HORMONES AND CHRONIC DISEASE

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Hormones and Chronic Disease

Brownstein, MD

has been practicing holistic medicine in West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is the Medical Director for the Center for Holistic Medicine and is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He has found many patients with chronic diseases have hormone imbalances and he has written a book on the subject, The Miracle of Natural Hormones, 2nd Edition (Medical Alternatives Press, 1999).

I have found Dr. Brown's work with using antibiotics to treat autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis to be a wonderful treatment modality. However, I have found even better results treating these complicated conditions when Dr. Brown's recommendations are combined with holistic modalities that focus on improving the immune system and provide the body with the basic building blocks to begin the healing process. These modalities can include the use of natural hormones, vitamins, minerals, herbs and others. I am writing this article to inform the reader of various holistic principles that I have found which can work synergistically with Dr. Brown's antibiotic therapy.

In my practice I often utilize natural items such as vitamins, minerals, herbs and natural hormones in order to support the immune system as well as to treat illness. I have had success in treating a wide range of conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches and many others. As a result of this success, I decided to write the book, The Miracle of Natural Hormones. Natural hormones that I use in my practice (and described in my book) include natural thyroid hormone, DHEA, natural progesterone, natural estrogen, melatonin, natural hydrocortisone, human growth hormone and pregnenolone.

Hormones are chemical substances secreted from different glands of the body. Hormones are essential to many of the physiological reactions of the body and are directly involved in ensuring a healthy immune system. Without adequate hormone production, life itself would not be possible. When the hormonal (endocrine) system is not functioning properly, the stage may be set for disease or poor health. My clinical experience has shown that using natural hormones is a safe and effective method to treat many different conditions and to promote good health.

I have also found that when patients have a chronic disease, their endocrine system may be in disarray and their hormone levels are often depressed. Furthermore, when such diseases remain active, hormone levels will be further suppressed. I have yet to see a patient with rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma (or other autoimmune disorders) who has normal hormone levels. Proper evaluation and utilization of natural hormones can often correct this endocrine imbalance and result in a reversal or slowing of the disease process.

Chronic illness often affects numerous endocrine glands, including the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries, hypothalmus, pituitary, testes and others. The most common endocrine gland to malfunction is the thyroid gland, manifesting as hypothyroidism (an under-active thyroid). It is nearly impossible to improve the health of these patients without ensuring adequate thyroid hormone production. I believe hypothyroidism is the most under-diagnosed condition in a majority of patients with chronic disease.

Every cell in the body needs an adequate amount of thyroid hormone to function properly. Studies have clearly shown that without adequate levels of thyroid hormone, the immune system will not perform optimally, resulting in the body's becoming more susceptible to infection and chronic illness. It is no wonder that those individuals with autoimmune disorders (where the immune system is not appropriately functioning) will frequently have some form of hypothyroidism. In my clinical experience, those with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis or scleroderma consistently have signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism.

Over 80 years ago, researchers noted similar profiles in patients who were myxedemic (severely low thyroid) and those suffering with rheumatism.1 Dr. Broda O. , a pioneer in natural thyroid hormone therapy, wrote of his success in treating arthritic patients with natural thyroid hormone in his book, Hypothyroidism, the Unsuspected Illness. Dr. felt that conventional testing often failed to diagnose many hypothyroid individuals. His research (with which I am in agreement today) showed that over 40% of the population may have undiagnosed and untreated hypothyroidism.2 As a consequence of untreated hypothyroidism, many people are prone to suffering the ravages of hypothyroidism including athler-sclerosis, arthritis, depression, headaches, hypertension and others. The symptoms of hypothyroidism stem from having a lowered basal metabolic rate and include intolerance to the cold, cold hands and feet, fatigue, hair loss, dry skin, eczema and many others.

Unfortunately, a diagnosis of hypo-thyroidism is often overlooked when doctors rely solely on conventional blood tests. This can lead to a poor outcome for these ill patients. Conventional medical physicians usually diagnose hypothyroidism via blood testing (i.e. the TSH test) while minimizing the physical exam signs and symptoms. I have found that proper diagnosis and treatment of hypothyroidism must take into account the following factors:

Physical exam signs

Symptoms

Blood tests

Basal body temperature Basal body temperatures are taken at rest and before arising in the morning (see instructions at end of the article for how to properly take a basal body temperature). A normal axillary basal body temperature is 97.8-98.2 degrees Fahrenheit. A low basal body temperature may indicate a lowered metabolic rate and a hypothyroid condition. Dr. wrote of the value of following the basal body temperature more than 40 years ago. I believe it is still a useful test, and recommend that all of my patients routinely check their basal body temperature.

By utilizing all of the above approaches (evaluating patient's signs, symptoms, blood tests and the basal temperatures), I have found most autoimmune patients including those suffering from rheumatoid arthritis and scleroderma, have hypothyroidism. After treating many of these patients with natural thyroid hormone (Armour Thyroid), their rheumatoid condition often improves.

However, this is not the whole story. As mentioned above, most patients with chronic conditions do not just have one organ system malfunctioning. When the body is under prolonged stress, such as during chronic disease, hypoadrenalism may result. In a hypoadrenal state, the adrenal glands produce insufficient amounts of their hormones (eg. hydrocortisone, DHEA). Some of the signs and symptoms of a hypoadrenal state include: fatigue, low blood pressure (with orthostatic symptoms), increased susceptibility of infections, etc.3

Over 30 years ago, Dr. Mck Jeffries reported his clinical success with using physiologic doses of the adrenal hormone cortisone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis.4 In my practice, I have also found physiologic (small) doses of hydro-cortisone very effective for treating hypoadrenal patients. In addition, I have observed that another adrenal hormone, DHEA, is often suboptimally produced in those with autoimmune disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma and others. Adequate DHEA levels are important for tissue repair and the proper functioning of immune system cells.

I strive to evaluate the whole individual in order to optimize their treatment plan. Many times that will include utilizing other natural hormones (e.g. natural testosterone, natural estrogen, pregnenolone, human growth hormone and melatonin), taking appropriate vitamins and minerals, changing the diet, lowering stress and reducing heavy metal burdens. These items are covered in much more detail in my book.

Over 40 years ago, Dr. Brown wrote of his success in using low-dose antibiotics to treat rheumatoid arthritis patients.5 This concept was further validated in the book, The New Arthritis Breakthrough.6

Patients suffering from autoimmune disorders have poorly functioning immune systems. These patients are more prone to infectious agents, such as mycoplasma infections, as Dr. Brown described. I have found Dr. Brown's work an invaluable guide to treating these patients. This includes using IV antibiotic therapy and oral 'pulse-dosing' of antibiotics. However, the efficacy of this treatment can be improved by combining this therapy with a proper evaluation and treatment of endocrine disorders, as I have described in this article. I see the dramatic effects of this treatment protocol every day in my practice. In my experience, one method of treatment is usually inadequate to treat patients suffering from complex conditions. Many chronic conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, scleroderma and others require that physicians look at the whole picture in each individual. This may include not only using antibiotics when indicated, but also diagnosing and treating hypothyroidism and other endocrine disorders. In addition, proper nutritional supplementation, through the use of vitamins, minerals and herbs will further improve their condition. In my experience, such a holistic approach offers the patient the best chance to achieve optimal health.

Resources:

1 , Broda. Hypothyroidism, The Unsuspected Illness. Harper & Row, 1976, p. 108.

2 , Broda, IBID, p. 31.

3 Mck Jeffries, . Safe Uses of Cortisol. C. , 1996.

4 Mck Jeffries, Wm. IBID. C. , 1996, p. 91.

5 Brown, TMcP. Long-Term Illness: Management of the Chronically Ill Patient. WB Saunders, 1959.

6 Scammell, H & Brown, TMcP. The Arthritis Breakthrough, 1993.

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