138 Achieving pH Balance to Treat Specific Ailments
Bio-Identical Hormones for the Lungs
Studies show that women who had their ovaries removed along with
their uterus had a 17 percent greater chance of getting lung cancer than
women who didn’t have their ovaries removed along with their uterus.
The researchers who conducted the study were perplexed at this fi nd-
ing. Two studies unraveled the mystery. They showed a relationship
between increased levels of estrogen and a greater number of air sacs
(alveoli) in the lungs. In one study, when the ovaries of immature female
rats were removed, at reaching maturit y they had fewer alveoli than the
female rats that did not have their ovaries removed. In the other experi-
ment the mature female rats that were given estrogen developed more
alveoli than those female rats who didn’t receive any estrogen.^9 Obvi-
ously when the ovaries are removed, less estrogen is produced, since the
ovaries produce estrogen. These studies went a step further, proving
that estrogen stimulates the growth of alveoli.
What isn’t immediately evident is why a greater number of alveoli is
a protection against lung cancer. But this can be easily deduced. Oxy-
gen destroys cancer cells, so the more alveoli (air fi lters) in the lungs
the greater the air (oxygen) intake, and thus the greater the chances
that cancer cells in the lungs will be destroyed.
Estrogen’s ability to increase the number of air sacs in the lungs is
explained by one of its basic functions during pregnancy. Estrogen trig-
gers the lungs into taking in extra oxygen, so the expectant mother can
“breathe for two.” It does so by destroying oxygen in the parts of the
body other than the lungs. This signals the lungs that more oxygen is
needed, so the lungs take in more oxygen and the fetus’s oxygen needs
are satisfi ed.
Given that both aging and menopause decrease the number of alve-
olar (air) sacs in the lungs and that estrogen can regenerate them,
women and men who have emphysema or chronic obstructive pulmo-
nary disease should take natural hormone supplements of estrogen.
Menstruating women can take bio-identical hormone replacement
therapy (BHRT). Pregnenolone serves the same function in men as
BHRT does in women. Women who are still menstruating should take
BHRT according to the rhythmic cycling of their menstrual month
(see Chapter 16).