The Human Body and Phyto-estrogen Debate

In this age and time, from the man made chemicals and some natural chemicals abundantly existing in nature to the foods we eat and the water we drink there is a great danger they pose to our survival and that of future generations.

Chemicals are a hazard to the survival of many. Researchers have proven that the human body has more than 250 chemical contaminants. As a matter of fact, even in the remotest places on earth like the Polar Regions, it is still found that people there have high levels of chemicals in their bodies. Most of the thousands of chemicals in our environment fall mostly in a class of chemicals called Xeno-estrogenic chemicals. Simply explained these Xeno-estrogenic chemicals bond with estrogen receptor cells in our body and prevent the true estrogen from doing its work. These chemicals create a hyper-estrogen situation meaning too many estrogens and estrogen mimicking substances in our bodies. These chemicals don’t mimic estrogen alone but also other vital hormones like progesterone, androgens and thyroid hormones. Estrogen excesses in our bodies causes’ hormone imbalances responsible for reproductive health problems, infertility, prostrate cancers, miscarriage, premature puberty, premature birth, uterine cancers, PMS, low sperm count among many other complications.

Researchers have also discovered that Xeno-estrogens affect the developmental stages of the unborn, as witnessed in the DES daughters of the 60s and 70s.Concerning the DES daughters Theo Colburn one of the leading researchers in Xeno-estrogens effectively concludes that this chemicals interfere with developmental stages of the unborn in the uterus. This is later manifested when the child grows up and it is realized he/she has abnormalities. Scientists are also linking Xeno-estrogens to abnormalities witnessed in some wild animals. It is thus worrying that these chemicals have a negative impact on future generations.

Another worrying trend is the increase in the use of potentially dangerous chemicals called the synthetic estrogens. These synthetic estrogens are normally prescribed by medics for such problems as birth control, menstrual control and menopause symptom relief. Most of the animal products we eat like meat and dairy products are also full of these synthetic estrogens.

For those interested in nutritive herbs one class of chemicals called the Phyto- estrogens contained in high amounts in most herbs may be of most interest to you. One is bound to question if the herbal phyto- estrogenic products, ranging from creams, pills, supplements and other formulas rampant today in the market may have some harmful effects. So the big question is:

Are Herbs high in phyto- estrogens harmful?

A good percentage of the food we eat from grains, fruits, vegetables, roots, herb like plants and herbs contain phyto- estrogens. However the good news is that it’s safe to eat these foods, as they contain slight amounts of phyto-estrogens. Also our bodies are used to these phyto-estrogens present in natural diets. These Phyto-estrogens additionally are weak and with a half life of hours and our bodies’ receptor cells will easily eliminate them. Of concern however should be the estrogenic herbs which are presently in high demand. These herbs are what people go for nowadays as an alternative to prescription estrogen. These herbs are used for varied reasons including fertility control, cancer prevention and other reasons. If used properly they are fairly safe. But one has to consider they also have some undesirable effects, like they can stimulate cancer if used in cases where cancer has already developed and while they can be used for birth control; they can also cause reproductive processes that are not desirable. These herbs normally recommended for fertility problems and cancer prevention is high in phyto estrogens. It is a subject of concern and deep research of how safe the herbal products that are full with phyto-estrogens are. Another question that arises in the rise of these herbal estrogenic products is that should we promote use of herbal products for use to treat reproductive health problems.

One has to take more time to study all these emerging issues in the use of estrogenic herbs to treat reproductive health problems. But in the light of recent studies and research it appears what has been discovered is that the body is capable on its own to maintain hormonal balance. Every user of these products must thus strive to reduce on their use, so that in the long run the estrogen levels in ones bodies may come down. The main problem surely related to the use of estrogen products is what may be called estrogen excess. Especially with today’s society that is so centered on beauty and reproductive health, people are everyday looking for alternatives to look more beautiful and to control some vital processes in their bodies. The herbal fad this day has made many people turn to herbs and leave prescription drugs to handle beauty and reproductive health issues. But in light of recent findings we must remember use of these estrogenic products without necessary caution has serious long term consequences.

To reduce the hyper estrogenic situation in our bodies because of the prevalence of estrogens in the air we breathe, the water we drink, the workplace that is full of many estrogen chemicals and also the many health and beauty products laden with Xeno-estrogens, its important to cut down on the use of most of these estrogenic herbal products and search for more natural alternatives.

A lot of people these days are described by their constant search for solutions to the problems they create for themselves by an unhealthy lifestyle full of junk food, lack of exercise and smoking among other issues. It is common to find people turning to prescription drugs and estrogenic products not just to help in reproductive issues but also aid in such issues as obesity. All these thousands of estrogenic substances we introduce in our bodies to help treat a situation surely interferes with the natural working hormones in the body and in the long run someone’s problem is worse than it was in the beginning. A simple alternative to these is to encompass the principles of healthy living by eating herbal plants and other healthy foods, shun junk foods and do some exercises. One should also work to leave smoking and alcohol intake if he/she is engaging in these habits. By so doing most reproductive health problems and other complications can be tackled and one is saved from turning to harmful estrogenic products. It must be remembered that herbal plants and all other plants are safe and of course are recommended in large amounts thou they contain phyto-estrogens. As earlier explained these estrogens can easily be removed by the bodies’ mechanisms.

Estrogen excesses be they in herbal products like skin care products or the synthetic estrogens available in high amounts in meat and dairy products are harmful to the human body. These products should be used with caution while the animal products consumed in moderate amounts, however we should not be afraid of nutritive herbs naturally existing as our bodies can easily eliminate the estrogen in them. Our main goal should be to reduce estrogen amounts that enter our bodies as our bodies produce sufficient estrogens. The fact is that we cannot escape estrogen it’s everywhere in the environment but we can control the amounts that enter our bodies.

The move away from the obviously harmful prescription drugs and opting for the herbal estrogens like using Phyto-estrogenic herbs to help someone who is weaning from Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is in a sense good. However we must not stick to herbal estrogenic products as the final solution. Before much research and a lot of literature were written in the field of herbal estrogens it in fact seemed like a very good thing to adopt herbal estrogens as the perfect alternative for prescription drugs. But overwhelming evidence now confronting us of the looming crisis we face due to a hyper estrogenic situation must convince us otherwise. These herbal estrogenic products despite being herbal contribute to the load of the estrogens in our bodies. While we might think they are a perfect alternative in treating mans common ailments and afflictions we must be very careful lest we are treating the symptoms and aggravating the causes. The essence of healing medicine has to lie in its ability to fight the causes rather than assuming them or aggravating them. This is why no matter how much research is done in healing medicine we will still arrive at those good old conclusions like prevention is better than cure.

Truly to treat some of mans common ailments using prescription drugs and the now popular estrogenic herbal drugs may only serve to impair the functioning of the bodies other vital hormones. Maybe its time we face the truth by trying to work out more possible ways of preventing these diseases through a change in lifestyle. If people can’t change their lifestyle and still find solace in prescription and herbal estrogenic drugs we are seriously tampering with our future. It must be remembered that the two vital hormones affected by these drugs are estrogens and progesterone’s. These are the key hormones that go into play in forming the unborn. Their being tampered with because of the excessive chemicals in our bodies has what has led to so many children being born with disabilities. This has also made the productivity of our generation sky dive. Presently the cases of infertility and low sperm count are increasing and it’s likely that with the increase in foreign estrogenic chemicals in our bodies the situation may be made dire.

The hormone balancing craze is another thing that has got to be checked to ensure a fertile and healthy future. Nowadays they are many herbal estrogenic products that help in the much acclaimed hormone balancing. One of these products is the Wild Yam crèmes, a popular among the many herbal estrogenic products. This product is used to help in creating a hormone balance as a result of hormonal imbalance caused in the body when estrogens levels exceed the levels of progesterone in the body. It works by increasing the progesterone levels in the body to reach the levels of estrogen. A balance between the level of estrogen and progesterone in the body is required for the appropriate functioning of the body. But tampering with the progesterone levels in the body by use of these products is not the best possible alternative and it’s bound to cause problems. Instead the best approach is to minimize ones exposure to estrogen increasing substances and environments. This includes animal products and the other mentioned substances. As scientific knowledge increase wisdom will increase concerning various estrogenic products which have mostly been assumed by many to be safe.

Herbalists need to get themselves in the mix of these recent developments concerning herbal estrogenic products. They should be able to play an important role in enlightening many about the safety of herbal plants and to what extent the popular herbal products get unsafe. Use of herbs is the fad these days but it has to be considered that many herbal estrogenic products available today may have serious consequences on ones health. What scientists and many health practitioners tend to agree on is that man has got to try and limit the amounts of foreign estrogens that enters ones bodies. As a matter of fact the naturally existing estrogens present in ones bodies is responsible for stimulating important bodily functions key to mans survival. But these foreign estrogens which enter our bodies through the polluted air we breathe, the chlorinated water we drink, the unhealthy and highly preserved food we eat and the unfit drugs we consume is responsible for the inhibition of the work of naturally existing estrogens. This is dangerous as it interferes with reproductive functions and other vital functions in our bodies. If we care about the future of our generation we must act fast to deal with this looming health crisis.