• antihistamines are anti-allergy drugs that stop the release of histamine, preventing symptoms from occurring.
• nasal and optical decongestants shrink the swollen blood vessels of the nose and eyes, relieving the symptoms of swelling and irritation.
• topical creams soothe, moisturise and relieve the itchy, burning sensation common to allergy affected skin. Some are antiseptic or anti-inflammatory and act as a mild local anaesthetic.
• desensitisation is a series of injections to reduce the body’s response to the offending substance.

DHEA may potentiate the action of thyroid hormones, and in some individuals a reduction in dosage (of the thyroid hormones) may therefore be necessary.

Share This ]]> http://www.watchealth.com/treatments/possible-benefits-of-dhea.html/feed http://www.watchealth.com/treatments/what-is-dhea-dehydroepiandrosterone.html http://www.watchealth.com/treatments/what-is-dhea-dehydroepiandrosterone.html#comments Sat, 06 Oct 2007 22:37:23 +0000 admin http://www.watchealth.com/treatments/what-is-dhea-dehydroepiandrosterone.html

Contrary to popular (misinformed) belief, DHEA is not a banned or prohibited substance in Australia, though its use (in high doses) in an attempt to enhance athletic performance is not permitted; DHEA is a legal prescription-only medicine, so can therefore be obtained when prescribed by a qualified doctor. As a naturally occurring substance, it cannot be patented, and therefore pharmaceutical companies have no interest in producing it - it can however, be obtained (on prescription) through compounding pharmacists. Homoeopathic DHEA, sold legally without prescription, in health food stores and pharmacies in Australia, contains no physical quantity of DHEA and will not increase DHEA levels when taken. In some countries, such as the USA,DHEA is freely available from health food stores and even some supermarkets!

Preventers treat airway inflammation. They are the first-line defence and need to be taken every day to prevent attacks. Typical preventers are Becotide, Pulmicort, Intal, Intal Forte, Becloforte, Aldecin, Tilade and Flixotide.Relievers treat airway narrowing. They are rescue medications usually given by inhaler when symptoms occur. These typically include Ventolin, Bricanyl, Berotec, Aldecin, Respolin, Atrovent, Asmol, Respax and Serevent.

Any asthmatic condition should be referred to your doctor for advice.Your doctor or pharmacist will assist you with a six-step management plan which is aimed at abolishing symptoms, maximising lung function and achieving the best quality of life. The plan will:1. Assess the severity of the asthma2. Achieve the best lung function - ensuring that medications and devices are being used correctly and effectively3. Maintain the best lung function by avoiding trigger factors4. Maintain the best lung function with optimal medication5. Assist with developing a written action plan for management, and handling acute attacks and deterioration.6. Educate and review condition regularly via checkups

• Custom-made, balanced formulations of natural hormones, tailored to the individual’s unique needs
• Effective relief of hot flushes, night sweats and vaginal dryness
• Improved sleep, and better mood, concentration and memory
• Enhanced libido (sex drive)
• Prevention (and reversal) of osteoporosis
• Better maintenance of muscle mass and strength
• Reduced risk of breast and endometrial cancer
• Many fewer unwanted effects compared with standard HRT

Natural hormones may be administered as:

• Transdermal creams (absorbed through the skin), e.g. natural progesterone cream
• Sublingual sprays and drops (absorbed under the tongue)
• Tablets, e.g. oestriol
• Troches (medicated lozenges; absorbed through the mouth)
• Capsules of micronised hormones (taken by mouth and absorbed via the lymphatics)
• Vaginal creams and gels

Tailor-made formulations can be prepared by compounding pharmacists (on prescription), and with a range of routes of administration available and no pre-set dosage, it is possible to find a suitable combination to meet every woman’s needs and preferences.

Natural hormone replacement should, of course, always be utilised alongside a comprehensive lifestyle program which should also pay attention to diet, nutritional supplementation, exercise and stress management.

Natural hormone replacement (NHR) applies some much needed common sense and logic to the controversial subject of hormone replacement. The basic principle of NHR is that if hormones need replacing, then they should be replaced, as far as possible, with the identical hormones, and that the natural balance between these hormones should be maintained. In contrast, conventional hormone replacement (HRT) replaces the hormones that are lacking with synthetic versions (which have a different molecular structure and are totally foreign to the body, e.g. progestogens rather than progesterone), extract of pregnant mares’ urine (again totally foreign to the human body!) or strong, unbalanced forms of oestrogen (such as oestradiol, in oestrogen patches). It is no wonder that so many women discontinue their HRT due intolerable side effects!

Prior to the menopause, the ovaries produce the following hormones (all of which have effects on health and wellbeing):

1. Oestrogen

• Oestriol: comprises ~80-90% of the total circulating oestrogens. Oestriol is the weakest oestrogen but is present in the greatest quantity. Oestriol appears to have some protective effect against breast cancer, and can thus be regarded as a ‘good’ oestrogen.
• Oestradiol: comprises ~7-10% of the total circulating oestrogens. Oestradiol is the strongest of the body’s oestrogens but is normally present only in relatively small amounts; it is also the most potent oestrogen for promoting breast cancer growth, and unopposed by oestriol, can thus be regarded as a ‘bad’ oestrogen.
• Oestrone: comprises ~3-10% of the total circulating oestrogens. Oestrone is also a potent/breast cancer promoting oestrogen, though is slightly less ‘bad’ in this respect than oestradiol.

Under normal circumstances, the two stronger (or ‘bad’) oestrogens are balanced by the less potent (or ‘good’) oestriol.

NHR involves the replacement, in the correct proportions, of all or any of the above hormones (as appropriate in each individual case) with bio-identical natural hormones produced from precursors which occur naturally in plants (e.g. diosgenin from wild yam). The idea of the right molecule and the right balance is of course nothing new - this is exactly what nature has been doing for millions of years!