Susan Merenstein, Pharmacist/Owner
October 23, 2026
What 45 years as a pharmacist and more than 25 years in hormone consulting have taught me about women’s health. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and I recently listened to a fascinating…
July 24, 2026
Updated October 2026 Welcome to the LabNaturals Supplement Dispensary! We are bringing the supplements and OTC hormones previously available from our Apothecary shelves and through VitalHealthPharmaci…
March 11, 2026
Phase III Is Underway October 9, 2026 (update) For nearly twenty years, Murray Avenue Apothecary was a place where people found personalized care, trusted guidance, and pharmacist-compounded prescript…
January 6, 2026
A bone-strength–focused framework for men and women Introduction Osteoporosis has long been framed as a disease of calcium deficiency and treated primarily by attempting to raise bone mineral de…
February 28, 2022
In Recognition of National Heart Month Updated Editorial Note (2026) This article was originally written in 2022 and remains a strong educational overview of the relationship between hormonal balance…
May 21, 2026
As a pharmacist who has worked with hormones and metabolic balance for decades—and as a woman whose own hypothyroidism and hormonal imbalances were overlooked during years of frequent miscarriag…
April 14, 2026
Blood sugar is often the last number to change. Insulin resistance can begin years—sometimes even decades—earlier. That means many women may notice changes in their body and energy long be…
February 8, 2026
For generations, women were never taught how their bodies actually work sexually. I never learned about sex from my mother because she was not comfortable talking about it. Many of us grew up believin…
January 8, 2026
(Bone Strength–Focused Care for Women and Men) ⸻ Food-Base Nutrition for Bone Strength Bone strength is best supported through whole foods, with supplementation used strategically to correct def…
January 8, 2026
(For Patients and Clinicians) 1. What is the difference between bone density and bone strength? Bone density refers to the amount of mineral (primarily calcium) in bone and is what is measured by a DE…
November 26, 2025
What “Appropriate Use” Really Means — And Why Women Deserve Better When the FDA removed the long-standing boxed warning from menopausal hormone therapy, headlines exploded! “In…
November 26, 2025
Why This Addendum Matters For more than 20 years, the WHI has shaped — and misshaped — the conversation around menopausal hormone therapy. Misinterpretations from this single study led to…
November 26, 2025
Another potential hormone overdose-online health clinics doctors prescribing large doses of Testosterone and achieving “young man” blood serum levels Women need one-tenth to one-twentieth…
November 11, 2025
Note: “Progestogen” in manufactured MHT refers to Provera, the synthetic manmade molecule, which is NOT the same as bioidentical/human identical hormone Progesterone. “Estrogen&rdquo…
October 17, 2025
Progesterone is a protective hormone: Progesterone induces the enzyme estradiol-dehydrogenase, which converts estradiol to estrone (estradiol is 12 times more potent than estrone) Progesterone also in…
April 4, 2025
Why Magnesium is Essential Magnesium is a crucial nutrient that supports over 300 metabolic enzymes/functions in the body, making it indispensable as a cofactor. However, many people do not get enough…
March 12, 2025
Note: This blog has been updated February 7, 2026 (original blog March 2025) When people ask me what supplements I recommend, they’re often surprised by my answer. It’s not about taking do…
February 13, 2025
VITAMINS Vitamin A: Helps formation and maintenance of health teeth, skeletal and soft tissue, mucous membranes, and skin. Promotes good vision and is required for reproduction and lactation. Beta-car…
April 23, 2024
We talk a lot about estrogen, especially in perimenopause and menopause. But there’s another hormone that’s equally important to women’s health (and sanity): progesterone. And honest…
January 2, 2024
Updated: 02/12/2025 and 02/07/26 Winters are dark in Pittsburgh, the gray skies and cold days are with us for months. But did you know our city’s lack of sunshine could be putting your health at…
November 14, 2023
For an updated comprehensive review on Vitamin D3 please refer to our blog: https://vitalhealthpharmacist.com/blog/2024/01/vitamin-d-and-dementia-risk/ While John R. Lee, M.D. was a leading expert on…
October 17, 2023
My bedtime is fast approaching but before I go to sleep, I want to share a few thoughts about sleep from the book Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker PhD in Neuroph…
April 18, 2023
Menopause is finally getting its moment in the spotlight after being largely ignored by the medical profession or at best talked about in lowered voices and euphemisms. In the last couple of years it…
February 21, 2023
Timing Smoking Cessation Attempts with Women’s Hormone Levels Could Improve Success July 3, 2022 Summary: When a woman’s progesterone increases from a low level, the fewer cigarettes they…
February 14, 2023
What Are Bioidentical Hormones? The term bioidentical does not indicate the source of the hormone but rather the chemical structure. Bioidentical hormones are originally derived from a molecule called…
November 10, 2022
By Dr.Casey Means, MD Food is information for your cells. That’s why every food and beverage you consume can support or undermine how well your body functions. For instance, foods made with adde…
March 7, 2022
The Italian magazine Evolutamente recently published a well-researched article exploring the link between melatonin and COVID-19, pneumonia and inflammation. It’s a compelling article so let&rsq…
March 5, 2022
Testosterone is our hormone of zest! Women make one-tenth as much testosterone as males. Normal, healthy women make testosterone in ovaries (stimulated by LH from the pituitary), adrenal glands, skin…
March 2, 2022
What is the difference between natural and synthetic Progesterone? Progesterone was first crystallized in 1934, and today is available from plant sources. “Natural” micronized progesterone…
October 1, 2021
Menopause can be a confusing time for many women and their families, and as a society we tend to steer away from having open, honest conversations about this very important transition in a woman&rsquo…
September 1, 2021
Delivery of the bioidentical hormones estradiol (E2), progesterone (Pg), and testosterone (T) through the skin as a cream or gel (topically) has become a mainstay of bioidentical hormone replacement t…
May 1, 2021
Hormones are the basis of our behavior and personality. In most ways, they make us who we are. They impact everything from attraction to appetite - affecting our mood, our weight, our food-cravings, a…
February 1, 2021
The aging process is challenging enough without the fear of declining cognitive function. Studies have shown that there is a memory decline from age 25 to age 40 of 21%, and continues so that by age 7…
September 1, 2020
Iodine is crucial for healthy breasts and thyroid function and every cell in the body. 72% of the world’s population is affected by iodine deficiency. Why Are We Deficient in Iodine? Fear of usi…
July 1, 2020
You need rest. In fact, your survival literally depends on your ability to sleep. Cortisol, the substance we associate with stress, has a powerful influence on sleep and waking in the human body. Here…
April 1, 2020
Estrogen Dominance is a state where a woman has too much estrogen compared with its counter hormone Progesterone. Estrogen Dominance puts you at significant risk for weight gain, breast cancer, predia…
January 1, 2020
Dear Friends, Are YOU prepared for Menopause?! It doesn’t have to be a scary or traumatic experience with these helpful suggestions. You will need to be aware of your symptoms, educated on hormo…
