Detoxifying from Xenoestrogens

This is page 2 of a two-part article.

Obviously, one can’t completely avoid chemicals like xenoestrogens, so it’s also important to do some detoxification to help the body get rid of the xenoestrogens (and other chemicals) it is exposed to. The liver breaks down all excess hormones for elimination, so supporting the liver is very helpful. A good formula to use for general detoxification, including helping the liver get rid of xenoestrogens, is All Cell Detox. Another option is Enviro-Detox.

Cruciferous vegetables contain compounds that help the enzyme pathways in the liver to break down excess estrogens. Eating broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and other vegetables from the mustard family is a great way to support your liver’s detoxification efforts.  One of the compounds in these vegetables is Indole 3 Carbinol, which is available as a supplement. Indole 3 Carbinol is very helpful for getting rid of excess estrogen and can be helpful for any condition involving excess estrogen stimulation, including breast and reproductive cancers, uterine fibroids and fibrocystic breasts.

Phytoestrogens

Foods rich in phytoestrogens can also help protect the body from estrogen pollution. Phytoestrogens tend to be very weak in their effects, but they tie-up estrogen receptor sites so the stronger xenoestrogens can’t attach to them. Soy products are widely promoted for their phytoestrogenic effects, but too much soy isn’t good for you, so don’t over do it with the soy products. Instead, consume a wide variety of foods rich in phytoestrogens, such as beans and peas, dark green leafy vegetables and whole grains.

The lignans in flax seed are also phytoestrogenic compounds. So, flax seeds and flax seed oil containing lignans are good sources of beneficial phytoestrogens. A number of herbs are also viable sources of phytoestrogens, including black cohosh, licorice root and hops. Although I haven’t used it in my own clinical practice, Breast Assured is essentially a phytoestrogen supplement which can be taken regularly by women who are concerned about reducing exposure to xenoestrogens. It will help prevent breast cancer, breast lumps, uterine fibroids and other problems caused by excessive estrogen stimulation.

Progesterone

Increasing progesterone levels can also be helpful, as progesterone and estrogen are antagonists that compete for the same receptor sites. My first choice in helping to balance these hormones would be vitex or chaste tree berry, which works on the pituitary to help regulate female hormone balance. It is a slow-acting herb and works best when taken regularly for three to six months. It is found in the Wild Yam and Chaste Tree Combination.

For women who experience heavy bleeding due to excessive estrogen, there are three remedies that can help balance these hormones. One is false unicorn, which has a progesterone-like effect. It has been used to prevent miscarriage (as in the story at the beginning of the article) and can also be used to combat heavy bleeding and estrogen-based conditions.

Sarsaparilla can also be used. It has a more testosterone-like effect. Yes, women also make testosterone, just like men make estrogen, and increasing testosterone can also help balance out female hormones.

Menstrual-Reg is a formula I helped to design. It is used for heavy bleeding and contains herbs to balance hormones and control bleeding. Like chaste tree, it works best when taken regularly for a period of several months. Adding one capsule of yarrow per two capsules of Menstrual-Reg will improve its effectiveness against heavy bleeding, especially in the case of uterine fibroids.

Progesterone creams would be my last choice in balancing out excess estrogen. I realize that many women find them helpful, but they are not correcting the diet or the internal balance of hormones. In other words, they are treating the effect without dealing with the cause. Also, you can get too much progesterone as well as too much estrogen.

You can get your hormones tested, and creams can be compounded which contain the right amounts of natural estrogen, progesterone and/or testosterone to properly balance your system. However, I’d try dietary changes and herbal supplements first and use this route only if you have serious problems that need immediate attention or have failed to find solutions through diet and herbs.

In closing, as I was in the process of writing this article I was invited to speak to a breast cancer survivor group. Because all but one of the women in the group (the one who invited me to speak) had gone the medical route in their cancer treatment, I chose to speak about the problem of xenoestrogens. It was interesting that nobody knew anything about xenoestrogens at the beginning of my lecture, but by the end of my lecture they all realized that avoiding xenoestrogens would be helpful for both preventing and treating breast cancer. People need to be educated, so please share this information with anyone who may need it.