Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about Natural Progesterone
Natural Progesterone | Estro-All | DHEA-Plus
Natural Progesterone
Who needs progesterone therapy?
What is the difference between synthetic hormones and natural progesterone?
What is progesterone?
What are the physiological effects of progesterone?
Why is natural progesterone superior to synthetic progestins?
What is the difference between Provera (or any synthetic progestin) and Natural Progesterone?
How does natural progesterone help with PMS?
How does natural progesterone help peri-menopausal symptoms?
How does natural progesterone help post-menopausal symptoms?
How long does it take to re-balance the body to eliminate unwanted vaginal dryness when using natural progesterone?
Will natural progesterone eliminate unwanted facial hair?
What are the recommended doses of natural progesterone cream?
Why do conventional doctors believe that women do not need progesterone if they do not have a uterus?
Can women using birth control pills benefit from using Natural Progesterone Cream?
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Estro-All
What are Phyto-estrogens?
Who needs Natural Estrogens?
What is menopause?
What are menopausal symptoms?
What are peri-menopausal symptoms?
What are the benefits of Estro-All?
How would you define the peri-menopausal stage?
What should women do if she needs supplemental estrogen with progesterone?
Weaning Off Synthetics
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DHEA-Plus
Who Needs Supplemental DHEA?
Why is there Pregnenolone, and Androstenedione in the formula?
How Does My Body Use DHEA?
What Are the Functions/Effects?
What is the advantage of using DHEA transdermaly as opposed to taking DHEA in a tablet?
How does DHEA improve memory and mental acuity?
How much DHEA cream should I use?
Pregnenolone is a dermal rejuvenator
DHEA:
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Natural Progesterone
Who needs progesterone therapy?
Women who suffer from PMS, peri-menopause, post-menopause, vaginal dryness, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, uterine fibroid tumors, and endometrial carcinoma.
What is the difference between synthetic hormones and natural progesterone?
Pharmaceutical progestins' do not appear in the bio-synthetic pathway. They are not found in any living forms. Progestins effects are not the same as natural progesterone and never will be.
Progesterone is a hormone produced by the ovaries and the adrenal cortex. Natural progesterone is chemically identical to progesterone found in the human body. In the body progesterone is synthesized from pregnenolone which is synthesized from cholesterol. Progesterone is not found in any plant. Natural progesterone is synthesized from fat saponins such as diosgenin from Mexican wild yam or from soy.
What are the physiological effects of progesterone?
- Maintains secretory endometrium
- Protects against breast fibrocysts
- Helps use fat for energy
- Natural diuretic
- Natural anti-depressant
- Facilitates thyroid hormone action
- Normalizes blood clotting
- Restores libido
- Normalizes blood sugar levels
- Normalizes zinc & copper levels
- Restores proper cell oxygen levels
- Prevents endometrial cancer
- Helps prevent breast cancer
- Stimulates osteoblast bone building
- Necessary for survival of embryo
- Precursor of corticosterone production
Reprinted with permission of the authors from the book,
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause, by John R. Lee, M.D., Warner Books, 196.
Why is natural progesterone superior to synthetic progestins?
Progestins do not convey the full spectrum of progesteron's benefits as listed above and they have numerous potential deleterious side-effects not found when using natural progesterone. The natural hormones are more quickly metabolized and excreted than the synthetic versions. Progesterone has no known side effects.
What is the difference between Provera (or any synthetic progestin) and Natural Progesterone?
Pharmaceutical progestins do not appear in the biosynthetic pathway. The fact is, they are not found in any living forms. Furthermore, being foreign to all living things, they are patentable and thereby potentially more profitable. Natural Progesterone is from a plant extraction and is not patentable
How does natural progesterone help with PMS?
Many of the symptoms of PMS are consistent with estrogen dominance due to relative progesterone deficiency, which can be corrected by progesterone supplementation.
How does natural progesterone help peri-menopausal symptoms?
It counters the effects of estrogen dominance
How does natural progesterone help post-menopausal symptoms?
Essentially no progesterone is made by the ovaries after menopause. Progesterone has many important roles in maintaining good health. Estrogen is still being produced by conversion of androstenedione in body fat. This is often sufficient when progesterone is added.
How long does it take to re-balance the body to eliminate unwanted vaginal dryness when using natural progesterone?
For vaginal dryness and mucosal atrophy to return to normal conditions three to four (3-4) months of natural progesterone use. If you are using a tri-phyto-estrogen relief is obtained within 2 weeks.
Will natural progesterone eliminate unwanted facial hair?
When progesterone is deficient, an alternative DHEA pathway is called upon to take up the slack. This leads to increased androgen production, which is the cause of the unwanted facial hair. Upon replacement of natural progesterone, facial hair will in time disappear or decrease.
What are the recommended doses of natural progesterone cream?
- PMS-- use 1-2 oz. of cream in a ten (10) day period ending just before menses.
- Peri-menopause-- 1-2 ounces of cream from day 12 to 26 each month.
- Post-menopause-- 1-2 ounces applied 23-25 days per month, leaving 5-6 days per month without using hormones. For women who experience hot flashes or other menopausal symptoms during the days off natural progesterone reduce the time off to 2-3 days for several months and then experiment with extending the days off back to 5 or 6.
Why do conventional doctors believe that women do not need progesterone if they do not have a uterus?
There are three inter-related components to the conventional doctors' error in believing that the only purpose for using progesterone in HRT is to protect against endometrial cancer and, thus, is not needed in a woman without her uterus. These are:
- The doctor is unaware of the multiple beneficial roles of progesterone
- The doctor is unaware of the multiple dangers of unopposed estrogen
- The doctor is thinking of the problems with progestins, not progesterone
Can women using birth control pills benefit from using Natural Progesterone Cream?
Little benefit can be derived as birth control pills work by suppressing normal hormones. Page 237-"What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause"
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Estro-All
What are Phyto-estrogens?
Phyto-Estrogens are found in many plant sources, primarily soy, wild yam, licorice, black cohosh, and chamomile. Our formulation attempts to copy the same molecular structure as in female human production of natural estrogens.
Who needs Natural Estrogens?
In the April 1998 edition of The John R. Lee, M.D., Medical Letter, Dr. Lee addresses this question by stating:
"Estrogen has positive effects, and I do recommend it when it's clearly needed. Women with measurable low estrogen tend to have high cholesterol, low blood pressure, depression, thin hair on the head and hair above the lip, and poor memory. It also does play a role in slowing bone loss, and as such can be useful for a few years around the time of menopause. Also, if a natural progesterone cream does not help the menopause-related low-estrogen symptoms of hot flashes night sweats and vaginal dryness, then a very small amount of estrogen will usually help." On the Recommended Resource Page Dr. Lee adds: "For those who need a little estrogen, Sarati International, Inc. makes a product known as Estro-All." Click here to link to Dr. Lee's web page (www.johnleemd.com)
Menopause means the cessation of menses. The follicle cells which, upon ovulation, produce progesterone have disappeared or become dysfunctional long before menopause.
Hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, and occasionally a distressing growth of facial & body hair.
- Water retention.
- Breast swelling, fibrocystic breasts
- Premenstrual mood swings, depression
- Loss of libido
- Heavy or irregular menses
- Uterine fibroid
- Craving for sweets
- Weight gain, fat deposition at hips & thighs
What are the benefits of Estro-All?
- Stops hot flashes
- Eliminates night sweats
- Helps with sleep disorders
- Eliminates vaginal dryness
- Regulates mood swings
- Normalizes Libido
- Improves New Bone Formation
How would you define the peri-menopausal stage?
It refers to the time preceding menopause when hormone changes are occurring.
What should a women do if she needs supplemental estrogen with progesterone?
Dr. Jonathan Wright, MD of Kent. WA., recommends a natural combination cream with the triple estrogens, and progesterone. Our product that fits that recommendation is Estro-All.
What is Pre-Menopause? Read Dr. John R. Lee & Virginia Hopkins latest book to be released in Jan. 1999, called "Pre-Menopause."
Weaning Off Synthetics
Check with your Doctor or Health care provider when weaning off of synthetics Use Estro-All twice a day, while gradually tapering the synthetic estrogen over a 2 to 6 week period. This can be done by breaking tablets in half or going every other day for two weeks, and then every third day. It is not necessary to wean off Provera or any other synthetic progestin. Be patient and gradually get your body back to a natural hormonal balance.
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DHEA-Plus
Who Needs Supplemental DHEA?
Beginning at ages 35 most men will benefit by taking supplemental DHEA. Women who continue to have low DHEA levels while using supplemental natural progesterone and younger men involved in athletics or weight training may also benefit.
Transdermal DHEA has been studied for 12 months, and has no side effects because it bi-passes the liver.
Why is there Pregnenolone, and Androstenedione in the formula?
The properties of DHEA are complemented by its true biological precursor Pregnenolone. This compound plays many important roles in the body before being converted to DHEA. Pregnenolone has been shown to enhance memory function and increase resistance to stress through its impact on adrenal function.
Androstenedione is a metabolite of DHEA and the direct precursor of testosterone. Androstenedione increases testosterone levels twice as much as DHEA. All three active ingredients in DHEA Plus drop significantly with advancing age. Symptoms of low testosterone levels include: decreased libido (decreased sex-drive and ability to perform), fatigue, depression, increased body fat, reduced muscle mass and loss of bone density. Using Androstenedione and DHEA to increase levels of testosterone avoids the feedback inhibition that can occur with conventional Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT). If feedback occurs natural testosterone production is decreased.
How Does My Body Use DHEA?
Transdermal DHEA works because your body contains cells that have specific DHEA receptors, the sole function of which is to bind DHEA. When DHEA binds to these receptor sites, it alters cellular metabolism, effecting a broad spectrum of biological functions and therapeutic effects. DHEA is also converted by the body into testosterone.
What Are the Functions/Effects of DHEA?
Current research suggests that DHEA may be of value in preventing and treating cardiovascular disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, cancer, Alzheimer's disease, other memory disturbances, immune system disorders (including AIDS), and chronic fatigue. DHEA may enhance the body's immune response to viral and bacterial infections. DHEA is currently being investigated as an anti-aging hormone. It can also help raise your energy level and improve your weight control.
What is the advantage of using DHEA transdermally as opposed to taking DHEA in a tablet?
Transdermal absorption is superior to oral supplementation because it avoids first-pass metabolism of the active ingredients by the liver. The topical delivery system helps prevent unnecessary strain on the liver. 50 mg of DHEA taken orally is approximately equivalent to ¼ tsp. of cream.
How does DHEA improve memory and mental acuity?
Dale Guyer, M.D., Saint Vincent's Hospital, Department of Complementary Medicine, Indianapolis, IN. "Positive effects noted by patients after several weeks include a sense of well-being, and better clarity of thought. Some find improvement in sleep patterns, and a few mention that their aches and pains are gone."
How much DHEA cream should I use?
We recommend starting with ¼ tsp. daily. Apply to soft tissue and rotate the site to avoid saturation. Dosage varies based on life-style, diet, exercise, and symptoms; however, we suggest the amount the cream be applied accordingly, listen to your own body.
Pregnenolone is a dermal rejuvenator.
Increasing numbers of scientific studies show that pregnenolone may help:
- Enhance memory function at a dose 100 times lower than other memory-promoting steroids
- Increase resistance to stress through its impact on adrenal function
- Repair the myelin sheath membrane that protects the brain and nervous system
- Enhance DHEA levels by fueling the biosynthetic pathway with its primary precursor
Experts like William Regelson, MD, Ward Dean, MD, Jonathan V. Wright, MC, and John R. Lee, MD, all recommend that you try to bring your hormone levels back to those that would be normal for a person in their 20s or 30s. Numerous studies indicate an association between DHEA levels and cancer, heart disease, immunity, stress, memory and cognitive function. Regelson points out that DHEA not only helps rejuvenate virtually every organ system but "actually makes you look, feel, and think better."
DHEA-Plus has been formulated for maximum synergy in men. The amount of DHEA, pregnenolone and progesterone decline dramatically with age and are associated with many of the diseases of aging. However, when these precursors are restored to youthful levels, the result is a broad spectrum of benefits. Over 4,000 articles in the scientific literature point to the possibilities:
- Improved sense of well-being
- Increased energy
- Enhanced memory function
- Improved immune function
- Decreased fat
- Reduced stress
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