Hormone Health

CASE STUDY: Hormone Health

SUBMITTED BY: Katie Donnelly, Adv Dip HSc Naturopathy

PATIENT: Female, 58 years old

INITIAL PRESENTATION:

Presenting with symptoms of peri-menopause including mood swings, anxiety, hot flashes, and night sweats.

No consistent menstrual cycle for the past three months, although there is occasional spotting. Prior to this, monthly periods began increasing in heaviness. More intense premenstrual symptoms of breast tenderness and mood alterations were also experienced.

The client has experienced sudden feelings of sadness and bouts of crying. These are unrelated to any particular event, alongside increased irritation and anger.

Anxiety has increased and she has been overthinking things she has said or ways she has behaved. She has experienced minor anxiety in the past. Treatment was not sought as it was described as non-intrusive to daily life.

Experiencing bouts of loose stools on occasion. No signs of illness, no recent travel, no notable changes to diet. Every 3-4 days she will experience loose stools 1 -2 times.

flashes are of primary disturbance, occurring anywhere from 2 – 6 times per day. She carries a small fan with her to try to counter the impact. She has never sweated much but finds she is sweating throughout the night and has woken up ‘soaking’, needing to change her clothing. This has happened twice and sweats are typically less intense.

Unsure of family history surrounding menopause symptoms and longevity. No current medications and no known contraindications or allergies.

HERBAL TREATMENT (100mL):

Black cohosh (Actacea racemose) 15mL

Sage (Salvia officinalis) 20mL

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) 30mL

Withania (Withania somnifera) 40mL

Total 105mL

Dosage: 2.5mL x 3 times daily. Add a small amount of water to dilute if needed. Shake well before pouring.

ADDITIONAL TREATMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

Recommended dietary support includes a higher intake of B vitamin-rich foods.

Additional support for the liver includes a need for increased antioxidants and more variety in vegetable and fruit intake, with a focus on organic or spray-free/locally sourced foods where possible. Switch to wholegrain versions of pasta, and bread. Include herbs and spices in foods such as turmeric with black pepper, ginger, and cinnamon.

Reduce daily intake of white wine (currently 3 glasses) to one standard measure of lower percentage alcohol wine. Eventually move to have one glass of wine every second day. Introduce another drink to have when you would usually have wine, such as sparkling water with lemon, kombucha, or tonic water (client’s choice of alternative). Hydration is especially important in relation to loose stools.

Reduce daily intake of black tea (5 cups daily with milk) down to three cups. After one week try to reduce that to two cups per day.

Discussed stress management techniques and the importance of restorative sleep.


FOLLOW-UP:

• 2-week check-in: Has experienced significant relief in just over two weeks, making no other changes but introducing the herbal formula. Reduced incidents of hot flashes but still notices this 12 times per day. Sweats in the evening have stopped. Her mood is improving – mild anxiety still occurring and still finding she is crying more often than she would like over ‘unimportant’ things. Less intensity with irritation but still finds herself more annoyed than usual.
• Found the formula to be fine on her digestive system, so we will increase it to 5mL x 3 times daily.
• Loose stools still occur so have re-iterated the importance of altering fluid intake and reducing wine and black tea, even by one glass/cup per day. Also, recommended to note down when this occurs to establish a pattern. Liver support should help.
• May include St John’s Wort in the next formula depending on the response to increased dose.
• 4-week check-in: Significant improvements in mood noted. Not getting as angry and feeling more ‘sane’. This is a huge relief for the client. The increased dose has been well tolerated and no side effects noted. Down to occasional hot flashes but not every day.
• The client succeeded in reducing black tea by two cups per day and is down to one glass of iced white wine in the evening. Have encouraged her to continue with slow reductions and avoid black tea with meals.
• Has noted her bowels have improved with increased intake of vegetables and wholegrain foods. Suggested psyllium husks for more fibre and probiotic treatment if loose bowels continue.