How to Balance Hormones Naturally

Frequently Asked Questions

How Do You Know if You Have a Hormonal Imbalance?

A hormonal imbalance can present itself as a number of different health issues. There are over 50 different hormones that impact everything from sleep patterns to menstrual cycles. Think about the specific issues you are having and also note any changes to your life, such as diet, stress levels, exercise regime, and any other big changes that could impact your health. We’ll discuss all of this with you when you come in to see us so we can create a treatment plan specific to your needs.

What Can Cause Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormonal imbalance can be caused by a number of factors, some natural and some caused by outside factors. Hormone therapy, cancer treatments, or even medications can cause a hormonal imbalance. Outside factors contributing to imbalance could be stress or injury related. Be sure to note your symptoms, track your cycle, and write down any lifestyle changes when talking to a medical professional about a possible hormone imbalance.

Although it is natural to experience hormone fluctuations, especially during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and menopause, some women experiencing PMS, heavy flow, irregular periods, and other issues related to a hormone imbalance may wish to seek treatment to help regulate those symptoms.

How Hormones Influence Women’s Mental Health

The hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone all have important roles in a woman’s physical, mental, and emotional health. If these hormones become unbalanced, it can contribute to or worsen existing mental health issues. Women may feel more anxious, depressed, and/or stressed if one or more of these hormones is out of balance. Issues with hormones in the thyroid can also cause feelings of anxiety or depression.

How to Balance Hormones During Menstruation

Hormone changes during menstruation are natural, but sometimes a significant imbalance can cause negative symptoms that affect physical and mental health. Birth control and other prescription medications can be useful when seeking a way to reduce or eliminate negative symptoms associated with menstrual cycles. Natural methods, such as acupuncture and Chinese herbs, are highly effective, natural treatments for balancing hormones.

What Hormone is Released During Menstruation?

There are several hormones that fluctuate during the menstrual cycle. During menstruation, estrogen and progesterone are at low levels. These low levels can cause women to experience cramps, irritability, bloating, mood swings, headaches, and/or tiredness during this stage of the cycle.

Can Hormonal Imbalance Cause Irregular Periods?

A hormone imbalance could contribute to irregular periods. Common reasons women experience irregular periods include breastfeeding, menopause, hyperthyroidism, and Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Be sure to track your cycle and note any changes in health or lifestyle that may be contributing to hormone changes when consulting with a healthcare professional.

Can Hormonal Imbalance Cause Heavy Periods?

Heavy blood flow, or Menorrhagia, can be caused by a number of conditions, including a hormone imbalance. Hormone imbalances cause the lining of the uterus to build up and shed to an excessive amount during menstruation and can be caused by a number of conditions.

Does Menopause Cause Hormonal Imbalance?

Hormones produced by the ovaries – estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone—all change during menopause. The decrease in these hormone levels can cause women to experience a number of side effects, including hot flashes, insomnia, fatigue, vaginal dryness, and/or night sweats. Although menopause is a natural period in a woman’s life, we can help find natural ways to lessen symptoms and improve your quality of life.

Can You Have Hormone Imbalance After Menopause?

Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone (hormones produced by the ovaries) all decrease during menopause. Unlike a menstrual cycle, when hormone levels increase and decrease, menopause signals the end of that production cycle. However, the body produces over 50 hormones that affect many aspects of health, so yes, you can experience hormone imbalances after menopause.

Can Hormone Imbalance Cause Anxiety?

Hormone production is linked to health systems throughout the body and can influence both physical and mental health. An imbalance in certain hormones, particularly estrogen and progesterone in women, can cause increased levels of anxiety.

Can Pregnancy Hormones Cause Anxiety?

Many hormone levels change during pregnancy to ensure a healthy pregnancy. While these changes are good, they can cause some unwanted side effects, such as nausea, insomnia, or fatigue, that can contribute to higher levels of anxiety. It is also common to experience anxiety during pregnancy due to normal concerns for the upcoming birth, all the preparations, and other fears that accompany parenthood. Consult your physician if anxiety levels become unmanageable.

Can Insomnia Be Caused by Hormonal Imbalance?

Yes, a hormone imbalance could lead to sleep issues and insomnia. There are several hormones that impact the circadian rhythm that dictate the production of hormones that control bodily functions. An imbalance to one of those could impact tiredness level, reaction to stress, reaction to pain, or other factors that could impact sleep quality.

Can Hormones Cause Migraines?

Yes, changes in hormone levels can cause both men and women to experience migraines. For women, the low level of estrogen experienced during the menstruation cycle might contribute to headaches. Many women with migraines report headaches before or during menstruation.

Can Hormonal Imbalance Cause Headaches?

Yes, certain hormones being out of balance can contribute to headaches. Low estrogen levels, experienced during the menstruation cycle, is a common reason women experience headaches.

Can Acupuncture Help Hormonal Headaches?

Yes, acupuncture can help bring relief to those that experience headaches linked to an imbalance of hormone levels. Acupuncture helps ease hormonal headaches by restoring balance to hormone levels and by lowering overall pain receptors by increasing endorphins.

Can Acupuncture Balance Hormones?

Yes, acupuncture treatments are a very effective way to balance hormones. Our practitioners find the areas where qi is stagnate or blocked and place acupuncture needles along the body’s meridians to restore the flow so the body can return to a state of balance. Restoring balance to hormone levels can have a positive impact on many aspects of health, both physical and mental.