Pretty much everyone has heard of the microbiome by now. But im wondering how many have heard of the Estrobolome?!

Today I want to take a moment to explain why your gut health is inherently linked to your hormone health -and why taking only hormone- altering herbs or medications is a self-limiting approach to treatment if not coupled with dietary and emotional interventions.

But before I do that, I need to take you up the body to the liver, where all of the toxins, medications, chemicals and ‘bad estrogens’ are detoxified through a process called GLUCORONIDATION. They are then ‘conjugated’, or bound up into an inert form, and then sent to the gut for elimination.

If there is gut dysbiosis, or an overgrowth of ‘bad bugs’, they will have an increased production of an enzyme called beta glucuronidase, which in turn UNBINDS (or deconjugates) those bound estrogenic toxins, allowing their reuptake back into the body, which in turn generates an estrogen dominant state. (IF this is activated chronically, think PCOS, Endometriosis, Breast and Prostate cancer, etc).

So What is the Estrobolome?

By definition, it is the collection of microbes in your gut that helps to regulate specific ‘bad’ types of estrogen. It is the delicate balance between the anti-inflammatory ‘good bugs’, and the beta gluc. – producing ‘bad bugs’.

Symptoms and signs that you’re estrogen dominant and could have dysbiotic estrobolome:

• PMS or PMDD
• PCOS, Endometriosis, heavy painful periods
• Headaches or migraines
• Infertility or absent periods
• Breast tenderness or lumps

So how does mental health play a role in this equation? Well, anything that directly effects the microbiome will naturally effect this area of the gut flora as well. 

It is very well documented that chronic stress or trauma reaps havoc on the quality and diversity of the gut flora – from weakening your stomach acid (which normally maintains the pH of the small intestine well enough to prevent SIBO overgrowth), to driving down Secretory IgA levels and making you more prone to infection and dysbiosis.

Naturopathic, nutritional and holistic approaches are always best when it comes to complex system such as the human body. Remember that treating just your hormones is never going to be your ticket out. The rest needs to be addressed as well. If in doubt, take it back to the way nature intended.

If you are interested in taking this path, I am here to help you, just schedule an Free Discovery Call with me and let's talk!

XX - Claire