Has anyone had any success using herbal remedies? I have PCOS and have been doing some research and have found something of great interest to me!!!
"Saw palmetto is traditionally used to treat male prostate enlargement. However, since it is an anti-androgen many women with PCOS use it to treat hirsutism and acne. It has a side effect of increasing breast size in some and consequently is used in breast enhancing herbal formulas to increase cup size. However, it does not always have this effect." --Lynn Dunning (from Ireland)
I never really considered natural herbal methods, but obviously it is the safest method. I too am on Metformin, but have only been on it for about 3 weeks. Although i have already noticed less hair on my legs. I haven't noticed any change in facial hair (it's definately still there!!!), but my leg hair is more sparse. This is a nice beginning, but the facial hair is the concern. Other research i have done has indicated that Vites 'Chasteberry' is something that would be very helpful for woman with PCOS. There are some very good sites with info on these two important herbs!!
oh ya, also, i am trying to switch from coffee to green tea. They say Green tea is very good, although i can't remember what benefit it has. I've been doing too much reading today!
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I never really considered natural herbal methods, but obviously it is the safest method.
Why do you think this?
__________________ "I knew I had a problem when I put my underpants on backwards and they fit better..."
Age 46
Obesity, very mild hirsuitism now almost gone with age and met, seriously thinning hair. Regular cycles on met.
Diagnosed with diabetes 8/2003
I would think that anything natural would be a better option than something that has been chemically designed. Something that already exists in nature has been created by God and not man, therefore i would assume it would be a safer method. I myself am on metformin and i am just new to reading about natural methods. I am definately not an herbalist, but it is definately interesting to read about.
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Before you start any natural suppliment, talk to your doctor. The tough thing with herbal remedies is that you don't always know what you are getting. Unlike prescription drugs, herbal drugs are not the same from brand to brand. You can get varying qualities depending on the company. So check with your doctor and get a brand rec.
I would think that anything natural would be a better option than something that has been chemically designed. Something that already exists in nature has been created by God and not man, therefore i would assume it would be a safer method. I myself am on metformin and i am just new to reading about natural methods. I am definately not an herbalist, but it is definately interesting to read about.
It is totally incorrect to think that just because something it "natural" or "herbal" or "organic" that it is necessarily safer than any man made medicine. There is a lot of stuff in nature that isn't exactly safe. For instance, some of your major poisons. Pretty natural, and God put them on the earth, but you'd be really stupid to ingest them. Herbal substance, let's take digitalis or belladonna. You can't just blithely use those remedies unless you know what you are doing. They can harm or kill you.
There is a lot in herbal medicine that is healthy and beneficial.
But it is a fallacy to think that because something is "natural" that it is safe, or that something man-made is not safe.
If you get ovarian cancer, are you going to forego the standard chemotherapies that are know to improve survival, or are you going to go with something in an herbal text? If you have really poor vision, are you just going to go around blind, or are you going to wear vision correction (plastic)?
Don't knock manmade stuff, particularly man made medicines. If it weren't for some of these medicines, your parents or grandparents, or even you, might not be alive today due to some horrible disease of condition that came about as part of our natural, God created humanity.
__________________ "I knew I had a problem when I put my underpants on backwards and they fit better..."
Age 46
Obesity, very mild hirsuitism now almost gone with age and met, seriously thinning hair. Regular cycles on met.
Diagnosed with diabetes 8/2003
I would think that anything natural would be a better option than something that has been chemically designed. Something that already exists in nature has been created by God and not man, therefore i would assume it would be a safer method. I myself am on metformin and i am just new to reading about natural methods. I am definately not an herbalist, but it is definately interesting to read about.
Rachel, I also should have addressed your main question. I don't think that there is any large scale evidence that saw palmetto has been proven to help, but, you do hear anecdotes that it helps some individuals. This is also the case with vitex, and these are two of the more popular herbal remedies for PCOS problems. As far as I know, they are considered safe, but make sure to read up as much as possible. And there ARE ladies here who do know a lot about the herbal choices. We do have a forum for alternative remedies here, and you might post some questions there about herbs.
I've been on metformin now for about 2 1/2 years. I've noticed my chin hair issues has dramatically decreased. But it was never a really serious problem for me.
__________________ "I knew I had a problem when I put my underpants on backwards and they fit better..."
Age 46
Obesity, very mild hirsuitism now almost gone with age and met, seriously thinning hair. Regular cycles on met.
Diagnosed with diabetes 8/2003
Herbal Remedies for Hair growth 
