The ZRT Saliva Test is an easy and accurate way to measure female and male hormone balances or imbalances. With the information derived from this test, your provider can begin to work with you to bring your hormone levels into proper balance and help to alleviate symptoms associated with specific imbalances.

To learn why Dr. Marcantel prefers to use saliva testing rather than blood testing for certain hormone levels, read her article “Hormone Testing: Saliva or Serum Blood Testing?”

Dr. Marcantel typically uses two types of hormone panels when working with her patients who are showing symptoms of hormonal imbalances:

ZRT Profile I Female/Male Saliva Hormone Testing

Five hormone prepaid lab kit. One tube, with the specimen collected in the morning. This is a good basic assessment of men’s and women’s hormones and an adrenal function hormone (to measure cortisol stress) collected in the morning when levels should be at their peak. Tests include Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (Pg), Testosterone (T), DHEA (DS), and morning Cortisol (C1).

ZRT Profile III Female/Male Saliva Hormone Testing

Eight hormone prepaid lab kit. Four tubes, with the specimen collected four times during the day: morning, noon, afternoon, and evening. This panel provides a comprehensive assessment of adrenal cortisol stress hormones and total sex hormone function; recommended for those with excessive stress, chronic fatigue, and sleep disorders. The Saliva Profile III provides an in-depth evaluation of hormone balances and interrelationship of your specific hormone levels as related to symptoms of menopause, perimenopause, pre-menopause, most-menopause, andropause, and adrenal function. The eight tests measure Estradiol (E2), Progesterone (Pg), Testosterone (T) DHEA (DS), and all four Cortisol adrenal levels throughout the day (C1, C2, C3, C4).

Purchase a ZRT Saliva Test through our online store.

View a YouTube video from ZRT on how to collect a saliva sample

Learn about other specialty lab tests offered by Dr. Marcantel

The endocrine system is a collection of glands that produce and regulate hormones that control many functions of the body. Once these hormones are released into the bloodstream, they find their way to specific “target cells” and inform those cells what to do next. There are too many different hormones to list them all here, but the following is a brief primer on some of those that are mentioned often in articles on this website.

Estrogen—Sex hormones that are present in both men and women, but in significantly greater quantities in women. They perform many functions, but chiefly estrogens affect the reproductive system and are responsible for the female characteristics of feminine curves, breasts, menstruation, and pregnancy. Estrogens are produced in the ovaries (the testes in men) and in smaller amounts in the adrenal gland. The three natural estrogens are estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), and estriol (E3).

Progesterone—A steroid hormone that is produced in women during ovulation or during pregnancy. Small amounts are also produced by the adrenal glands. It has many metabolic functions, and can have a mild sedative effect that promotes calmness and relaxation.

Testosterone—The main male sex hormone, but it is also found in women. It plays an important role in maintaining bone and muscle mass and affects the reproductive system, as well as promoting a sense of psychological well-being.

DHEA—Secreted by the adrenal glands and serves as a precursor to male and female sex hormones (androgens and estrogens).

Cortisol—Often called the “stress hormone,” it is produced in the adrenal gland and helps the body deal with both physical and emotional stresses.

TSH—Thyroid Stimulating Hormone is secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain and causes the thyroid to release thyroid hormone.

T3 and T4—The two major hormones produced by the thyroid gland. Thyroid hormones affect a great number of biological functions in the body.

Hormonal Interactions

We often talk about specific hormone problems as though they can be treated individually, but it’s important to understand that all the hormones interact with and affect each other. Because of that interaction we need to be aware of how all the components of the endocrine system are functioning if we’re to successfully balance the hormones and bring the body into a state of homeostasis. The following are just a few examples of hormonal interactions to help you understand why a holistic approach to treatment is necessary.

*Cortisol and thyroid—We need a proper amount of cortisol in the body in order to allow thyroid to work efficiently. I say that cortisol is like a car that carries thyroid hormone out of the blood and into the cell in order for the thyroid to work. On the other hand, too much cortisol can actually block the passage of thyroid into the cell. This means that before we can get thyroid hormones functioning properly in the body we may first have to make sure that the adrenal glands are healthy and that cortisol levels are where they should be. This can be done by measuring the cortisol with a salivary hormone test.

*Cortisol and progesterone—Progesterone is the “mother” hormone that is a precursor or building block that can turn into other hormones in the body, such as cortisol, DHEA, testosterone, and estradiol. When the body is under chronic stress too much progesterone may turn into cortisol in order to handle the stress, leaving too little of the progesterone to turn into DHEA, testosterone, and estradiol. This results in tests showing low levels of these hormones and the patient may have symptoms that accompany those low levels. I use the analogy that “mother progesterone” feeds the loudest baby (cortisol), and the other children (DHEA, testosterone, and estradiol) decrease in size because all the attention is being given to cortisol.

Another consideration is that if a person has low progesterone we may supplement it to help relax her so she can sleep better at night—progesterone turns into serotonin and then melatonin, promoting sleep. But if her cortisol is low and if she takes the progesterone at bedtime, the progesterone may turn into cortisol and actually keep her awake. For someone who’s taking progesterone at night and experiencing sleep problems I suggest they take the dose during the day to allow it to properly act in the body before bedtime.

*DHEA and testosterone—In the female body DHEA will turn into testosterone as needed. That’s why when a woman has low testosterone I prefer to give her DHEA instead of supplementing testosterone; this allows the wisdom of her body to turn DHEA into the amount of testosterone it needs. This can prevent the effects of too much testosterone such as facial hair, acne, or male pattern baldness.

Hormonal interactions can also cause a variety of symptoms that can make a proper diagnosis of imbalances a challenge:

*Hot flashes can be a symptom of not enough estrogen; but they can also occur from too much cortisol and/or too much estrogen.

*Chronic low DHEAS and/or testosterone levels may suggest adrenal fatigue, particularly if cortisol is also low and symptoms are indicative of low adrenal function.

*When the amount of estrogen is higher than the amount of progesterone, resulting in a low ratio of progesterone to estrogen, the decreased ratio can mimic symptoms of hypothyroidism such as unusual weight gain or chronic fatigue.

As you can see by these examples, diagnosing and treating hormonal imbalances can be challenging at times because there are so many different hormonal interactions to consider. Still, with patience and good communication between you and your doctor about symptoms and how you are responding to your treatment plan, you can find the balance and the quality of life and health that you’re seeking.

Saliva testing for hormone imbalances tends to more accurately relate to patient symptoms than serum blood testing. Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic doctor in Gilbert, AZ, who also serves the East Valley cities of Mesa, Chandler, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, Fountain Hills, Apache Junction, and the greater Phoenix area.

Most of the patients who come to see me have already explored books, the Internet, and other sources in an attempt to reach a diagnosis for the problems they’re having and to find solutions for their symptoms. When the interview takes us in the direction of possible hormone issues, I’ll ask what type of testing they’ve done to check hormone levels in the past.

Some have never had their hormones tested, but many tell me that they’ve had blood tests done and that their physicians have told them that the hormone results were “within normal limits.” Consequently, hormone therapy isn’t even considered and the treatment they receive is usually in the form of prescriptions for antidepressant, anti-anxiety, or sleeping medications. I tell them, “It’s not you that’s unbalanced; it’s most likely your hormones!”

Because many of these patients have done their health homework and are sensitive to their bodies’ signals (particularly the women), they are often confused about why they’re having what appear to be hormone-related symptoms when the blood tests show they are normal.  The answer lies in the type of laboratory testing that’s being used.

Steroid hormones such as estrogens, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, and others are mostly bound to carrier proteins in the bloodstream. It’s only the unbound 1-5% of these hormones that are actually available to target tissues and that actively exert specific effects on the body. Saliva tests, unlike serum (blood) tests, measure the level of these bioavailable hormones. Because of this, salivary hormone levels often relate to specific symptoms of hormone imbalances. A blood test, on the other hand, may show “normal” hormone levels but may not reveal how the hormones are actually affecting the body.

The laboratory we work with in our practice (ZRT Laboratory) uses extremely sensitive assay methods and reports the patient’s hormone test levels, the specific hormonal imbalances that relate to the patient’s current symptoms, and a comprehensive analysis of the findings. Follow this link to learn more about the ZRT hormone profiles we use.

If the test results warrant it, the doctor and patient can then mutually decide if they wish to pursue bioidentical hormone therapy or herbal treatments to help bring the hormones into a proper balance to relieve symptoms. Once treatment begins it’s very important to monitor levels regularly, so I require my patients to perform a second saliva test after six months and then annually as long as they are receiving hormone supplementation.

Saliva testing can help the patient and physician in several ways:

1. It can identify hormone imbalances before symptoms or diseases appear, thus promoting good preventive health practices.
2. It can identify specific hormone imbalances associated with symptoms, allowing the patient to understand why she or he is experiencing those symptoms and to pursue a proper treatment protocol.
3. It can monitor hormone levels while the patient is receiving treatment, thus allowing for individualized hormone dosing for optimum results.

Once we establish a baseline, we can work with patients to start bringing things into balance and get them feeling better. So many of them have said to me, “Oh! I’m not crazy after all—look at the levels of hormones that are out of range.” When they see the results of their saliva tests, they’re often relieved to see hormone levels that match up with their symptomology.

Pricing for ZRT Saliva Hormone Testing

View a YouTube video from ZRT on how to collect a saliva sample

]]> http://www.drmarcantel.com/hormone-testing-saliva-or-serum-blood-test/feed/ 0 http://www.drmarcantel.com/dr-oz-investigates-the-hcg-diet/ http://www.drmarcantel.com/dr-oz-investigates-the-hcg-diet/#comments Sat, 26 Feb 2011 03:33:55 +0000 Dr. Marcantel http://www.drmarcantel.com/?p=2347 Dr. Oz recently talked about the HCG diet on his program. Dr. Marcantel comments on some of the concerns that were raised as he investigated the diet. Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic doctor in Gilbert, Arizona, who also serves the East Valley cities of Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, Chandler, and the greater Phoenix area.

Dr. Oz dedicated part of his show recently to investigating the HCG diet. As he correctly pointed out, this extremely low-calorie diet is somewhat controversial and has both its champions and its detractors within the medical community. Here are a few of the concerns about the diet that were raised and Dr. Marcantel’s comments about them and why our program is different from many others that are offered:

*The strict 500-calorie diet that Dr. Simeons called for when he introduced the diet in the 1950′s can be potentially dangerous because of a lack of important vitamins and minerals. There were also reports on the show of side effects such as hair loss, irregular menstrual cycles, lack of energy, and others.

Dr. Marcantel: I agree that the original diet is much too restrictive. That is why we offer a revised diet that was designed by a nutritionist that contains a healthier variety of foods and approximately 800 calories a day. Along with the diet our program also provides a wide range of vitamins and nutritional supplements, including B vitamins, to help maintain energy and health while avoiding the reported side effects of the diet. Even with this revised diet and nutritional supplementation we see amazing results in loss of pounds and inches.

*People are buying homeopathic HCG drops off the Internet that contain little or no trace of the actual HCG hormone.

Dr. M: Our program uses only pharmaceutical grade hormone injections or sublingual drops.

*An extreme low-calorie diet should only be attempted under a doctor’s supervision.

Dr. M: I absolutely agree! That is why I only offer the HCG diet to patients who have first been admitted to my care and who have undergone thorough testing and given a complete medical history to me. Not everyone is a good candidate for this diet. In fact, I often will suggest that we work on getting the hormones balanced first to ensure that the patient will be able to effectively lose the weight and keep it off long-term. Sometimes just dealing with thyroid or other hormonal issues is enough to help a person start losing weight without doing the diet. If and when a person does start the HCG diet, I closely monitor their progress with weekly visits to make sure they stay healthy throughout the process.

*People who lose weight with quick-loss diets tend to put the weight back on.

Dr. M: This can certainly be true. One reason is that thyroid and estrogen imbalances can prevent maintenance of weight, and that’s why balancing hormones first is important. Also as part of my program I work with the patients to develop a whole new way of eating that can help them maintain a healthy weight for a lifetime. Frankly, the HCG diet is, for me, just one more tool that I have in my kit to help people on their journey to a healthier and happier life.

To learn all about the HCG diet program offered by Dr. Marcantel, visit our HCG Diet Central. You can find what is included in our program, the costs of the program, video testimonials from some of our patients, and much more.

To view video clips from Dr. Oz’s HCG show, follow this link.

PCOS can and should be properly treated and managed. Dr Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic doctor in Gilbert, AZ. She also serves Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, and the greater Phoenix area.

Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, also called PCOS, is a hormonal disorder that involves multiple organ systems within the body. This condition can affect females of all ages and encompasses a group of signs and symptoms that may include some but not necessarily all of the following:

*Irregular periods (menses) or no menstrual bleeding. This may include infrequent menses cycles occurring at 2, 3, or even 6-month intervals. The flow and length of periods may vary. These infrequent menstrual cycles or the absence of periods may lead to infertility from the lack of ovulation.

*Increased hair growth on the back, chest, or face. Patients may also experience male-pattern baldness or thinning hair, acne, or oily skin as a result of elevated testosterone levels.

*Weight gain and obesity can result from elevated insulin levels due to insulin resistance; untreated, this may lead to type 2 diabetes.

*Elevated cholesterol and hypertension may result from the resultant weight gain.

*Many (poly) cysts, or fluid-filled sacs, may be present in the ovaries.

The cause of PCOS in not definitely known, but it is believed to be linked to cellular insensitivity to the hormone insulin. The production of too much insulin can cause an imbalance in female hormone production leading to irregular menstrual cycles and infertility. There may be a genetic component in PCOS, and a good medical history should include a discussion about family members (particularly mother or sisters) who were diagnosed with the syndrome.

Testing

Testing for a diagnosis of PCOS may include several methods:

*A thorough physical examination that includes measurement of the abdominal girth, weight, and an assessment of unusual hair growth on the face, arms, or back.

*A medical history interview to gather details about symptomology and whether a family history of PCOS may be indicated.

*Blood tests to measure fasting insulin and glucose levels.

*Salivary hormone tests to measure testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, and progesterone-to-estrogen ratio levels.

* An ultrasound of the ovaries to rule out the presence of cysts on the ovaries.

Treatment

While there is no “cure” for PCOS, it can and should be successfully managed. A naturopathic approach to treatment can be very effective in helping women with PCOS lead healthy, virtually symptom-free lives.

*Specific botanicals and food supplements can be used to target and normalize hormone levels and support healthy ovulation.

*A healthy diet that includes high-fiber foods such as flaxseed is important. Liver support supplements are also helpful in decreasing high levels of testosterone in the body.

*A professionally guided weight loss program will decrease both weight and insulin levels. This can help prevent the long-term effects of PCOS such as heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

*A proper exercise regimen is also important. Research shows that a consistent exercise routine can be as effective as the medication metformin that is commonly used in PCOS to reduce insulin resistance.

If you or your doctor suspects Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, you should be properly screened for a diagnosis. Effective treatment and management of PCOS can mean not only a better quality of life now, but also avoiding other serious health problems in the future.

Many women turn to the birth control pill to help regulate their monthly cycles and for help with symptoms of PMS. The problem with this method is that the large doses of estrogen contained in birth control pills can cause hormonal imbalances with their own sets of side effects.

An alternative method for helping to regulate periods is the use of bioidentical hormones. PLEASE NOTE: Bioidentical hormones are NOT a form of birth control; they are not designed to suppress the natural function of the ovaries.

In this video, Brianna shares her story of why she decided to switch from birth control pills to bioidentical hormones for help with her monthly cycles.

Transcript:

Hi, everybody, I’m Brianna. I work for Dr. Marcantel as her receptionist and today I’m talking about my experience of being on the birth control pill.

When I was 16 years old I was having some menstrual issues like cramping and irregularity and PMS symptoms like moodiness–things that I’m sure a lot of women can relate to. So I talked with my GYN and she put me on the birth control pill. At the time, I don’t recall having a discussion with her about what the side effects were or anything like that; it just seemed like it was this “magic pill” that was going to fix my problems. I got on it mainly to regulate my cycles and to decrease cramping because those were my two main problems.

I was on the pill for two years and those two things were better, or so I thought, but I didn’t realize I was actually having a whole bunch of other symptoms during the time I was on the pill.

I started working for Dr. Marcantel when I was 18 and I started discussing some of the symptoms I was having with her. She had me do testing and I spoke with her after to go over the results and it showed that I had some pretty severe hormone imbalances.

When I talked to Dr. Marcantel about it, she not only explained the results to me but she actually took the time to explain what the correlation was specifically for being on the pill. I talked to Dr. Marcantel and I decided that what was best for me was to get off of the pill.

I’m regulated, so that’s great, and menstrual cramping is pretty much nonexistent, so those are the two main reasons I got on the pill. But also, being on bioidentical hormones and not on the pill has totally fixed my moods; my moods are much better, and a lot of other symptoms that I had have just improved greatly.

Hopefully this helps some girls who are my age to prevent some side effects or anything they may have later on or maybe to just give a different perspective to some women who are already on birth control.

Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Gilbert, Arizona, who also serves the East Valley cities of Chandler, Mesa, Scottsdale, Tempe, Queen Creek, Apache Junction, and the greater Phoenix area.

I’m a 35-year-old male who has been transformed by Dr. Marcantel’s weight loss program in just under a year. I have always been an active person and my health has always been important to me, but as I entered my 30′s my cholesterol and triglycerides had skyrocketed out of control due to a combination of genetics and diet. I work in a high stress environment and it began to take a toll on my health. I was still exercising regularly, but my metabolism wasn’t burning the fat and I knew I needed to do something other than the traditional “diet and exercise” conventional wisdom.

After first working with me to stabilize my hormones and adrenal glands, Dr. Marcantel suggested I try her version of the HCG diet, and the change in my health has been staggering. Since completing two rounds of the oral HCG drops and following Dr. Marcantel’s program I have dropped a total of 43 pounds. Most importantly, I was able to slash my triglycerides from around 600 to 102. My overall cholesterol, which had been near 300, is now 183 and my HDL/LDL ratio is now in the near perfect range. It’s amazing what you can accomplish inside of a year!

What I’ve learned most about the power of Dr. Marcantel’s weight loss program is that while it’s great to see the pounds go down on the scale every morning, it’s the inches of fat that disappear that I notice the most. Before I began I wore a 48 suit coat. Now my chest is 44 3/4. I used to wear a 38 waist in jeans (which were tight). Now I wear a 36 and they’re loose. I’ve even been able to squeeze into 34′s! Like a lot of men, I had gained weight in my face and neck. Prior to the program I had an 18 1/2 inch neck; now my neck is 16 inches. Needless to say, I’ve had to restock my wardrobe.

One of the biggest benefits of completing the program is the amount of confidence that I have gained in every aspect of my life. If you like the way you look, you will be a much happier and successful person. I am recommending Dr. Marcantel to anyone, male or female, who is looking to transform their health and body in a short period of time. I now weigh less than I did in high school!

See more HCG diet testimonials from Dr. Marcantel’s patients

How is Our Program Different?

1. We prepare you for long-lasting results.

How many diets have you tried? Many people find that with most diets they gain back everything they’ve lost within a few months of finishing a diet. If you don’t address health issues such as hormone imbalances, thyroid problems, and poor digestion before dieting you are often setting yourself up for failure. Dr. Marcantel is more concerned about your long-term health than she is about offering you a “quick-fix” diet. Learn how Dr. Marcantel will work with you to prepare for success.

Our protocol also includes an explicit maintenance diet to follow immediately after the fat-burning phase and then education on proper nutritional habits for a lifetime of healthy eating.

2. Your health is our first concern.

The HCG diet is a rigorous fast-loss program. Dr. Marcantel will only offer it to you after you have had proper medical screening and preparation. The diet we use is a revised, updated, and more nutritionally sound version of the original “Simeons protocol.” This diet, developed by a nutritionist, offers more calories per day and a much wider variety of foods than the original “Pounds and Inches” diet, but with the same amazing results.

3. We minimize side effects with proper nutritional supplementation.

People who have tried the original Simeons protocol have complained of side effects such as hair loss, low energy, muscle cramps, brittle nails, and dry skin. Because the diet depends on severe calorie restriction for a twenty-one day period it is necessary to supply the nutrients your body is missing. As part of our program package we provide targeted whole food supplements (not synthetic vitamins) that minimize possible side effects. Dr. Marcantel also administers four B12 shots during the fat-burning phase of the diet to supply the needed energy boost you need while restricting your caloric intake.

4. We offer comprehensive education and support.

Our program includes meeting with Dr. Marcantel to receive a thorough explanation of the diet and continued monitoring during the program. The program guide you receive includes detailed explanations about the various phases of the diet, extensive menu suggestions, and how to properly maintain your weight for a lifetime. We also have a Facebook support page exclusively for Dr. Marcantel’s patients who are participating in the HCG diet program.

Go to HCG Diet Central

Watch video testimonials from our HCG diet patients

Learn more about Dr. Marcantel’s services

See a complete list of fees for Dr. Marcantel’s services

]]> http://www.drmarcantel.com/4-reasons-to-choose-our-hcg-diet-program/feed/ 0 http://www.drmarcantel.com/mens-hormone-imbalances/ http://www.drmarcantel.com/mens-hormone-imbalances/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 23:15:18 +0000 Dr. Marcantel http://www.drmarcantel.com/?p=1987 Hormone imbalances can cause problems for men just as they do for women. Dr. Tina Marcantel is a naturopathic physician in Gilbert, AZ, who also serves the East Valley cities of Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Apache Junction, Queen Creek, and the greater Phoenix metro area.

Transcript:

I work with both women and men. I do see mostly women in my practice, but what usually happens is that we work with the woman and we start getting her more balanced and when she’s feeling better the husband notices and starts getting excited about it and then he comes in. I’m seeing this as more and more of a trend that the woman will start getting more balanced in her life and the man will notice that and make an appointment and come in.

I do have quite a number of men that have found me off the Internet–they’ve looked at my website. They come in with a variety of things; for them sometimes a low motivation and drive, we look at their testosterone. Men go through something called andropause–the women go through menopause–and with men it’s a bit different. When their testosterone decreases it’s usually a slow decrease. With women it’s more of an abrupt decrease. That’s why she shows more of the symptomology.

Men will come in needing to check their hormones and also we want to look at their annual PSA levels [to check for prostate cancer risk], CBC [complete blood count], and chem panels. We also want to look at the thyroid. We have had a lot of men recently who’ve been diagnosed with hypothyroidism.

Learn more about Dr. Marcantel’s services

Get a list of all of our fees

See this page for contact information

Transcript:

We are starting to get more and more women that are bringing in their daughters now. It’s so good to see–it’s preventative medicine.

The first thing the mother says is, “They’re terrible around their PMS symptoms, and their breasts are hurting them, and they’re irritable, and it’s just very difficult to be around my young girl at this time.” So they bring them in and we do a salivary hormone test, check their estrogen and their progesterone, testosterone, DHEA–because we also want to rule out stuff like PCOS [polycystic ovary syndrome] and things such as that.

But this is an indication that, most of the time, we see low progesterone. And what we do is either give them botanicals or we give them a little bit of progesterone cream and it works wonders. I much prefer to use bioidentical estrogen and progesterone when I have to–I don’t use the synthetic.

So, all that said, the estrogen dominance is big in the United States and the mothers are bringing the girls in at an earlier age. It’s great to see that; it’s a preventative. Less girls on the birth control pill because that in itself is somewhat–well, it’s not natural to be suppressing our ovarian function like that.

Learn more about estrogen dominance and hormone imbalances by viewing these videos and articles:

What Is Estrogen Dominance?

Causes and Symptoms of Estrogen Dominance

Endometriosis, Uterine Fibroids, and Estrogen Dominance

Estrogen Dominance: Losing the Healthy Hormonal Balance

Hormone Imbalances In Young Women