There are several factors that need to be assessed when investigating the root cause of increased hair loss, however if nutrient deficiencies, thyroid and adrenal dysfunction have been ruled out, a hormone imbalance may be suspected. Elevations in androgens like testosterone or dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can play a significant role in male and female hair loss. DHT can bind to specific proteins in the body which can shrink the size of hair follicles, leading to increased hair shedding. After a thorough initial assessment, our naturopaths can order specialized testing to provide a clear picture of the factors contributing to your hair loss and then work with you to address it.

Many of our clients struggle with insomnia in some way. For some, it’s difficult to fall asleep and for others it’s the annoyance of waking up in the night or waking in the morning still feeling exhausted. The most common cause of poor sleep quality is a hormonal imbalance and this can be related to excess cortisol, low levels of thyroxine thyroid hormone, fluctuations in progesterone postpartum or even a slight excess of estrogen in relation to progesterone. Our naturopaths start with thorough testing to identify the root cause of sleep disorders and then design a holistic treatment plan to optimize sleep quality without the need for prescription sleeping pills.

You would benefit from working with one of naturopaths who can order thorough hormone testing if you have noticed a sudden appearance of new or unusual symptoms, such as a change in skin health, hair growth, mood, weight, libido, sleep quality, menstrual cycles or brain function, just to name a few. It can also be helpful to check hormone levels after a period of chronic stress, pregnancy, a physically or emotionally traumatic event, or if you suspect that andropause or menopause is approaching. If you’ve been diagnosed with a thyroid condition or suspect you may have hypothyroidism, it can be extremely beneficial to do comprehensive testing of thyroid hormones and thyroid antibody levels, as well as adrenal hormones and assess for nutrient deficiencies.

One of our most comprehensive testing options for assessing hormone levels is done through a simple dried urine test which can be done at home and sent to a local Toronto lab for analysis. The test requires 4 urine samples, collected over a period of 2 days. The report includes all the essential sex hormones, as well as an evaluation of metabolized hormones and hormone stores. Our naturopaths are able to use the test to get a view of how well your liver functions to process hormones and convert them into their metabolized forms. The test also looks at stress hormone levels, including your cortisol awakening response and cortisol conjugation patterns. Breast cancer risk and efficiency of estrogen metabolism are also assessed using clinically relevant estrogen ratios, in conjunction with an important precursor hormone, 17-OH-pregnenolone.