Endocrine Disorders
Endocrine disorders can be attributed to any malfunction of endocrine tissue. There are many ways that an endocrine system can go astray. The endocrine tissues can either secrete too much or too little hormone, or the peripheral tissues can’t process the hormones. The causes can be quite varied — infections, tumors, trauma, and lifestyle factors. These endogenous factors can disrupt the endocrine system. Exogenous factors, such as chemicals in the environment, can also cause a host of complications in the endocrine system. These endocrine disrupters are found in high levels in non-organic foods cultivated with pesticides, in our water supply, and in the air we breath.
Pituitary Disorders
These disorders include pituitary insufficiency resulting in the failure of the pituitary to release or produce adequate amounts of growth hormone, prolactin, corticotrophin, thyrotropin, leuteinizing hormone, or follicle-stimulating hormone. Excessive hormone production can also occur, caused by growth-hormone secreting pituitary tumors and glycoprotein secreting pituitary tumors.
Pineal Disorders
Pineal disorders as recognized by conventional medicine are quite rare. They consist of tumors that are benign (pinealocytoma) and aggressive pineal cell tumors (pineoblastoma, pineal germinoma, pineal teratomas). Pineal cysts are most often not treated, unless they are large enough to cause hydrocephalus or visual symptoms.
Although not recognized conventionally, melatonin deficiency and excess is a relatively common condition that can be the root of many symptoms. The pineal gland is responsible for melatonin production. If it is underactive in producing melatonin, this can cause various symptoms, such as insomnia and stress. If it is overactive, the result can be seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
Blood Sugar Metabolism Disorders
Disorders of blood sugar metabolism involve problems with either the pancreas producing too little or too much insulin, the insulin receptor sites becoming deficient, or decreased function of the adrenal glands or liver. The most common blood sugar disorders are diabetes Type I, diabetes Type II, and hypoglycemia. The secondary complications to diabetes range from increased cardiovascular risk to end-stage renal disease.
Lipids Metabolism Disorders
Disorders of lipid metabolism involve problems associated with either overly high or overly low levels of fats in the body. The most common disorder of lipid metabolism in the modern affluent world is high levels of lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) due to excessive eating of high-fat foods and low levels of physical activity. Although much more rare, some people suffer from excessively low levels of lipids usually due to malabsorption of fats due to digestive disorders.
Thyroid Metabolism Disorders
Thyroid disorders are usually related to hyperfunction or hypofunction of the thyroid gland, resulting in hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism. Secondary complications to hypothyroid are weight gain, fatigue, and cardiac complications; secondary complications to hyperthyroid are atrial fibrillation, weight loss, and anxiety. Chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, and Wilson’s thyroid syndrome are disorders suspected of being related to decreased peripheral thyroid hormone conversion or thyroid resistance.
The parathyroid glands are found next to the thyroid, and when over activated, lead to excessive levels of calcium in the body, resulting in symptoms ranging from hypertension and headache to depression and kidney disease.
Adrenal Metabolism Disorders
Adrenal disorders, like most endocrine disorders, are usually associated with hyperfunction or hypofunction. Adrenal hyperfunction can lead to hyperaldosteronism, resulting in hypertension, and adrenal insufficiency, resulting in severe fatigue. Naturopathic medicine recognizes adrenal insufficiency in a much more wider diagnostic parameter than conventional medicine.
Reproductive Hormones Disorders
Reproductive endocrinology is associated with any reproductive hormone level change. Common conditions include impotence, hirsutism, and infertility. It also covers healthy and normal changes of hormone levels associated with changes of maturation, such as puberty and menopause.
