Oprah was discussing her experience with Bio-identical hormones. This is not the first time that Oprah or a celebrity has talked about her personal interests. In most cases, I’m not a big fan of people offering their opinions just because they are famous.

This time, though, I’m actually cheering Oprah on!

First, her site has posted Oprah’s clear explanation of Bioidentical hormones. More importantly, she is taking on the establishment of Hormone Replacement Therapy. In this case, Oprah is right, and the establishment is wrong.

Oprah is not the first to talk about Bioidentical hormones. Suzanne Somers was the first in 2004 with her book, The Sexy Years: Discover the Hormone Connection. Suzanne Somers followed that up with Ageless, The Naked Truth About Bioidentical Hormones.

Why is this so important you ask? These women are doing what most Doctors can’t and won’t do. They are taking on the establishment and leading the way to a healthier alternative for women. I admit that it seems strange that patients are leading the way to healthier alternatives in Hormone Therapy. Shouldn’t that be the role of doctors?

Well, yes. But it’s complicated. See, doctors as a whole like to keep each other in line (even to their detriment). Unfortunately, sometimes our lines aren’t going anywhere. When that happens, we’re just marching in circles.

A friend of mine, Eldred Taylor, MD, explained in his book Are Your Hormones Making You sick? that “getting out of line” is very hard.

1. When one doctor gets out of line, it may reveal that the establishment is marching in circles.
2. It creates an alternative to the standard of care.

This is important. The medical standard of care is safer and healthier when it is based on the latest scientific research. Sometimes, though, the medical standard of care is simply medical stagnation. It is the standard just because everyone is doing it. When the medical establishment resists innovation and change, the medical standard of care is not safer, healthier. In fact, it is not even supported by the latest scientific research!

Oprah Winfrey and Suzanne Somers, not the collective medical community, are the leaders in women’s health today. It’s ironic, but that is the way it is. And I am now proud to say:

Go Oprah, Go Suzanne Somers: empower women!

Lead the way to a safer and healthier life. As long as you stay on the right side of the latest scientific research.

“First do no harm.” Here’s what that means for me: First, work with the body to prevent disease.

Often, we see patients after they already have a disease. At that point, we begin treatment and intervention—which typically involves introducing a drug not normally present in the body. This is why drug companies have to do so much testing to measure the effects/side effects of any new drug. When I prescribe treatment and intervention, I’m always weighing the benefits of a drug versus the risks associated with that drug. Medical training does a great job of helping doctors understand how to treat disease.

But PMS, perimenopause, and menopause and all the symptoms that go along with them aren’t the result of a disease. They are the result of hormone imbalances. Having imbalanced hormones is not the same as having a disease—and doctors should not treat a hormone imbalance as if they are treating disease.

Instead of medicating with synthetic drugs, doctors can seek to rebalance the patient’s hormones.

Bio-identical hormones represent the essence of this approach. (Dr. Dixie Mills has some good thoughts about Bio-identical hormones at Women to Women.) There is no rocket science or voodoo behind Bio-identical hormones as some may suggest. In fact, if you look at the scientific literature, the support is all for Bio-identical hormones. The rest of the world is way ahead of the US on this one.

Then why are so many physicians still focused on the disease model, instead of the health and prevention model? I can’t answer that question. But I can treat my patients differently—using methods supported by scientific literature as being more healthy and effective.

Bio-identical hormones merely represent understanding how the body works and working within the body’s framework. It makes a lot of sense. Patients receive hormones that are structurally and functionally identical to those produced in your body.

Hormone imbalance is not a disease. But doctors can treat the imbalance with Bio-identical hormones to give you better health and help prevent future disease.