★★★★★
Over the years, I have tried diet (but haphazardly) Chaste Berry, and several other herbs ,some exercise, Metformin 2000mg/day for two years, synthetic progesterone to get my periods and none of that has helped. Not even the Metformin which so many people swears by.
By the time I was 27, I realized I had gluten intolerance. I had poor digestion, a large belly and developed psoriasis. Once I eliminated gluten from my diet, I instantly lost inches and my skin cleared up. Over the next several years, I had to clean up my diet even more to improve my digestion, lose more weight and get rid of estrogen dominance that's so common with PCOS.
I eliminated, gluten and most other grains including "healthy" brown rice and corn, sugars except for low GI fruit and occasional palm sugar (lower GI than agave), fruit juice, soy, dairy, processed foods (of course), hydrogenated oils, canola oil, and several other foods.
My diet is rich in green veggies, low GI fruit, green juices, lean protein, nuts, and, good fats (including unprocessed coconut oil). I make sure that 80% of my diet is raw fruits, veggies, and nuts.
Besides diet, I take supplements including kelp. Though my thyroid tests always came back normal, I may have had subclinical hyperthyroid because when I added 12mg of kelp per day, I started ovulating on CD 15 for the first time ever. I have been taking 12mg kelp daily for 8 months and my body haven't skipped a beat. When you look for kelp in the store, it usually comes in 225mcg tablets. You will have to do the conversion to get the right amount.
I went from a size 14 to a 6 in less than a year and I have kept it off. I think between diet, regular exercise, the usual suspects of supplements (omega 3, B complex, etc) and kelp has been my answer to PCOS.
★★★★☆
I looked into the elevated testosterone levels, and found that not only does excess body fat EXACERBATE testosterone levels (best solution - reduce body fat), but the KEY to reducing testosterone could be in ELEVATING your SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin) levels.
For those of you who have had a thorough blood test for your hormones, you will note that Doctors mainly talk about your Oestrogen, Progesterone and your Testosterone Levels. But I suggest you look at your test and note the levels of your SHBG. SHBG is a glycoprotein in your blood that BINDS the FREE ANDROGENS in your blood stream. Free Androgens are the Male Hormones that are floating in your bloodstream that cause the male pattern baldness, hormonal hair, acne and other androgenous conditions. If your Testosterone is high, more than likely your SHBG is in the lower levels. Basically, there is not enough of the SHBG protein to catch these little fellows that cause all this damage.
I researched how to elevate SHBG naturally, and it seems that GREEN TEA is the best solution. BUT since we all can't drink countless cups of Green Tea to elevate these levels, it would be a wonderful idea to take a natural supplement of GREEN TEA EXTRACT. Check with your health food store or pharmacy, you should be able to get it in capsule or tablet form.
Along with increasing your SHBG levels, Green Tea Extract may also serve to speed up your metabolism, and also burn body fat. If you have PCOS and are experiencing baldness or thinning of your hair, this may be the best long term "INTERNAL" solution to the problem.
My other suggestion is to stay away from hormonal contraceptions at all costs. They do more damage than good to your already sensitive hormone levels. Synthetic hormones are not easily assimilated in our bodies, and therefore, our body reacts adversely. The pill may be the cause of greater infertility than you realise.
The final note for women with PCOS is to remember that PCOS is linked to DIABETES, SYNDROME X/INSULIN RESISTANCE. The majority of women with PCOS have been found to have a history of Diabetes in their families, or come from a culture where diabetes is prevalent. The key for all of us therefore, is to reduce our consumption of simple sugars and any food that elevates our blood sugar levels too quickly (high GI foods). Higher protein, lower PROCESSED carb diets work well for us. Increase your raw vegetable and fruit consumption. Also increase your essential fatty acid intake (i.e. good oils - extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil etc).
These changes will go a very long way to ensuring greater fertility, better balance in your hormones, and long term prevention of heart disease and diabetes.
Good luck everyone. If you wish to email me with questions, you are more than welcome to.
★★★★★
★★★★★
So really, saying someone has no clue is a bit rough, you may just personally have had a good experience, but I think you need to realise that its not for everyone, and clearly there are variations on the topic.
Dietary Changes
I commend you for all you are doing to control your PCOS. It takes a lot of perseverance and the right mindset which isn't always easy.
I would suggest you add Chasteberry (Vitex Agnes Castus), a few drops of tincture in water first thing in the morning. It should reduce the heavy blood flow and help to regulate your periods.
Good luck and hope you keep getting better.
NAC
★★★★★
I ordered NAC for other reasons and was amazed to see how many other benefits it has including treatment of PCOS. I ordered her some as well and she is going to take it to her Dr and tell him she wants to try this rather than prescription drugs (ie Metformin - same results, but no side effects). According to scientific studies there was a trial of NAC and women taking 1.6g a day apparently had decreased BMI, hair loss, acne etc..
If anyone else has tried this I would like to know their experience with it and I will also report down the track on results for my daughter.
Chaste Tree Berry
★★★★★
Spearmint
★★★★★
Saw Palmetto
★★★★★
★★★★★
Saw palmetto has worked for me also, pcos symptoms gone and period cycle has returned to normal.
Apple Cider Vinegar
★★★★★
Also, This is personal but it may help someone so its worth it. When I was 21 I suffered from a miscarriage and Due to that, I suffered (for 9 Months) from a bacterial infection. I took all meds, pills and creams, for that to, then one day I cried to my doctor telling her nothing was giving me relief and my doctor told me just to use the ACV, After a week of bathing in it, I've not had one since.
Chaste Tree Berry
★★★★★
★★★★★
I've always had irregular periods since puberty at 11. I grew up on junk food (90s kid) and continued to eat that way throughout early adulthood (fast food and junk food). I developed psoriasis when I was 12 and it gradually got worse over the years.
In 2010ish I had an episode where I bled very heavily. Massive blood clots, could not make it to the bathroom without my vision turning white, head pounding, heart palpitations. I eventually recovered but never tried to figure out what happened. The same episodes happened again in 2015 and 2017. In 2017, I was hospitalized twice and the second time I was sent to ICU because my hemoglobin dropped to 2.4. They put me on birth control for the first time (high dose estrogen) and my bleeding stopped.
I continued to eat bad (chips, cookies, fast food, etc.) even though I am vegan. I never ate healthy. In 2019, I went to the RE (reproductive endocrinologist) because me and my husband could not get pregnant. She diagnosed me with PCOS after running tests. Since then, I still ate bad.
Starting this year 2020, I made the change to eliminate all inflammatory foods and get my life back. I was tired of going back and forth of being anemic. I cut out gluten, artificial and all sugars, refined oils.
I have lost 48lbs! PCOS is a low grade consistent inflammation disease and symptoms get worse from insulin spikes. Unfortunately, I am still dealing with irregular periods but that just tells me that I have a long ways to go.
My journey does not end here just because I lost 48lbs. I'm going to keep going until I get my symptoms under control.
My daily routine consists of: Intermittent Fasting Hot Green Tea (I can feel a huge difference when taking this daily on my testosterone levels)
11am-VERY LOW INTENSITY Indoor Cycling
11:30am- VERY LOW INTENSITY Weights >10lbs (push, pull, legs 5x a week)
12pm- Eat My Heaviest Meal (consists of whole foods; choice of beans or pulse, big bag of steamed veggies and choice of vinegar based sauce, choice of spices), extra virgin olive oil, cooked in cast iron pan. 2-3 squares of 90% dark chocolate lemon water throughout the day drink as much water as possible 5pm-Berry Smoothie with Myo-Inositol (blueberries, almond milk, chia seeds, vanilla pea protein, banana or dates) Gingerbread Smoothie with Myo-Inositol(blackstrap molasses, ginger powder, cinnamon powder, almond milk, chia seeds)
My period schedule: Prenatal with applesauce with breakfast and inositol with lemon water 23g Chelated Iron with lunch Blackstrap Molasses shake for dinner. Ibuprofen when I'm really desperate. I don't exercise during this time. My periods are extremely heavy and prolonged.
Massive clots then drop every time I go to the bathroom and flooding of bright red blood for 3 days then I spot the rest of the month.
Focusing on anti-inflammatory foods, healthy carbs, fiber, and loads of iron rich foods really helps me! P.S. I forgot to mention above that I had to have 10 blood transfusions and platelet transfusions. That's how much I bleed! Also I drink red raspberry leaf tea in the mornings in place of green tea if I feel like it, I feel it lightens up my period a bit.
★★★★★
However, I used maca powder in my smoothies for 2 weeks. And voila!. my first period! I haven't been so delighted! It may taste absolutely foul and smell revolting, but it seems to be the miracle for me. I have it in my smoothies every morning.
Try it and see what the benefits are for you. Many say it does nothing for them, but you may well be the lucky one.
Good luck :)
Apple Cider Vinegar, Blackstrap Molasses
★★★★★
I think with me being allergic to fish, since birth, and with having to take a short sale on the selling of my home, money loss, that I was unable to eat as much seafood and nuts that I usually wood to make up for it. To make a long story short I bought J. Crows liquid iodine and started supplementation a month and 2 weeks ago, I also suspected that I may have had calcified uterine fibroids so on top of taking geritol pills once a day and 3000mg of Inositol with folic acid, and B-complex I also added 400mg of magnesium citrate 2x per day, and so not only did this save my hair and instead of me going through 2-3 overnight maxi pads per 24 hrs per day I was now down to just 1 overnight maxi pad per day. I have to admit I read this website before around early 2011, when I should have been seeing the signs that my body was in distress, and I thought I would not have to resort to molasses or apple cider vinegar well I'm glad I did.
I made myself a coffee mug full of tea which included water, 2 capfulls of ACV(apple cider vinegar with mother), 1 squeeze of real lemon juice, and 1-2 teaspoonfuls of unsulphured blackstrap molasses. I drank this 2x per day, morning and evening. I know everyone's body is different. I thought due to me being obese that it would take a week or month for me to see results but in my case it took really just the first 2 days by the 3rd day I just drank 1 cup and by the 4th day I decided to only drink it if I saw spotting and I have not. I want to also add that I do suffer with PCOS and a week before I added the J. Crows iodine I also added extra b-6(1 capsule) and zinc supplements(1 25mg tablet) to help my body create progesterone to get me balanced again. For me all of this helped to gradually get my body balanced but the kill shot was definately the BSM, and I was able to do my 40min workouts again. I did research and I had no idea BSM had iodine, iron, potassium and so many other vitamins and minerals our bodies need. *For anyone reading this please listen to your body. Not listening to mine, inspite of genetics, definately was a factor in me becoming hypothyroid and PCOS. * I hope to share again in a few months with news of BFP. Wish me luck.
Iodine
Vitamin C-2,000-5,000 mg/day
Magnesium-400 mg/day
Selenium-200 mcg/day
Unrefined sea salt-1/2 tsp/day (this salt is either grey or pink)
Iodine
Here are the companion nutrients which, at a minimum, should normally be taken along with lugol's iodine on a daily basis:
50 mg Iodoral or lugol's iodine minimum (may start with 12.5 mg).
Vitamin C - 3,000 mg per day (more may be necessary to detox bromide).
300-600 mg magnesium oxide (Iodine Investigation Project participants prefer magnesium glycinate or magnesium citrate.)
200 mcg selenium. The selenomethionine version is preferred by many.
500 mg niacin (B3) twice a day (NOT niacinamide). Start lower to avoid flush. *See update in left margin on the ATP Cofactors as an alternative.
100 mg Vitamin B2 three times a day. *See update in left margin on the ATP Cofactor as an alternative.
A comprehensive vitamin and nutrition program.
(Feb 2008) Dr. Guy Abraham cautions that "excess calcium supplementation (2,000- 3,000 md/day) has been the most common cause of poor response to iodine supplementation." Vitamin Research News Vol. 22. Number 2.
Source: http://www.breastcancerchoices.org/iprotocol.html
My own further advice and recommendations, which are optional, are as follows:
Avoid multivitamin tablets like the plague. For all the reasons, see the Vitamin C article that I wrote in a past EC Newsletter -- near the end of the article.
Use Magnesium Chloride or Magnesium Oil -- Mag Oil can easily be used transdermally and is the best magnesium form to take. For more info see Mark Sircus's book called Transdermal Magnesium Therapy.
Avoid Calcium in your diet - so avoid dairy. Excess calcium inhibits iodine absorption in the body.
Take L-Tyrosine -- 500 mgs per day. Tyrosine is needed to assist conversion of iodide to iodine for storage in the thyroid and other iodine storage sites in the body.
Take Chanca Piedra herb as a tea or as capsules(1000 mgs 3 times a day at meals). CP helps to protect and assist the liver and is also hypolipidemic, hypotensive, hypoglycemic and is a mild, cleansing diuretic for the blood. CP also acts as a calcium channel blocker.
Include zinc in you protocol.
Using Ted's alkalizing protocols will also beneifit you and help cure any malabsorption or pH issues.
Iodine
So my view is that if you are sufficient in a nutrient like selenium in your body -- then there is no real reason to take it as a supplement.
Generally, it is also mostly true that nutrients like iodine, magnesium, selenium, Vit c, B vits etc are the biggest culprits missing from our diets. I thnk that many of the iodine companion nutrients are advised simply because most are actually the favourites missing from our western diets on a daily basis (thereby causing other problems). Of course this lack of food nutrients can vary from region to region because of differences in soil health too.
The main reason, when you start supplementing higher dose lugol's iodine, why you must take the iodine companion nutrients is to assure that there are no other reasons which contribute to iodine malabsorption or other problems in the body.
You are pretty lucky not to have had a Herx die-off or a detox effect while supplementing higher dose lugols iodine. In America, the food is grown on poor soils which are greatly lacking in essential nutrients and this problem is further compounded because of all the food additives -- heavy metals, bad halides, pesticides, fungicides and GMO that are eaten every day. 10, 000 years ago humans moved from being hunter-gatherers to having an agricultural diet existence. Then, from the 1800s onwards, with the birth of the Industrial Revolution were born the modern farming methods and drugs that we use today. Later, chemically processed foods were touted as the cheaper and healthier alternative for an overpopulated world. Trouble is that our bodies adjust very slowly to major diet changes -- and it is a fact that our bodies still haven't really adjusted yet to our original move to an agriculturally based diet 10,000 years ago. Meanwhile the FDA and USDA continues to tell Americans what is good for them to eat. And we just get sicker and sicker as a result, while the agricultural and drugs cartels get richer and richer. You don't really need a double blind placebo trial costing millions of dollars to know that this is so obviously true...
Dietary Changes
★★★★★
Chaste Tree Berry
★★★★☆
White Peony Tea
★★★★★
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