In the last newsletter, I described how two types of hormones, estrogens and androgens, are important in rheumatoid arthritis.

Estrogens at normal (non-pregnant) levels enhance the type of immune responses that cause RA. Androgens suppress these responses. If you have normal levels of estrogens but don't have enough androgens, it is much harder for the body to stop the out of control immune responses that cause RA.

If this is true for you, hormone therapy may help. (To know if this is true, you will need to have a doctor check your estrogen and androgen levels.)

The major androgens in men are the sex hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT). Indeed, studies show that men with RA often experience an improvement in their RA when they take testosterone supplements.

The major androgens in women are dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS). DHEA and DHEAS are made by the adrenal gland. When this gland is not functioning well it creates a condition known as adrenal fatigue. Many things can cause adrenal fatigue, most commonly high stress or bouts of chronic infection. The primary symptom of adrenal fatigue is a general sense of lethargy and enduring tiredness.

Several women have written me that treating adrenal fatigue was one of the critical factors in their recovery from RA.

I experienced adrenal fatigue after a bout with meningitis. I was given a product called AdrenaStim by my naturopathic doctor. It has worked wonders getting my DHEA levels back up to normal. I simply smeared a little of the cream behind my knees or inside my elbows three times a day. It is absorbed through the skin and is a gentle way to help restore adrenal function.

Because RA is a complex disease with many causes, only restoring the androgens to normal levels in the body and doing nothing else to treat your RA will not result in a cure. However, if low androgen levels are one of your contributing factors, bringing these levels back to normal is likely to result in an improvement in your condition.

All information in this newsletter is for informational purposes only. See a doctor or other health care professional for actual treatment advice.