natural remedies for pcos

PCOS is a diverse condition, one that is unique to each and every woman. It is super frustrating that our mainstream treatment puts every body into the same category but this is why I am such a big advocate for naturopathic treatment for PCOS.

Naturopathic guidelines for PCOS include:

1. Addressing inflammation

2. Treating insulin resistance

3. Balancing stress & adrenal function

4. Treating androgen excess

5. Addressing hormonal imbalances

6. Balancing the thyroid

7. Creating a healthy home environment

8. Eating a balanced diet

Some people will need to address all of these issues, other people might only have one or two drivers. It is important to figure out your drivers to improve your hormonal balance. The way you do this is:

• Functional testing - such as gut microbiome mapping tests, DUTCH/saliva hormone testing, heavy metal testing, adrenal testing

• In depth pathology testing using OPTIMAL levels - many people don’t realise that their blood tests might not be as extensive as they thought, or the reference range that they were told their levels were ‘normal’ against, is actually just a statistical average and there are other ranges for ‘optimal functioning’.

• Food diaries to review macronutrient intake and other vitamin/mineral status

• In depth questioning. Fiona McCulloch has written a great book on PCOS and has questionnaires to figure out what systems you need to work on. They are -

Inflammatory driven QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I have pain in my body, such as neck pain, back pain, knee pain, headaches

2. I have skin rashes, like eczema, psoriasis, rosacea, allergic dermatitis

3. I have chronic digestive issues, like bloating, diarrhoea, reflux or indigestion

4. I have asthma or allergies

5. I am constantly tired and lethargic

6. I eat a diet that is not based on whole foods or I eat many processed foods and added sugar

7. I have a family member with an autoimmune condition

8. I have been formally diagnosed with PCOS

if you answered yes to:

1-4 of these, it’s likely you have moderate inflammation

5-8 of these, it’s likely you have severe inflammation

Insulin driven QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I have more weight than I should

2. I find it hard to lose weight

3. I notice my weight is mostly around my abdomen

4. I crave sugar

5. I crave carbs like rice, bread, potatoes

6. I don’t feel full easily, or binge eat at times

7. Type 1 or 2 diabetes is in my immediate family

8. I get hangry easily and can be sensitive if I skip a meal

9. I have dark, velvet patches in the folds of my skin behind my neck, thighs, or under my arms

10. I have skin tags

11. I have fatty liver

if you answered yes to:

0-2 of these, you might have mild or undetectable insulin resistance

3-6 of these, it’s likely you have moderate insulin resistance

7-11 of these, it’s likely you have severe insulin resistance

Adrenal and stress driven QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I have a lot of stress in my life

2. I have experienced extreme stress in the past five to eight years

3. I do not get enough sleep

4. I have anxiety

5. I have depression

6. I consume too much sugar

7. I have heart palpitations

8. I drink a lot of coffee to get through the day

9. I get irritated easily

10. I have serious mood symptoms when I have PMS

11. I have low blood pressure

12. I have dizziness when I stand up too quickly

13. I overwork and do not take time to relax

14. I have taken steroids for a medical reason

15. I gain weight around my abdominal area

16. I have an eating disorder now or have had one in the past

17. I have a low libido

18. My muscles feel weak

19. I am very tired between 3-5pm

20. I feel best in the evening

21. I have had high DHEAs reading on bloodwork

if you answered yes to:

0-4 of these, you might have a mild stress factor

5-13 of these, it’s likely you have a moderate stress factor

14-21 of these, it’s likely you have a severe stress factor

Androgen excess QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I have hirsuitism: the growth of excess or course hair on my chin, face, upper lip, chest or abdomen

2. I have significant acne, located on my jawline, back, or chin

3. I have hair loss that is either diffuse or concentrated at the front hairline

4. I have a deep voice

5. I have high DHEAs, testosterone or DHT levels on blood testing

if you answered yes to any of these, you have an androgen excess factor to a significant degree

Hormone balance QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. My cycles are or have been thirty five days or longer for significant periods of my life

2. I have had polycystic ovaries on ultrasound

3. I ovulate late in my cycle - around day 18 or later

4. I have needed medications to help with ovulation

5. The medications to help me ovulate didn’t work on at least one occasion

6. I have had high AMH reading on a blood test

7. I have had a high LH to FSH ratio on a day 3 blood test

8. I have had low progesterone readings on blood work

if you answered yes to any of these, you have a hormonal imbalance factor to a significant degree

Thyroid QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I feel cold

2. I feel tired a lot

3. I do not lose weight easily

4. I experience constipation

5. I have dry, flaky skin

6. I am losing hair or it has become brittle

7. My nails are brittle

8. I’m depressed or anxious

9. I have chronic muscle and joint pain

10. I feel pressure or swelling in my neck

11. I have a family member with thyroid issues

12. I have high cholesterol

13. I have unexplained changes in my weight

14. I have changes in my memory and concentrations

15. I have had abnormal thyroid testing results

if you answered yes to:

1-4 of these, you have some signs of a thyroid issue

5-9 of these, it’s likely you have a moderate thyroid factor

10-15 of these, it’s likely you have a significant thyroid factor

Environment QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. I use, or have in the past used, plastic containers to a significant degree to heat food, or I use plastic water bottles

2. I currently eat, or have eaten, canned foods, including soda from a can

3. I was fed from a plastic baby bottle or plastic sippy cups as an infant

4. I have worked in retail, handling receipts

5. I work in the dental profession, hair/nail salon, or other profession where I am exposed to environmental toxins

6. I buy nonorganic produce, dairy, and/or meats

7. I have worked in agriculture or gardening with pesticides, or my mother was exposed to pesticides prior to being pregnant with me

   if you answered yes to:

   1-3 of these, you have a moderate environmental factor

   4-7 of these, you have a significant environmental factor

Diet QUESTIONNAIRE:

1. When I have made changes to my diet in the past, I have seen significant improvement in my PCOS symptoms

2. There are areas of my diet I feel I could improve

3. I consume fast foods or sweets at least twice a week

4. I have intense cravings for sugar or carbs

5. I find it difficult to stop eating or I binge at times

6. I do not eat enough veggies

7. I am not sure what I should be eating

8. I find it hard to make good decisions with eating

9. I tend to eat the same food all of the time

10. I go through periods of eating well and periods of eating poorly

11. I scored moderate to high on the insulin resistance quiz

if you answered yes to:

1-4 of these, you have a moderately high need for nutritional support

5+ of these, you would benefit significantly from making nutritional and dietary changes

Do you think you have PCOS? Book in for a consultation to discuss natural treatment for PCOS.