"Many women with PCOS are prescribed metformin, a medicine which helps combat insulin resistance," Rueven says. I do ovulate regularly and my cycle stays pretty consistent. Last time I got off, I had a “regular” cycle for 5 months then it stopped for 3 so my gyno said I should get back on HBC..ugh. Hi, Lara! Today we are going to talk about TREATING this facial hair in a natural way. Also, I’m giving DIM more and more these days. Please read my post Why I Ask Some Patients to Quit Sugar. Hi Lara, can any of these be used safely for a pre teen or teenager? He is particularly interested in the role of probiotics in the gut-brain-skin axis and has written many articles on the topic. I believe Zn was helping me because I noticed benefits in my hair texture which has turned extremely coiled and unmanageable due to high T, plus hirsutism/acne showed small improvements. But I’m struggling with bad hirritusim and my hair is falling out, I don’t have acne any more as I was on reacutanne for that. Is it really? I have been on metformin 1500 mg extended release tablets. do I need a Probiotic also? I would like to try cyclic progesterone therapy for 3 months. It’s helped me turn my health around since being diagnosed with PCOS. It’s just not strong as medication. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) inhibits 5-alpha reductase which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to the more potent DHT hormone. Are you careful to always take the zinc directly after a large meal? It seems like you can’t win with chronic conditions versus acute ones. DIM (diindolylmethane) is a phytonutrient derived from vegetables such as broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and kale. I just found out that I’m pregnant and I’ve struggled with acne the last 10 years. My blood sugar levels fasting were never high. The syndrome wreaks havoc on hormonal balance causing symptoms including acne, hirsutism, weight gain, hair loss, depression, and more. I’m 18 and I have literally been growing a scraggly beard and hideous dark little patches along my jaw-line.I went to the doctor but she did not diagnose me with pcos because my ovaries look and function as normal.However, for some strange reason I have higher testosterone levels than normal(I suspect it’s my adrenal glands) .But I did not go with the option of birth-control as the doctor suggested.I decided to take a more natural approach and take tree-chaste supplement. However, I am a little concerned that this will further sensitise my body to androgens. Did you have post-pill hirsutism/acne? I have bought the most recent version of your book and it has been very helpful. What dose of licorice + peony do you recommend? By comparison, the high fat mice given indole-3-carbinol had improved glucose tolerance, decreased body weight, and lower measures for most serum-based obesity factors. My main symptom are: amenorrhea and hirsutism, but androgens are in normal range (but in upper limits). What is your experience with natural testosterone blockers? Thank you for your dedication to helping women balance their hormones and live the life we have all dreamt of! My vitamin D was very low but everything else was normal. It’s awful. Familial hirsutism is both typical and natural in certain populations, such as in some women of Mediterranean or Middle Eastern ancestry. If you’ve suffered from hormonal acne, you know there's no easy fix.And yet, there's a supplement that's starting to garner attention for how well it seems to work. I did not space out the Zn and medication. Reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum) inhibits 5-alpha reductase which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to the more potent DHT hormone. Alpha lipoic acid ? I’ll miss my sex drive though. All of this started with a very quick onset in October. Hello.i read your article and i wonder if u could help me,feels like u know what u are talking about.I have been on drug called spironolactone for few years as hairloss plus gaining hair in unwanted places,problem with skin.My gp sent me to endocrine doctor who very quickly told me that i do not have too much testosterone and i do not have polycystic overies (he told me that only by looking into my blood)and i am too sensitive to any trstosterone beeing in my body.I was put inmplant in with progesterone before i started spironolactone as danger if pregnant.It did help my skin and stoped my hair groving so fast in unwanted places,but i had still hairloss.Few months ago i started eating reihi as experiment but my skin went very very dry so i cut only to 2 pills a day.My skin on my back and decolde is very bad,i do get fast hairy where i dont want ,hairloss still there.I am hopeless what should i do,what test i should ask qp to do….after so many years i just dont know …i be very greatfull for answer. Zinc improves ovarian function thereby decreasing androgens and increasing progesterone, which is a natural androgen blocker. Licorice. Most women will notice an improvement in hirsutism in 6 to 12 months. I have extreme shedding of my hair….my Dr. said I have high blood insulin causing hair loss and dark stubs growing on my legs…….No Diabetis,! it has been extremely debilitating but I will never go back on birth control pills. Is it thyroid? What would you recommend? Can phytoestrogen plants do more bad than good in this case? Hirsutism is the official medical name given to facial hair which grows on women in a pattern that is normally found on men. My mum has excess facial Hair too. I wish I had known about it earlier, it would have save me lots of money!!! The naturopath is going along with the recommendation of the dermatologist rather than help me figure out what to do otherwise. Meanwhile, I gave no thought to the synthetic hormones I began ingesting on a daily … The Health & Wellness Center 703-354-7336; Address: 4501 Ford Avenue, Alexandria, VA 22302 Hours of Operation: Customer Support: +1 703-354-7336 Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. - 12 a.m. EST I am a beautiful woman but i feel i am loosing my confidence and living in shadows of my facial hair and tired of hiding bald spots with hair fibers. What is considered out of normal ranges for Total Testosterone & Free T? Well I’ve lost weight and had my 3 baby which made my period normal. Hi Amy, I just read this and I have exactly the same problem. Both are present in varying amounts in males and females. I am going to try the peony and licorice combination but I’m not sure what supplement to get or how to take them. I am going back to the current dermatologist next week and I have to make a decision by then about taking an anti-androgen or if I should try some supplements. I was researching and was thinking of taking Saw Palmetto with zinc – what do you reckon? As the researchers say, inositol supplementation is both simple and safe. I’m 18 and my body is literally keep try to grow a scraggly beard and I have hideous dark little patches along my jaw-line.I went to the doctor but she did not diagnose me with pcos because my ovaries look and function as normal.However, for some strange reason I have higher testosterone levels than normal(I suspect it’s my adrenal glands) .But I did not go with the option of birth-control as the doctor suggested.I decided to take a more natural approach and take tree-chaste supplement.In less than a week of taking this supplement, my dark patches became noticeably lighter and my skin from head to toe feels somewhat softer and healthier I”M SERIOUS.I highly recommend at least trying it. I need to do something asap but am nervous about taking medication. Done. I have lost 70% of my hair overall, and have obvious thinning at the front, sides and temples. This may result in enlarged ovaries and a failure to release eggs regularly, impairing fertility. So I dont know if this was a problem of absorption or something else caused by the Zn. DIM for men may be particularly beneficial for prostate health. Weight is also an issue i am 5.4 147 pounds. My question is do I continue with the supplements I have been taking for the last 3 1/2 months or do I switch to a prenatal vitamin? After taking an anti-androgen supplement for a while and the androgens lower, will my period come back on it’s own/regularly? Thanks very much for your replies. They stimulate increased sebum production which contributes to acne.4. I take zinc, omega 3 and progesterone cream, but my skin and hair are still greasy and fall out. I discuss strategies for adrenal androgens in my post 4 Causes of Androgen Excess in Women. Now that we have gone over the important uses of DIM, it is important to talk about the potential side effects and when one shouldn't be taking DIM. Thank you. What supplements can you recommend that have Peony & Licorice together? Consider taking the herbal medicine berberine, which is antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and improves insulin sensitivity (thereby reducing the acne hormone IGF-1). I presume it is hormonal. Can you recommend somewhere to buy in Australia or online, or a preferred brand and/or dose? Excuse any errors, I’m Italian. My naturopath has me taking Cortisol Manager and had me on biodentical hormone replacement which I stopped due to increased shedding and the advise of the dermatologist. DIM may also regulate several cellular signaling pathways that contribute to oxidative stress.17. I read on Period Repair Manual book that if the aim is to lower androgens with peony and licorice, it should be taken for 6 months and do a pause and then resume. B. aufgrund von Eierstock- oder Nebennieren-Erkrankungen) oder erhöhte periphere Umwandlung von Testosteron in DHT durch 5-Alpha-Reduktase resultiert. My experience is that yes, any of the herbs that stimulate the HPO (hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian) axis can potentially worsen migraines. I have recently had blood test and pelvian echo done and my doctors don’t really agree if I have PCO or not. Take nutritional supplements to lower your testosterone. There are a number of theories why people believe that DIM could be useful for Hirsutism. Reishi has many other health benefits including immune enhancement and stabilization of the HPA (adrenal) axis. She did say that I would be diabetic within a year if I did nothing and she wanted to prescribe Metformin I think but I declined because I wanted to reverse all of this by dietary changes. Do you take the Reishi mushroom in a pill form? In the trial, 18 male mice were assigned to one of three groups: a control group, a high-fat group, and a high-fat group administered with indole-3-carbinol. Spiro has helped with the skin a lot, but I’d prefer something natural. I know these supplements have helped me to get to this point and I want to be careful and cautious of any sudden changes. I truly am badly surprised. Estradiol was 5, Testosterone free and total was 7.7. Are there any supplements that increase aromatase? I lost 15 pounds, an am far too thin (for my size I am just on the border of underweight). Can Licorice be used for Cortisol that barely meets the mark, then is too high? Thank you! Unfortunately, I do think a permanent solution is electrolysis, as these supplements cannot be taken forever.