While imbalances in sex hormones can create many symptoms in the peri-menopausal and menopausal woman, these symptoms can also stem from adrenal, neurotransmitter, and thyroid imbalances.  For example, hot flashes may be associated with high cortisol and low serotonin.[1] When looking at HPA-T axis function, low serotonin, low thyroid, low GABA, high dopamine, and low adrenals can all have some affect on the mood swings associated with menopause.

Neurotransmitters are the key "communicators" in HPA-T axis function. They carry messages to every organ, muscle and gland in the neuroendocrine system. Considering the significant functional relationship between hormone function and neurotransmitters, replacement of deficient female hormones alone without addressing the overall health of the adrenal function, neurotransmitter levels, and thyroid function, is a band-aid approach and often ineffective in the long run. For example, estrogen inhibits serotonin re-uptake[2], which can be a contributing factor in some of the symptoms regularly associated with menopause.

When you first measure a patient's sex hormones, measuring neurotransmitters and adrenal levels opens a broader window to our patient's neuroendocrine system - giving you much more information to apply a potentially more efficient and effective nutritional hormone therapy. Monitoring neurotransmitter and adrenal hormone levels allows the clinician to greatly improve assessment and treatment of many neuroendocrine imbalances due to aging, stress, the environment, and life transitions, like Menopause.[3]

Sanesco offers practitioners a cost effective clinical tool that can help to assess, monitor, and correct key neurotransmitter imbalances associated with HPA-T axis function. This tool is a clinical model that incorporates non-invasive functional testing and safe non-drug (nutraceutical) supplementation targeting HPA-T axis function. This approach is an ideal adjunct to the BHRT therapy.

Resources: These online resources provide summary of how the CSM model can be used either stand alone, or as an adjunct to other protocols, to help address a number of symptoms and disorders. Click on each title to access the material.

For a more in-depth practical understanding of these topics, contact a Sanesco representative to enroll in the exclusive CSM Certification Program. This comprehensive program includes live training sessions, web seminars, and a selection of self-tutorials. It raises the standard of professional care and recognition offered by practitioners addressing the neuro-endocrine imbalances that can be associated with many symptoms and conditions.

Menopause, Andropause, Hormone Imbalances

Balancing HPA Axis Function for Managing Menopause

• Lecture Recording (click to view): Anna Cabeca, DO  •  Dr Cabeca presents case examples in this lecture demonstrating the value in balancing HPA Axis function as an adjunct to a whole health approach for managing menopausal symptoms.

• Newsletter (click to download): Sharon Norling, MD, MBA  •  A summary paper on an integrative approach for managing "Dancing Hormones".

Understanding the Sex Hormones and Neurotransmitter Interactions

• Lecture Recording (click to view): Denise Mark, MD  •  In this comprehensive lecture Dr Mark explains the interconnectedness of the primary sex hormones with 6 key neurotransmitters, and presents a protocol for managing the neurotransmitter levels as an effective adjunct to traditional hormone therapies.

Men’s Health and the Neuro-Endocrine System

• Lecture Recording (click to view): Dennis Godby, ND  •  Dr Godby presents in this lecture why you should address HPA-T axis function in your male patients. A nutraceutical therapy may likely provide a practical solution to help them achieve their optimal health goals.
• Newsletter (click to download): Dennis Godby, ND  •  A summary paper on the clinical model addressed in the lecture above.

The Neuro-Endocrine Approach for Age Management Medicine

Balance the Brain, Improve Clinical Outcome

• Lecture Recording (click to view): Thomas Schneider, MD  •  A very enlightening lecture illustrating methods for improving clinical outcome by addressing key neuro-endocrine imbalances. Discussion includes neurotransmitter function, and the relationships to chronic symptoms, and natural therapeutic protocols for correcting neurotransmitter imbalances.

Evaluating HPA Axis Function

• An Introduction Paper (click to download): R.W. Watkins, MD, MPH, FAAFP
  •  An essential primer on why evaluating HPA axis function can be such a beneficial clinical tool in your practice.
• White Paper - Validity of CSM Clinical Model (click to download): R.W. Watkins, MD, MPH, FAAFP  •  Explanation of published references on the validity of urinary neurotransmitter testing. This paper includes multiple case examples of clinical application of the CSM model.

References:
1. S. Norling, MD, MBA. Women's Dancing Hormones, The Neurotransmission, 2008 - Vol 2, Issue 7.
2. Koldzic-Zivanovic N, et al. Mol Cell Endocrinol. 2004 Oct 29;26(1-2):33-42.
3. A. Cabeca, DO. Managing Menopausal Symptoms lecture, August 2010.