Fertility, PCOS, Women's health issues

[Guest guest]

Hi Clair,

 

Welcome to your community! As the group owner/moderator, I would like to share

with you what I have found works for Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. As an

acupuncture and herbalist who specializes in fertility, this is a condition

that walks into my office daily. There are many issues or combination of

issues that can lead to fertility; many cysts and weight gain are two of them.

 

 

PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) is an endocrine disorder that is the most

common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and is a leading cause

of infertility. It occurs among all races and nationalities. The primary

features are lack of regular ovulation and irregular or absent periods. There

is also an excessive amounts or effects of androgenic hormones. The symptoms

and severity of the syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are

unknown, insulin resistance (often secondary to obesity) is heavily

correlated with PCOS.

 

Other symptoms may include acne, weights gain (but not always) or have trouble

losing weight, male pattern baldness or thinning hair on the scalp, hair growth

on the face, back, or chest or sometimes, high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).

About half of women with PCOS have high insulin and blood sugar levels called

insulin resistance. When the body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar builds

to high levels. If not treated, this can lead to diabetes. High cholesterol

levels are also common with PCOS.

 

In PCOS, there are multiple cysts in the ovaries, which are actually small,

undeveloped follicles that have had their growth stunted. The cysts, as well as

the connective tissue around them produce male hormones called androgens.

Androgens are then released into the blood stream and alter the feedback within

the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO axis). The amount of estrogen

then increases in relation to progesterone causing an increase in

testosterone and Luteinizing hormone (LH).

 

Treating PCOS

 

The two most important key factors that any woman could do to lower her risk of

PCOS is to eat heart-healthy, low glycemic foods, along with regular exercise.

 

Foods to Avoid:

 

-Cut out all forms of refined sugar

-Cut out all refined (simple) carbohydrates.

-Follow the Full Spectrum Diet. This says to cut out all white foods, which

include all white bread, rice, pasta, low fiber foods, most breakfast cereals

and rice cakes.

-Reduce animal products and fats

-Avoid all soda, fruit juice and sugary drinks

-Avoid milk and dairy products

-Avoid alcohol and caffeine

-Avoid fertility diets that suggest you eat large amounts of yams. This is not

appropriate for PCOS

-Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and sugary foods, fried snacks and fast

foods

-Do not miss meals; and do not starve in terms of total quantity of food

 

Foods You Should Eat:

 

-Eat adequate amounts of protein

-Eat as much fresh vegetables as you can

-Eat foods, which nourish the liver such as dark green vegetables, lemons,

carrots and beets

-Eat fruit light in sugar and sweetness such as berries

-Eat complex carbohydrates (lower glycemic carbohydrates), which tend to have

more fiber such as bran cereal, brown rice, whole wheat, whole-grains and nuts

and grains like quinoa, whole oats, and bulgur.

These foods help women with PCOS to maintain steady blood sugar and insulin

levels and may assist in weight loss. A diet composed of mainly low-GI foods

will also help to combat the effects of insulin resistance.

 

Supplements and Herbs

 

-Chlorophyl helps reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia without raising blood glucose

levels

-Include supplements that help improve insulin resistance such as B vitamins,

magnesium, alpha lipoic acid and chromium. Chromium increases the sensitivity of

insulin receptors. Recommended dosage is 300 micrograms/day.

-Essential fatty acids, including flax oil, evening primrose oil (Oenothera

biennis), and black currant oil, act as anti-inflammatory and hormonal

regulators.

-Supplementation with antioxidants, including zinc, and vitamins A, E, and C, is

also recommended.

-Western herbal medicine uses phytoestrogen and phytoprogesteronic herbs, such

as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) and false unicorn root (Chamaelirium

luteum), as well as liver herbs, like dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), to work

toward hormonal balance.

 

-Acupuncture works on the body's energy flow according to the meridian system.

Chinese herbs, such as gui zhi fu ling wan, can be effective. I would truly

suggest you seek out a local acupuncture who also has a strong herbal

background. You can search for an accredited one here:

_http://www.acufinder.com_ (http://www.acufinder.com)

 

-In naturopathic medicine, treatment focuses on helping the liver function more

optimally in the hormonal balancing process.

-Exercise is the second most important key to PCOS. Exercise helps the body's

cells use glucose as energy, reducing blood glucose levels. A structured

exercise plan can help the body use insulin more efficiently and gradually

reduce insulin levels. Regular exercise also improves circulation, reduces blood

pressure, increases levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL), your good

cholesterol and helps with weight loss.

 

I hope this helps.

 

I am here for any questions you may have.

 

In Happiness,

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

_http://www.peacefulmind.com_ (http://www.peacefulmind.com)

therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit

 

 

 

************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at

http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Excellent information,

As an herbalist I am hearing of this condition more and more also,

plus my own daughter was diagnosed with this condition too. We found

along with the other suggestions that a natural progesterone cream

helps too. This helps my daughter's cycle to regulate. I have her

using Pro-G-Yam cream from Nature Sunshine -

http://www.motherknowsbest.net

 

 

 

 

, yogiguruji wrote:

>

> Hi Clair,

>

> Welcome to your community! As the group owner/moderator, I would

like to share with you what I have found works for Polycystic Ovarian

Syndrome. As an acupuncture and herbalist who specializes in

fertility, this is a condition that walks into my office daily.

There are many issues or combination of issues that can lead to

fertility; many cysts and weight gain are two of them.

>

>

> PCOS (Polycystic ovarian syndrome) is an endocrine disorder that is

the most common hormonal disorder among women of reproductive age and

is a leading cause of infertility. It occurs among all races and

nationalities. The primary features are lack of regular ovulation and

irregular or absent periods. There is also an excessive amounts or

effects of androgenic hormones. The symptoms and severity of the

syndrome vary greatly between women. While the causes are unknown,

insulin resistance (often secondary to obesity) is heavily

> correlated with PCOS.

>

> Other symptoms may include acne, weights gain (but not always) or

have trouble losing weight, male pattern baldness or thinning hair on

the scalp, hair growth on the face, back, or chest or sometimes, high

blood sugar (hyperglycemia). About half of women with PCOS have high

insulin and blood sugar levels called insulin resistance. When the

body doesn't use insulin well, blood sugar builds to high levels. If

not treated, this can lead to diabetes. High cholesterol levels are

also common with PCOS.

>

> In PCOS, there are multiple cysts in the ovaries, which are actually

small, undeveloped follicles that have had their growth stunted. The

cysts, as well as the connective tissue around them produce male

hormones called androgens. Androgens are then released into the blood

stream and alter the feedback within the

hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis (HPO axis). The amount of estrogen

> then increases in relation to progesterone causing an increase in

> testosterone and Luteinizing hormone (LH).

>

> Treating PCOS

>

> The two most important key factors that any woman could do to lower

her risk of PCOS is to eat heart-healthy, low glycemic foods, along

with regular exercise.

>

> Foods to Avoid:

>

> -Cut out all forms of refined sugar

> -Cut out all refined (simple) carbohydrates.

> -Follow the Full Spectrum Diet. This says to cut out all white

foods, which include all white bread, rice, pasta, low fiber foods,

most breakfast cereals and rice cakes.

> -Reduce animal products and fats

> -Avoid all soda, fruit juice and sugary drinks

> -Avoid milk and dairy products

> -Avoid alcohol and caffeine

> -Avoid fertility diets that suggest you eat large amounts of yams.

This is not appropriate for PCOS

> -Reduce the intake of oily, fried, and sugary foods, fried snacks

and fast foods

> -Do not miss meals; and do not starve in terms of total quantity of

food

>

> Foods You Should Eat:

>

> -Eat adequate amounts of protein

> -Eat as much fresh vegetables as you can

> -Eat foods, which nourish the liver such as dark green vegetables,

lemons, carrots and beets

> -Eat fruit light in sugar and sweetness such as berries

> -Eat complex carbohydrates (lower glycemic carbohydrates), which

tend to have more fiber such as bran cereal, brown rice, whole wheat,

whole-grains and nuts and grains like quinoa, whole oats, and bulgur.

> These foods help women with PCOS to maintain steady blood sugar and

insulin levels and may assist in weight loss. A diet composed of

mainly low-GI foods will also help to combat the effects of insulin

resistance.

>

> Supplements and Herbs

>

> -Chlorophyl helps reduce symptoms of hypoglycemia without raising

blood glucose levels

> -Include supplements that help improve insulin resistance such as B

vitamins, magnesium, alpha lipoic acid and chromium. Chromium

increases the sensitivity of insulin receptors. Recommended dosage is

300 micrograms/day.

> -Essential fatty acids, including flax oil, evening primrose oil

(Oenothera biennis), and black currant oil, act as anti-inflammatory

and hormonal regulators.

> -Supplementation with antioxidants, including zinc, and vitamins A,

E, and C, is also recommended.

> -Western herbal medicine uses phytoestrogen and phytoprogesteronic

herbs, such as blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) and false

unicorn root (Chamaelirium luteum), as well as liver herbs, like

dandelion (Taraxacum mongolicum), to work toward hormonal balance.

>

> -Acupuncture works on the body's energy flow according to the

meridian system. Chinese herbs, such as gui zhi fu ling wan, can be

effective. I would truly suggest you seek out a local acupuncture who

also has a strong herbal background. You can search for an accredited

one here:

> _http://www.acufinder.com_ (http://www.acufinder.com)

>

> -In naturopathic medicine, treatment focuses on helping the liver

function more optimally in the hormonal balancing process.

> -Exercise is the second most important key to PCOS. Exercise helps

the body's cells use glucose as energy, reducing blood glucose levels.

A structured exercise plan can help the body use insulin more

efficiently and gradually reduce insulin levels. Regular exercise also

improves circulation, reduces blood pressure, increases levels of high

density lipoprotein (HDL), your good cholesterol and helps with weight

loss.

>

> I hope this helps.

>

> I am here for any questions you may have.

>

> In Happiness,

> Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

> _http://www.peacefulmind.com_ (http://www.peacefulmind.com)

> therapies for healing

> mind, body, spirit

>

>

>

> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the

all-new AOL at

> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour

>

>

>