Hormones are naturally occurring chemical messengers that help regulate a wide range of bodily functions, including growth and development, metabolism, reproduction, and mood. There are several types of hormones that may be used in hormone therapy, including estrogen, Progestin, Testosterone, Thyroid, hormone, growth hormone, and more! The specific types of hormones used in hormone therapy may vary depending on an individual’s specific needs and health concerns.
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides
Growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are secretagogues and analogs of naturally occurring Growth Hormone. They are proven to be effective growth hormone agonists for maintaining and improving long-term health. The efficacy of GHRPs and exogenous HGH are comparable.
Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides stimulate the pituitary gland by binding to specific receptors to release endogenous growth hormone and therefore it does not suppress your natural production of growth hormone as you age. GHRPs effect are regulated by negative feedback involving the inhibitory neurohormone, somatostatin, which suppresses the release of Growth Hormone. They also help preserve not only youthful anatomy but also youthful physiology
Some of the benefits of natural Growth Hormone Releasing Peptides include:
- Increase serum levels of growth hormonebenefits
- Increase lean muscle mass and decrease body fat mass
- Increase strength and endurance
- Increase muscle tone and flexibility
- Promotes faster recovery from physical activity
- Improves sleep
- Improved overall health and wellness and enhances anti-aging
Human Chorionic Gonadotropin
For males 45 years or younger, it is ideal for the body to produce its own testosterone. This is done by cycling supplemental testosterone followed by HCG. HCG stimulates the body’s own production of testosterone. This is especially ideal for male clients planning on having a family in the future.
Testosterone
Testosterone is the most important male sex hormone because of the way it helps men produce and maintain adult male features. Low levels of this hormone can cause decreased interest in sex, a change in physical features, and a downward trend in the mood. Even though testosterone is widely known as a male hormone, it also plays a crucial role in the physical and emotional health of women.
Thyroid Hormone
The thyroid gland is small, measuring only about 2 inches long and weighing less than one ounce, but it is mighty. Located in the neck just below the voice box, the butterfly-shaped gland has two lobes, one on each side of the windpipe. The thyroid gland secretes two hormones, known by their abbreviations T3 and T4. The hormone T3 is a product of T4; it is more active than T4 and T3 directly affect tissues.
The thyroid gland and the hormone it secretes affect every cell of the body. Some physicians refer to the thyroid as the “traffic direction center” of the entire endocrine system because of the way it controls the rest of the hormones in the human body and functions to regulate metabolism.
Gonadorelin
Gonadorelin is a peptide that has a similar biologic structure to Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GRH), affects the prevention of testicular atrophy while on testosterone therapy. The mechanism of action is the stimulation of the anterior pituitary to release the hormones LH and FSH restoring the feedback loop and H-P-gonad axis, which also helps prevent loss of libido seen with low levels of LH and FSH.
DHEA
DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone) has been called the “mother of all steroids”. It is produced by the adrenal glands and is the most abundant steroid in the human body. It is involved in the production of testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and corticosterone.
The decline of DHEA mirrors that of HGH, so by age 65, your body makes 10 to 20% of what it did at age 20. Its benefits include but are not limited to the following:
- Replacement and balancing results in a shift of a catabolic state to an anabolic or protein-building state
- Reduces cardiovascular risks by increasing lipolysis and preventing atherosclerosis
- Its potent anti-cancer properties enhance the immune system
- Improves mood
- Decreases body fat and cholesterol
- Improves memory, mental ability, and cognitive functioning
- Decreases the incidence of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases
- Boosts Energy
- Slows the aging process
- Its antioxidant properties prevent the formation of free radicals
- Improves sleep
- Improves energy
- Relieves stress
- Prevents lipid peroxidation as an antioxidant
- Prevents osteoporosis, increasing bone density
- Induces weight loss with concomitant muscle gain
- Reduces depression
- Decreases incidence of Diabetes
- Improves Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
- Improves autoimmune diseases such as Lupus, Herpes, and Epstein-Barr
- Improves erectile function
- Restores sexual vitality
Pregnenolone
Pregnenolone is a precursor to all the steroid hormones, including DHEA, progesterone, testosterone, and estrogen. It is produced from cholesterol in the mitochondria in the cells in the brain and the adrenal cortex. Pregnenolone stimulates our brain receptors, influencing learning, and is a memory enhancer. It is essential to keeping our brain functioning at its peak capacity. Levels are directly correlated with cognitive ability and decline with age.
Male and female bodies use pregnenolone differently. In women, more of the pregnenolone becomes estrogen while in men more is used to make testosterone. However, on its own, pregnenolone is essential in keeping our brain functioning at its peak capacity and it is found at higher concentrations in the brain than in any other organ in the body, which serves to enhance our mental functions.
Current research is being done to test the benefits of pregnenolone with those suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injuries, cardiovascular problems, and for boosting the immune system.
Estrogen
Estrogen is secreted by the ovaries and adrenal glands. There are three types of estrogen found in a woman’s body: estrone, estradiol, and estriol. Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) has turned out to be a lifesaver for millions of postmenopausal women who benefit from its use. A survey examining the benefits of ERT on women found that overall mortality from all causes was reduced. In particular, deaths due to coronary artery disease and stroke were reduced.
Progesterone
Progesterone by itself has a large number of benefits including the breakdown of fat, increasing energy through fat loss, protecting against endometrial and breast cancer, improving mood and sexual function, and normalizing levels of blood sugar, zinc, and copper.
Insulin
Insulin is a critical hormone secreted by the pancreatic gland (pancreas). It functions to control our blood sugar or glucose which, if left unchecked, causes inflammation in all our cells, organs, and tissues. Insulin deficiency leads to diseases such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, coronary artery disease, high cholesterol, high triglycerides, obesity, and arthritis, among others.
Melatonin
Melatonin is secreted by the pineal gland. It regulates the circadian rhythm and the deep stages of sleep. Melatonin maintains the body’s balance, equilibrium, and homeostasis.
Benefits of melatonin include:
- Powerful antioxidant properties
- Fights cancer
- Boosts immune function
- Scavenges free radicals
- Promotes youthful sleep patterns
- Influences stage IV & REM sleep
- Prevents jet lag
- Regulates mood
- Is an energizer
- Increases natural killer cells and CD-4 cells
Deficiency Causes:
- Poor Sleep
- Jet Lag
- Irritability
- Hypersensitivity
- Premature Aging
- Nocturia (excessive nighttime urination)
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a peptide whose molecular structure consists of nine amino acids released by the human posterior pituitary gland. The neurons that make oxytocin are similar to those that make vasopressin. Oxytocin has a role in various human behaviors. It is known as the “love hormone” because of its role in orgasm, social recognition, pair bonding, anxiety, and maternal behaviors.
Benefits of Oxytocin include:
- Reduces the feeling of isolation
- Reduces anxiety
- Regulate blood sugar levels
- Influences insulin and glucagon
- Improves sexual intimacy
- Helps build lasting relationships
- Relieves stress
- Lowers blood pressure
- Induces a relaxed state
- Creates a feeling of calmness
- Increases immunity
- Eases depression
- Promotes faster wound healing
- Protects against heart disease
- Reduces cravings and addictions
- Regulates sleep patterns
- Contributes to a general sense of wellbeing
Oxytocin is relatively safe when used at recommended doses, and side effects are uncommon.
Cortisol
Cortisol is a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland and is the body’s main gauge of how well we handle stress. High levels lead to high blood pressure, weight gain, and other deleterious manifestations. It is important to have a healthy level of Cortisol. Low levels, on other hand, reflect chronic stress and cause adrenal fatigue, poor immunity, fatigue, and depression.
Aldosterone
Aldosterone is one of the steroid hormones produced by the adrenal gland. It works in the kidney to conserve sodium and secrete potassium, thus increasing water retention and therefore blood pressure.
Vasopressin
Vasopressin is a peptide hormone that is formed in the hypothalamus and stored in the posterior pituitary. An important function of vasopressin is to regulate the body’s retention of water. When the body is dehydrated, its release causes the kidneys to conserve water which concentrates the urine. In higher concentrations, it raises blood pressure.
