Hormones are bioidentical chemical messengers made by the hormone producing glands in the body, known as the endocrine glands. The term hormone is derived from the Greek root hormaein which means to arouse to action or to excite. Hormones are secreted through glandular tissue into the blood stream which carries them to different areas of the body where they exert their effect.
The endocrine system allows the body to respond to both internal and external conditions in order to maintain the body’s internal equilibrium and balance. Ultimately the brain controls the hormonal production by sending messengers, called neurotransmitters, to the endocrine glands signaling them to action. The hormones are produced in minute amounts and are measured in picograms, parts per billion, yet they are very powerful. The influence of the various hormones on the functions of our body is profound. They regulate our growth, sex characteristics, reproductive capabilities and the energy production or metabolism which enables the cells of our body to perform their functions.
You have probably heard of the several of the glands that produce hormones, such as the thyroid gland, the ovaries, the testes and the adrenal glands. The hormones produced by these glands work together synergistically, enhancing one another’s function when they are properly balanced.