A hormone is a substance made in a gland then transported by the blood stream to affect another or all other parts of the body, including the brain. Each hormone is a powerful messenger and each works together, much like the movement and balance of a mobile. Each hormone not only influences the target organ or organs but also helps other hormones in their functions. If one is deficient, others can take up some of the slack, but everything works optimally if all the hormones are in balance. The only way to know for sure the level of any hormone is to test for it in a laboratory, and interpret the level properly. See “The Truth About Laboratory Values.”
Click below for a short description of the major hormones to get an idea of the function of each.