The nervous system sends electrical messages to control and coordinate the body. The endocrine system has a similar job, but uses chemicals to “communicate”. These chemicals are known as horlmones. A hormone is a specific messenger molecule synthesized and secreted by a group of specialized cells called an endocrine gland. These glands are ductless, which means that their secretions (hormones) are released directly into the bloodstream and travel to elsewhere in the body to target organs, upon which they act. 

There are three general classes (groups) of hormones. These are classified by chemical structure, not function.

• steroid hormones including prostaglandins which function especially in a variety of female functions (aspirin inhibits synthesis of prostaglandins, some of which cause “cramps”) and the sex hormones all of which are lipids made from cholesterol, 
• amino acid derivatives (like epinephrine) which are derived from amino acids, especially tyrosine, and 
• peptide hormones (like insulin) which is the most numerous/diverse group of hormones. 

Our Endocrine System Balancing Tuning Forks include a fork for each of the major human endocrine glands:

• Adrenal
• Reproductive
• Pancreas
• Thymus
• Thyroid
• Parathyroid
• Pineal Body
• Pituitary