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Naturopathic Medicine Treatment For PCOS

Table of Contents

What is PCOS?

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is known to affect 1 out of 10 women who are in their childbearing age. The condition has today become more and more prevalent and is known to affect not just your physical health, but also your mental health. This common hormonal disorder causes a wide variety of symptoms, including:

• Irregular periods, heavy periods, or no periods at all

• Excessive hair growth typically on the face, back, chest, or buttocks

• Difficulty in getting pregnant

• Weight gain and difficulty in losing weight

• Oily skin or acne

• Thinning hair or hair loss from the head

Research [1] shows that the causes of PCOS remain complicated and not entirely understood; however, hormone regulation and insulin resistance are two key factors that are associated with PCOS.

Your doctor might prescribe certain medications to manage your symptoms, but it has generally been observed that in the starting stage, doctors recommend making certain lifestyle and dietary changes, along with natural remedies to treat PCOS and get relief from the symptoms.

PCOS and naturopathy treatments have shown to be effective in managing and controlling the symptoms of the condition. There are many natural remedies for PCOS that are known to not only manage your symptoms but also provide relief in the hormonal imbalance.

See: 23 year old Female Finds Relief with her Menstruation with Acupuncture

How does Naturopathy view PCOS?

The naturopathic approach for PCOS requires a whole view of the woman and treats individual needs such as regulating the menstrual cycle, reducing male hormones, infertility, depression, anxiety, and bodyweight difficulties. Modalities include herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, diets, exercise, and lifestyle information highlighting viable, realistic and sustainable alternatives.

Naturopathic medicine is a form of integrative complementary medicine that covers nutrition, herbal medicine, massage, and homeopathy. It follows an independent frame that incorporates the personal characteristics of women with PCOS in addition to features of this disorder. Treatment aims to enhance general well-being and encourage lifestyle behaviors that reduce the expression of this disorder. Herbal nourishment and medicine are utilized to enhance metabolic function, hormone balance, regulate menstruation and handle natural fertility. Treatment regimens are realistic and practical and designed for lifelong sustainability.

See: The healing attributes of Acupuncture helped me cope up with menopausal symptoms

How does Nautorpathic Medicine diagnose PCOS?

PCOS is diagnosed based on the Rotterdam standards, which state that a woman must have two of the following three symptoms of PCOS:

• Oligo-ovulation or anovulation — Meaning you ovulate less frequently than you need to (normal is every 28 days, close to day 14 of your cycle), or you do not ovulate at all. This usually shows up as menstrual irregularities like very long spans.

• Indications of hyperandrogenism — Meaning elevated levels of male hormones, such as additional hair growth especially in your upper lip, chin, and around your nipples, and acne around your jawline.

• Polycystic ovaries — If there are one more cysts on your ovaries and are visible by ultrasound.

There are some other signs which might be part of a PCOS picture, such as:

• Obesity

• Metabolic dysfunction

• Type II diabetes

• Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

• Mood disorders like depression and anxiety

Many patients can be diagnosed based on history and physical examination since only two of the three major criteria are required. Most women with PCOS have a long history of irregular periods, usually since their teenage years. If further testing is necessary, blood tests that look for elevated levels of male hormones, and a transvaginal ultrasound may be arranged.

See: I won over my hormonal issues only with proper nutritional supply

Naturopathic treatment options for PCOS

Natural solutions for PCOS work rather well. Diet and lifestyle modification are critical, and your naturopathic physician can help you develop a diet and exercise program that is right for your lifestyle. Naturopathic physicians are trained in supplements and herbal medication, and you will find choices from each category that could help.

In PCOS, the ovaries themselves become less sensitive to insulin and targeting the ovaries seems to help get women ovulating again. Inositol is one supplement that can help make this possible. Additionally, there are natural non-pharmaceutical alternatives to help regulate blood glucose which operate in a similar way to metformin.

Herbal medicine can help regulate hormone levels, and among the best herbs for helping women with PCOS is chaste tree. There are also many other herbs that can reduce symptoms, and your ND can help select those that are just right for you.

Let us take a look at some of the best natural remedies for PCOS.

Natural remedies for PCOS

Evening Primrose Oil and PCOS

When it comes to PCOS and naturopathy treatments, evening primrose oil is the first option that comes up. Evening primrose oil is produced from the seeds of the flower that is native to North America. The plant has been used for treating hemorrhoids, digestive problems, sore throat, and bruises.

Evening primrose oil has been used for many years now to help with irregular menstruation and period pain. According to research done by the Arak University of Medical Sciences in Iran [2], this oil is also known to improve cholesterol levels in the body and also reduce oxidative stress, both factors that are closely linked to causing PCOS.

Evening primrose oil helps reduce the complications of hormonal changes in the body that happen due to PCOS by changing the levels of luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and testosterone hormones in the body.[3] The oil also decreases insulin and serum glucose in the body, while also boosting insulin sensitivity in women with PCOS.

Due to the wide range of studies that have been carried out on the effectiveness of evening primrose oil and PCOS, it is safe to say that it is one of the best natural remedies for PCOS.

See: I have a miracle baby boy after Acupunture treatment for Infertility

Cod Liver Oil and PCOS

Cod liver oil or any fish oil is a potent source of the healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are known to significantly relieve many of the symptoms associated with PCOS. Studies [4] have shown that fish oil or omega-3 fatty acids help decrease cholesterol, blood pressure, and triglycerides, also reducing your risk of having a heart attack, stroke, or any other heart-related disease. Most women often ignore this critical fact, but it is essential to understand that women with PCOS have a very high risk of heart disease as well.

Apart from this, cod liver oil is also known to reduce period pain, help in weight loss (women with PCOS find it difficult to lose weight easily), help reduce insulin resistance, and also boosts your moods. It is also believed that cod liver oil also helps prevent miscarriage in many women.[5]

Cod liver oil is known to contain 7% of both eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).[6] EPA is known to fight inflammation, and DHA boosts the functioning of the brain and the central nervous system. Cod liver oil is also known to contain more vitamin A and vitamin D per unit weight than what is found in any other common food.

There is also growing evidence [7] to show that women who are diagnosed with PCOS have dramatically low levels of vitamin D. Studies [8] have found that there is a significant improvement in ovarian function as well as a reduction in testosterone levels when vitamin D supplementation is provided to women having PCOS. This is why the high levels of vitamin D in cod liver oil helps regulate and balance the hormonal cycle in women.

As mentioned above, low-grade inflammation is believed to be one of the major causes behind PCOS. Research [9] shows that supplementation with omega-3 fatty acids can help reduce serum concentrations of testosterone in the body and help regulate the menstrual cycle.

See: I have a healthy baby and overcome PCOS with help of Ayurveda

Herbs for PCOS

Naturopathy treatments for PCOS include many different herbs that are known to help relieve the symptoms of PCOS. Keep in mind that these herbs are not a PCOS cure, but they will help you manage the condition in a better way.

Here are some herbs for PCOS:

Berberine: Berberine is a powerful herb that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for many years to help deal with insulin resistance. If you have PCOS, then studies [10] have shown that berberine may help boost your metabolism and also help balance out your body’s endocrine responses.

Maca Root: The root of the maca plant has been used as a traditional herbal medicine for thousands of years to increase libido and boost fertility. Studies carried out by the Charles Sturt University & Therapeutic Research International [11] in Australia found that the maca root helps balance hormones and also reduces the levels of the stress hormone cortisol in the body. Maca root is also useful in treating depression, which is another symptom of PCOS in some women.

Licorice root: Root of the licorice plant is known to have many health benefits. Licorice root contains a specific compound known as glycyrrhizin, which has many unique properties. According to research done by the University of Western Sydney, Australia [12], licorice root serves as an anti-inflammatory agent, helps in metabolizing sugar, and also balances the hormones in the body.

See: Acupunture sessions helped me to deal with hormonal disorders

Summary

If you have PCOS, it is always better to first try to manage your symptoms with natural remedies. However, it is essential to be wary of supplements or any other therapies that make tall claims and always check with your doctor before you start any type of alternative treatment for PCOS.  There is plenty of evidence to show that the naturopathic treatments mentioned above are effective in treating PCOS. Your doctor may even combine these natural remedies for PCOS along with other prescribed medications for your condition to achieve better results if it is required.

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