Some Herbs Look Like Estrogen to the Human Body and Cause Problems, But Don't Appear on the Horm
Some of these herbs look like estrogen to the human body. These particular herbs may exacerbate certain diseases that are stimulated by estrogen mimicking chemicals or herbs.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) wrote an advisory letter about lavender and tea tree oil. The NIH cited Clifford Bloch, MD’s insight into the cause of gynecomastia. Clifford Bloch, MD is a pediatric endocrinologist that practices medicine in Denver, Colorado. He was presented with 3 young boys with gynecomastia. Gynecomastia is “man-boobs”. He tested the boy’s own hormones. He found the boy’s own hormones to be normal. Where was the hormones coming from that caused the “man boobs” in the boys? He found that the 3 young boys were given topical lavender and tea tree oil by their parents. On a hunch, he asked the parents to stop giving the tea tree oil and lavender to their sons. In 3 to 6 months, the “man boobs” disappeared without the lavender and/or tea tree oil being applied topically. Furthermore, he put lavender oil and tea tree oil with breast cancer cells sensitive to estrogen. In other words, the breast cancer cells in the test tube would proliferate in the presence of estrogen. True to his suspicions, the lavender and tea tree oil separately made the estrogen sensitive breast cancer cells proliferate! This meant that lavender and tea tree oil looked like estrogen to the estrogen receptor on the breast cancer cells.
This test tube test confirmed that lavender and tea tree mimicked estrogen. Keep in mind that the boy’s own hormones of testosterone and estrogen were normal. This means that lavender and tea tree oil did NOT show up on the hormone test. The hormone test does not register lavender or tea tree oil as a hormone on the blood test. The blood test does not measure lavender or tea tree oil. The blood test measure estrogen, in the form of estradiol, estriol, and estrone, and testosterone. However, the body reacts to the lavender and tea tree oil as if it were estrogen. The blood test is not meant to measure chemicals or herbs that look like estrogen to the body.
Furthermore, Clifford Bloch, MD also put lavender and tea tree oil into breast cancer cells that were sensitive to testosterone. He found that both lavender and tea tree oil blocked the expression of testosterone in the test tube breast cancer cells sensitive to testosterone.
So, the boys were getting feminized in two ways. One, the estrogen receptors were being stimulated by the lavender and tea tree oil creating “man boobs”. Two, the expression of testosterone was being blocked.
This new information about lavender and tea tree oil was so disconcerting that the National Institute of Health wrote an advisory letter recommending parents check with their physician about the use of lavender and tea tree oil in their young boy’s cosmetics and toiletries.
The implications for female diseases and conditions are astounding! Some female diseases are stimulated by hormones, in particular, estrogen. For instance, endometriosis is a disease that is stimulated by estrogen. Estrogen will make endometriosis grow. Estradiol makes endometriosis grow. Other chemicals like dioxin are also implicated in making endometriosis grow. http://www.endometriosisassn.org/pdfs/Endo-and-Dioxins.pdf A 1992 study, championed by the endometriosis association, studied rhesus monkey exposed to 5 to 25 parts per trillion (ppt) of dioxin. They developed endometriosis 10 years AFTER being exposed to the dioxin. The incidence of endometriosis was directly proportional to the level of dioxin. In other words, the more dioxin the monkeys got, the more endometriosis the monkeys got. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1240688/ The endometriosis association believes that it is imperative to stop exposure to chemicals that act as endocrine (hormone) disruptors like dioxin. http://www.endometriosisassn.org/environment.html
Is it possible that lavender or tea tree oil can stimulate endometriosis to grow? Estrogen makes endometriosis grow. If lavender and tea tree oil can mimic estrogen, then it may be plausible that tea tree oil and lavender can make endometriosis grow.
My endometriosis patients seem to flare when taking lavender or tea tree oil topically, anecdotally. When they are taking lavender and tea tree oil and stop, the endometriosis may get better. The endometriosis patients do not always get better when stopping tea tree oil and lavender oil because they usually have a large load of other estrogen mimickers on their skin.
In my opinion, I am not against lavender or tea tree oil. If you believe using tea tree oil will stop an infection, use it! However, if you have endometriosis and are using it for 10 years on your face because you believe that it stops acne, be aware that the tea tree oil may be causing your endometriosis to flare. In my opinion, if you have endometriosis, you should only use lavender or tea tree oil on a short term basis only because lavender or tea tree oil may act like a strong estrogen and may cause the endometriosis to worsen. I am not against the use of lavender or tea tree oil. I am against not knowing and considering all pros and cons of using lavender or tea tree oil in a certain patient and disease condition. The use of lavender and tea tree oil is NOT a one size fits all. The clinical condition of the patient should be considered in the use of tea tree oil and lavender. You should also consider how long that you will be using the tea tree oil or lavender.
Renwin Yee, MD really is a Medical Doctor. He just wanted to fit into American Society. Peter Eckhart, MD is easier to remember and pronounce by the majority of Americans. So Renwin Yee, MD used a pen name Peter Eckhart, MD. Peter Eckhart, MD is a pen name. You may web search him on doximity.com. Also his Medical Diploma from University of Hawaii and Cornell University Diploma is shown.
