With over 30 years of experience in integrative medicine, psychiatry and addiction recovery, today’s guest, Dr. Hyla Cass, exposes the dangers of overmedicating in modern medicine.   Birth control affects women’s ability to regulate their mood because it completely subdues their natural hormone cycle. Our hormones act together as a symphony but removing even one hormone can destabilize basic functions of the body.   Sleep is usually the first victim of hormonal imbalances. Dr. Cass warns that most doctors are just too eager to prescribe sleeping medication before seeking a natural remedy. Sleep aids are meant to be temporary solutions but most patients are unaware of the addictive nature of these medications.   If you want to see real changes in your sleep, mood and overall health, listen as Dr. Cass outlines useful herbal remedies that are safer alternatives than addictive prescription.   Takeaways: [3:12] Doctors are prescribing medication without asking more about the cause of women's depression [3:47] Treating PMS with antidepressants has no effect on the hormonal imbalance causing symptoms [4:30] Neurotransmitters and hormones are chemical messengers that interact with each other [5:12] Neurotransmitters are the root of emotions [5:50]The most common neurotransmitter deficiency is Serotonin and Gaba [6:40] Determining neurotransmitter deficiencies through patient history and cravings [7:35] Antidepressants change the chemistry of your brain and are difficult to wean off of [8:25] Neurotransmitter precursors are the raw materials needed to make the neurotransmitters [9:30] A nourishing diet is paramount in balancing your mood [10:40] Birth control is eliminating women's hormones which is killing their ability to regulate their mood [11:40] The synergy of all of our hormones is a beautiful symphony  [13:15] Fight or Flight is a predominantly male trait while bond and protect is a more femenine trait  [15:50] The natural way to deal with stress is to literally shake off the stress hormones [17:30] Cheating sleep leads to stress on ourselves and our brains [18:35] Sleep medications are wildly addictive and has ruined many lives. [19:10] CBD enables our endocannabinoid system which helps us protect, relax and forget [20:16] Melatonin is converted serotonin [21:10] waking up with high cortisol in the night would indicate you require tryptophan    Twitter: “We can work with the hormones and we can work with nature. We are from nature and we have the best pharmacy within us. [4:05]   “If you don’t have enough gaba there is a tendency to be more anxious and it's also more of a physical anxiety.It’s muscle tension.”  [6:10]   “People who crave stimulants, anything from caffeine to cocaine,they’re going to be low in dopamine. People who are craving alcohol and tend to want tranquilizers, they’re low in Gaba.” [7:10]   “Our brain is 80% fat and we need to feed the brain, we need to make brain cells, so good fats from salmon and avocado and also that fish will provide protein.” [10:00]   Podcast Disclaimer:  https://resources.thespadr.com/the-womans-doctor/#disclaimer