The Pill, a.k.a Hormone Imbalance Tablets
Before my research frenzy that turned into Quit PMS, I struggled for years with really horrific menstrual cycles. In 9th grade, my mom, wholly sympathetic because she experienced the same symptoms when she was younger, took me to the doctor and inquired about putting me on The Pill. Why? Because this was the solution that provided her relief in the past.
This was years before I plowed into the world of alternative medicine, so it was my habit to take any medications the doctors doled out to me – even though the pharmacy-worth of meds for my ulcerative colitis were doing zip-zero-nada for my health. Fortunately, something inside me deeply and violently opposed this suggestion and I staunchly refused the prescription.
Hormonal birth control is often used as a way to dampen painful period symptoms. It’s even given to women as a way to control acne, a skin disorder properly treated by diet and a holistic skin care regimen. Due to the permanent health-robbing effects of The Pill, which is passed on through generations, women must thoroughly educate themselves before using birth control pills as a contraceptive method or a way to reduce period symptoms.
Use the following steps to help recover your health after using any type of hormonal birth control.
The Devastating Damages of The Pill
Birth control pills (BCPs) literally rob the body of nutrients required for vitality:
- BCPs deplete folate and this can cause serious health problems because lack of folate disrupts DNA metabolism
- BCPs deplete vitamins B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12, which may lead to irritability, depression, insomnia and fatigue.
- BCPs deplete zinc and this in turn lowers the immune system and encourages insulin resistance
- BCPs deplete magnesium, leading to a chain reaction of mineral imbalances in the body (Source)
- BCPs permanently disrupts the balance of healthy bacteria in the digestive tract. This means reduced nutrient assimilation, lowered immunity, and the overgrowth of pathogens like Candida. Since gut flora is passed on from mother to baby, the mother’s imbalanced gut health is passed on to her children, and likely even her grandchildren (Source – Dr. Natasha Campbell McBride).
Those serious deficiencies and imbalances that result from taking birth control pills translate into these more visible symptoms:
- Weight gain
- Water retention
- Hair loss
- Reduced libido
- Depression
How to fix Hormone Imbalance from The Pill
The following steps are a priority for any woman who has taken birth control pills (or any other form of hormonal birth control). Whether you took The Pill years ago or if you have just decided to transition off it, these steps will support healing and balance after the severe hormonal disruption resulting hormonal birth control.
1. Ditch all sources of excess estrogen
To achieve hormone balance, we must identify and eliminate sources of excess estrogen. The Pill contributes to a condition called Estrogen Dominance, where too much circulating estrogen throws all hormones out of whack and creates a hot mess of symptoms. Even women (and men) who have not taken the pill can suffer from estrogen dominance, due to the high levels of estrogen in our diet and body care products.
Xenoestrogens are chemicals that look like estrogen. They attached to estrogen receptors, overburdening the body with estrogenic effects. Yes, it’s scary but true: the products we use on our body can significantly disrupt our hormones. Common sources of xenoestrogens include:
- Plastics that leach chemicals into food
- Conventional body care products
- Conventional cosmetics
Steps to reduce exposure to xenoestrogens include switching to non-toxic cosmetics, hair care and skincare (click those linked words for my specific recommendations).
Phytoestrogens, found in plant sources, also attach to estrogen receptors. Again, they do not act exactly like our own estrogen. Research is highly variable on the health detriments and benefits of phytoestrogen intake. I do not recommend consuming foods high in phytoestrogens, particularly when struggling with acne. Men, boys, and young girls should use more care to avoid phytoestrogens. Common sources of phytoestrogens include:
- Flaxseeds
- Soy products
- Sesame seeds
2. Support your hormonal negative-feedback loop
Most of the hormones in the body are governed by negative feedback, which works like your household thermostat. Say you set your thermostat to 72 degrees and the room temperature is 69 degrees. The heater kicks in to warm the room up. When the temperature reaches 72 degrees, the heat shuts off until the temperature drops again.
Hormonal birth control wreaks havoc on this system and actually shut off our body’s hormonal negative-feedback loop. It’s like adding a space heater and the furnace shuts off because it isn’t needed. Supporting the negative-feedback loop through supplementation provides support during a period of hormonal catastrophe. Going back to the heating example, the right supplement can help wake the furnace up again so things function as normal.
Biotics Cytozyme PT/HPT is a unique supplement containing lamb pituitary and hypothalamus tissue. Glandular treatment – the ingestion of small amounts of animal glands – is a traditional treatment practiced by ancient healers from across the globe. The pituitary and hypothalamus tissue (from lamb) in this supplement directly affects the performance of your own pituitary and hypothalamus, the key players in the negative feedback loop. Most women benefit by taking 2-5 tablets per day, taken in divided doses with breakfast and lunch, for the duration of 1 – 2 bottles.
2. Use the moon to support your cycles
Women’s menstrual cycles are wired to be in sync with the moon. In all early societies, before industrialism and processed foods disrupted traditional cultures, all women ovulated at the full moon and menstruated at the new moon. This is our default setting, but The Pill (as well as poor diet and stress) disrupt this pattern.
Fortunately, because the female reproductive hormones are so sensitive to light, we can naturally re-train and regulate our menstrual cycle simple night lighting technique that mimics the pattern of the moon. I avidly practice this simple routine, called Lunaception, and I explain how to do it here.
3. Replenish your nutrient deficiencies
Unless you want to read a whole book here, I can’t discuss entire dietary protocol for repairing the nutritional deficiencies caused by hormonal birth control. Replenishing nutrient deficiencies are key to regaining hormone balance. Besides focusing on a real food diet and reading the details in Quit PMS, these three time-honored foods provide potent nutrient-building properties:
- Homemade bone broth, rich in minerals Drink 12-16 oz. per day.
- Himalayan salt helps your body balance hormone production and use the vitamins and minerals from your food. Take as much as is pleasant – salt all your food to taste and add a pinch to your drinking water.
- Liver from pastured animals – although viewed as gross or old-fashioned, properly sourced liver is perhaps the most powerful food for rebuilding nutrient deficiencies. Chicken liver boasts the mildest flavor. Sauté in butter or enjoy in homemade paté and enjoy a 2-3 oz. serving twice per week. Alternatively, you can opt for dessicated liver capsules.
4. Support your gut flora
If you’ve taken The Pill, some permanent damage to healthy gut bacteria has taken place. Fortunately, numerous resources allow you to repair and rebuild some of the flora disruption. A healthy balance of gut flora provides a foundation for hormonal equilibrium.
First, ensure a steady income of probiotics by consuming naturally-fermented foods or beverages daily. Yogurt, pickles, sour cream, and sauerkraut are traditionally made through fermentation, which preserves the food and increases its nutritive value. Now, most commercial versions of the foods are quickly processed or processed with heat, so they don’t provide significant probiotics. You can learn how to make your own fermented veggies and beverages at home, or find brands like Bubbies and Firefly Kitchens that create naturally-fermented, raw veggies.
You’ll also want to take a clinical-strength probiotic supplement to help repair the damage. Good probiotics are few and far between, however! After much research and after talking to my mentors, I recommend this one and this one. Take one capsule, of each or both, in the morning and evening.
Have you used birth control pills or other forms of hormonal birth control? Did you notice the hormone imbalances and are you working to address the problems?
Do you have any information regarding hormone imbalance after one has had everything out, ovaries, womb, tubes. – hysterectomy ? i was on a different type of hormone replacement which was stopped after I turned 55 but am still having hot flushes now and then and experiencing other symptoms re hormones.
Regards,
Shayna
Do not take Biotics Cytozyme PT/HPT . It involves the suffering and death of innocent lambs. If you are a meat eater Im sure you will not care; but for those of us with a conscience and a heart it is very unfair and cruel on those beautiful little creatures. They do not deserve a life of suffering, fear, misery and then a frightening death sentence. Please dont give your money to keeping these evil businesses alive.
I was thinking the exact same thing. It’s unfortunate that this article promotes the consumption of animal products (bone broth, liver, lamb tissue, butter!?), when in reality, animal products are so acidic that they promote disease in the body. They’re also linked to many of the symptoms that we’re trying to avoid with hormone imbalance (anxiety, depression, acne, inconsistent periods, weight gain).
There are many ways to repair your body without having to exploit animals. Simply removing animal products (especially meat that has been pumped with hormones) and all processed foods from your diet will bring you a long way to optimal health, and will eliminate almost, if not all, of the symptoms associated with hormonal imbalance. Probiotics and dandelion root tea are also a great addition. Detoxing your body does not require dead animal organs. It’s 2017.
You literally commented what I was about to say 🙂 thank you for addressing this!!! So so sooo important
Those little lambs grow to be full grown quite quickly and I bet money they are well taken care of their entire life. Quit making this into an issue. God put animals on this planet for us, to help us and the planet. Don’t label me as a cold hearted person because I enjoy the benefits animals provide us from food to automotive byproducts to medical. Do you drive a car? Have you ever used a bandaid? Or has anyone you loved been saved by having a heart valve replaced? All these and many more come from animals. There is no way to be even a vegan and never use animal by products. The only way you can truly be animal free is when you are dead in the ground. Just because I like to eat a no vegetarian diet doesn’t mean I have no heart. It just means I’m doing what God and the Bible directs me to do and will use the tools he gave us to survive. We are animals too only we are given the gift of being at the top of the chain. A wolf is a cold hearted killer that will kill for sport and leave the carcass to rot. If we harvest the whole animal for good use, and give thanks to God for the blessings how is that cold hearted and wrong? Please quit crying over this poor abused animal plea that isn’t there. It’s the true meaning of a loveless, cold heart.
Well said!
I have been on continuous bcp for 7 years due to endometriosis. I have had surgery for it twice. I started my period at age 11 and since the beginning they have been absolutely debilitating. The horrid pain in my sides, abdomen, and back are what sent me to a reproductive endocrinologist and he recommended the surgery and confirmed the endo diagnosis and after my first surgery and starting the bcp, I felt 100% better and lost 45#. A year later, the pain came back. Second surgery removed more lesions. Since 2011, I have had no pain or issues though 2 years ago I gained the weight back. Also, I ran out of my rx for bcp for one month last year and2 days after missing the pill, period started and the pain sent me to the ER. After getting back on the pill, all pain went away again. I want to get off the bcp as I know the health risks but I literally have the most horrible pain to where I cannot function as soon as my period starts. How can I even begin to try to tackle the hormone imbalances if I cannot even function at home? Also, ovulating is what causes the endo to flare up and can lead to another surgery. I feel stuck.
I have read a lot of good things about the DIM supplement. There’s several different brands out there, but the reviews on Amazon for most of them look very hopeful. Basically it helps flush out extra estrogen.
You don’t need birth control pills. What’s helping you is the progesterone. Use an over-the-counter progesterone cream from the natural foods store. Experiment. I suspect this will help.
Are glandular supplements safe?
I have stopped taking Birthcontrol in august 2015 and developed anxiety,OCD, and just fear and severe general anxiety and OCD. I’m only 25 and have been suffering for almost two years I took two hormonal blood test two years ago and it was normal. I have not gotten better I even tried anti depressants for several months (two brands,different dosage) therapy etc and nothing please email me for anyone who has made improvements or have any recommendation will start follow this luandgii@gmail.com i also have a WhatsApp group for those who want to join those who have hormonal imbalances from stopping the pill the group will be open forever so even if u see this months after I post please join https://chat.whatsapp.com/KOWFob85wTIDw9xjcGYSRA
Hi andrea
Your post sounds exactly how i feel. I stopped bcp last oct in the hope of getting pregnant. Since about jan i jus feel like i plummeted emotionally. I became totally paranoid about my relationship for no reason. I keep pushing my husband away an now i feel like im questionin my feelings an iv no reason too. Hes been nothin but amazin. But i am constanly anxious an it is crippling me. Have you any suggestions? I have an amazin life tht i just cant seem to enjoy an its all since i stopped the damn pill!
I stopped in July and have been going through the same thing. Anxiety seems better, thankfully but it’s been replaced by depression and hair loss. Anxiety and heart palpitations were so bad I ended up in A&E. These drug companies are poisoning us and GPs are totally useless.
Stopped the pill for 5 months. On the pill I suffered with heart palpitations and anxiety. Stopping the pill I’ve delt with major depression and horrible thoughts. One thing after another ☹️
Hello.
I wonder if you still recommend the chaste tree berry from Dr Christophers? I’d like to take it to hormone balance but I’m not sure.
Thank you very much for your help.
Kindly Marianne
For months I have been taking oral pills and now have bloated and also I feel my vagina is watery and loose,I can’t tell if its the side effect of the drug or maybe in some point in life the vagina walls looses its elasticity.please I need help I feel less confident because of this condition kindly help.more over my vaginal is often moist or watery but is odourless and doesn’t itch please help.
The progestin in birth control pills messes up some people. Try stopping the birth control pill.
Thank you so much for this info!
I started taking birth control for only a month and it sent me into the worst nervous breakdown probably of my whole life. I am pretty sensitive to differences in my awareness. I regret trying birth control pills in the first place, but I had no idea the effects would be so severe. I can’t even fathom the level of insanity I was led to experience artificially, between anxiety and depression.
I have stopped taking them for a little over a week, and still am feeling a little crazy. I have been trying to be as healthy as possible to replenish this imbalance. It amazes me how much a tiny chemical daily can effect your whole reality. I appreciate your awareness and solutions to this, thank you so much!!!! God bless
Your idea that women in sync menstruated at the new moon and ovulated at the full moon is false and I can prove this through Islam.
Our oral traditions go back to the life of the Prophet Muhammad and this concept you mention was not observed then. This was in a completely unindustrialized society because his wife Aisha was asked if Muhammad ever had wheat bread, to which her reply is that he would only be eating it in Paradise. The bread they had was heavy and almost black, and completely unleavened. Their diet consisted of milk (usually camel milk), butter (from the same source), camels goats and sheep, dates (from unopened to ripened to dried), honey, goards, black seed, barley, water. Their favorite dessert was dates and butter.
And their menstrual cycles only differed from ours with the age they started (around 9 to 10 was average) and that most PMS symptoms were absent. But women menstruated all over the calendar and this is seen regarding reports of Ramadan (which begins and ends with the new moon) and women mentioning which days they had to make up, as even the Arabs knew dry fasting while menstruating or in post natal bleeding was not healthy.
So your myth of moon cycling is just that – a myth.
I’m actually surprised you don’t recommend raw carrot, as mature carrots contain a fiber which cleans out excess estrogen. Obviously carrot juice has almost all the fiber stripped from it so that won’t benefit much, but I eat raw carrot frequently to help reduce my estrogen dominance. (Constipation can actually worsen estrogen dominance btw.)
I agree that menstrual cycles would vary, but a menstrual cycle is traditionally referred to as a “moon cycle” in many cultures for a reason… it correlated to the moon cycles. And yes, I love the raw carrot tip! I have a separate article on that here, http://empoweredsustenance.com/raw-carrot-a-day/ for those interested, but it would be a great addition to this post.
Was wondering about you section that says to avoid flaxseeds as thats one of the seeds used in seed cycling as a way of balancing hormones. I really want to balance my hormones after going off the pill and want to try seed cycling but am now conflicted by differing information about the seed. I already suffer from hormonal related acne hence I do not want to aggravate this.