BHRT - Bio-Identical Hormone
Restoration Therapy

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers that direct every function in our body. From energy and metabolism, to blood pressure and sugar regulation; from how you gain or lose weight to your sex drive and vitality - hormones keep us alive and feeling our best.

What symptoms will I have?

Hormonal imbalance can lead to a variety of symptoms:

Low energy and fatigue, PMS, infertility,  menopause and andropause ('male menopause'), low mood, irritability, weight gain, and difficulty losing weight.

Tiredness, low (or NO) sex drive, poor interest and enjoyment, reduced strength and muscle mass, weak bones (osteopenia/ osteoporosis), insomnia, anxiety, hypoglycemia, thinning skin, aging skin, inflammation of the body...

Bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is targeted to specifically remedy these and many more symptoms.

What are bio-identical hormones?

Bio-identical hormones are chemically identical to those found in the human body. The treatment is tailored to each person, with dosing adjusted according to individual needs, as measured by laboratory testing. Bio-Identical hormone replacement is the mainstay of anti-aging medicine. 

At Chronos Apollo, we will advise you on natural therapies to support your hormone balance. Naturopathy, homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine all help you maintain optimal hormone balance.

Some medications are actually bio-identical as well.

Nutritional therapy of vitamins, minerals, herbs and oils give your body everything it needs to use the hormones it makes, efficiently and optimally.

Eating a wholesome diet of organic foods, whole grains, avoiding chemicals and processed foods also help your body remain healthy and maintain good hormone balance.

How are bio-identical hormones different from 'hormones'?

Synthetic hormones have differing molecular structure from what your own body makes and knows. You can have side effects to these drugs. Bio-identical means there is no difference at a molecular level to your own hormones. This means that your body recognises it as familiar. Your risk of side effects and cancer are no different from when your body is making your own hormones. The goal of replacing hormones, when necessary, is to simply replenish what you are missing; and not take you to levels higher than what is normal.

Does every person need hormones?

Every person needs the right amount of hormones. Some hormones are critical to life.

 INFORMATION FROM CBC HEALTH WEBSITE: 2007

http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2006/01/27/bioidenticals060127.html#skip300x250
Dr. Jerilynn Prior, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism at the University of British Columbia, believes bioidenticals are intrinsically safer than standard hormones to control menopausal symptoms, such as night sweats, hot flashes, heart palpatations and anxiety.

"The important thing to me is that is it's the same as my ovaries would make if they could," Prior said.
 
(From the CBC website)
Doctors prescribe bioidentical hormones, which pharmacists prepare, mix and package as capsules or topical creams, tailored to each woman. Bioidenticals are combinations of hormones that can't be patented, meaning there is no financial incentive for pharmaceutical companies to fund safety trials. Health Canada classifies bioidenticals as drugs requiring a prescription. But since the department doesn't regulate drugs made by pharmacists rather than drug companies, bioidenticals are exempt from Canadian drug labelling requirements and quality assurance testing. While Premarin, a traditional hormone replacement therapy derived from the urine of pregnant horses, carries warning labels about the risks of taking hormones, it's up to pharmacists to tell women about the possible risks of bioidenticals.

"I think there's enough good strong literature out there that I'm very comfortable doing bioidentical hormone therapy," said Peter Ford, a pharmacist in Moncton, N.B., who prepares and sells bioidenticals for about 1,000 women. Ford said he does his own quality control tests.
 

Click here to learn more about how you can benefit from BHRT.