1. Support regular ovulation & cycle regularity
Often women with PCOS experience long and irregular cycles, this is often associated with elevated androgens (such as testosterone) low SHBG and insulin resistance. Herbal medicines such as peony & licorice and nutrients such as inositol have been found to lower androgens, insulin and regulate cycle length. A naturopath can support you in finding the right dose and using these supplements safely alongside your medications.
2. Support healthy weight management
Often women with PCOS struggle to lose weight and keep it off. This is because women with PCOS often have insulin resistance (not always, but 70% of women often do). I educate clients on how to eat and move for optimal blood sugar balance to optimise weight loss and help with insulin resistance. There are also a number of natural herbal medicines and specific nutrients that help with insulin resistance and regulating blood sugar and can be used alone or alongside some medications.
3. Manage acne and unwanted hair growth or hair loss
Acne and unwanted hair growth are often unwanted experienced by many women with PCOS and can occur due to elevated androgens such as testosterone. This happens due to elevated blood sugar driving up testosterone. Working on managing blood sugar levels can help reduce acne and more unwanted hair growth. There are also many herbs which help balance blood sugar and reduce androgens.
4. Address nutritional deficiencies
Like all hormonal conditions there are nutritional deficient that can impact in the way our hormones work and how healthy they are. Through blood tests we can see your requirement for certain nutrients and work to rectify these.
5. Improve Gut Health
Studies have found that poor microbiome health can cause insulin resistance, hyperandrogenism, chronic inflammation and metabolic syndrome (obesity, diabetes) and may contribute to the development of PCOS (PMID: 32109968). Naturopaths can help support microbiome health with proper testing and the use of herbal medicine and nutrients which help to reduce gut inflammation, address overgrowths of pathogenic bacteria and restore the levels of healthy gut bacteria.
If you would like some natural support to manage your PCOS, book in a free 15 minute discovery call x x
Disclaimer:
The information provided is for educational purposes and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice and should not be relied on as health or personal advice. Always seek the guidance of your doctor or a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding your health or a medical condition or before making any changes.