Dozens of women enter our health store every week with symptoms of unbalanced hormones. Some have tried many things, including the traditional medical approach of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), and haven't achieved their desired results. So, often as a last resort, they come to our store. Having been through major hormonal imbalance some years ago, and a person who searches until answers are found, I have answers for them.
Natural Progesterone Cream is where I always begin. We live in an estrogen dominant society where symptoms seemed to be the norm. Actually, when a woman is hormonally balanced, there are no symptoms!
But I bet you thought cramping, bloating, headaches, mood swings or hot flashes are what you should expect; that's just being a woman. Not so!
What is Estrogen Dominance?
Due to our environment, diet, stress, and lifestyle choices, we have become an estrogen dominant society. Massive amounts of hormones, steroids and antibiotics are injected into our cattle and poultry, posing a serious health risk to all who ingest them. Consequently, the use of these substances in our meat and dairy supply, has helped to create estrogen dominance in men, women and children alike. Environmental use of petroleum products and a whole parade of chemicals have also added to an overabundance of estrogen-like substances (false estrogens) in our bodies when we use products made from these chemicals. These products include: plastics, synthetic clothing, pesticides, cosmetics, cleaning products, toiletries, food and even things like condoms. We use these things every day of our lives in multiple ways, so you can see how easy it is to become estrogen dominant.
Estrogen, when out of balance in its ratio to progesterone within your body, causes many problems. Progesterone is crucially important and acts as a regulator for all other hormones in your body, and especially assists in balancing your estrogen levels. Progesterone is one of the first hormones in an entire chain of hormones, and it is necessary for the other hormones in your body to function properly, including thyroid and adrenal hormones. All of these hormones are part of the endocrine system, and your endocrine system supports and regulates every system in your body. When there is imbalance and estrogen dominance, the following symptoms can occur:
o Mood swings or depression
o Bloating
o Headaches, even migraines
o Breast soreness and swelling
o Weight gain
o Water retention
o Fibroid tumors
o Endometriosis
o Cramps
o Constipation
o Foggy thinking
o Loss of sex drive
o Heavy menstruation or irregularity
o Infertility
o Craving for sweets
o Dry skin and hair
o Dark circles under eyes
o Fatigue, lethargy
Traditional Medical Response
If you're feeling really awful and you decide to visit your doctor, you'll probably be given a different approach, one that uses chemicals (something that is foreign to your body and highly toxic) to possibly get rid of your present symptoms, only to trade off for maybe a half dozen other side effects. It could be a prescription of Prozac or something similar to help your mood swings and depression or a stimulant to help you lose weight. You could be given HRT or birth control pills, all synthetic hormones, to relieve your symptoms. You might actually find some relief in these approaches, but in the long run you'll be putting yourself at a higher risk for breast and uterine cancer and a host of other possible disorders as well as addressing only symptoms rather than finding the cure.
You might ask why the medical profession doesn't acknowledge the benefits of natural, safe and effective ways to approach your imbalance. The reason is actually quite simple; they are not taught preventative medicine. They are taught in medical schools which are supported by drug companies. They are taught to get rid of symptoms with surgery or prescription drugs. But going beyond that, we know that natural remedies cannot be regulated by the FDA, which means they receive no financial benefits from people using them, especially if they correct the imbalance and the patient no longer seeks a doctor's help. So what it all boils down to is monetary greed, and perhaps lack of awareness as to the healthier benefits of a natural approach. The beauty of it all is you have a choice. You can choose to take control of your own body and health rather than giving away that control to someone else.
Why are the synthetic hormones so harmful to you? They are not even close to the progesterone your body produces. Dr. John Lee, a noted authority on the beneficial uses of Natural Progesterone Cream, has often shown in his lectures and books through diagrams, how the synthetic progestin (posing as progesterone) used as a replacement for your own natural progesterone by traditional medicine, is only one molecule away from PVC pipe! The synthetic hormones, whether estrogen or progestin, pose an increased risk for breast, cervical and endometrial cancer as well as for gall stones and heart attacks, according to various alternative medical reports. It was written that a woman who has taken HRT for a few years and is 55 years old or more has an increased risk by 80% for a stroke or heart attack. I doubt you've been told that by your medical professional! And you've probably not been told that one out of eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime while one out of a thousand men will also develop breast cancer in their lifetime! (Dr John Lee's book, "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause" is a wonderful reference and source for understanding hormonal balance naturally and obtaining more information.)
Benefits of Using Natural Progesterone Cream
So what can using Natural Progesterone Cream do for you? Below is a list of the benefits that often occur when using Natural Progesterone Cream.
o Helps use fat for energy rather than storing it
o Is a natural antidepressant
o Protects against fibrocystic breasts
o Helps to boost thyroid action
o Restores libido (sex drive)
o Helps to prevent breast cancer
o Improves energy and endurance
o Helps to balance estrogen, testosterone and other
hormones
o Provides a feeling of well being
o Assists in improving and even reversing osteoporosis
o Balances blood sugar levels
o Precursor to cortisol and DHEA - important adrenal
hormones
o Needed for proper function of adrenal glands
To fully understand the importance of progesterone, the following list gives the effects of estrogen in your body. Do understand that estrogen is a necessary hormone for many functions, like puberty and pro-creation, but if not balanced it can create havoc in your life and body.
o Increases body fat
o Breast stimulation
o Interferes with thyroid hormone
o Decreases libido
o Salt and fluid retention
o Interferes with blood sugar balance
o Increases risk of endometrial cancer
o Stimulates growth of cells
o Can cause headaches
o Contributes to depression
Natural progesterone therapy is being used successfully by many health care professionals around the globe to treat the symptoms of both PMS and menopause. More and more health professionals are becoming aware of the potential dangers of synthetic hormones, particularly estrogen, and we are seeing a shift to using natural approaches, particularly the use of Natural Progesterone Cream. Even though a shift has begun, we have a long way to go in convincing the main stream medical professionals of the benefits of natural remedies over chemical drugs.
We have learned through modern research and documented results that progesterone can elevate hormone levels while balancing those levels, counteract bone loss, help restore adrenal and thyroid function, and even strengthen the action of the liver. Your body has the right to experience vibrant and healthy hormones in balance, and you deserve the best. The best for you will never be synthetic hormones, or anything synthetic for that matter, because your body is a vibrantly alive, energetic being who breathes the breath of life. Life can only be sustained through something alive, not synthetic!
So why not simply take a pill of progesterone? Anything you take internally must go through the digestive system and be broken down. Part of that, perhaps half or more, will be lost in the process. Using progesterone cream however is readily absorbed into your body, often within seconds, and the majority of the cream is utilized by your body. You see, there are many pores in your skin that easily absorb whatever you place on your skin, making the cream the most beneficial way of a receiving a dose that is quickly and effectively used by your body.
How Do You Use Natural Progesterone Cream?
If you are still Menstruating Regularly and have a 28 day cycle, use the Natural Progesterone Cream from day 13 of your cycle (day 1 is the first day of your period) and discontinue it on day 27. Your period should begin the next day. Follow the directions for the amount to use according to the instructions on your container of progesterone cream. Adjust the days if your cycle is longer or shorter to where you use the cream for 14 days, beginning at the middle of your cycle.
For Peri Menopause, you may begin using the Natural Progesterone Cream on day 8 and continue until day 27. If your period doesn't start, simply wait 8 days and begin again.
Menopause means you haven't had a menses for one year. At this time you shift into using the Natural Progesterone Cream the majority of the month, but always remaining off the progesterone cream for 4 - 7 days. Why? Because your body continues to cycle even without the flow of blood. Hormones are normally low during your menses, so it is important to continue with the normal rhythm of your body and discontinue use for those few days. For me, as a postmenopausal woman, I find that if I discontinue using the progesterone cream after the last day of the month, then resume it on day 5 or 6 of the following month, I can more easily remember this since there are no more periods to calculate.
Rub the Natural Progesterone Cream onto your skin morning and evening (twice daily) because it only lasts in your body 8-10 hours. Rotate where it is applied as well because different receptor sites around your body need to benefit. Apply to breasts, stomach, inside upper arms, inside and outside thighs, bottoms of feet, wrists, etc. These areas of your body can absorb easier and faster and are ideal locations for applying the progesterone cream. It might be good to rub a small amount into your adrenal gland area (right above your kidneys in your low back) and/or thyroid area (at the base of your throat) as these glands are often in need of hormonal assistance too.
A container of Natural Progesterone Cream usually lasts about two months, more or less according to how much you use. Avoid purchasing a jar or pump of progesterone cream that has phyto-estrogens in it. These could be: black cohosh, dong quai, licorice, Siberian ginseng, blessed thistle. The main purpose of using the progesterone cream is to help your body balance from the excess of estrogen you presently are experiencing, so even using natural plant (phyto) estrogens simply continues the symptoms and contributes to more estrogen overload. Avoid soy as well as it is usually a processed product which makes it synthetic, and can have estrogen-like activity in your body. It is also linked to multiple digestive and allergy problems.
Understand that using progesterone cream is a plus for men and women alike. Men are being exposed to multitudes of chemicals and synthetic hormones through their diet and environment just as women and children. That's one of the reasons so many men are developing breast cancer as well as prostate cancer. Dr John Lee and other holistic health professionals suggest a man should use the progesterone cream once daily to protect his prostate glands (4 out of 5 men 50 and older will have prostate enlargement and difficulties) and to help balance all hormones in his body. Girls approaching puberty who are experiencing mood swings and irritable behavior, may also benefit from using Natural Progesterone Cream.
Do understand that using Natural Progesterone Cream is not a panacea, however I believe it may very well be an adjunct for improving your health. It is always advisable to seek the help of a professional, but seek out a holistic practitioner who realizes the whole body must be taken into consideration when diagnosing and creating a remedy for an issue. My personal choice, having used it for years, is Restored Balance.