Do you often hear the phrase “hormonal imbalance”? Due to factors such as environmental pollution, excessive stress, and unhealthy lifestyle habits, hormonal imbalance has become a common issue among urban dwellers today. It is generally believed that women are more prone to hormonal imbalance than men. However, both men and women experience hormonal imbalance as they approach menopause. This is especially true for many women facing fertility issues, as hormonal imbalance can affect their ability to conceive and interfere with reproductive health. Therefore, regulating hormonal balance is crucial for processes like ovulation, menstrual cycles, and pregnancy.
What exactly is hormonal imbalance? Why does it happen? And what effects can it have on the body? How can it be corrected? This article looks at these questions from the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), offering practical steps for managing hormonal imbalance, regulating organ functions, and detoxifying the body to effectively restore hormonal balance.
What is hormonal imbalance?
Hormones, also known as hormones, are chemical substances produced by endocrine glands. They are responsible for transmitting messages between organs in the body. The body regulates metabolism and physiological functions through various hormones in the hormonal system, in conjunction with the nervous system.
The hormonal system consists of endocrine glands, dispersed hormone-producing cells, and the hormones they secrete, which participate in regulating metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, aging, and other physiological activities. These hormones work with enzymes to maintain the stability of the body’s internal environment, adapting to both internal and external changes.
The secretion of hormones follows its own rhythm, influenced by factors like seasonal changes, day-night cycles, sleep, diet, and stress. To adapt to these changes, the hormone feedback system also forms corresponding rhythms. When the hormonal system in the body becomes disrupted, with certain hormones being overproduced or underproduced, it leads to hormonal imbalance, breaking the body’s natural rhythm and causing various symptoms.
The symptoms of hormonal imbalance are often more apparent in women, including skin issues like yellow spots and pigmentation; excessive body hair due to high levels of male hormones; endometriosis, irregular menstruation, and even infertility.
What causes hormonal imbalance?
There are four main factors that contribute to hormonal imbalance:
- Environment
Seasonal transitions and rapid climate changes can affect hormone function. Environmental pollution is also an important cause of hormonal imbalance. Chemicals in the air can enter the body and trigger a series of chemical reactions that disrupt hormone levels. For example, excessive intake of exogenous estrogen can lead to menstrual irregularities.
- Physiology
The endocrine glands in the body have self-regulation abilities to maintain physiological balance, but these functions decline with age, leading to hormonal imbalance. Some people may experience genetic predisposition to hormonal imbalances. Almost all pituitary hormone rhythms are linked to sleep and circadian rhythms, so people who suffer from insomnia, stay up late, or have irregular sleep schedules are highly prone to hormonal imbalance.
- Emotions
Psychological factors have a significant impact on hormone levels. Stress from work, life, and family issues can cause nervous tension, leading to abnormal emotional fluctuations that disturb hormone secretion and cause hormonal imbalance. Women, in particular, are more sensitive, and emotional instability (depression, irritability, anger, excessive worrying, etc.) can disrupt the flow of Qi and blood, making them more prone to hormonal imbalance.
- Nutrition
To maintain normal physiological function, the body requires sufficient and appropriate nutrition. Lack of proper nutrition can lead to hormonal problems. Some individuals may cut out foods like rice, meat, or dairy products in the name of weight loss, consuming only fruits or diet pills. Prolonged starvation can cause nutritional deficiencies, impairing pituitary function, leading to a decrease in the secretion of gonadotropins, which affects the function of reproductive organs, and results in hormonal imbalance.
How does hormonal imbalance affect women?
Some common symptoms of hormonal imbalance in women include:
- Menstrual irregularities
The most common symptom in women is menstrual irregularity (such as missed periods, late periods, irregular cycles, or light periods), which can indirectly affect the menstrual cycle and may even lead to infertility.
- Excessive body hair
When women secrete too much male hormone, it can lead to excessive body hair, often appearing on the lips, chest, abdomen, lower legs, and toes.
- Excessive weight gain
High-calorie, high-fat foods and poor dietary habits can influence hormone levels. Endocrinologists also point out that obesity is often a sign of hormonal imbalance.
- Breast changes
Disrupted estrogen levels can lead to changes in breast density, causing breast tenderness, and even benign breast conditions like fibrocystic breast disease.
- Difficulties with conception
Hormonal diseases are common in women, with conditions such as endometriosis, irregular menstrual flow, dysmenorrhea, and other reproductive issues linked to hormonal imbalance.
- Emotional instability
Various hormones, such as estrogen, thyroid hormones, and adrenal hormones, influence mood. After menopause, estrogen levels gradually decrease, which can cause mood swings, irritability, forgetfulness, and difficulty concentrating.
- Acne
Hormonal imbalance can cause the skin to produce excessive oil, leading to clogged pores and hormonal acne, which typically appears on the forehead, cheeks, chin, and is often red, inflamed, and painful.
- Poor sleep quality
Hormonal imbalance can result in insufficient melatonin secretion, causing insomnia, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating, which can affect daily life.
Which hormones affect fertility?
For women, hormones play a critical role in fertility. The four major hormones that control fertility are: estrogen, progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), and luteinizing hormone (LH). When these hormones are imbalanced, it disrupts ovulation and the menstrual cycle, making pregnancy more difficult.
- Estrogen
This hormone affects secondary sexual characteristics and promotes the development of the vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries, ensuring smooth skin. Estrogen also regulates the menstrual cycle and prepares the body for pregnancy by thickening the uterine lining.
- Progesterone
Progesterone helps the uterine lining to mature and shed during menstruation. It also prepares the uterus to support a fertilized egg, which is crucial for pregnancy.
- FSH
FSH stimulates the ovaries to produce and mature eggs.
- LH
LH triggers ovulation, releasing mature eggs from the ovaries, and also helps the body produce more progesterone.
What to do about hormonal imbalance?
There are many factors that can lead to hormonal imbalance, such as environmental pollution, rapid seasonal changes, medication, irregular sleep patterns, aging, nutritional deficiencies from dieting, or prolonged emotional issues.
TCM is a holistic and natural approach that regulates Qi and blood, nourishes vital energy, and adjusts the function of internal organs to alleviate discomfort and promote well-being. TCM has unique advantages in regulating hormonal imbalances through herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage, dietary adjustments, and lifestyle changes, helping to restore the balance of Yin and Yang in the body. So, how can TCM restore hormonal balance?
How does TCM view hormonal imbalance?
TCM sees the human body as an organic whole, where the internal organs are interconnected through meridians that balance Qi and blood and harmonize Yin and Yang. Hormonal imbalance is often caused by the dysfunction of the liver, spleen, and kidneys, which leads to an imbalance of Yin, Yang, Qi, and blood, resulting in poor circulation and metabolic disruptions.
In TCM theory, the liver stores blood, regulates the distribution of blood throughout the body, and helps the hormonal system function smoothly. The kidneys, regarded as the foundation of life, store essence and regulate water and bone marrow. The spleen governs digestion, absorbing nutrients and nourishing the kidneys. Thus, the liver, spleen, and kidney play essential roles in maintaining overall balance.
Four TCM techniques to restore hormonal balance
In TCM, the main focus for treating hormonal imbalances in women is to nourish Qi and blood, strengthen the kidneys, calm the liver, and adjust the internal environment. Depending on the patient’s condition, treatment can involve nourishing Yin, boosting Yang, tonifying blood and Qi, and balancing organ functions. For patients with emotional issues, TCM can also help regulate the liver and nourish the spleen.
Hormonal imbalance can be caused by factors such as emotions, overwork, and illness. Therefore, TCM uses a comprehensive approach, incorporating herbs, acupuncture, and massage to treat the symptoms and restore balance. Acupuncture and acupressure are two well-established methods in TCM for treating hormonal imbalance. Regular sessions can improve Qi and blood circulation, stabilize hormone levels, and restore balance to the reproductive system.
- Acupuncture
Acupuncture points for hormonal imbalance include Sanyinjiao, Guanyuan, Xuehai, Hegu, and Taichong. Additional points may be selected depending on specific symptoms such as irritability, fatigue, or sensitivity to cold.
- Acupressure
Acupressure can be done at home to relieve stress and balance hormones. Specific points include those associated with the liver, kidney, and spleen.
- Dietary adjustments
For a daily diet, it is best to keep things light. Choose ingredients that support the liver, kidneys, and spleen/stomach from the three major food categories. Avoid cold, fried, and spicy foods. If you want to use food therapy to nourish the liver, kidneys, and spleen, and regulate hormonal issues, the following ingredients are recommended:
- Liver-Nourishing Foods
The liver corresponds to “Wood” in the five elements and is associated with the color “green.” Therefore, dark-colored vegetables and fruits such as cauliflower, asparagus, spinach, grapes, and blueberries are excellent choices. Sweet foods like pumpkin, chestnuts, walnuts, and red dates are also beneficial. Clam soup, salmon, turmeric, tofu, and citrus fruits are also common liver-nourishing ingredients. Since the liver thrives on smooth and free-flowing Qi, you can also drink herbal teas to soothe the liver and relieve stress, such as peppermint, rose, and chamomile. Green coffee acids in coffee and catechins in green tea also help nourish the liver.
- Kidney-Nourishing Foods
For nourishing the kidneys, focus on black foods such as black fungus, black rice, black beans, black sesame, black buckwheat, longan fruit, kelp, and black-boned chicken. Nuts, goji berries, dried scallops, and yam are also great choices. Therefore, commonly consumed longan and red date tea is perfect.
- Spleen/Stomach Nourishing Foods
Grains like rice, millet, and wheat are ideal for strengthening the spleen. Yellow foods such as pumpkin, corn, sweet potatoes, soybeans, and papaya are also beneficial. Additionally, ginger, lotus root, yam, and okra are good for the spleen and stomach. A simple four-ingredient soup containing lotus seeds and poria can also help nourish the spleen and stomach.
- Improving Lifestyle
To prevent hormonal imbalances, it is essential to focus on improving lifestyle habits to maintain overall health, which in turn helps keep hormones at normal levels.
- Balanced Diet: A balanced diet helps regulate hormone levels. Include more vegetables and fruits in your daily meals, and avoid high-fat, high-sugar, and processed foods. Also, limit caffeine intake.
- Regular Exercise: Exercise helps reduce stress hormones in the body, relaxes the body, and reduces stress. Regular physical activity also helps maintain an ideal weight.
- Control Weight: Maintaining a healthy weight is one of the key ways to prevent hormonal imbalances.
- Maintain Good Habits: Stick to a regular sleep schedule to ensure adequate rest. Smoking and excessive alcohol intake negatively impact hormone levels, so it’s best to avoid smoking and drinking too much alcohol.
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Hormonal imbalance is sometimes inevitable due to factors like age and environment. However, by adopting a healthy lifestyle and preventive measures, the risk of hormonal imbalance can naturally be reduced.
Acupuncture and acupressure, two well-established practices in TCM, can help address hormonal imbalances. If you are currently experiencing hormonal imbalances, we welcome you to visit the Shanghai Medicine Clinic, a leading Chinese medicine clinic in Dubai. Our expert team will tailor a personalized treatment plan based on your individual needs to help restore your natural balance in a gentle, natural way and guide you toward a healthier life. Book your appointment now!
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