The endocrine system is tasked with keeping our hormones in check. However, there are a few hormones that everyone can control. Here, Marla Ahlgrimm takes a look at four of these.

Epinephrine

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, epinephrine is best known as the “fight-or-flight” hormone.  You may know it by its common name, adrenaline. Epinephrine/adrenaline is released in response to danger. For example, you are driving down the road when an oncoming vehicle suddenly swerves into your lane. They correct their position and you continue driving unharmed. But your heart is racing, your body tingling, and you experience a surge of energy and heightened awareness of the road around you. This is epinephrine at work. Controlled breathing is the best way to regulate secretion of this hormone and help you regain control of your body.

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Thanks to modern medicine, we understand how the endocrine system works, says Marla Ahlgrimm. We know that the brain stimulates the production of different hormones in response to physical and emotional situations. For example, we know that menopause is triggered by a reduction in the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone and that PMS is also controlled by hormones. But it wasn’t always that way. It wasn’t until the mid-1800s that doctors started to seriously consider that something other than God controlled the human body.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, in 1848 Dr. Arnold Berthold performed what many consider the first scientific experiment relating to hormones. In this simple study, the good doctor castrated a pair of roosters. Soon, their bright red combs, a sign of fertility in the species, became faded and dull.

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Honey isn’t just a sweet treat. According to women’s health expert Marla Ahlgrimm, the naturally delicious semi-liquid has a number of health and beauty benefits. Here are just a few:

Honey is moisturizing

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, women with excessively dry but sensitive skin may wish to look at honey as a facial moisturizer. The retired pharmacist explains that the sugars in the sticky syrup are natural humectants that can actually boost the skin’s water content, even after being washed away. As an added bonus, honey enzymes will gently exfoliate skin.

Honey fades scars and may help heal certain types of wounds

Honey was used by Native Americans to help warriors injured in battle or while hunting. It is a natural antioxidant that Marla Ahlgrimm claims may even reduce scarring. Honey, when applied to a skin abrasion, can reduce the chances of infection if used prior to bandaging. Simply add a dab to the wound, rinse, and wrap.

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When you think of a hormone imbalance, you likely think about moodiness and acne. However, according to HRT specialist and retired pharmacist Marla Ahlgrimm, there are a number of issues that can arise that you would never link to your endocrine system.

Weird symptom #1: Excessive hunger

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, hormones are responsible for the ravenous cravings you may feel just before your period. But they can also make you hungry at other times if they are out of balance. Hormone imbalance caused by adrenal dysregulation can tell your brain that you need a salty or sweet snack pretty much every minute of the day.

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One common concern among child-bearing-age women is whether taking antibiotics could have an effect on birth control. The answer, Marla Ahlgrimm asserts, is yes, specifically for women taking estrogen-based oral contraceptive.

Marla Ahlgrimm reports that antibiotics can have a negative effect on estrogen-based oral contraceptives. This is because antibiotics, which are meant to kill bacteria that trigger infection and illness, also attack healthy bacteria in the gut that activates certain types of birth control.

According to Marla Ahlgrimm, one of the first indications of antibiotic interference is mid-cycle bleeding, spotting outside of a period. This is a good sign that any oral birth controls being taken may be less effective and that sexual contact should be avoided if other forms of birth control are not immediately available. It is important to note that topical antibiotics, such as creams and gels, are not likely to affect birth control as they are not absorbed into the bloodstream. These are ointments used to heal cuts and scrapes.

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If you’ve ever needed an extra reason to curl up under a warm blanket, keep reading as Marla Ahlgrimm answers questions about why sleep is so important and how to get a restful 40 winks each night.

Q: What are the health benefits of sleep?

Marla Ahlgrimm: Getting a good night’s sleep is vital to your health. Not only does it help keep your memory intact, but getting the right amount of sleep, between seven and nine hours each night, may actually extend your life.

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