The Endocrine System incorporates Glands.  These Glamds are located all over the body.  They select and extract materials from the blood, process it and secrete Hormones and Chemicals back into the blood stream.   The secretion is transported to the organs needing it.

The system regulates :
Sleep
Metabolism
Growth
Development
Tissue Function
Sexual Activity
Reproduction
Moods or the Emotional aspects of life.

A body is considered alive because it moves and functions. This functioning needs energy. The energy comes from oxygen and calories. The process of converting oxygen from the lungs and the calories from the food is called metabolism.

Understanding what are hormones and what hormones regulate your metabolism is the first step in setting your body up for optimum functioning.

In the human body we have a system that deals with chemical communication through the use of hormones, the ductless glands that secrete hormones and the target cells that respond to the hormones, this system is called the Endocrine system.

The endocrine system helps control the following processes and systems:

Growth and development

Homeostasis (the internal balance of body systems)

Metabolism (body energy levels)

Reproduction

Response to stimuli (stress and/or injury)

Before you should know anything further, it is important to know what hormones are and their functions. 

A hormone is a chemical messenger released by the Endocrine gland into the bloodstream. It is then carried to a distant site to exert its effect. Controlling and coordinating activities throughout the body.

You must have came across times when you feel angry, emotional,jittery, for no apparent reason.

Often you blame this on your hormones. And that’s no puny excuse. No matter what the situation might t be, your hormones play an important role in your health and well being. When this hormone level fluctuates, gets disrupted due to one reason or the other. It impacts not only your health and pysche, but also your emotional being.   More about hormones......

Hormones function :

The main purpose of hormones is to send chemical signals to everywhere in the body.  Rest include,
Development of bones and muscles.
They are necessary for bodily changes such as puberty.
Control the entire metabolism.
Control the volume of fluid and the levels of salts and sugar (glucose) in the blood.
Influence the way the body uses and stores energy

Ultimately, hormones control the function of all the organs....

Please Note :  Most hormones are proteins. Few are steroids.

Hormonal Imbalance :  Your hormones work together like a symphony; regardless of your age. Imagine, if one part of the orchestra is'nt functioning as it should be, then the melody you produce is out of tune. So is the case with your hormones and body. You should be aware of these signs of hormone imbalance. You should be on your marks to set the imbalance right, whenever it strikes.

And if you think , this is all lame. You already know about the subject we are plunging into, You are excused from reading it any further. You are free from reading it and may stop scrolling down.  

And here is the straight forward cure for Hormonal Imbalance ----

The main functions of the endocrine system and its hormone messengers are to maintain homeostasis (a stable internal environment in the body) and to promote permanent structural changes. Homeostasis maintenance is a response to a change in the body, such as low sugar or unstable calcium levels in the blood. Permanent structural changes, occurring over a period of time, are those associated with growth and development.

Hormones bring about their effect on the body's cells mainly via altering the cells' metabolic activity by increasing or decreasing the rate at which they work. The effect is often rapid, such as increased or decreased heart rate. A few hormones, after binding to their target cells, cause those cells to produce proteins, which lead to long-term effects such as growth or sexual maturity.

Different organs of the body require specific hormones to function. The human body is one of the most beautifully designed creatures.

There are organs, bones and numerous nerves in our body that undergoes various chemical reactions. It provides us energy to survive. Energy comes from oxygen and calories from the food we eat. But, have you ever thought, what is the backbone of all the processes that undergoes inside our body?

Its Hormones. They carry the chemical messages to cells, tissues and the organs. Hormones affect everything, from growth throughout the childhood, sexual development, the air we breathe and the food we eat.

The process of converting oxygen from the lungs and the calories from the food is called metabolism. Metabolism is one of the most important chemical reactions that are involved in maintaining the living state of the body.

Glands And Secretions

All the cells require thyroid hormones for regulating their metabolic functions. The optimum rate of metabolism is dependent on the correct supply of thyroid hormones. The Thyroid gland converts the iodine present in the food to Thyroid hormones. These hormones are then released into the blood stream. They are transported to every cell in the body and control the metabolism process. Similarly, there are many glands present in different parts of the body. They secrete their respective hormones once they are asked to by the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a part of the brain. The parameters for the hormonal regulation are set by the Hypothalamus. It orders pituitary gland to trigger different glands to release the required amount of hormones.
Apart from thyroid hormone, following are the different glands, their location and the type of hormones they secrete. The thyroid gland is the production center for the thyroid hormones. But, the regulating authority is the Pituitary Gland. The parameters for the regulation are set by the Hypothalamus.
Once again. It determines the requirement for the thyroid hormones. It tells the Pituitary Gland to execute the order. The Pituitary gland asks the Thyroid gland to produce the correct amount of thyroid hormones and dispatches them to various parts of the body.
This is the general requirement of the whole body. Different organs of the human body require specific hormones to function.

Glands                      Location                                        Hormone
Adrenal                      Kidney                                  Glucocorticosteroids
Testes                Male reproductive system                 Testosterone
Ovary               Female reproductive system       Estrogen, Progesterone
Pancreas            Abdominal Cavity                               Insulin
Pineal                        Brain                                          Melatonin

List of Glands of the Endocrine System--

Pituitary Gland :

The pituitary gland is a pea-sized gland. The gland is attached to the hypothalamus, the part of the brain that controls its activity.
Functions of Pituitary Gland:  release and inhibit the production of hormones. The hormones of the pituitary gland help regulate the functions of other endocrine glands.   Read more.

Alfalfa

Bladderwrack

Dandelion

Spirulina

Magnesium

Hypothalamus :

The hypothalamus is the link between the endocrine and nervous systems.  It maintains the body’s internal balance (homeostasis). It also regulates various functions of the Body such as body temperature, Thirst, Stress, Sexual Desires and maintains longevity.  It also orders Pituitary Gland to release other necessary hormones in the body.  Read more.

Ashwagandha

Rhodiola

Maca

Siberian Ginseng

 Thymus :

The thymus gland, located behind your sternum and between your lungs, is only active until puberty.  After puberty, the thymus starts to slowly shrink and become replaced by fat.   Thymosin is the hormone of the thymus, and it stimulates the development of disease-fighting T cells. Read more.

Echinacea

Yarrow

Thyroid Gland : 

The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system and is responsible for producing and releasing thyroid hormones into the bloodstream. The thyroid regulates your metabolism.  Thyroid gland produces--The thyroid gland produces thyroxine (T4), and Triiodothyronine (T3). Collectively, T3 and T4 are referred to as the thyroid hormones. Read more.

Ashwagandha

Rhodiola

Ginger

Liquorice

Parathyroid Gland :

The parathyroid glands are situated in the neck and control the levels of calcium in the blood. This gland produces Parathyroid hormone, which regulates the body’s calcium levels. There are four parathyroid glands, and they are each about the size of a grain of rice. Read more.

Guggul

Chaste Berry

Lemon Balm

Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Pancreas :

The pancreas maintains the body’s blood glucose (sugar) balance.  Primary hormones of the pancreas include Insulin and Glucagon, and both regulate blood glucose. Diabetes is the most common disorder associated with the pancreas.  Pancreas has the dual function of secreting hormones into blood (endocrine) and secreting enzymes through ducts (exocrine). Read more.

Punarnava

Gokharu

Yogurt

Blue Flag

Nut Grass

Adrenal Gland :

The adrenal glands are small structures attached to the top of each kidney. 
The human body has two adrenal glands and one sits on top of each kidney. Each adrenal gland weighs 4-5 g in an adult. The adrenal cortex produces three hormones:

Mineralocorticoids
Glucocorticoids
Adrenal androgensRead more.

Ashwagandha

Magnesium

Rhodiola

Siberian Ginseng

Pineal Gland :

The pineal gland is situated in the middle of the human brain. 
The pineal gland is known for the secretion of the hormonemelatonin, body’s daily (circadian) clock controls the production of pineal melatonin, so melatonin is commonly used in human research to understand the body’s biological time.  It thus helps to maintain circadian rhythm and regulate reproductive hormones. Read more.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Margosa Oil

Borax

Tamarind

Hormones of the Testes :

The testes are two oval shaped male reproductive glands that produce sperm and the hormone testosterone which is necessary for proper physical development in boys..The testes, also known as testicles or male gonads.  Read more.

Ashwagandha

Gokharu

Saffron

Indian Spider Plant

Ovaries :

The ovaries produce and release eggs into the female reproductive tract at the mid-point of each menstrual cycle. Ovaries produce and release two groups of sex hormones—progesterone and estrogen. There are actually three major estrogens, known as estradiol, estrone, and estriol. These substances work together to promote the healthy development of female sex characteristics during puberty and to ensure fertility.   Read more.

Manjakani

Shatavari

Chaste Berry

What Can Go Wrong With This System

Any imbalance in hormone level causes diseases like Adrenal insufficiency, Cushing's disease, Gigantism, or and Hyperthyroidism. Now the question is why imbalance occurs? Any disturbance in the communication among hypothalamus, pituitary and local glands causes hormonal imbalance. This imbalance finds difficulty in keeping the right level of hormones in the bloodstream.  Your's body undergoes changes, some natural and some not, all this  affects how  the endocrine system works. Some of the factors that affect endocrine organs include aging, certain diseases and conditions, stress, the environment, and genetics.  Following are the reasons why communication alters:

Infection
Aging
Stress
Genetics
Disease
Genetic disorder
Environmental Factors
Injury to an endocrine gland
Tumor of an endocrine gland
A problem with the endocrine feedbacks system
Failure of a gland to stimulate another gland to release hormones

What are the top factors that throw off balance within the endocrine system?

• Inadequate sleep.
• Environmental pollutants such as exhaust fumes, pesticides, paint fumes, heavy metals, plastics, unfiltered drinking water, smoking, and estrogens found in water bottles and makeup.
• A lack of Vitamin D from staying in the office too long and not getting out in the sun. Yes, this is how you can still be Vitamin D deficient in Southern California. Vitamin D is a potent modulator of the endocrine system, especially with the sex hormones.
• Emotions – the production and release of our neurotransmitters (GABA, serotonin, dopamine, etc) are linked with the endocrine hormones. An imbalance in one system, whether it’s an insufficient production of a neurotransmitter like serotonin, can throw off the balance of the other system.
• Stress – whether emotional or physical such as from chronic pain like endometriosis, will cause an consistent rise in cortisol from the adrenals. This will alter neurotransmitter production (affecting your emotions), it will deplete nutrients needed to produce other hormones and neurotransmitters, it will steal the production line away from other hormones and shunt the production supplies to making cortisol (creating imbalances in hormones such as estrogen and progesterone), and it burns through key nutrients such as the B vitamins, zinc, and Vitamin C. A stress is more than just an emotional stress, it can also be from a physical stress such as from persistent low blood sugar, chronic pain, chronic disease, inflammation, food allergies, and imbalances in the gut.

Support Your Endocrine System :

 Healing herbs for endocrine system

Astragalus

Ashwagandha

Liquorice

Gudmar

Bitter melon

Dahlia

Healthy Eating for Endocrine Health..........

Sleep

Habitual, deeply restful sleep is one of the most powerful things we can do to support endocrine system health. Even as little as one night of sleep deprivation creates a hormonal imbalance! Yet, many people go night after night on too little quality sleep.

Many people I work with seem to think of a healthy night’s sleep as a luxury! Culturally we look down on those who “sleep too much” as being lazy and we tease them for being “sleepy heads”.