The human body is an amazingly complex mechanism. This complexity is for the most part seamlessly controlled with little conscious effort by the actions of minute amounts of substances called hormones. These chemical messengers circulate in our bloodstream and control myriad actions in the body. With aging, their levels tend to fluctuate, which often causes problems.

Hormones exist in the body in two forms, free and bound. Only the free form actively communicates with the body’s cells. When overall hormone balance moves too far from normal, symptoms appear. Both sexes may suffer from hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, headaches, irritability and reduced sexual ability or libido. Men, in particular, may suffer from a loss of muscle mass, as well as erectile dysfunction. Restoring hormone levels to biological normal values can go a long way toward resolving symptoms and improving health.

Laboratory tests of blood samples typically measure total hormone value—a combination of both free and bound forms. Saliva tests, which measure only the critically important free values, are accurate, inexpensive and easily done at home. Saliva is collected at home and mailed to a laboratory that performs the test. Results are typically returned within 10 to 14 days.

It is especially important to measure free hormone levels prior to trying to rebalance them. A simple salivary hormone test can show which are out of balance. Subsequent supplementation with herbs and nutrients or natural bio-identical hormones can help realign imbalances, resulting in a reduction of symptoms and a restoration of youthful vigor.

Source: James Occhiogrosso, ND. For more information, call 239-498-1547 or visit HealthNaturallyToday.com.