Happy PMS
Natural Progesterone Cream FAQ
Happy PMS Ingredients: Purified Water, Stearal Konium
Chloride, d-alpha Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Natural Glycerin, Avocado Oil, Natural
Progesterone, Aloe Vera Oil, Rosemary Extract, Vitamin A Palmitate, Carrot Oil,
Lemon Grass Oil.
Where should I apply natural progesterone cream?
Natural progesterone (derived from the Mexican wild yam root) in a
moisturizing cream can be applied to the face, hands, chest, breast, inner arms,
soles of feet, and in cases of osteoporosis, to the entire trabecular spine. The
cream is readily absorbed and leaves no trace after a few minutes. During
absorption the cream bypasses the liver and goes to specific receptor sites
where progesterone is needed. When the action is completed, residue is then
excreted from the body. Absorption rate varies from person to person as does the
relative need for progesterone.
PLEASE NOTE: Everyone is different. Some
women require more progesterone cream to alleviate symptoms, while others can
use less. For the first 3 months, use one 2 oz. jar per month. Then try cutting
back on the amount of natural progesterone each month. If symptoms return,
resume previous usage. It is important to stop using progesterone cream at least
five days each month.
How do I know if I should use natural
progesterone?
If you have PMS symptoms. PMS symptoms are
those symptoms which occur consistently a week or 10 days before the period and
stop with or shortly thereafter.
If you have Estrogen Dominance symptoms.
These symptoms are water retention, breast swelling, fibrocystic breast, uterine
fibroid, loss of libido, mood swings, depression, craving for sweets , and
weight gain with fat deposited at hips and thighs.
If you have menopausal symptoms. Estrogen
continues to be produced from the fat in cells even after menopause; however,
progesterone production virtually ends. Hot flashes are the most prominent
symptoms of menopause.
Osteoporosis. Women over 50 years of age
should use natural progesterone cream to prevent osteoporosis.
When do I use natural progesterone cream?
If you are still menstruating, use
one-fourth to one-half teaspoon of cream twice a day after ovulation (which is
generally 12-14 days from the first day of menstrual flow) until day 26. You do
not need natural progesterone while menstruating; however, if you experience
menstrual cramps try rubbing a small amount of cream on the lower abdomen. For
migraines, rub cream on back of your neck.
If you have menopausal symptoms and are still
menstruating, use one-fourth to one-half teaspoon cream twice per day
beginning with the 10th day from day one of menstruation until day 26. [After 3
months, start using cream 12-14 days from day 1 of menstruation until day 26.]
If you have menopausal symptoms and are not
menstruating; have osteoporosis or for prevention of osteoporosis, use
based on calendar month. Use one-fourth to one-half teaspoon twice per day
beginning on the 8th day of each calendar month and continue for the remainder
of the month.
Can natural progesterone be used during a
pregnancy?
In his book, "Premenstrual Syndrome & You", Neils
H. Lauersen, M.D., from Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, states that
natural progesterone may be helpful to maintain pregnancy. The cream is not only
safe for use during pregnancy but is recommended. From conception to delivery,
apply primarily to abdomen, breast, low back, and upper thighs (where it will
tend to prevent the skin from stretching). For the first six months of
pregnancy, use an average of 1/2 to 3/4 teaspoon 2 to 3 times a day. Discontinue
at delivery and resume again at a level of twice per day starting one month
after delivery. The cream is also useful for post-partum depression, which many
women experience after childbirth.
Can young girls use natural progesterone cream?
Yes. Low estrogen levels can adversely affect the
general health of girls between the ages of 9 and 13. For a year or more before
the onset of menstruation, blood calcium levels are so low that young girls
often develop symptoms associated with menarche, which are usually accepted as
normal behavior: emotional outbursts, irritable and temperamental behavior, and
compulsive consumption of sweets. During puberty, the maturing ovaries require
calcium to produce estrogen, thus diverting calcium from metabolic
requirements. Introducing natural progesterone at this time will alleviate most
of the symptoms mentioned above. Continued use of natural progesterone through
the teenage years will maintain a high level of wellness with few or no PMS
complaints.
What exactly is natural progesterone and how does
it differ from synthetic progesterone?
Natural progesterone, a cholesterol derivative,
comes from the Mexican yam or soybeans. It matches exactly the chemical
formulation of the body's own progesterone and thus causes no side effects.
Manufacturers of synthetic progesterone alter the chemical makeup of
progesterone in order to create progestins. Progestins in their altered
molecular structure may cause many side effects, such as birth defects or
abortion, fluid retention, epilepsy, migraine, asthma, cardiac or kidney
dysfunction and depression.
Can natural progesterone help with endometriosis
or fibrocystic breast?
One common factor in both these conditions is a
higher level of circulating estrogen, indicating a hormonal imbalance.
Progesterone-which helps to normalize all other endocrine hormonal activity in
the body-may help to clear these conditions by helping to lower the level of
estrogen.
Do natural hormones help vaginal dryness?
Vaginal dryness can occur in women of all ages for
various reasons, but it is primarily present in post menopausal women. Natural
hormones in a cream base can be used intravaginally and has been very successful
in treating vaginal dryness and vulvar atrophy associated with aging.
Should estrogen be used without natural
progesterone?
Definitely not. It is very important that natural
progesterone be used with any form of estrogen. Estrogen without progesterone
can cause endometrial and vaginal carcinomas. Estrogen blocks thyroid production
and causes water retention; and it can cause fibrocystic breast disease and even
fibroid tumors and cysts in the ovary area.
Do I need a prescription for natural hormones?
No. Natural progesterone in a cream or oil base
comes from Mexican yams/or soybeans which is technically a food product.
I am already taking hormones from my doctor why
should I switch to natural hormones?
Natural hormones are simply an alternative to
hormone replacement therapy. Synthetic progesterone (known as progestins) has
many side effects, and synthetic estrogen can be dangerous to your health,
especially if taken without any progesterone. If someone is taking both
synthetic estrogen and progestins, a gradual step is to substitute natural
progesterone cream; and gradually reduce the synthetic estrogen. (Reduce
estrogen by one-half and continue to reduce over 90 days until discontinued
use).
I'm post menopausal, will I start menstruating
again if I use natural hormones?
Occasionally upon beginning use of natural hormone
supplement, a post menopausal woman could experience some breakthrough bleeding,
or a "period." This is a perfectly normal response and is nothing to cause
alarm. The progesterone is simply causing the body to rid itself of excess
stored estrogen which can sometimes stimulate a uterine shedding-thus
breakthrough bleeding. If this continues for longer than several months you
should consult a physician.
I have facial hair, especially above my upper
lip, that requires shaving occasionally. What causes this?
This is a condition called hirsutism" (defined as
excessive growth of facial and body hair). It indicates that there is a hormonal
imbalance between estrogen, testosterone (the dominant male hormone) and
progesterone. Progesterone acts as a regulator for the entire endocrine system.
A woman who has the hirsute problem probably has PMS too. Both menopausal and
menstruating women have reported that facial hair (and body hair) decreased or
completely disappeared after three to six months of regular application of cream
twice a day. Natural progesterone is needed to effect proper hormonal balance.
Is natural progesterone useful for
hysterectomized, oophorectomized and menopausal women?
Yes. Many women experience hot flashes following
premenopausal hysterectomy (removal of uterus) or oophorectomy (complete removal
of ovaries) and in the beginning of the natural onset of menopause. The cream
which contains natural progesterone is reported to be effective for relieving
symptoms of hot flashes. Most women have reported a complete cessation of
flushing within 3 to 8 weeks.
Is natural progesterone indicated for
osteoporosis?
Many medical authorities tell female patients who
are post-menopausal that osteoporosis is inevitable. A physician in Mill Valley
California, John R Lee, has proven that this often repeated statement is simply
untrue. The results of his ongoing clinical study with 100 women is noteworthy.
All have experienced new bone density ranging from 5 to 40 percent for women who
have used natural progesterone cream from 6 to 48 months. His results also
indicated this therapy is successful even several decades after menopause. One
of his patients, who is 82 years of age and has been using natural progesterone
cream for four years, has a greater than 40 percent new bone density as proven
by dualphoton absorpriometry. Dr. Lee has proven that osteoporosis is not only
preventable, but is also reversible in most cases.
Can I use natural progesterone if there is family
history of breast or uterine cancer?
Yes. Breast cancer and endometrial cancer occur in
tissue sensitive to gonadal hormones. Unopposed estrogen is the only known cause
of endometrial cancer, though there may be other factors involved. Estrogen, or
at least one or more of the various estrogens, are thought to contribute to
breast cancer. Progesterone balances the estrogen level in the
body, thus lessening the risk.
Can men use natural progesterone?
Men over 45 can use natural progesterone. One benefit
is an increase in the libido. Progesterone is the precursor of testosterone.
Testosterone can stimulate new bone formation, increasing bone density; a lack
of it can cause osteoporosis. Older men with rheumatoid arthritis have reported
relief from pain and swelling after rubbing natural progesterone in a cream base
on their joints.
Are there any other benefits of natural
progesterone use?
Additional benefits for women include: improved
brain function, diminished muscular aches and pains, improvement of skin
problems including acne, seborrhea, rosacea, psoriasis and keratoses, and
improved sleep pattern.
Recommended Reading
John R. Lee, M.D. with Virginia Hopkins What Your
Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause. The Breakthrough Book on Natural
Progesterone. New York: Warner Books, 1996.
John R. Lee, M.D., Jesse Hanley M.D., and Virginia
Hopkins, best selling authors of What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About
Premenopause. Warner Books, 1999.
The articles found on these pages are for informational
purposes only and are not intended to take the place of professional medical
care.
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