Hormone Therapy versus Homeopathy

HORMONE THERAPY VERSUS HOMEOPATHY

Part 1 of two part series introduces the Endocrine System. When discussing the subject of hormone therapy, it would be appropriate if we shed some light on defining hormones and learning what part they play in our body and mind.

HORMONES

Derived from a Greek word for “ impetus” our chemical hormones secreted by the endocrine glands act as messengers. The glands are activated during the special times in our lives when the hormones are required by nature to fulfill the needs of our body, mind and spirit.

Some of the jobs that hormones play in our body at the behest of the glands are as follows:

• Make people grow or stop growing.
• Make people happy or sad.
• Speed up or slow down the metabolism.
• Start puberty in girls at appropriate period of their life.
• Start the menopause in women reaching certain age.
• Regulate the fighting, mating and fleeing instinct.

Some of the hormonal disturbance can show up as a young boy growing mustache (too much secretion of a particular hormone) much earlier than his age group friends. A girl may behave in an awkward manner during her menses.

ENDOCRINE GLANDS AND WHAT THEY DO:

The major glands of endocrine system include the Hypothalamus, Pituitary Thyroid, Para Thyroid, Adrenal, Pineal Body, the reproductive organs, ie Ovaries in females and Testes in males. We will now briefly expand upon these glands and their work in our body and mind.

HYPOTHALMUS

This gland located in the lower central part of the brain is responsible for body temperature, metabolism and satiety. A very important feature of this gland is that it also secretes hormones which in turn stimulates or suppresses the release of hormones in a very important gland the Pituitary gland.

PITUITARY

This two lobed gland, located also in the brain below the Hypothalamus is the size of a pea, but has been classified as the king of all endocrine glands because the hormones that it secretes controls many of the functions of other endocrine glands. We will discuss each lobe of this King gland.

• ANTERIOR LOBE is controlled by hormone secreted by Hypothalamus and in turn secretes following hormones.

• POSTERIOR LOBE
• • This lobe is not controlled by Hypothalamus.
  • Anti diuretic hormone which controls water loss by kidneys.
  • Oxytocic Hormone, controls the uterus during childbirth and stimulates milk production..

THYROID GLAND

Located in the front part of your neck secretes thyroid hormones, which beside regulating metabolism, has an important part to play in bone growth, development of brain and nervous system. It should be noted that the pituitary gland controls the release thyroid hormones. This maintains the BP, heat rate, digestion, muscle tone, and reproductive features.

PARA THYROID GLAND

These two pairs of glands embedded in the surface of each side of the thyroid gland release Parathyroid hormone, which regulates Calcium level in the blood and bone metabolism.

ADRENAL GLANDS

Located on top of each kidney have two parts: the outer section, adrenal cortex, and inner section, adrenal medulla. The hormone secreted by Adrenal Cortex, called Corticosteroids, regulates the body's metabolism, balances the salt and water in our body, looks after the immune system, and sexual function.

Adrenal Medulla produces adrenalin hormones that help the emotional system in our body by increasing the heat rate, and blood pressure.

PINEAL BODY

Located in middle of the brain, secretes a hormone called Melatonin, which maintains the “wake sleep cycle”

REPRODUCTIVE GLANDS

• In males,Testes. In females Ovaries. These glands are main source of sex hormones. Testes are located inside the scrotum and secrete androgen, most important being testosterone which controls facial hair, pubic hair and sperm production.
  
• The Ovaries in female , located on both side of Uterus,produce Estrogen, and Progesterone, as well as eggs. These hormones control the female characteristics , such as breast growth, and reproductive functions of menstruation, pregnancy etc.

PANCREAS

Located in the abdomen behind the stomach has two fold functions: digestive and hormonal. One part of the pancreas (exocrine) secretes digestive enzyme and the other (endocrine) secretes insulin and glucogen. They regulate the blood sugar and one abnormality of this results in diabetes.

( End of part one of two part series)