Article, Birth Control Pills and Estrogen Replacement Therapy

Imbalances in Growth Hormone and
Insulin-like Growth Factor-1
Wellness Today – August 2002
by Barbara Brewitt, Ph.D.

Estrogen is of major interest and importance to a woman's health. Women use birth-control pills and estrogen-replacement therapy to assure health and quality of life. However, evidence is visible and mounting that estrogen raises the risks for breast cancer, heart attacks, stroke and blood clots, all of which shorten quality and length of life. The supplementation of estrogens, whether through birth control pills or through estrogen-replacement therapy, can result in unbalanced regulatory controls in feedback signals, thus heightening risks for cancer and other adverse events.

Scientists know that unbalanced feedback over the long term raises the risk for cancer and toxicity, the consequences of a body out-of-control with itself. Research studies document that feedback signals within the hypothalamic-pituitary axis are fundamental to health. The hypothalamus is the central switching station for the nervous system whereby subtle nervous system signals lead to hormone secretion in the pituitary leading to physical manifestations and actions in the body. The hypothalamus-pituitary glands are the center of neuroendocrine signaling. Healthy aging represents balanced signaling within the neuroendocrine and immune systems.

The neuroendocrine system is filled with feedback loops. The body stays in balance by cells communicating with other cells and the hormonal system communicates through feedback loops to the nervous and immune systems. Cell signaling processes co-ordinate activities throughout the body keeping it whole and integrated. The common language between these systems is that of growth factors, such as IGF-1 and hGH. Thus, cell-to-cell communication and feedback loops are fundamental internal control processes for homeostasis. Disruption to the feedback communication system precedes illness, especially cancer.

For every hormone signal there is a balanced response by another hormone signal. IGF-1, hGH and estrogen comprise a regulatory system of hormone signals and feedback loops. Estrogen and IGF-1 work opposed to one another, when one is high the other is low and when estrogen is high it drives greater hGH release. It is well documented that as estradiol or estrogen levels rise in the blood, IGF-1 levels decrease. Additionally, estrogens causes cells to become resistant to IGF-1 signals. Estrogen stimulates more hGH volume secretion, hence tilting the hGH-IGF-1 axis out of balance with too much hGH and too little IGF-1. Imbalances in hGH-IGF-1 ratios raise the risk for cell division without controls (cancer). Imbalances in hGH-IGF-1 also increase the probability that blood will flow more strongly via hGH’s influence and therefore may be able to clot more easily. While hGH increases lean mass, decreases body fat and reduces anger and anxiety, IGF-1 controls addictive food cravings, increases muscle tone, relieves estrogen and progesterone hormonal imbalances and quells symptoms of hormonal imbalance. IGF-1 determines if cells will live or die, if nutrients will be taken up by a cell and if DNA damage is to be repaired. IGF-1 significantly balances hormonal swings, a significant growth factor benefit for women’s health.

It is essential to keep the hGH-IGF-1 axis in balance, especially as we age. Thus, if a woman is having symptoms of PMS or menopause and is on birth control pills or estrogen replacement therapy, it is only logical that she also balance her IGF-1 levels. A double-blinded, placebo controlled clinical study on a very small amount of homeopathic IGF-1 (femtomolar) demonstrated rapid relief of breast tenderness, spotting, nausea, headaches and bloating and the common symptoms from hormones out of balance. Homeopathy is designed to bring the body into balance, as does IGF-1. Homeopathic IGF-1 is an ideal way to guide the body back to optimal health and hormonal homeostasis.

IGF-1 is similar in some benefits to estrogen. Over the long term, estrogen builds stronger bones and prevents heart disease, and over the short term estrogen relieves a woman of night sweats and hot flashes. At the same time, too much estrogen raises the risks for suffering and life-threatening events. Estrogen in just the ‘right’ amount is important for health and vitality. The blessing is that IGF-1 also increases bone density, relieves heart problems and promotes normal blood flow. Homeopathic IGF-1 was clinically proven effective to address the same issues that women are told estrogen helps. If you are taking estrogen, then homeopathic IGF-1 is the most natural way to re-establish a balance in the hGH-IGF-1 signaling axis. This may be the safest, purest way to protect yourself from risks of cancer.