The DUTCH Podcast What the DUTCH Test Reveals About Stress, Inflammation & Immune Health
Mar 31, 2026
Dr. Allison Smith, naturopathic physician specializing in women’s health and hormone testing, explains how hormonal shifts in perimenopause affect stress, inflammation, sleep, and immune reactions. Short takes cover estrogen’s immune roles, cortisol patterns on DUTCH testing, inflammation markers like quinolinate, histamine and mast cell ties, injury risk from hormone loss, and practical lifestyle resilience tips.
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Address Hormones Before Repeated Cortisone Shots
- Treat underlying hormonal contributors to recurrent soft tissue injuries rather than only giving symptomatic cortisone injections.
- Identify estrogen/progesterone imbalances and consider preventive hormone or adrenal support to reduce repeat injections.
Hormone Fluctuations Act As Immune Trigger Points
- Hormone fluxes in perimenopause act as repeated trigger points for immune dysfunction, similar to postpartum estrogen withdrawal.
- Symptoms include new itchy skin, allergies, and autoimmune flares tied to estrogen variability.
Progesterone Controls Mast Cells And Histamine
- Progesterone tempers mast cell activation and histamine; its decline in perimenopause increases histamine-driven symptoms.
- Expect worse seasonal allergies, itchy skin or antihistamine dependence when progesterone falls.