Sometimes I really think about doing something alternatively to help with my PCOS, but then I am scared I will have a reaction to something. More importantly, I am afraid I will have a brochial reaction and smother. I am very allergic to a lot of things, and I can have flare ups where I am allergic to almost everything I come into contact with.
I have the typical PCOS-weight problem, hair loss, and acne. I am taking Fortamet and levothyroxine.
So, I am wondering-what made you decide to try alternate remedies? Do you feel safer with herbs (which I don't think are regulated in the US) versus prescribed medicines (which are regulated in the US)? If you have an allergic reaction to something, what do you do? Do you take prescription medicine like Benadryl, or do you take another herb? Is the cost any less with alternative remedies? If it is more costly, why not do prescriptions?
Do you mix your herbs and prescriptions, or is it herbs and vitamins only?
I keep tossing around the idea of trying the herbs and acupuncture, and I get to the point of almost doing it, and then I get back off, because I am so afraid I am going to have a reaction. I am wondering what was the turning point that made you decide to go the alternative route. Maybe I can find a reason to not be so chicken. : )
Thanks in advance for any thoughts you might want to share.
I'm learning so much from my Aunt, who is very much into natural cures. I think I can give her the credit for lighting a fire in me to investigate the healing and nutritive power of herbs.
I realized that allopathic drugs were not healing my body, but overriding it.
I was very excited to learn that there might be ways to enable my body to help heal *itself*.
I take herbs along with metformin, which does a legitimately wonderful job of keeping my blood sugar down. However, all allopathic drugs have side effects, so they are not my first choice. I was taking spiro for some time to lower my testosterone levels, but the spiro affected my thyroid, and then I had to begin taking thyroid medication. Allopathic drugs are like a chain reaction; taking one often leads to needing another, and I just don't want to start that cascade.
When I get down to the weight that I need to be at, then I will consider using natural methods of keeping my blood sugars down (like cinnamon), but at my present weight I feel that I need metformin. I *do* believe that allopathic drugs have their time and place, and I'm very grateful to modern medicine.
I keep tossing around the idea of trying the herbs and acupuncture, and I get to the point of almost doing it, and then I get back off, because I am so afraid I am going to have a reaction.
99% of people who try herbs have no negative reactions. Usually the worst thing they do is nothing. If they do have a negative reaction, it is usually fairly mild, and it stops as soon as you stop taking the product (unlike drugs, which can actually do permanent damage to organs in serious cases). The nice thing about natural remedies is that they often have side BENEFITS, instead of side effects. Unexpected good things, such as if you take Omega-3 oils to help improve your joints, your acne might clear up, too.
You say that the US government doesn't regulate herbs, and I say THANK GOD. Look at what they allow to happen to food - it is processed, modified, and killed, and the goverment lets it happen. Look at drugs - 100,000 people die every year just because of a small error in a drug they are given (the wrong one or the wrong dose), and yet that is an "acceptable risk" to the government. Not to mention the other 350,000 people who die because of some sort of medical mistake - they get an infection in a hospital, get a surgery that kills them, I could go on and on.
If you look for an herb company that has a good reputation for quality, integrity, cleanliness, etc, you should do well. I always recommend Nature's Sunshine Products, because they are the best. Don't waste your money on cheap products, such as anything you can find at Wal-mart or any drug or grocery store. Go to an herb shop or health food store and ask questions. Be educated. Always ASK QUESTIONS. Take responsibility for your own health. If the doctor tells you something that doesn't make sence, question him. You have the right! It is YOUR body - not his! And remember - if anyone ever tells you that your diet doesn't matter - RUN AWAY! Nothing could be further from the truth!
99% of people who try herbs have no negative reactions. Usually the worst thing they do is nothing. If they do have a negative reaction, it is usually fairly mild, and it stops as soon as you stop taking the product (unlike drugs, which can actually do permanent damage to organs in serious cases). The nice thing about natural remedies is that they often have side BENEFITS, instead of side effects. Unexpected good things, such as if you take Omega-3 oils to help improve your joints, your acne might clear up, too.
You say that the US government doesn't regulate herbs, and I say THANK GOD. Look at what they allow to happen to food - it is processed, modified, and killed, and the goverment lets it happen. Look at drugs - 100,000 people die every year just because of a small error in a drug they are given (the wrong one or the wrong dose), and yet that is an "acceptable risk" to the government. Not to mention the other 350,000 people who die because of some sort of medical mistake - they get an infection in a hospital, get a surgery that kills them, I could go on and on.
If you look for an herb company that has a good reputation for quality, integrity, cleanliness, etc, you should do well. I always recommend Nature's Sunshine Products, because they are the best. Don't waste your money on cheap products, such as anything you can find at Wal-mart or any drug or grocery store. Go to an herb shop or health food store and ask questions. Be educated. Always ASK QUESTIONS. Take responsibility for your own health. If the doctor tells you something that doesn't make sence, question him. You have the right! It is YOUR body - not his! And remember - if anyone ever tells you that your diet doesn't matter - RUN AWAY! Nothing could be further from the truth!
I used to go to the doctor like a zombie, do what they told me, take what they gave me... THEN I WOKE UP. Because my body was slowly dying.
The diagnoses were getting rediculous, the treatments were cookie cutter, and the care was sad. I had a doctor diagnose me OVER THE PHONE with SHINGLES when the antibiotic he'd given me for a severe ear infection did nothing. I hung up and called a naturopathic doc in town. Within a few minutes of using his herbal ear drops, my swelling in my ears started going down. He was also the first doc that mentioned a severe hormone imbalance or cysts to me. It took me ELEVEN mainstream doctors, two years, and DEMANDING to get a diagnosis before they told me I had PCOS.
I didn't used to be open to alternative therapies. I was very closed minded and thought that anyone who used stuff not regulated by the FDA was playing with matches... lol...how silly I was. I was diagnosed with mild depression several years ago and over 6 years was on 4 different antidepressants. I was dead. I hated life. That was when I started to research the medicines I was on. One, had a really bad 'rap' from patients who took it. I printed the information off, mailed it to my doc to express concern and the next time I saw him he told me...don't believe everything you read on the internet, they can make fake sites that say anything, you know. You will be on antidepressants for the rest of your life, so deal with it. THAT was when I knew he was FIRED as my doctor and I wanted to try herbs...etc. Who would you trust? A doctor who has never taken the drug and gives it out like candy or many people who have ACTUALLY taken it for some time? I did a symptom self assessment and turned it in to a local herb shop. They punched the info into a computer program and it said I was deficient in 8 vitamins and my elimination system, adreanals, and thyroid were underfunctioning! EEKK!! Those 8 vitamins...caused my depression. But a doctor can't tell you that because they study drug therapy, NOT preventative therapy!!! Antidepressants FURTHER SUCK out those same vitamins...so people who are on ADs can't ever catch up! Long story short and MUCH to my shock and delight...as my body built back up on herbs and vitamins...I weaned off my AD and found I didn't need to take anything for depression anymore! CURED of depression, thanks to alternative therapies!
Yes, I too still use synthetic meds for some things. But the will never run my life again. NO ONE except Lemonade Ladybug knows my body better than me. Not a doc who 'talks' to you for five minutes and does no tests...etc...I make the decisions for my health, NOT any doctor I see.
That being said...lol...did acupuncture for the first time last week! I FEEL FANTASTIC!!!! One visit so far and the results are worth every penny!
PCOS/IR IN REMISSION THANKS TO LAPBAND SURGERY!!!!! 9/19/08
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The definition of insanity is trying the same thing over and over and expecting different results.... isn't that what the medical field does???? Especially when it comes to diet! The "low fat, processed food" American diet has lead to more obesity and disease than EVER, yet they keep saying "low fat." And they don't think your diet even really causes problems. Doctors NEVER ask you "when was the last time you had a BM" even though 80% of the population is constipated, and many problems could be resolved (including DEPRESSION) by being regular! ha ha ha
My mom has an herb shop, and I know a LOT of people who were able to get off all sorts of different drugs by using herbs.
My dad was on 2 drugs and his lungs started failing, and NONE OF THE DOCTORS KNEW WHY!!! My MOM did some research and found out that these 2 drugs cause lung problems when mixed! They were resolved that he was going to die and there was nothing they could do about it! THEN they told him that he would be on oxygen for the rest of his life because there was no cure for fybroids in the lungs. Well, they were proved wrong about THAT, too. His lung capacity went from 20% to over 90%. MOST people aren't over 90%!
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Last edited by DollFin511; 09-05-2006 at 06:56 AM.
even though 80% of the population is constipated, and many problems could be resolved (including DEPRESSION) by being regular! ha ha ha
I've been reading that lately! Do you have any ideas about how to stay regular? I just ordered a Liquid Cleanse that should do the trick, but it's not for long term use, and all of the herbs that I looked at that were meant for colon cleansing and regularity weren't for long term use, either. So, do you know of anything that *is* okay for long term use to prevent constipation?
btw, your Mom is an amazing woman, and boy-oh-boy, is your Dad lucky to have her!!
LBS II and Cascara Sagrata are ok to take long term, if you need to. But most people shouldn't need to if they eat right and drink enough water. Fiber supplements, like Loclo, Psyllium, or Nature's Three are good, but you might want to take Cascara or LBS when you first start taking it to keep you moving, until you are regular. Liquid Chlorophyll and Thai-go are also light cleansing products that can be taken all the time. They just cleanse as food you would normally eat would.
Remember to drink plenty of water. Plus, herbs in general tend to have a bit of a laxative effect, so just taking them can help.
And FYI (some of you will know this), you should go 2-3 times per day. Imagine if you filled 3 bags of garbage every day, but only took one bag out per day. What would your house look like in a week? A month? A YEAR??? So remember - food in, food out!
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I think Kevin Trudeau wrote a book that a lot of other people could have written (including my mom) if they had the time and money. Steven Horn, Jennifer Weiss, Jack Richason, and many others could have written that book, but that's ok, he is smart and wrote in a good, clear, concise way that most people can understand very easily. Kevin Trudeau brought a lot of attention, wanted or unwanted, to healthcare. A lot of people respond to that, possitively or not, but he's pretty much right about most things. He's just not as much of a revolutionary as some people think.
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I think Kevin Trudeau wrote a book that a lot of other people could have written (including my mom) if they had the time and money. Steven Horn, Jennifer Weiss, Jack Richason, and many others could have written that book, but that's ok, he is smart and wrote in a good, clear, concise way that most people can understand very easily. Kevin Trudeau brought a lot of attention, wanted or unwanted, to healthcare. A lot of people respond to that, possitively or not, but he's pretty much right about most things. He's just not as much of a revolutionary as some people think.
Right.
He's not the first or the best, but he is the *loudest*, and I'm so glad that he is speaking out, and that some people are listening
I feel somewhat safer taking alternative remedies for PCOS. Even though the drug side effects can be the same as any prescribed medicines. I can decide my own regimen really (after checking with my doctor) and I feel like it's more natural then synthetic chemicals running through my blood stream. Also, in some instances it can be just as effective and cost less (even with insurance!). I wouldn't suggest trying cinnamon if you have allergies at least not in large doses. I did have a reaction of bronchial constriction with it. Just be sure to check anything through your doctor first and good luck!
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Kristina (27), Dustin (28)
& Ani Rose (6)
The Johnson Fam est 10/26/02
Two angel babies:
16wks 10/08 & 9wks 03/09
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I have been thinking of trying alternative remedies for PCOS. I would love to read that book reccomended but I just can't put out $24 right now when my DH is out of work.
I used to have a BM at least 2times a day when I was on BCP and once I went off (I guess when my PCOS became a problem) I have maybe one a day now.
Part of it I know is the water consumption, I need to get back on track on the water and natural food.
Any suggestions would be helpfull!
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~Leah (29) DH Jeff (31)
TTC #1 since April 06
Dx July 06
Prenatal vitamin
Looks like things worked...Naturally!!!
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What made you decide to try alternate remedies? 
I was diagnosed with mild depression several years ago and over 6 years was on 4 different antidepressants. I was dead. I hated life. That was when I started to research the medicines I was on. One, had a really bad 'rap' from patients who took it. I printed the information off, mailed it to my doc to express concern and the next time I saw him he told me...don't believe everything you read on the internet, they can make fake sites that say anything, you know. You will be on antidepressants for the rest of your life, so deal with it. THAT was when I knew he was FIRED as my doctor and I wanted to try herbs...etc. Who would you trust? A doctor who has never taken the drug and gives it out like candy or many people who have ACTUALLY taken it for some time? I did a symptom self assessment and turned it in to a local herb shop. They punched the info into a computer program and it said I was deficient in 8 vitamins and my elimination system, adreanals, and thyroid were underfunctioning! EEKK!! Those 8 vitamins...caused my depression. But a doctor can't tell you that because they study drug therapy, NOT preventative therapy!!! Antidepressants FURTHER SUCK out those same vitamins...so people who are on ADs can't ever catch up! Long story short and MUCH to my shock and delight...as my body built back up on herbs and vitamins...I weaned off my AD and found I didn't need to take anything for depression anymore! CURED of depression, thanks to alternative therapies! 
