Acanthosis Nigricans?

Cindy84H · 08-28-2009, 01:17 AM

Hi everyone... I've been on my regimen for a week now and I was just looking for info from someone who has been on a regimen longer.I've noticed a few general improvements... increased energy, more stable mood (i only cry once a day. yay!), and I've lost 2 lbs.

I have AN under my breasts and on my leg (weird? hmm). I was wondering if anyone has noticed it fading since being on their regimen? I'd assume that as the insulin resistance improves the AN would fade, but I was just looking for some first hand experience. Thanks!!!

Shakti86 · 08-28-2009, 07:48 AM

Cinnamon almost totally cleared up my AN patches within a month or two. A low GI diet is gradually doing the rest.

Good luck with your regimen, this nutritional approach can really help!

Cindy84H · 08-29-2009, 01:21 AM

Thank you! That's good to hear. Since I know the AN is from the insulin resistance, I'm hoping it will fade so I can use it as a measurable thing to see if my regimen is working.

How much cinnamon were you taking? I'm taking 2400mg/daily of the true ceylon cinnamon from NOW Brand.

Shakti86 · 08-29-2009, 11:39 PM

I am taking about 1tbsp. in milk every morning and evening. I try using the darker kind and that works better for me.

I don't take the tablets - I tried them for a month (since it's easier to take) and it gave me stomach pains and a general crappy feeling, so I switched back to powder. Strange, hmm? I have no idea why...

Making a tea from boiling water over a few fenugreek grains can also help with IR, just fyi!

pcospublisher · 08-31-2009, 06:29 PM

How does cinnamon help deal with the AN? I've had the dark patches under my arms and on the back of my neck since early teens. Just curious HOW this works...

Thanks! -- Linda

Goddess Hectate Help · 08-31-2009, 06:33 PM

You can try pine bark extract, it's supposed to help take it away.

Cindy84H · 08-31-2009, 07:54 PM

I don't want to just make them go away.. I want to fix the cause.

The cinnamon is for insulin resistance. AN is caused by IR, so by taking the cinnamon I'm hoping to help the IR and therefore help fade the AN.

Edit: I focus more on treating my IR because I'm preeettty sure that's the root of my evil.

oldhousegirl · 09-01-2009, 02:18 AM

Nothing has ever made my AN improve, even when I was at my most fit and closely following a low GI regimen. But I've been on the pill for 20 yrs, and the pill can exacerbate skin darkening. The AN is worsening as I age (I'm 41), especially my eyelids.

Pearl1981 · 09-01-2009, 07:30 AM

Even I have it on my eyelids....

On my armpits, under my boobs, in my inner arm folds and on my throat....

Shakti86 · 09-01-2009, 08:34 PM

Hey Cindy,
In a recent post called "Herbs and Insulin Resistance", there was a link to a PDF that compares the mechanism of action of a few synthetic drugs and herbs that help control blood sugar. Metformin and Cinnamon are among them.
You can do a search for it, I'm not allowed to link to it somehow.

It's best to read it yourself, but to summarize:
They explain that the goal of treatment is NOT to reduce glucose absorption (which is better controlled through diet), produce even more insulin (which would make AN worse!) or impair liver function (which ultimately causes liver disease), but to increase the insulin sensitivity of our cells.

Cinnamon, Fenugreek, Bitter Melon, Basil and Maitake mushrooms seem to accomplish this.

Quote:

Cinnamomum
[...]
Studies at the U.S. Department of Agriculture suggest that cinnamon acts in some manner to potentiate the action of insulin on the target cell (Berrio et al.; Broadhurst et al.; Khan et al.). Other researchers found that cinnamon components help to activate specific cellular responses to insulin (Imparl-Radosevish et al.; Jarvill-Taylor et al.) thus increasing insulin sensitivity.

Metformin also improves IR, but it impairs liver function and can have some serious side effects.

Cindy84H · 09-02-2009, 01:48 AM

That's my goal. To increase the insulin sensitivity in my cells so my body will use what it's making instead of continuing to just make more and more useless insulin.