The Endocrine Eystem

The endocrine system is studied under the biological subject known as endocrinology. This is the branch of medical science which seeks to evaluate and to understand the underlying structure of the endocrine glands-also called ductless glands-internal glands, in contrast to ductile glands, which are external glands-salivary, sweat, etc. The subject is also concerned with the role of these glands and the nature and function of the various hormones which they secrete to regulate various processes in the human body. The majority of the research on the endocrine glands did not arise till modern times even though; some historical observations of this particular important system in the body may date back to very ancient times.

Aristotle, the great philosopher and originator of science in 3rd century B.C. (Greece) made an observation about the effect of castration on calves and bulls. This Greek philosopher studied the varying effects of the castration attempting to understand the effects. Such studies by this ancient scientist can be regarded as the first scientific examination of hormones and their role in the body. Aristotle did not necessarily understand the processes, nor did the ancient civilizations of Egypt and China which also had philosophers examining and noticing the human behavioral changes which result following the removal of testes-the effects of castration at least was common knowledge in the ancient world. Both of these ancient civilizations practiced castration in their society to produce a servile class of men known as eunuchs. The empirical knowledge about the glandular system did not came about, however till at least the 17th century, when modern scientific study can be said to have begun. During this age, scientists began to study the human body and had some empirical knowledge about hormonal roles and functions in the body.

Three centuries of discovery

In 17th century England, one of the earliest and most important steps towards the exploration of human physiology began, when Thomas Wharton sought to deny a commonly held belief about the nature of the human brain-up until that time, the brain was thought to be a gland responsible for the secretion of mucus. The difference between ductless and ductile glands was also initially illustrated and explained by Wharton, who after careful examination made a clear distinction in the different functions concerning the endocrine and the exocrine system.

The existence of hormones was initially elucidated in the 17th century, when the first observations concerning their existence began to filter into the scientific community. The respected Dutch scientist, Fredrik Ruysch, in the 1690s, made a claim about the nature and function of the thyroid gland; he suggested that this gland poured important substances into the blood stream. the Frenchman, Theophile Bordeu, thirty years earlier had made a remarkable declaration, which implied that some parts of the human body gave off certain “emanations" which seem to induce very dramatic effects on all the other parts of the body-for this work, he is still regarded as the founder of modern endocrinology by some scientist.

As knowledge about endocrine glands progressed towards the end of the 18th century, many doctors started to associate the swelling of the neck, excessive staring, or the "bug" eyes, the presence of a rapid and racing pulse, and the presence of uncontrollable muscular tics or tremors with the swelling in the thyroid gland. Goiter was recognized, in this disorder, patients begin to develop so much distension in the gland that it can induce a huge and disfiguring growth on the neck, as if the bulging mass was attempting to burst out from the front of the patient’s neck. More correctly, such an enlargement of the thyroid is now known as toxic goiter, the production of excessive amounts of the thyroid hormone is responsible for this particular disorder.

The study of diseased glands from different patients was the source for the earliest information about the functioning of the human endocrine system. The British scientist Thomas Addison studied eleven people with the symptoms of anemia in 1849, he found that their blood did not contain sufficient amount of a chemical compound known as hemoglobin, this is the compound which forms the active center of the human red blood cells, it is responsible for the transport of oxygen to different parts of the body by binding with the gas. The patients that Addison studied often felt faint or were lethargic, he also noticed that all of them had very weakened cardiac functioning; the other physical symptoms he noticed was that the skin of the patients had a very sickly or gray coloration. Addison examined the symptoms and the patients themselves died soon. He went one step further and cut the dead men open in the form of an early and experimental autopsy, making the discovery that all of the patients had diseased adrenal glands-he came to the conclusion that the disease in the adrenal glands was what prompted the symptoms and caused death. The name "melasma suprarenale" was given to the condition by Addison; we now call this disorder of the adrenal glands as Addison's disease.

A German doctor, A. A. Berthold, also released the results of his experiments carried out on six young male chickens the same year that Addison discovered the adrenal disorder. The experimental results with the chickens were the first experimental proof which confirmed that hormones existed and it also shed some light on the nature of their function. The experiment conducted by Berthold, involved the castration of four of the male chickens. While the remaining two chickens were left of with their testes whole, the scientist also went further, and transplanted the removed testes of two of the chickens back into their bodies, however, these were now placed at a distant location and far off from where the tested normally resided in the body. The growth of two unmolested chickens was normal and they became roosters in time, they sprouted normal combs and wattles, and had the plumage of normal adult roosters. In comparison, two chickens that underwent castration without corresponding transplant of the testes back into the body never developed any of the adult male characters, in these two chickens there was a complete atrophy or shrinkage of the comb. The result gave the first solid proof and connection between hormonal deficiency and physiological growth.

What spiked interest and provided a glimpse into the nature of hormones further, were the results seen in the two castrated birds which had transplanted or relocated testes-in this case, these two birds also developed into very normal looking and sexually mature roosters. This singular experiment was the first experimental evidence which suggested to scientist that hormones travel freely via the bloodstream. Thus it became known that as far as some hormones were concerned, the place of origination is not necessarily the crucial factor in the functioning-this result suggested that even displaced glands would be efficient as long as a direct connection to the circulatory system was available.

How the system works

In the human body, the role of the respiratory system is to supply vital oxygen for absorption into the blood and the subsequent dissemination of this oxygen is carried out by the cardiovascular system, which controls the circulation of blood. The flow of hormones in the bloodstream is regulated and controlled by the endocrine system-hormones are thus signal compounds which are used by the body to direct it self. Many vital factors in the body are controlled by these hormones; they play a vital part in making humans what they are. Some of the very important functions determined by the presence of hormones are the rate of growth and the rate of maturation in the body. Hormones also have a direct influence on the level of intelligence; they control and regulate physical agility, and are responsible for sexual drives. Growth of any kind in the human body is impossible without these signal compounds.

The production and secretion of hormones from the endocrine system is a function shared with the nervous system in the human body-the brain is the originator of all signals to release hormones. This interdependence between the two systems in the human body is a recent scientific discovery; at one time scientists believed that the functioning and regulation of the endocrine system was independent to that of the nervous system.

Activities in the body are regulated by the endocrine system in conjunction with the nervous system, the role of the two is however, fundamentally different. Messages in the brain or nervous system depend on the transmission of electrical impulses generated by chemical messages, whereas the only role of the endocrine glands is to send their chemical messengers-hormones- through the bloodstream, to reach target tissues in the body. The nervous system depends on a network of specialized cells called neurons. The transmission of impulses in the brain was thought to be solely electrical; this view has changed with new light shed by modern research into the brain. While the signals traveling in the neurons are always electrical albeit mediated by intermediary compounds called neurotransmitters, the neurons themselves are also known to secrete chemicals called neuron-hormones. These compounds have a similar function to the hormones in the body. It is also recognized nowadays that the hormones released by some endocrine glands can directly influence the signaling activity of the nervous system itself. The level of interdependence between these two systems is great and therefore, the basic distinction may not be very real as the functioning of the two systems is always dependant on the action of the other. Neurotransmitters are hormone like substances that jump between neurons to start the electrical impulse message-it is wrong to believe that electricity is the only way neurons communicate. The basic regulatory structure of hormone release in the human body can be seen in this way-the brain receives external and internal stimuli to some event, it sends a message to the endocrine system, the system responds by releasing a hormone which will travel to the target organ in the body and induce changes in response to the event originally detected by the brain.

The endocrine system and the nervous system therefore have continuous feedback between them, they work together to signal the glands regarding the amount of hormones which are circulating in the bloodstream of the person. This system will send a signal to a specific gland when it finds that the level of any hormone in the blood has gone down-thus the system guides, directs or regulates all hormonal activity in the body. Glandular production is inhibited by another signal to a specific gland when the levels of a particular hormone become too high. The feed back system that regulates and operates the hormones is called negative feedback control-it is the biological equivalent of an automatic master control system. Lowering of hormonal levels results in signals that increase glandular secretion, correspondingly any rise in hormone levels will attract signals that depress glandular secretion-this feedback system is appropriately names, as it works on one principle, namely to reversing any excess or deficit of hormone levels and thus maintain a balance in hormonal levels within the body of a human being. The regulation of most hormone levels is thought to be regulated through the negative feedback control system. The regulatory apparatus is thus, similar to the regulation of water levels in a tank. For example, when water levels in a water tank are low, they sensor deep in the tank becomes dry and a filling mechanism will automatically operate to allow the water to enter the tank. Another sensor at the top of the tank detects water and shuts off the mechanism once the tank is full.

The regulation of blood levels of a few hormones operates on the principle of positive feedback control. Here, regulation is via overlapping mechanisms, and the presence of one hormone in a target tissue will stimulate the production and secretion of another in that tissue. An excellent example for this form of hormonal control is seen in the hormone systems that regulate the menstrual cycle in females. An egg is produced in the normal human female body once every month and one of the ovaries will release this egg. The ovarian tissues release the hormone estrogen into the blood stream as the egg matures. As levels of estrogen rise in the blood, they trigger the pituitary gland in the brain, to release an additional female sex hormone called the LH- luteinizing hormone. The arrival of the LH in the ovary stimulates it to release the now fully mature egg into the passages of the nearby oviduct-the passage for eggs into the womb or uterus. A process known as ovulation is the final part of this process. Ovulation starts as a chain reaction which can be said to have begun with a single chemical message sent out by the endocrine system along with positive feedback triggering of hormones.

The question often asked, is whether the hormones released by the glands know or recognize appropriate target cells or tissues. The answer is that hormones are not directed, and have no chemical path finders letting them reach the appropriate target tissues-they are blind messengers. Hormones are released and carried by the bloodstream, the blood takes the hormone to different parts of the body. The target tissues have recognition molecules which detect the presence of the hormone and are programmed to respond to the presence of the hormone-thus the hormone itself is a passive entity and does not act in anyway. The target cells and tissues react to the hormones in the blood and induce whatever changes are necessary. The actual mechanism for the detecting hormones is via a receptor molecule on the target tissue or cell. Most receptors are essentially large protein molecules, there is a factor known as receptor specificity and the receptor molecule is on a continual alert to react to a specific type of chemical substance in the blood. Hormone receptors react only to the specific hormone they interact with and ignore all other hormones in the blood. The passage of a specific hormone in the blood near a target tissue will be recognized immediately by the receptor molecule on the target tissue. The receptor can be said to attract the specific hormone and captures it-this process means the message has been passed and the tissue reacts. Most receptors are very efficient and sensitive to the availability of their specific hormone in the blood, this is important as most hormones are produced very minute quantities. For the full expression of the hormonal activity, the single most important factor may well be this receptor sensitivity. Hormones cannot affect target cells when or if the receptor molecule site breaks down, is blocked or is damaged. Many disorders are connected to the absence of receptors, causes can be genetic factors arising at birth. If the receptor is damaged, conditions and disorders which are similar to the ones caused by a lack of adequate hormone production in the body will begin to affect the person.

The majority of hormones are too large to enter the target cell, a good examples is the blood sugar regulating hormone called insulin. The mechanism of hormone action is by direct attachment to the external receptor on the cell, the arrival of the hormone results in a transmission of a chemical message towards the interior of the cell. Small hormones are minute enough to penetrate the surface of a cell and hormones, such as the male sex hormone testosterone can fit easily into the cellular structure. The result is that these hormones are handled by internal receptors and the hormone may then travel into the nucleus to stimulate appropriate actions in the cell. The main function of a hormone is to send messages which activate specific genes in the nucleus-the genes then produce a protein to enact the relevant action.

Once this action has been enacted, the target cells give a relevant respond and changes are wrought in the body. The type of cell will determine the exact nature of the response generated by the hormone. For example, hormonal action on muscle cells may lead to an increase or to a decrease in the rate of contraction. Hormones can act on epithelial cells, cells that form the surfaces of skin and which are also found in the walls lining many of the internal organs, the hormones can bring a change in the rate at which liquids diffuse through these cells to induce some specific action. Hormones can stimulate the gland cells to secrete more chemicals or reduce their secretions. The action of hormones thus allows the human body to carefully regulate all metabolic and biochemical processes, it enables the system to adjust levels of salt and water in the tissues on a constant basis. The regulation of sugar levels in the blood and the levels of salt in the form of sodium in the sweat is also determined by hormonal actions. Stimulus via hormonal reception is the way the body enacts specific actions in its organs and these constant changes aids the body in keeping the vital chemical balances in its tissues intact.

The degradation of the hormone is usually the next step following hormone receptor contact and subsequent activation of target tissue. It is not essential for the hormone to remain in the blood and the hormone is normally excreted out and expelled from the blood by filtering through the kidneys or it may be degraded by the action of specific enzymes present in the blood, in the liver, in the kidney, the lungs, or any other target tissues that have already been stimulated. The need to quickly eliminate the hormone exists as the biological effect or stimulus of the hormone continues indefinitely and is in effect as long as the hormone is intact.

The rate at which hormones are degraded and the rate at which glands release the hormone give the endocrinologists an ability to determine the actual hormone levels in the blood of a person-this ability to measure the hormone levels is a very useful diagnostic tool in the treatment of hormonal imbalances. Endocrinologists normally determine and measure the length of time it takes half a dose of some specific hormone to exit out from the circulatory system. The term half-life is given to this time interval, the measurement of a half-life serves as a means to predict the rate at which any hormone is eliminated or degraded in the body. Treatments for hormonal imbalances are usually based on the half-life measure of particular hormones-half-life is not measurable by counting the total elimination time of a substance from the body as such an event is heavily influenced by the initial amount or the starting concentration of the compound. Scientifically such a measurement is called the metabolic clearance rate-the amount of time it takes to completely disappear from the body, the measure is used in other treatment scenarios. Here, the measure is of the rate of hormone molecule eliminated by both the liver and the kidneys following stimulus of target tissue. This measurement also accounts for all the hormones which the target cells often ingest and then destroy after stimulus or activation of the gene is achieved. The measurement of the metabolic clearance rate of any substance in the body is often used in medicine-here doctors often determine the frequency of drug administration and can calibrate dosage requirements.

At the basic level, seven overall stages can be said to be involved in hormonal communication within the body. A start is made by the nervous system or the endocrine system which sends a signal that stimulates the hormonal production in a specific gland. The second stage is the secretion and release of the hormone from the gland and the third stage is the delivery of this hormone to the target cells in the specified tissue via the blood. Recognition of the hormone by the receptors on the target cell can be said to form the fourth stage, stage five is the biological response of the target cells to the stimulus. Stage six occurs once the hormone has performed its specified function and the final stage is the destruction of the degradation of the chemical hormone and it can also include the signaling the elimination of hormone cells in the appropriate excretory or filtering organ-liver or kidney.

Malfunction

Some sort of disorder with the endocrine system strikes about ten percent of the people in any population of the majority of developed nations. A glandular problem is involved in the majority of all endocrine system disorders, these can include the presence of a tumor. Endocrine or glandular disorder can induce either overproduction of the hormone - hyper functioning of the secretory organ or they can cause an underproduction of hormone - hypo functioning of secretory organ, both extremes result in imbalances which induce all sorts of unpleasant to severe disorders.

Problems such as hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism in the thyroid are typical endocrine disorders. The presence of these conditions can induce enlargement of the gland or the formation of additional tumors in the glandular tissue. A very visible symptom of toxic goiters is a mark of hyperthyroidism-namely the excess production go the hormone thyroxin in the thyroid gland. On the other hand, the converse condition of hypothyroidism induces simple goiter, this is a common condition in many underdeveloped parts of the world and comes about primarily because of diets that lack the essential mineral iodine. The occurrence of this condition in developed countries is very rare today as diets are generally excellent and because iodine is almost always a common ingredient in all table salt products.

Endocrine disorders are not always caused by the overproduction or the underproduction of glandular hormones, they can arise due to other factors such as those that involve the enhancement in sensitivity or the diminishment in the sensitivity of target cells receptors. A malfunctioning, defective or absent receptor cannot receive hormones and these cause the deaths or some disabilities to their possessors-they can be due to biochemical or hereditary factors or even toxic factors. Furthermore, many genetic defects which cause or give rise to abnormalities in the hormone synthesis can also cause disorders similar in symptomatic attributes to endocrine disorders. Endocrine disorders can also arise due to the presence of tumors and cysts, or the presence of infections in the endocrine glands.

The simple administration of relevant hormones is usually the normal way to treat underproduction, or hypo function. These hormones are usually administered directly into the bloodstream of the patient to correct the deficiency. The use of a totally different hormone or even a separate chemical compound may substitute the necessary hormone in the treatment of some cases. Hyper function of endocrine glands or the treatment of overproduction of hormones can take a variety of different routes. Tumors causing a gland to hyper function, are usually removed for simple and effective treatment. The use of drugs which can block the production of specific hormones or block receptors for these hormones in the target tissues is another way to treat such disorders.

Supplements and herbs

All of the supplements and herbs given here can be used in the treatment of endocrine disorders. Woman suffering from disorders must take the Endocrine Tonic For Menopause, the Endocrine Tonic Capsules For Menopause, and the Endocrine Tonic Tincture For Menopause-these remedies help strengthen and tone the endocrine system, enabling it to function smoothly. The role of estrogen production is often taken over from the ovaries by the adrenals, after the ovaries cease production in transitional time, these glands need a boost during this time-use the remedies above as boosters. All of the blends mentioned before contains effective herbs which revitalize the functioning and performance of the adrenal glands-they should be taken on a regular basis by all women suffering from endocrine disorders.

The consistent and regular use of herbal remedies is important in order for them to be effective-long term use is the best option. Herbal remedies cannot induce instant cures and relief unlike some forms of conventional medicines. Their real benefits show up when they are used on a regular basis over an extended period of time. With long term use, they ensure steady, long lasting results which come on gradually.

Another good way to supplement with herbs in a form easy assimilated by the body, is via the use of concentrated vitamins and minerals-taken on a long term basis. Long term dietary use of the Menopause High-Calcium Formula can help ensure that patients get adequate amounts of the essential mineral calcium along with other essential minerals and some of the most vital vitamins. This remedy is very nice tasting and it can be enjoyably consumed throughout the course of a day by the patient.

Vitality and energy can be restored to the body by using the High-Energy Formula For Menopause which is beneficial and contains no caffeine-it must be used over a long period of time to see the beneficial results. The system is not depleted of its minerals and nutrients unlike the action of energizing caffeine rich drinks. This remedy contributes to a graduals and steady boosting of the energy levels when used over the long term.

Recipes

ENDOCRINE TONIC FOR MENOPAUSE

• 1 part licorice,
• 1 part ginger,
• 1 part wild yam,
• 1 part cinnamon,
• 3 parts sassafras,
• 3 parts sarsaparilla,
• 1 part dandelion root,
• 1/2 part orange peel,
• 1 part vitex (chaste berry),
• 1/4 part dong quai.

Mix the herbs together. Adjust taste. For each quart of tea use four to six tablespoons of herb mixture. Simmer over a very low heat for twenty minutes. Strain. Drink three to four cups daily for three months or as long as needed. The herbs may be simmered several times before being thrown out. Make a quart of tea each day and drink it throughout the day. It may be refrigerated and drunk cold.

ENDOCRINE TONIC CAPSULES FOR MENOPAUSE

• 1 part black cohosh,
• 1 part wild yam root,
• 2 parts kelp,
• 1 part licorice,
• 1 part spirulina,
• 2 parts yellow dock root,
• 1 part ginger,
• 1 part motherwort,
• 1/2 part dong quai.

All herbs must be in powdered form. If possible, buy them already powdered. If not, you can powder them in coffee grinders and/or nut grinders. (But if using your coffee grinder, be forewarned; it will never be good for grinding coffee again. Your coffee will taste like herbs and vice versa). Mix together thoroughly. Put in size "00" empty gelatin capsules (available at natural food stores and pharmacies) or rice paper. Take two capsules three times daily for three months or as long as needed.

ENDOCRINE TONIC TINCTURE FOR MENOPAUSE

• 2 parts wild yam,
• 1 part dong quai,
• 1 part sarsaparilla,
• 1 part blue cohosh,
• 3 parts sage,
• 3 parts licorice,
• 2 parts false unicorn root,
• 3 parts dandelion root.

Mix herbs together. Put two ounces of the mixture in a wide-mouthed bottle and cover with one pint of good-quality brandy or vodka. Cover with a tight-fitting lid and place in a shaded, warm area. Let your tincture sit for four to six weeks. Shake once a day to mix herbs and alcohol together. Strain through a strainer lined with cheesecloth. Rebottle the herbal liquid. It is now ready for use. Recommended dose: one-fourth teaspoon diluted in tea or juice three times daily for three months or longer.

MENOPAUSE HIGH-CALCIUM FORMULA

• 1 part comfrey,
• 1 part oat straw,
• 1 part horsetail,
• 1 part chamomile,
• 1 part borage,
• 2 parts nettle,
• 3 parts peppermint.

Mix herbs together and adjust flavors to suit your taste. Use four to six tablespoons per quart of water. Pour boiling water over the herbs and let steep for thirty minutes. Drink tWo to four cups daily.

HIGH-ENERGY FORMULA FOR MENOPAUSE

• 4 parts sassafras,
• 2 parts ginkgo leaf,
• 2 parts gota kola leaf,
• 1 part dong quai,
• 1 part ginseng,
• 1 part cinnamon chips,
• 1 part ginger,
• 2 parts licorice,
• 1/8 part orange peel.

Mix herbs together, reserving the ginkgo and gota kola leaves. Use four tablespoons of the root mixture per quart of water. Simmer over very low heat (with lid on pot) for thirty minutes. Remove from heat and add one teaspoon each of ginkgo and gota kola. Cover pot and let steep for thirty minutes. Strain and drink as desired. The suggested amount is one cup twice daily. You can reuse the herbs for two to three pots of tea before they are depleted.