Irritability, lethargy, mood swings, emotional upheavals and fatigue are all feelings we experience at one point or another. In women, these tend to be blamed on hormonal shifts, and it’s not just a lame excuse. Hormones play a vital role in the well being of a woman’s’ health, and when they fluctuate, they impact the mood, sexual desire, fertility and overall energy levels. Moreover, an imbalance in hormones also goes hand in hand with a slowed metabolism. As a result, an individual may face challenges when it comes to weight loss. Detox programs will help to reverse both of these as well as, provide education and advice for a person to take advantage of upon returning home. Keep reading to find out more on hormonal imbalances, and be sure to check out our handy infographic that provides you with advice on how to balance your hormones in a natural way.

When the word “hormones” is said, PMS or menopause is often the first thing that comes to mind. When in fact, pronounced hormonal changes do occur in women of all ages. Although there is still ongoing research, medical professionals are attributing hormonal imbalance symptoms to lifestyle, diet, pollution, toxins and synthetic chemicals that we are exposed to on a daily basis.

Hormones are chemicals that are responsible for a person’s overall health and well being. Essentially, they tell the body what’s going on, and what to do at any point in time. They’re responsible for a woman’s development and growth, the metabolism of food, sexual function, emotions and mood, and body temperature. Hormones keep the body in check; so when there is an imbalance, there are a variety of tell-tale signs which will appear to let you know that something is not right.

At our detox and weight-loss resort in Thailand, we meet a lot of women who are experiencing symptoms that can be attributed to hormonal imbalances. Often, these women have trouble losing weight, frequent mood swings or fatigue. Thai Black Ginger is an amazing natural way to balance the hormones and reduce many of the symptoms.

Some of the most common symptoms of a hormonal imbalance include:

Stress affects everyone differently. For some people, it causes tension headaches while others may feel cranky. Then there are those who sit back in bed with ice cream and a movie. However, sometimes stress sits in the stomach. In the morning, cortisol production is at its peak. It helps a person to wake up and start the day. For those who are chronically stressed, their adrenal glands may produce too much cortisol. This not only leads to the inability to wake up in the morning but also digestive problems like constipation and IBS.

When a woman’s endocrine system is not producing enough of certain hormones like insulin, while at the same time overproducing other hormones like cortisol, the body starts to store fat. When coupled with adrenal fatigue, (when the adrenal gland is not functioning properly) fat around the belly will start to increase.

When a person is not getting enough sleep, the hormone known as ghrelin dramatically increases in the body. This leads to extreme hunger pains. At the same time, the levels of leptin, a hormone responsible for suppressing the appetite, decreases. This is one reason that people who do not get enough sleep on a regular basis are often overweight.

Intense cravings for sugar can happen when the thyroid gland is not functioning properly. Known as hypothyroidism, or when the thyroid is underactive, a person may go through periods when it seems like no amount of sugar is enough to satisfy their sweet tooth. Alternately, overproduction in the adrenal gland can also cause the need to have sugar.

A lot of women at our detox resort tell us that night sweats and hot flashes were the first sign that something was not right. Often, emotions are what triggers internal temperature changes, but it can also be too much estrogen and not enough progesterone. It could also be hormones that help to regulate the adrenals, ovaries, thyroid, pancreas or gastrointestinal tract.

Perhaps one of the most common signs of a hormonal imbalance is mood swings. It’s not uncommon for women to discuss feelings of strong anxiety in situations that used to be “no big deal”. Mood swings can be linked to hormonal imbalance, menopause, stress, toxins and malnourishment. Before rushing to the doctor for antidepressants, diet, exercise and some natural supplementation can often reverse these.

It’s commonly believed that as a woman gets older, she will gain weight. However, there could be an underlying issue that causes weight gain. The adrenal system may have become tired and is sending signals to the thyroid that there is a problem. As a result, the thyroid slows the metabolism and the pancreas responds by conserving fat, especially on the stomach, back and hips.

Hormonal imbalances can cause vaginal dryness and/or a low sex drive. Both of these issues are often a result of low estrogen levels. These levels do not only diminish during and after menopause, but also with frequent discrepancies in sleep.

Hormones and health go hand in hand. If one is out of balance, you can pretty much guarantee the other one will be as well. Your health matters, and so it’s important to find a healthy balance between the two. If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms, it does not necessarily mean you have a hormonal imbalance. They could be related to other conditions like vitamin deficiency or depression.

Through blood tests, consultations and discussing these issues with the staff, we are able to individually evaluate the individual to determine whether or not a hormonal imbalance could be the obstacle in which the woman is facing. Should this be the case, we will provide valuable advice on how to re-balance hormones and restore optimum health.

If you would like more information about wellness and our detox, weight loss packages please contact us or visit the wellness programs page.