Nexus - 0304 - New Times Magazine-pages

Page Content (OCR)

ued from pag side-effects, some of which are quite severe. A partial list includes headaches, depression, fluid retention, increased risk of birth defects and early abortion, liver dysfunction, breast tenderness, break- through bleeding, acne, hirsutism (hair growth), insomnia, oedema, weight changes, pulmonary embolism and premen- strual-like syndrome.” Most importantly, progestins lack the intrinsic physiological benefits of proges- terone, thus they cannot function in the major biosynthetic pathways as proges- terone does and they disrupt many funda- mental processes in the body. Progesterone is an essential hormone that also plays a part in the development of healthy nerve cells and brain and thyroid function. Progestins tend to block the body's ability to produce and utilise natural progesterone to maintain these life-promoting functions. The hormone story is certainly a very complicated one. Up until now, only one version of the story has been available to the majority of Western women, especially Australian women. Serious doubt has been cast on the efficacy and appropriateness of oestrogen and progestins in all the forms they take. Women are certainly suffering from a wide variety of female complaints. What complicates the hormone story is that the prescribed treatments for these complaints are actually making the prob- lem worse. Without understanding the far- reaching side-effects of oestrogen domi- nance and progestin, doctors are misdiag- nosing the cause of these aggravated condi- tions. Often, other drugs are then pre- scribed with disastrous side-effects, as the spiral of unnecessary medication increases, What is the ultimate toll, not only on a woman's deteriorating health and emotional well-being but also on her financial situa- tion, her relationships and her career? Without adequate knowledge, education and access to natural products, women have been easy prey to the powerful cam- paigns of the multinational drug companies that have convinced doctors as well as gov- ernments of their claims. It is becoming more evident that women's interests are not always best met through such a biased ap- proach. It is also not unusual for profits to take precedence over health and well-be- ing. The last thing a woman needs is to have her natural bodily functions deni- grated to deficiency diseases—thus neces- sitating ongoing medical attention. It is indeed time for women to take even greater responsibility for their health, their choices and their lifestyles. The greatest weapon against compliance and ignorance is knowledge. It's time to ask poignant questions of your health provider, to demand answers and to be willing to inves- tigate safe, alternative approaches. It is apparent that women will need to partic- ipate in educating their doctors about the other choices that exist as well as the ones that they prefer. Certainly, women have it well within their own power not only to find safe, nat- ural and effective ways to heal themselves but to live long, full lives, preserving their vitality, youthfulness and health. Women deserve the right to appreciate themselves and their bodies through all the stages of life. As women find the way to return to a greater balance within themselves, they will know profoundly the truth of what Dr Decpak Chopra has said about women: “Feminine wisdom is the intelligence at the heart of creation.” co NEXUS ¢ 75 JUNE-JULY 1996 — Hormone Heresy: Oestrogen's Deadly Truth —