Solutions to your tough problems: some women's health issues are difficult to treat. We found the natural answers you've been waiting for. (Annual Women's Health Guide).
Natural Health, Dec, 2002, by Julia Tolliver Maranan
WOMEN'S HEALTH AILments like endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, and uterine fibroids are notoriously difficult to treat. Yet these problems affect a surprisingly high number of women (see "Your Risk by the Numbers," next page). To help you understand and overcome these gynecological ailments, we talked to top women's health experts. They gave us natural remedies that can be used on their own or paired with conventional gynecological treatments. Discover the answers you need in this guide.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) occurs when your ovaries don't release eggs. It is usually caused by an overproduction of androgens (hormones like testosterone). A complicated disorder, PCOS can cause one or more symptoms, including acne, amenorrhea (stopped periods), facial hair, thinning hair, elevated insulin levels, infertility, and weight gain. "Because not all women have a classic picture [acne, obesity, facial hair, and hair thinning], PCOS can be elusive," says naturopath Hudson. "It commonly goes undiagnosed."
If you have been diagnosed with PCOS or you think you might have it, seek out an M.D. or naturopath who can address your total health. Women who have PCOS are at an increased risk for a wide range of conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and uterine cancer, says gynecologist Gaudet. If you try the following treatments and your symptoms don't improve, contact a reproductive endocrinologist. To find this type of practitioner, visit the American Society for Reproductive Medicine's website at
www.asrm.org.
Relax to Lessen Symptoms. Since stress intensifies many PCOS symptoms, Gaudet suggests practicing anything you find extremely relaxing for at least 15 minutes a day, whether it's doing yoga, knitting, or reading a book. Relaxing can minimize your body's production of stress chemicals like adrenaline and cortisol, which exacerbate symptoms. If you practice relaxing daily, you may improve in two months, says Gaudet.
Balance Hormones Naturally. PCOS contributes to menstrual irregularities by suppressing your body's production of progesterone. If you experience irregular periods or missed periods, ask your doctor about using natural progesterone to help regulate menstruation. Your doctor will determine the dose and whether you should use cream or pills. Progesterone may also improve acne, according to Hudson. (If your doctor is not familiar with natural progesterone, seek out a holistic or naturopathic physician. For contact information, see "Find the Right Doctor," page 68.)
High testosterone levels, common in PCOS, cause acne, facial hair, and thinning hair. Flaxseeds, green tea (Camellia sinensis), and saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) can help by increasing your body's levels of a molecule that binds excess testosterone. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of ground flaxseeds daily on cereal, salads, and vegetable dishes. Also take 300 to 400 mg of green tea extract (standardized to contain 80 percent total polyphenols and 55 percent epigallocatechin gallate) and 200 mg of saw palmetto extract (standardized to contain 85 to 95 percent liposterols) each day.
Women with PCOS may have too much estrogen. Aim to limit your alcohol consumption to 6 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1 1/4 ounces of liquor per day (alcohol increases your body's production of estrogen). Allow at least three months to see improvement.
Consume Foods that Ease PCOS. Since many PCOS symptoms are estrogen-related, changing your diet to eliminate excess estrogen may reduce your symptoms. Countries like Japan, whose citizens generally include large amounts of healthy foods like vegetables and fish in their diets, have a significantly lower risk of estrogen-related cancers, according to research. So Gaudet suggests eating five to nine servings a day of fruit and vegetables. Replace unhealthy fats like saturated fats and partially hydrogenated oils with foods high in monounsaturated fat, like avocados and olive oil, and foods rich in essential fatty acids, like walnuts and salmon. Allow three months to see improvement from dietary changes.
Uterine Fibroids
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors in your uterus. Health care practitioners and researchers don't know why they occur. Fibroids occasionally cause heavy or irregular bleeding, menstrual cramps, frequent urination, or even miscarriage or infertility. But because the majority of fibroids don't cause symptoms, many women don't realize they have them until their gynecologists discover them during a pelvic exam. Fibroids can grow within the uterine wall, on the outside of the uterus, or inside the cavity of the uterus. Here's how to treat them. Talk to your physician if the following treatments don't offer relief after three months or if you're planning to become pregnant.
Wait for Improvement. Fibroids are sensitive to estrogen, which can spur fibroid growth. Because your levels of estrogen decrease after menopause, many women deal with fibroids by simply waiting to see if they'll go away after they reach menopause, says women's health advisor Fugh-Berman. (If you choose this route, be aware that both conventional and natural hormone replacement therapies supply enough estrogen to prevent fibroids from shrinking.) Fibroids may get bigger during pregnancy, but they should resume their pre-pregnancy size after your baby is born, adds Fugh-Berman.
Treat Bleeding. If fibroids cause heavy or painful periods, herbs and nutrients can help. To treat heavy bleeding, take 20 drops every two hours of each of the following liquid extracts: greater periwinkle (Vinca major), life root (Senecio aureus; also called ragwort), shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), and yarrow (Achillea millefolium), says Hudson, a naturopath. If your bleeding continues for more than one day, reduce your dosage to so drops of liquid extract of each herb once a day.
Comfort Painful Periods. Hudson also recommends taking the following nutrient and two herbs together to calm inflammation and muscle spasms. The bioflavonoid quercetin, ginger (Zingiber officinale), and cramp bark (Viburnum opulus) typically work within a few hours to a few days. Take 800 to 1,000 mg of quercetin a day, 1 to 2 g of ginger capsules a day, and 1/2 teaspoon of cramp bark liquid extract every two to three hours as needed. Additionally, supplementing with 400 mg of magnesium and 1,000 mg of calcium daily throughout the month can reduce chronic pain by increasing circulation to your uterus, says Hudson.
Foil Fibroids with Food. The hormone estrogen causes fibroids to grow. Certain foods can lower estrogen levels in your body, says gynecologist Gaudet. She has seen fibroids shrink when patients increased their intake of whole foods and healthy fats. Researchers have found a significantly lower risk of estrogen-related cancers in countries like Japan, where citizens generally eat diets built on these healthy foods. Eat five to nine servings a day of fruit and vegetables and minimize your intake of refined foods like white flour and sugar. You should also replace unhealthy fats like saturated fats and partially hydrogenated oils with foods high in monounsaturated fat, like avocados and olive oil, and foods rich in essential fatty acids, like walnuts and salmon. Aim to limit your alcohol consumption to 6 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, or 1 1/4 ounces of liquor per day (alcohol increases your body's production of estrogen). As with all lifestyle changes, you shouldn't expect a quick fix. Allow at least three months to see improvement.
Getting Started
Find the Right Doctor
Women's health problems respond well to a whole-body approach. If you have any of the ailments in this guide, consider seeking out a holistic M.D. or an N.D. (naturopathic physician) who will not just concentrate on your reproductive system.
To find a holistic M.D., contact the American Holistic Medical Association (505-292-7788; www .holisticmedicine.org). To locate a naturopath, contact the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians (703-610-9037; www .naturopathic.org).
Consider This
Your Risk by the Numbers
Here are your chances of getting the ailments featured in Natural Health's Annual Women's Health Guide. If you have any of these problems, the natural remedies on these pages can provide safe and effective relief.
Benign Ovarian Cysts
Who Gets Them: All women of childbearing age, but most cysts are too small for concern.
The Good News: Most cysts go away on their own or with natural remedies.
Cervical Dysplasia
Who Gets It: 1 in 28 women; most cases occur in women from 25 to 35.
The Good News: 60 to 80 percent of mild dysplasias will heal on their own; vitamins and exercise can help.
Endometriosis
Who Gets It: Up to 1 in 7 women of childbearing age.
The Good News: Few cases require treatment beyond pain relievers (including pain-relieving herbs).
Fibrocystic Breasts
Who Gets Them: 1 in 2 women of childbearing age.
The Good News: The right diet and supplements can ease breast pain and lumpiness.
Incontinence
Who Gets It: 1 in 5 women over 75; 1 in 2 women report occasional incontinence during their lifetime.
The Good News: Most cases can improve or be cured with simple exercises.
Infertility
Who Gets It: 1 in 10 women between 15 and 44,
The Good News: More than 95 percent of couples seeking treatment will not need advanced reproductive techniques like in vitro fertilization to conceive. Herbs show promise for reversing infertility.
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome
Who Gets It: Up to 1 in 15 women of childbearing age.
The Good News: A healthy diet, exercise, and stress reduction techniques can help manage this syndrome.
Uterine Fibroids
Who Gets Them: 4 in 10 women of childbearing age.
The Good News: 50 to 80 percent of cases don't cause symptoms and don't need to be treated. A diet rich in fruit, vegetables, and other healthy foods can help manage symptoms.
SOURCES: AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION; ADRIANE FUGH-BERMAN, M.D.; TRACY GAUDET, M.D.; TORI HUDSON, N.D.; NATIONAL INFERTILITY ASSOCIATION; NATIONAL LIBRARY OF MEDICINE/NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH; NATIONAL WOMEN'S HEALTH RESOURCE CENTER; UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER.
Julia Tolliver Maranan is the assistant editor at Natural Health. Writing this piece has motivated her to continue her regular visits to a gynecologist.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Weider Publications in association with The Gale Group and LookSmart.
COPYRIGHT 2002 Gale Group
Natural Solutions to your tough problems: PCOS 
