like being under the influence of a drug. At the smallest provocation I would face overwhelming feelings of sadness, anger, despair, ugliness, or failure. Was I going crazy? I sure felt like it!

“You number my wanderings; put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?” (Psalm 56:8)

I had other physical symptoms that doctors couldn’t explain. Dizziness, heart palpitations, hair loss, itchy skin with no rash, headaches. Sometimes dramatic scenes of dying from some strange exotic illness filled my sleepless nights. Maybe I was just getting old, or perhaps I had some sickness I would suffer from for the next 20 years until some brilliant doctor discovered a cure. Or would I feel like this for the rest of my life?

Finally, while in California a few years ago, I visited a friend’s integrative doctor, had some tests done, and began my road to healing. I didn’t have a dreaded disease and I wasn’t going crazy (at least not any more than normal). The fact was that my adrenals were shot, my thyroid was not functioning as it should (Hoshimotos), and my progesterone was way too low. Later, I found out I also had Celiac disease. I had other issues, but they were all related to these key problems. It all began to make sense. We are truly fearfully and wonderfully made. Finally, by God’s mercy, over the next few months I began a natural regiment of healing.

“Though He causes grief, yet He will show compassion according to the multitude of His mercies. For He does not afflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men.” (Lamentations 3:32-33)

God is so faithful. He answered my prayer…His way. He helped me to better rely on Him while I traveled that deep valley; then He slowly and naturally led me out. I am still healing; but, I can’t describe to you how much better I feel.

It is important for women of all ages to become informed about their health. Hormones have an amazingly powerful influence on our bodies and our emotions. Learn how your body works – and learn to pay attention when it isn’t working properly. Pray and find a good integrative doctor in your area; someone who will work with you in controlling your own health. You don’t have to feel crazy.

Still, it is important to remember that hormones aren’t an excuse for sin. PMS and Menopause are nothing new. Remember, “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” (1 Corinthians 10:13)

Consider what Nancy Leigh Demoss has to say about the right and wrong way to view emotions:

When we wrestle with out-of-control emotions, it is easy to conclude that emotions are inherently sinful or wrong and should be suppressed. We need to remember that being created in the image of God means we have the capacity to experience and express a variety of emotions. God exhibits a spectrum of pure emotions, including joy, delight, anger, jealousy, and sorrow. And He has designed us to be able to feel and express many different emotions in a why that reflects His heart and brings glory to Him.

The problem is not that we have emotions-they are a gift from God. The problem is that our emotions (unlike God’s) are tainted by the Fall. The challenge is to let the Spirit of God sanctify us in the realm of our emotions so that they can be expressed in godly ways.

I know of no tool that the Enemy uses more effectively to lead us as women into bondage than our emotions. He does so by causing us to believe things about our emotions that just aren’t true.

The Truth is that, due to our fallen condition, our feelings often have little to do with reality. In many instances, feelings are simply not a reliable gauge of what is actually true. When we allow them to be tied to our circumstances-which are constantly changing-rather than to the unchangeable realities of God and His Truth, our emotions are prone to fluctuate wildly.

If we want to walk in freedom, we must realize that our emotions are not necessarily trustworthy and be willing to reject any feelings that are not consistent with the Truth.

Read HERE for encouragement when going through trials.

And read Loretta’s informative e-book by clicking on the banner below.

And here are a few Young Living essential oils and blends that I have used or considered using on my journey to hormonal balance:

• Clary Sage
• Peace and Calming
• Dragon Time
• Prenolone Cream®
• Progessence Plus Serum™
• Frankincense
• Spikenard
• Thyromin*

*I haven’t personally tried this yet, but I have it on my list!

In addition to some of the products at Oasis Advanced Wellness, I used a prescribed (natural) thyroid, adrenal support, a regiment of various supplements, and therapeutic grade essential oils. I also went off all wheat products (due to Celiac). You can read more about therapeutic grade essential oils on my essential oil website, The Common Scents Mom. Click on the image below and find out which oils now fill my “medicine cabinet.”

The following article was written by my friend, Dr. Loretta Lanphier:

Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP

You must be wondering with all of the hype about hormones, “Why do we need HRT in the first place?” In this article I address this concern with some straightforward information about natural HRT…

Our Hormones
Hormonal imbalance is a term that has become popular to describe an incorrect relationship that exists between levels of progesterone and estrogen.

Progesterone is a needed hormone for both menopausal women and andropausal men for many reasons. It’s a steroid hormone made by the ovary at ovulation, and in smaller amounts by the adrenal glands. Progesterone is manufactured in the body from the steroid hormone pregnenolone, and is a precursor to most of the other steroid hormones, including cortisol, androstenedione, the estrogens and testosterone. When levels of progesterone are low, it needs to be replaced. Its most important role is to balance or oppose the effects of estrogen.

Unopposed estrogen creates a strong risk for breast cancer and reproductive cancers. Estrogen levels drop at menopause but only 40-60%, which is just enough to stop the menstrual cycle. Progesterone levels may drop to near zero in some women. Because progesterone is the precursor to so many other steroid hormones, its use can greatly enhance overall hormone balance after menopause. Progesterone also stimulates bone building and thus helps protect against osteoporosis.

PMS Factor
During the 10 to 15 years before menopause, many women regularly have cycles where they make enough estrogen to create menstruation, but they don\’t make any progesterone. This sets the stage for estrogen dominance. By using natural progesterone during these months, symptoms of PMS can be helped.

We also know that PMS can occur despite normal progesterone levels when stress is present. Stress overtaxes the adrenals. It increases cortisol production; cortisol blocks (or competes for) progesterone receptors. Additional progesterone is required in this case to overcome this blockade, and additional stress management is important, such as proper nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle. Similar scenarios apply to men as well.

Other Factors
Other major factors that stresses our bodies and subsequently our hormones, are environmental chemicals in our food, water and air–heavy metals, herbicides, pesticides, plastics and many other poisons—that mimic estrogen once they enter our body. In just one example of this type of poisoning, it has been reported on several news programs (CBS, The Discovery Channel and others) that the common tin can is inadvertently supplying us with unwanted estrogen-like hormones. This is a result of a chemical reaction over a period of time between the tin and the plastic inner lining of the can. Unwanted cumulative chemical additions, such as this, are believed to have dire consequences within our bodies.

It’s clear that our bodies can get overloaded with estrogen without even trying. The other bad news is that our overloaded bodies may not have the ability to breakdown estrogen. The liver generally removes excess estrogen. Diseases of the liver like cirrhosis or decreased enzyme activity can lead to increased estrogen levels. Vitamin B6 and magnesium are necessary for the liver to neutralize estrogen. Increased sugar intake will also excrete magnesium and interfere with its ability to breakdown estrogen. Estrogen supplementation by prescription is clearly not needed, and will increase estrogen levels unless it is properly balanced with natural progesterone.

With all of these factors, it’s easy to conclude most women and men are on estrogen overload.

Symptoms of Estrogen Overload
When estrogen overload symptoms occur, doctors usually offer either synthetic HRT or birth control pills. What is needed instead is natural progesterone for both hormonal balance and relief of symptoms, in both women and men, such as:

• Depression
• Decreased libido
• Fibrocystic breasts
• Food and sugar cravings
• Uterine fibroids
• Irregular or excessive uterine bleeding
• Endometriosis
• PMS
• Infertility
• Weight gain
• Increased blood clotting
• Thyroid dysfunction

When dysfunctions are extremely painful or debilitating, women are told that their health is more important than their reproductive organs, and that a hysterectomy would be the best thing. In most cases, women can choose natural HRT to solve these problems. Natural HRT can take care of the risks of:

• Ovarian cancer
• Breast cancer
• Osteoporosis

An imbalance occurs in nearly every instance where physicians prescribe synthetic hormones. This is because traditional HRT adds to the already existing high levels of estrogen in our bodies. By adding synthetic hormones, traditional HRT, which directly interfere with the normal function of our endocrine system, our body is fooled. It thinks the estrogens are real estrogens. Our bodies act as if there is estrogen excess in the system, resulting in an increased hormonal imbalance.

Hormone Test
At Oasis Advanced Wellness a simple saliva hormonal level test kit can be purchased and used in the comfort of your home. With these results and your symptoms, you can determine your need for natural HRT.

Like most things in life, we must always proceed with caution. There is no magic bullet when it comes to getting the body balanced and healthy. Natural progesterone is the most natural and safest way to assist women with the symptoms of hormonal imbalance, but we must remember that our goal is “balance” in every area.

The following table shows the benefits of natural progesterone compared to estrogen. As you can see, the effects of progesterone are many-we would do well to use it wisely.

Estrogen Effects: Stimulates breasts cysts; increases body fat storage; salt and fluid retention; depression and headaches; interferes with thyroid hormone; increases blood clotting and risk of stroke; decreases libido (sex drive); impairs blood sugar control; loss of zinc and retention of copper; reduced oxygen level in all cells; increased risk of endometrial cancer; increased risk of breast cancer; helps decrease bone loss slightly.

Progesterone Effects: Protects against breast cysts; Helps use fat for energy and keep it off hips; Natural diuretic (water pill); Natural anti-depressant; Facilitates thyroid hormone action; Normalizes blood clotting;Increases libido; Normalizes blood sugar levels; Normalizes zinc and copper levels; Restores proper cell oxygen levels; Prevents endometrial cancer; Helps prevent breast cancer; Increases bone building.

About The Author

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH is a Doctor of Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist, Holistic Health Practitioner and Clinical Herbalist in the Houston, TX area and Founder / CEO of Oasis Advanced Wellness. A teacher, educator and seminar speaker, she counsels Oasis Advanced Wellness clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy and also develops customized health programs to help clients get healthy. As a cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease. She is also involved in researching new alternative disease treatments and products. Dr. Lanphier is Editor and contributor to the worldwide E-newsletter Advanced Health & Wellness.

• Tips for Tired Moms
• Simple Steps to a Toxin-Free Homes
• Mothering with Essential Oils
• Health for Godly Generations: A Review
• The Little Kingdom of Home

Categories: Health, Motherhood
Tags: