Nexus - 0305 - New Times Magazine-pages

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o< Synthetic Hormones and the Havoc they Wreak levels may be raised in the blood; vitamins B12 and C may be With hindsight, it will very likely be recorded in history that the lowered. The clinical significance is not yet known.” widespread prescribing of synthetic hormones to women was the The introduction of the mini-Pill and Depo-Provera, both of biggest medical bungle of the century. Most women taking the which are made from synthetic progestins, is equally disturbing to contraceptive pill and HRT have very little idea about the hor- women's hormonal health, with all the previously listed side- mones they are putting into their bodies; nor are they knowledge- _ effects and risks. able about their side-effects. Hormone replacement therapy was the next great discovery to Oral contraceptives are made with synthetic oestrogen and syn- _ arrive, following on from the Pill. The pharmaceutical companies thetic progestins (known as the combined Pill). In the early 1960s had found another lucrative market for their synthetic hormones: the Pill was widely marketed as an effective, safe and convenient the menopausal woman! While HRT is given at lower doses than method of birth control. However, the Pill, the side-effects are often more the initial trials were flawed and subtle and are slower to show up. inadequate."" Nonetheless, the Pill HRT is now available in a variety of was ea with all = enthusi- With hindsight, it will very likely sal pile patches a ciate. asm the pharmaceutical companies * +. me of the most popular synthetic could nd P be recorded in history that the oestrogens is Premarin, which is Dr Ellen Grant, author of The id di seihin: made from the urine of pregnant Bitter Pill and Sexual Chemistry, widespread prescribing of mares—just what a woman's body was an early researcher of synthet- synthetic hormones to women needs! ic hormones and their effects on : h bi di | b | health, Back in the 1960s she was | Was the biggest medical bungle Bf pormone Addiction shocked when synthetic hormones the century. What is little-known about taking were not withdrawn from the mar- of he en ury: HRT is that it is an addictive drug. A ket due to their known, serious former president of the London side-effects. Royal College of Psychiatrists warns So, just what are the effects of sup- that oestrogen used in HRT to coun- pressing natural hormones with synthetic ones? The Pill literally teract symptoms of menopause could be as addictive as heroin." stops menstruation, and bleeding occurs each month only because In the 1970s, testing was conducted on two groups of the synthetic hormones are not taken for seven days of the cycle. | menopausal women. Half received oestrogen replacement and the The bleeding that occurs would be more accurately termed “with- other half sugar pills. All were monitored for insomnia, nervous- drawal bleeding", not menstruation. ness, depression, dizziness, weakness, joint pain, palpitations, Taking the combined Pill increases the risk of coronary artery _ prickling sensations and hot flushes. disease, breast cancer and high blood-pressure. The side-effects Both groups of women experienced dramatic improvement dur- include nausea, vomiting, headaches, breast tenderness, weight _ ing the first 90 days of the study, except that the sugar-pill group increases, changes in sex- drive, depression, blood clots and _ experienced more discomfort from hot flushes. When the groups increased incidence of vaginitis. Also, women with a history of | were switched, those who had initially received oestrogen experi- epilepsy, migraine, asthma or heart disease may find their symp- _ enced a pronounced return of their symptoms. It became apparent toms worsen.'? Many of these effects may persist long after that, once oestrogen replacement stopped, a ‘cold turkey’ with- women discontinue taking the Pill. drawal effect was often experienced. This was especially true According to Nancy Beckham in her book, Menopause—A with implants, since the blood oestradiol levels may become much Positive Approach Using Natural Therapies, "Women on the Pill higher than the body would normally produce."* have a greater tendency to liver dysfunction and to more allergies. Nancy Beckham warns that “Women on hormone replacement Oestrogen drugs also affect vitamin concentrations. Vitamin A therapy who have enhanced well-being when their oestradiol lev- els are very high, but feel unwell when their blood levels are nor- mal, may be experiencing reac- or: tions similar to those of people on G x social drugs. t ON STEAK “It is well-researched knowledge that when you first have these BY; we drugs they give you a lift, which is Yj ¢ is M Wg pleasant. As you get used to the YW , WW, substance you find you need more y A C7 Y to give you the same effect, and — ultimately your body craves a high “sy /Biet level even though you may be COKE unwell. When the substance in your blood drops below a certain level, you can experience with- drawal symptoms such as flushing, perspiration, sleep disturbance, shaking and other nervous reac- s a tions." 24 « NEXUS AUGUST-SEPTEMBER 1996