Page 1 - Hormones and Chronic Disease

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Hormones and Chronic Disease

David Brownstein, MD
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David Brownstein, MD has been practicing holistic medicine in immune system. Without adequate hormone
West Bloomfield, Michigan. He is the Medical Director for the production, life itself would not be possible. When
Center for Holistic Medicine and is a Clinical Assistant Professor the hormonal (endocrine) system is not functioning
of Medicine at Wayne State University School of Medicine. He
has found many patients with chronic diseases have hormone properly, the stage may be set for disease or poor
imbalances and he has written a book on the subject, The Miracle health. My clinical experience has shown that using
of Natural Hormones, 2nd Edition (Medical Alternatives Press, natural hormones is a safe and effective method
1999). to treat many different conditions and to promote
good health.
I have found Dr. Thomas Brown’s work with using
antibiotics to treat autoimmune disorders such as I have also found that when patients have a chronic
rheumatoid arthritis to be a wonderful treatment disease, their endocrine system may be in disarray
modality. However, I have found even better results and their hormone levels are often depressed.
treating these complicated conditions when Dr. Furthermore, when such diseases remain active,
Brown’s recommendations are combined with hormone levels will be further suppressed. I have
holistic modalities that focus on improving the yet to see a patient with rheumatoid arthritis or
immune system and provide the body with the basic scleroderma (or other autoimmune disorders) who
building blocks to begin the healing process. These has normal hormone levels. Proper evaluation and
modalities can include the use of natural hormones, utilization of natural hormones can often correct
vitamins, minerals, herbs and others. I am writing this endocrine imbalance and result in a reversal or
this article to inform the reader of various holistic slowing of the disease process.
principles that I have found which can work
synergistically with Dr. Brown’s antibiotic therapy. Chronic illness often affects numerous endocrine
glands, including the thyroid, adrenals, ovaries,
In my practice I often utilize natural items such as hypothalmus, pituitary, testes and others. The
vitamins, minerals, herbs and natural hormones in most common endocrine gland to malfunction is
order to support the immune system as well as to treat the thyroid gland, manifesting as hypothyroidism
illness. I have had success in treating a wide range (an under-active thyroid). It is nearly impossible
of conditions, such as chronic fatigue syndrome, to improve the health of these patients without
autoimmune disorders, fibromyalgia, headaches and ensuring adequate thyroid hormone production.
many others. As a result of this success, I decided to I believe hypothyroidism is the most under-
write the book, The Miracle of Natural Hormones. diagnosed condition in a majority of patients with
Natural hormones that I use in my practice (and chronic disease.
described in my book) include natural thyroid
hormone, DHEA, natural progesterone, natural Every cell in the body needs an adequate amount
estrogen, melatonin, natural hydrocortisone, human of thyroid hormone to function properly. Studies
growth hormone and pregnenolone. have clearly shown that without adequate levels
of thyroid hormone, the immune system will
Hormones are chemical substances secreted from not perform optimally, resulting in the body’s
different glands of the body. Hormones are essential becoming more susceptible to infection and chronic
to many of the physiological reactions of the body illness. It is no wonder that those individuals with
and are directly involved in ensuring a healthy autoimmune disorders (where the immune system