Hormone Imbalance


How to Identify Hormone Imbalance

Tired of mood swings, weight gain, hair loss, acne, low sex drive, irregular cycles, or just feeling hot and flashy? Let us help you feel like yourself again!

Hormones play an integral role in our overall health, wellbeing, and energy levels. If you have a teenager at home or are postmenopausal, you are well-aware of the impact hormones can have on the body.

Throughout different times of our lives, hormones cycle and fluctuate. It is important that we support the body and consider the interconnectedness and relationships of all of our hormones and the rest of the body.

All hormones in the body are designed to work together in a hormonal symphony. If one member is off pitch, it affects the entire orchestra, and the other members have to try to compensate.

There are three organs responsible for the majority of your hormone production: the  ovaries/testes, the adrenals, and the thyroid. Each organ has an important role to play, but  unfortunately, many things can throw them out of balance, including pharmaceuticals, obesity, environmental toxins, stress, illness, and even genetics. When your system is disrupted, your body can produce too much or not enough hormones. In addition, how our bodies metabolize hormones will also affect your health.

We often describe hormone balance like sitting on a three-legged stool. The thyroid  hormones are one leg of the stool, the hormones from our ovaries/testes are another, and the adrenal hormones are the third leg of the stool. It is important to assess, optimize, and  balance each leg in order to sit evenly on the stool. If one leg is too long, too short or too  weak, we have a lot of difficulty staying balanced and often feel like falling over!

That’s why it is important to work towards balance of all your hormones, so that they can  work together to keep you healthy. If you suspect you have an imbalance, it is a good idea to  contact your Naturopathic Doctor at Nourish Medical Center.

Estrogen

Roles in the body:

Produced primarily by the ovaries and some produced in the liver, adrenals, breasts, and fat cells.

Proliferates endometrium

Maintains elasticity of arteries

Dilates blood vessels

Enhances blood flow

Decreases blood pressure

Stimulates endometrial growth, thickens the vaginal wall and increases uterine growth

Increases bone formation

Symptoms of deficiency include:

Vaginal dryness

Night sweats

Painful intercourse

Depression/ Anxiety

Emotional fragility

Symptoms of excess include:

Fluid retention

Bloating

Weight gain

Breast tenderness

Mood swings

Heavy bleeding

Progesterone

Roles in the body:

Produced in the ovaries, the adrenal glands and, during pregnancy, in the placenta

Derived from cholesterol

Maintains uterine endometrium

Utilizes fat for energy

Natural diuretic

Helps normalize blood sugar

Lowers cholesterol

Increases core temperature during ovulation

Lowers blood pressure

Normalizes blood clotting and vascular tone

Reduces spasm and relaxes smooth muscle

Reduces gallbladder activity

Symptoms of deficiency include:

PMS

Insomnia

Infertility

Early miscarriage

Cyclic headaches

Symptoms of excess include:

Sleepiness and lethargy

Edema

Slow GI

Breast heaviness

Testosterone

Roles in the body:

Secreted mainly by the testicles in males, ovaries in females, and some in the adrenal glands • Sexual desire and sensation

Muscle, bone and tissue strength

Development of male reproductive tissues and sperm development

Promotes growth of body hair

Symptoms of deficiency include:

Persistent fatigue

Bone loss

Hot flashes

Low libido

Dry eyes

Vaginal dryness

Symptoms of excess include:

Acne

Greasy skin and hair

Male pattern baldness

Facial hair growth

Ovarian cysts/ PCOS

Thyroid

Roles in the body:

Regulates the energy level, growth, and reproduction of every cell (brain, heart, lungs, liver, skin, tissues, and all other body parts)

Symptoms of deficiency include:

Fatigue

Dry skin

Dry hair

Weight gain

Cold hands and feet

Constipation

Symptoms of excess include:

Heart palpitations

Weight loss

Insomnia

Bone mineral loss

Hair loss

DHEA

Roles in the body:

Natural steroid hormone produced by the adrenal glands, gonads and the brain

Precursor of testosterone and estrogen

Symptoms of deficiency include:

Fatigue

Muscle weakness

PMS/ painful periods

Vaginal dryness

Arthritis

Adrenal dysregulation

Symptoms of excess include:

Acne

Oily skin

Facial hair growth

May increase estrogen levels and interfere with insulin function

Cortisol

Roles in the body:

Main stress hormone

Produced by the adrenal glands

Raises blood glucose

Raises blood pressure

Mediates inflammation

Aids in metabolism

Modulates the immune system

Symptoms of deficiency include:

Fatigue

Unstable blood sugar

Foggy thinking

Low blood pressure

Thin and dry skin

Intolerance to exercise and prone to injury

Allergies

Difficulty fighting infections

Symptoms of excess include:

Feeling “wired” or “stressed”

Insomnia

Sugar cravings

Weight gain, especially in the mid-section

If you suspect that you have a hormone imbalance, contact your Naturopathic Doctor for testing and treatment options.

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I've been seeing Dr. Stewart for 8 years now, initially to help get my thyroid issues in order, but you end up learning so much about your overall general health it's truly amazing what holistic medicine can do for you. I've learned to manage my gluten, dairy and peanut sensitivities as well as balance my hormones and keep my thyroid functioning optimally. More recently I've started seeing Dr. Quick for microneedling with exosomes. After 3 treatments on my face I can see a major difference in texture, melasma reduction and overall fine line reduction. I'm also doing exosome microneedling treatments on my scalp to encourage hair growth. So far so good, it takes a bit of time to see improvement but there is definitely an increase in baby hairs after a few months. Dr. Stewart, Dr. Quick and all the staff is incredibly kind and I recommend Nourish to anyone who is looking for comprehensive care beyond what western medicine (who I still go to for mammograms, colonoscopies, etc.) can provide.
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Vanessa Lovett
4/01/2025
This review is for Dr. Starr Ramson, ND, a provider at Nourish Medical Center: I’ve been working with her for 3 months and in these 3 months she has cured a severe hormonal & neurological issue I’ve had for 15 years. Not only did she cure it, she got to the root cause of exactly the issue. No other medical professional could do this - I tried many different doctors. I also appreciate that she is empathetic, collaborative, and very responsive. She provides a level of care and attention I am not used to getting in the medical field. She explains everything in detail and validates my concerns. Her approach is very tailored - treating based on my unique brain chemistry, hormone levels, and genetics. I HIGHLY recommend her for difficult women’s health issues - hormonal and neurological. It has been an investment with appointments, labs, and supplements - but honestly the best money I’ve ever spent as I’ve gotten concrete answers, full understanding, as well as 100% improvement in symptoms physically and mentally.
Alexandra Ennali Avatar
Alexandra Ennali
10/19/2024
Wow. I just had my initial consult with Dr Stewart and immediately felt like I was meeting a friend not just a new doctor. I have been hypothyroid since my 30's that was diagnosed with the birth of my daughter. My body has been functioning well on levothyroxine until 3 years ago when suddenly my post menopausal symptoms took a sharp incline and I started having issues with dry skin, hair, constipation and more injuries... Because I was retired, I started researching and experimenting with solutions on my own and while I learned a great deal, nothing was making a difference (even cutting out sugar and alcohol which I completely believed was at the root of my problems). My thyroid was also not keeping up and my PCP was perplexed. While I was waiting on the endocrinologist referral, I sought out Dr. Stewart. She was also wait listed as long as the endo doc but i was hopeful for a cancellation and that just happened! Her knowledge was immediately apparent. I gave her my whole history and all the major points of trauma and lifestyle that have likely been causing my thyroid challenges and she lasered in on key issues and the solutions that feel exactly right (that I simply could never have found on my own). After 90 minutes, I finally feel I have someone on my team that knows what to look for and who can provide balanced actionable lifestyle and supplement changes that can get results and solve this puzzle of what's at the root of my thyroid problems once and for all. Hormones are so complex, and despite being an engineer and a good researcher, I could have spent years of investigation trying different tests before I'd gained any traction. The knowledge, experience and intuition that Dr Stewart brings to the table is priceless and worth every cent (in fact, don't tell her, but she may be undercharging! ;)) Such a relief to not be alone in this journey. Thank you Dr Stewart and Nourish team!
Toni Merrill Avatar
Toni Merrill
8/13/2023
5 star ratingI am so grateful I found Nourish Medical and Dr Adrienne Stewart! Initially I came to her to help me uncover a lot of environmental exposures including mold exposure, which explained why I was having fertility, adrenal, thyroid, hormone imbalances. She's supported me and my husband since 2019 and I got wonderful support to detox gently before my first round of mini IVF in 2020. She shared her wisdom on if it was a good fit for me and truly showed so much care and encouragement through out the 4 years I've known her all while dealing with her own healing journey. She also helped me with an overactive thyroid in early pregnancy which was a little scary and really went above and beyond to help keep me and my baby well with the right medication. I went on to have a wonderful pregnancy and healthy baby girl that is thriving today. I wish I contacted her sooner in postpartum because she really helped balance my hormones after pregnancy. I'm so glad I found her and was able to prepare my body for pregnancy so it was a safe environment for my miracle baby. We are so greatful!
Lauren P. Avatar
Lauren P.
11/29/2022
I’ve been seeing Dr. Stewart for over a year now and could not recommend her & the center enough!! I have dealt with Lyme, black mold, hormone issues & gut health for over 3 years and she is the only doctor who has helped me get to the root of my problems. She thoroughly listens and understands everything you may be going through and does not stop working towards your end health goals until you achieve it! Truly the only doctor that has helped me feel a difference in my over all health!
Hannah Degani Avatar
Hannah Degani
8/24/2022
5 star rating"YOU PROBABLY HAVE HORMONAL ACNE"... everyone would tell me. But what do I do about it!? I've tried everything, I told them. I was 28 years old with a chin full of huge cystic acne red pimples. All my friends considered me the healthiest eater and would workout every day, so none of this made sense to me. I would wake up extra early to cover up everything in makeup. Inside I was depressed and sad and would cry every few weeks when more pimples would show up. I would say no to social events because I didn't want to be seen like that. I was throwing away money on new natural remedies I found on youtube. Nothing was working.

Finally, I was connected to Nourish Medical Center and rescued by the incredible Dr. DJ Sims. SHE CHANGED MY LIFE. After about 4-6 months (I had some serious hormonal imbalances), I NO LONGER HAVE ACNE. MY FACE IS SMOOTH AND CLEAR! I remember reading other people's reviews of them saying they no longer have acne and wishing and praying I would get to the day where I could write the same review. And here I am. It will be all be okay, I promise. You will get there too! 🙂

First of all, you don't need to live in San Diego to see these doctors. They do zoom which is awesome! Nourish Medical is a dream doctor's office. The staff is so sweet and you always feel taken care of.

Now let me talk about Dr. DJ Sims - the best naturopathic acne doctor ever. She is so friendly, fun, extremely knowledgable and so easy to talk to. She makes you feel heard (our appointments are usually 1 hour, once a month) unlike regular doctors who push you out the door after 3 minutes. She gets down to the ROOT of the issues you're having and prescribes special herbs & supplements to tackle those specific issues. She gave me an amazing hormonal urine test (called the Dutch test) which told us my hormones were out of whack. She also TEACHES you why these things are happening to your body (for me, birth control and years of antibiotics were a leading cause) and what the specific herbs will do to help my body. I have learned SO MUCH about the body and feel like I have the tools to treat myself in the future if I ever have flare ups.

Yes, naturopathic doctors are expensive. AND YES THEY ARE WORTH EVERY PENNY. If you feel hopeless, out of options and not yourself anymore... do yourself a favor and call the office. My happiness and confidence are back and I finally feel like myself again!

THANK YOU TO NOURISH MEDICAL 🙂
Tali A. Avatar
Tali A.
4/06/2022
5 star ratingTwo months ago, I was not in a good place. I was sleeping poorly, I was experiencing severe PMS that was lasting 12-14 days out of every month. My relationships and my mental health were hanging on by a thread. I knew my mood swings were completely irrational and I felt like a failure unable to control them. My western medicine doctor put me on anxiety medication. When that didn't work, SSRI's. When that didn't work, another SSRI. I KNEW it wasn't anxiety or depression. Why did i feel normal half of the month then clearly feel when the shift was starting to take place?

In comes Nourish and Dr. Stewart! Our first visit and every visit after has felt like I'm talking to a friend. Someone who actually is listening to me and isn't rushed to get me out and who is open to engaging in an actual two way conversation about how I'm feeling and what we both feel could be going on. I remember leaving the first visit and saying to my husband, even if nothing comes out of this and it turns out I am just crazy, I feel better just knowing I was actually heard. Turns out though, I'm not just crazy! Dr. Stewart came up with a plan based off of my labs (Brandon is a great phlebotomist too) to tackle this in a multi factorial way! My hormones, gut health, inflammation levels were all off. Some way off! I tear up every time I talk to people about how I feel now. I'm not 100% cured and skipping around euphoric or anything so please don't expect something unrealistic but I can honestly says I went for half of every month feeling like Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde to feeling like myself again. Like I'm not crazy. Like I can actually tackle life as life happens. I'm able to be a better mom. And my relationship with my husband is improving with so many more good days than bad. I feel like I'm getting myself back. Seeing Dr. Stewart and investing in myself has been one of the best decisions I've ever made and I'm eternally grateful.
Sophia M. Avatar
Sophia M.
12/22/2021
I feel so grateful to have found Dr. Martinez at Nourish Medical Center. Having been diagnosed with 2 autoimmune diseases by the age of 28, I knew that future illness was inevitable unless I started to address the root cause. I wasn't getting the support I needed from my endocrinologist, so when I came across Dr. Martinez's website and saw her extensive knowledge in thyroid health and hormone balancing, I was eager to meet. Our first appointment was 5 months ago and I am so happy with the health journey Dr. Martinez is helping me navigate. Thus far, I have lost weight, completely changed my mindset around what constitutes a healthy diet, lowered my thyroid antibodies and regulated some really crucial hormone levels. Dr. Martinez is thorough, understanding, incredibly smart and thoughtful in her approach. She genuinely wants me to succeed and isn't afraid to alter our plan or make modifications if something isn't agreeing with my body. Most importantly, I feel comfortable telling her about the smallest symptom without judgement or dismissal, which is so important to me. I am so happy to have made the investment in my health and I never hesitate to pass along Dr. Martinez's information. I know she can help a lot of people with living their healthiest lives.
Richelle Hawley Avatar
Richelle Hawley
1/24/2021