This is my first time posting. Recently I got off Yasmin after years of use as I found it was causing chronic anxiety for me (which I never had before) and many other lovely side effects. Now that I'm off it, I feel great. I was inspired by ImCured's thread to go natural and have been juicing every day. My skin is fairly clear so far but in the past when I got off BCP, I would get mild acne and I'm concerned that I'll get it again. What herbs can a thin cyster take to keep acne at bay (I would assume something anti-androgenic) and induce AF?
I know Vitex is used by many women here but I read that it increases LH to produce progesterone and I thought thin cysters already have elevated LH. Won't this aggravate the problem?
Hi , I had the same yasmin anxiety problem. I had been on yasmin for about 3 or 4 years, it worked very well most the time for my mild acne and oily skin. I am also a thin cyster. I had to stop my yasmin because of panic attacks and bruising and alot of other weird symptoms. now I am all natural. I was considering going back on a different pill and keep a pack of mircette handy just in case my acne gets ugly again. what i have found works best for me is spearamint tea, along with green tea . I drink 2 cups of spearamint tea a day. also I eat low carb and avoid all dairy as i noticed my acne breaks out if i eat even organic dairy?! lots of fresh fruits that are low glycemic (berries) and plentyt of soy products which i belive the phyto esterogens act like a natural bcp and keep my acne down as well. no shrimp or seaweed or shelfish which break me out. I also take three fish oil caps a day from trader joes. when i tried saw palmetto I broke out and got oily. so I stopped. but some girls take it as a natural anti androgen that really helps them. I still get the panic attacks from yasmin its been about 6 months off the pill!!! my skin is almost completely clear and my panic and anxiety are mild compared to what it was on yasmin. also my un even pigmentation has vanished, topicals seem to get what the natural stuff doesnt like small pimples ...I use proactive repairing lotion and sometimes the toner. but only at night. oil free lotion from nuetrogena works to keep my skin soft. also I frogot I take 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in the morning before breakfast and am going to start at night. Its helps with acne. also 50 mg of zinc a day. and a good multi vitamin for women. I know for a fact that with out these things my skin would be a ugly nasty pimple zone. the diet has helped with my skin greatly, whenever i go off it i can see the next day or within a couple of days, so can everyone else also drink lots of water like 10 cups a day. and this should keep you clear from acne. it has me for quite a few months now, I broke out with out yasmin at first , now i have done all this research and have managed to clear up with out the pill. I still get some small things , but I had that even on yasmin. hope all this helps you.
Hi Siayae, thanks for replying...I thought this thread was dead! It's amazing what a healthy whole-food diet can do, isn't it? My skin has actually remained clear without BCP. The only time it broke out into little prickles was before AF. I'm also eating lots of fruits and veggies and avoiding refined carbs. I take fish oil and drink spearmint tea sometimes too. I attribute my remission to licorice, peony, and vitex as well. I've cut down on dairy because I find it bloating and it causes a lot of mucous production.
I'm sorry that you're still dealing w/ panic attacks from Yasmin. I think Yasmin should be banned. Generally the women who like it have only been on it for a few months. I liked it at the beginning too....it gave me clear skin. It takes a few years to build up in your system and cause anxiety. I thought it was me until I googled Yasmin.
The theory is that PCOSers have low progesterone already. When we take a BCP like Yasmin, our production of progesterone is more inhibited. Progesterone has calming properties when broken down in the body so low progesterone causes anxiety. Yasmin's progestins are not the same as natural progesterone and therefore don't have this calming effect.
I'm juicing every day to flush Yasmin out of my system.
Hi Siayae, I can't reply to your PM because I don't have enough posts. I put all the details of what I'm taking and the dosage in the thread "licorice as clomid." You seem to have similar symptoms and reactions to things as me (saw palmetto also did nothing for me) so I think it's worth a try. Everything I take has been in studied in clinical trials (there's a link in that thread).
It's hard to say which one is helping out of vitex, licorice, peony. They all are probably working together. One thing I noticed with licorice is it was very calming from the first day. Vitex has been shown in studies not only to regulate AF but also clear skin.
I too suffered horrible panic attacks/anxiety while on Yasmin. Was on it a couple of years before the anxiety started. Unfortunately, I didn't know that was the cause and ended up on Paxil to stop the anxiety. Have been off Paxil (pure hell withdrawing from that med!) and Yasmin for about 2 years and am just starting to feel better. I too believe Yasmin should be banned! Paxil too. I had horrible experiences with both!
__________________ Dx: 12/06
Multivitamin
Fish Oil
Magnesium
Calcium
Zinc
Probiotics
Natural progesterone cream
Milk thistle, saw palmetto, and good bacteria helped my acne a lot, basically took it from 30 spots on my chin (large and painful - couldnt sleep at night cos face was so sensitive) to around 2 spots. In addition now I have started DCI for IR my acne has gone completely, even on my back - which I could NEVER get rid of.
Ive just had Lasek I surgery and cant wash my face, but I havent had 1 spot. Interesting how the IR thing works, even though my fasting insulin was fine, I always knew I was IR because of feeling intoxicated after eating sugar and belly fat.
Good luck! Yasmin nearly ruined my life so Im off that and my skin is finally nearly just as good (not so dry ) xxx
__________________ Concveived withLowCarb Diet&Exercise.2000mg cinnamon.4xHyponidd.1200mg inositol.Bvitamin complex&C.Milk thistle.Omega 3 3000mg.Zinc 15mg.Garliccapsulesx4.Iron.Kelpsupplements.Organic food Jasmin Born 25/06/08 @ 41 weeks + 6 days!Now on all above PLUS vitamin D , inositol 2600mg[FONT=Arial Peony & Licorice 5000mg per day of each for stubborn hirsutism[/font]Diet and exercise are key!
i took "yas" the newer form of the yasmin pill, and sadly, i have experienced the same anxiety/hot flashes kinds of things. i found a website that talked a bit about the interrelationships (which are very complex) between hormones and anxiety/depression: www.hormonejungle.com/depression.php
my husband and i are ttc, and i havent had a AF since November! so frustrating. i am trying the "natural way" with herbs, diet and such, but am planning to visit my endocrinologist in june if nothing happens. so annoying! i am really getting tired of no coffee, no sugar, and no dairy, but im trying to think positive and keep focused on the goal...
are there any herbs that are specifically helpful for thin cysters to regulate menstruation? any herbs that are specificlaly helpufl for thin cysters Ttc? i was taking hypponid, but i began to become hypoglycemic...and wake up in the middle of the night....also, i dont want to lose a huge amount of weight...
i understand that licorice helps with inducing ovulation (so interesting!), so i will try to have some of that daily. what is the benefit of spearmint tea?
I took vitex for several months but stopped because I dont have any problems with acne/etc. chronic dryness is more my issue, and i think vitex drys you out.
I am taking cinnamon, chromium, a prenatal vitamin, and greens daily...
thanks for your thoughts!
Me 29 DH 31
Married since 2002
TTC since 06
DX with PCOS in 2007
I sure am becoming the board's spokesperson for this herb (because I talk everywhere about it) but saw palmetto stopped me from getting aweful and painful cystic acne (deep below the skin). So if it worked for me it would most likely work for you since you just get mild acne... I think the key is to make sure your acne is caused by excess androgens because if it isn't you may be one of the lucky ones who can just use overthe counter stuff to deal with it. Hope you understand what I mean.
I havent heard of licorice helping cysters O, I gotta look that up! I know when I was on NPC I felt so calm, it did nothing for me otherwise so I do believe what is being said about progesterone and calming. Spearmint tea is supposed to reduce testosterone right? Ive been drinking it too! It doesnt taste half bad
Herbs & Thin Cysters 
and my panic and anxiety are mild compared to what it was on yasmin. also my un even pigmentation has vanished, topicals seem to get what the natural stuff doesnt like small pimples ...I use proactive repairing lotion and sometimes the toner. but only at night. oil free lotion from nuetrogena works to keep my skin soft. also I frogot I take 2 tbsp of apple cider vinegar in the morning before breakfast and am going to start at night. Its helps with acne. also 50 mg of zinc a day. and a good multi vitamin for women. I know for a fact that with out these things my skin would be a ugly nasty pimple zone. the diet has helped with my skin greatly, whenever i go off it i can see the next day or within a couple of days, so can everyone else
also drink lots of water like 10 cups a day. and this should keep you clear from acne. it has me for quite a few months now, I broke out with out yasmin at first , now i have done all this research and have managed to clear up with out the pill. I still get some small things , but I had that even on yasmin. hope all this helps you.
so I do believe what is being said about progesterone and calming. Spearmint tea is supposed to reduce testosterone right? Ive been drinking it too! It doesnt taste half bad
