The endocrine system is comprised of many glands that secrete hormones (which are chemical messengers) into the blood stream. Hormones are made up of protein. The hypothalamus in the brain links the endocrine and nervous system and is in control of your emotions, mood, stress, sleep, appetite, thirst, temperature control and heart rate (amongst other things). Your hypothalamus is also responsible for homeostasis, the gentle balance required in the body to keep it functioning. The hypothalamus sends messages to the pituitary which then goes and secretes the required hormones. The pituitary is considered ‘the master gland’ but is only the size of a pea. It is responsible for secreting hormones that then have a direct on other glands in the body. For example, a hormone called ACTH is released by the pituitary which then triggers the adrenal glands which sit on top of the kidneys to produce cortisol and adrenaline. If we manage to relax , our parasympathetic nervous system will come into play, which will cause our bodies to stop releasing these hormones.
We have spoken in part about the pituitary gland but there are so many more glands. Here is a brief list of the glands and what they affect.
The pineal: controls body rhythms in response to daylight with melatonin
The pancreas: regulates blood sugar levels with insulin and glucagon
The parathyroid: regulates calcium levels with parahormone
The thyroid: firstly, using thyroxin it stimulates metabolism, growth and development. Secondly, calcitonin prevents the removal of calcium from the bones
The thymus: produces thymosin which is involved in the production of immune white blood cells
The testes: produce testosterone which is responsible for male characteristics e.g. sperm production
The ovaries: produces oestrogen and progesterone which is responsible for female characteristics e.g. widening of hips
The adrenals: produces a lot of hormones that regulate sodium/potassium levels, helps with the inflammatory response, helps with reducing feelings of pain, metabolises fats, proteins and carbohydrates, assist with sexual development and the well-known stress response – fight or flight.
People who have practiced meditation regularly are able to condition their body into relaxing on demand, and so taking over from the nervous systems ‘auto drive function’. A reduction in the secretion of the stress hormones will mean that our heart rate will slow down, decrease the blood going to our muscles and reduces the conversion of glycogen to glucose (needed for energy in a crisis). If you keep training our parasympathetic nervous system, your hypothalamus should then end up having an easier time managing your emotions, mood, stress, sleep, appetite, thirst and temperature control amongst many other things.
Massage (including Indian head massage) can potentially help balance mood and stress levels, inspire relaxation and help rebalance the hormonal system. Have you ever noticed that when you get onto the massage table, you already start to relax? Your brain is expecting relaxation and triggers the relaxation response.
Essential oils also have an effect on the endocrine system, for example with some oils having balancing properties, some oils having oestrogen like qualities and also some oils can aid the relaxation response in the brain; whether the oil is absorbed through the skin or inhaled.
A number of crystals have been identified for the balancing of hormones. Contact me if you are interested in using crystals along side conventional treatment for your condition.
I hope you have enjoyed learning about the endocrine system with the links to some therapies. Remember, we are all hormonal beings.