Hormone Health Hub: Expert Insights on Testing, Balance & Better Living — neuroinflammation

By Tracy Tranchitella, ND ZRT Laboratory SARS-CoV-2 has been circulating in the global population for over a year. According to Worldometer, at the time of this writing on March 2, 2021, 115 million people have been infected with the virus, 2.5 million have died, and 90 million have survived the infection to go on to have possible immunity. The immune response to the virus can range from asymptomatic to severe illness and death and has aroused fear and uncertainty around the world. For those who have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 and survived, some experience prolonged symptoms beyond recovery from the...

Perimenopause is far more than a reproductive transition — it is fundamentally neurological. As oestradiol declines, the brain’s bioenergetic system becomes compromised, neurotransmitter balance shifts, and the thermoneutral zone narrows, giving rise to hot flashes, mood instability, memory changes and sleep disruption. This article explores the neuroscience behind the menopausal transition and why hormone replacement therapy — timed correctly — may be the most effective intervention.

Exercise is one of the most powerful tools we have for preventing and treating depression — yet its neurochemical effects are still underappreciated. From boosting serotonin and dopamine to increasing GABA through yoga, physical activity reshapes the brain in ways that rival pharmaceutical interventions. This article explores the science behind exercise and mood, and what it means for your neurotransmitter health.

Explore the complex relationship between hormonal contraception, mood changes, and depression risk — particularly in teenagers and women sensitive to hormonal fluctuations. Learn the difference between natural progesterone and synthetic progestins, how estrogen and progesterone influence neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA, and why some women may experience depressive symptoms, anxiety, or emotional changes while using hormonal contraceptives. Discover how hormone and neurotransmitter testing may help provide deeper insight into mood-related symptoms linked to birth control use. 

Explore the powerful connection between hormones, neurotransmitters, and mood in PMS and PMDD. Learn how progesterone, allopregnanolone, GABA, serotonin, cortisol, and estrogen fluctuations throughout the menstrual cycle may contribute to anxiety, irritability, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbances, and severe premenstrual symptoms. Discover how hormone and neurotransmitter testing can help identify underlying imbalances linked to menstrual mood disorders.