Hormone Balancing

MariannaLaFrance

I accidently posted this under the Hormone Therapy board, so reposting here.

So, I am just learning about bio-identicals, et al. in the quest for better hormonal balance. I am peri-menopausal, but I know that I must have an excess of androgens, because I am experiencing major problems with jawline acne, hair growth on my chin, etc, etc.

In an attempt to "balance" myself out, and hoping that it would change up my "chemistry" to a certain degree, I would like to see what I can do. I came across an article about some herbs to use for hormone balancing, and wondered if any of you have experience with these:

• Black Cohosh (bad to use with BC?)
• Evening Primrose (same question)
• Chaste Berry?
• Licorice

mollyann

MariannHB, my younger sister has jawline acne which is part of PCOS (polycystic ovarian syndrome). Also, hair growth.

Her doctor says this causes hormone imbalance particularly too much testosterone. But the real culprit in PCOS seems to be the hormone, insulin.  If you can manage the insulin, the PCOS and testosterone seems to go down. Has anyone ever mentioned PCOS to you? Or controlling it wiith iodine?

CrunchyPoodleMama

Ditto what mollyann said... this particular hormone imbalance is GREATLY improved through daily exercise as well as eliminating all simple carbs (sugar, white flour, etc.).

Also, cinnamon is a natural blood sugar regulator (it's the food/herb equivalent of Metformin, a drug used to manage the excess androgens that go hand in hand with PCOS).

MariannaLaFrance

Maybe I need to add in more cinnamon. I've been gluten free, sugar free, and dairy free for months now, but still have jawline acne (the really deep, cystic type) each month around my cycle, so I am presuming that I still have excess androgens.

I do probably fit some of the PCOS symptoms, so I've been trying to regulate the sugars and carbs with the help of a nutritionist. After 2 months on the new diet, we finally had to add extra fats into my diet because I started looking like Skeletor!!  I'll try the cinnamon today, and see if that helps.
Thanks for the advice.

Orange12

Is there a connection with jaw line acne and breast cancer?  I had the deep cystic type painful jawline acne too and always wondered if there was a connection to breast cancer.  I have had my ovaries removed now and my skin is amazing - drastic cure eh?! but part of my breast cancer treatment.

vivre

Orange-did you ever think the acne and jaw pain could be from your teeth? I just had my root canal tooth removed, after I read all about the dangers of root canal, and it was totally rotten underneath, although I only had hot/cold pain. Regular dentists are not taught to look for these deep infections. You can also have lots of bacteria in "cavitations" where other teeth were removed. Or you could have leaky mercury almagams. Is there any blue under your tongue? That could be a sign of mercury poisoning. I am working on getting my mercury removed. The reason I know it is a problem for is is because I tried to do a heavy metal detox with NAC a while back and my face broke out. I stopped immediately because it freaked me out. I will not detox until after I get it out.

And yes, there is a link with breast cancer and toxic teeth.

CrunchyPoodleMama

In addition to what Vivre said, there's a definite connection between breast cancer and insulin imbalance. Because of that, Metformin is now being looked at as part of a cancer treatment regine, and anyone with insulin/blood sugar issues should include cinnamon as part of their daily diet.

MariannaLaFrance

Regarding acne and breast cancer, my jawline acne cleared up for 3-4 months post lumpectomy, but returned.... so I'm left to think that perhaps my hormone levels "rebalanced" themselves after the cancer was removed at the same levels as previous! I am definitely incorporating the cinnamon into my diet now!  

CrunchyPoodleMama- Just bought Brewers' Yeast, a gluten free version this morning! Going to add to my ???? trying to figure out where I'll put it!!