What Doctors Don't Tell YouA reader is at the end of her tether with one of the symptoms of PCOS: an excessive amount of unwanted body hair. She’s already tried electrolysis, Saw Palmetto and Agnus Castus, with negligible results. There’s too much hair to have it waxed. She is seriously considering laser treatment, but has found that most options aren’t suitable for hormone-related hair growth. Can anyone help? She is definitely not alone. Women wrote in with the following advice: To combat the larger issue (PCOS), try pygeum, stinging nettles, bearberry, zinc, selenium, a saw palmetto complex, the homeopathic remedy Thuja, and B vitamins (especially B6), as well as A, C, and E. But one woman says she’s learned that PCOS cannot be fought with herbs and supplements alone. She believes yeast undermines all hormone functioning, and decided to remove all yeast-containing foods (and other foods she’s sensitive to) from her diet, with positive results. Another woman suggests natural progesterone cream (she uses Endau by Neways) – be sure the one you get is free of propylene glycol, glycerine and dong quai. One reader recommends Dr. David Brownstein’s book on iodine (available at PPNF.org), as he’s treated many cases of PCOS. Still more advise reducing oestrogens in the diet by using organic dairy products (or better yet, try a completely organic diet), drinking only bottled water (a lot of it!), avoiding plastic-wrapped foods, and taking daily exercise. Weight control is a great way to combat hormone problems. Also increase your intake of Omega-3 oils and eat complex carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index. Reflexology may also work. Finally, once the hormones are under control (but only then), lasering does work – the Alexandrite laser is best.
Maryon Stewart
Tom Ferguson MD
Daniel Redwood DC