Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: How herbal medicine and lifestyle changes can help, study says
(NaturalHealth365) An estimated one in 10 women has polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a condition that can make it very difficult for them to have children. PCOS causes irregular menstrual cycles and commonly strikes women in their 20s or 30s – lasting beyond menopause.
With PCOS, hormones become imbalanced creating a risk of infertility and chronic illnesses. Treatments vary, but one study shows a combination of herbal medicine and lifestyle changes can help. The key here is to find a healthcare provider that appreciates this kind of information.
Polycystic ovary syndrome boils down to inadequate hormone production
PCOS is a hormonal problem that begins when a woman reaches reproductive age. Conventionally speaking, it’s not clear why this happens, but medical science does offer many clues, like:
- Excess insulin production
- Excess androgen – the hormone responsible for mostly male traits like facial hair
All of which can be deeply connected to lifestyle habits – like, what you eat on a daily basis.
Women with this diagnosis experience:
- Irregular periods
- Higher than normal levels of male hormones
- Facial and body hair
- Male pattern baldness
- and, polycystic ovaries that lead to infertility
And, there also is a strong connection between obesity and PCOS.
Hope for PCOS patients: One group of researchers highlight the benefits of herbal medicine
The 2017 study published in Phytotherapy Research found that changing one’s lifestyle was the first line of defense against this disease but additional herbal therapies had benefits, as well.
The researchers choose to conduct their study in Australia focusing on communities with overweight women that had a body mass index (BMI) of at least 24.5 kg. They also needed to have a PCOS diagnosis that met specific criteria.
They divided the more than 100 participants into three groups. The woman in each group worked with the study authors to create a personal lifestyle plan that would include things like:
- A low-calorie diet
- Moderate exercise with a goal of losing at least 5 percent of their body weight
- Limited carbohydrate intake – because they can increase insulin levels
On top of these crucial changes, two groups took herbal tablet formulas that included:
- First group: A combination of Cinnamon, Licorice, St. Johns Wort and Peony
- Second group: Tribulus, a small, flowering plant also known as puncture vine and goat’s head
The third group of women was the control, so they did lifestyle changes without any herbal supplement.
The results are in: Lifestyle changes CAN help greatly…
After three months, the researchers measured:
- The frequency of their periods
- Body mass index
- Waist circumference
- Hormone levels
- Blood pressure readings
- Quality of life
The first group showed an improvement in menstrual cycles, BMI and waist circumference. The second group had more balanced hormone levels, better insulin sensitivity and an average of 3.5 percent weight loss.
Within both groups, some of the women that lost weight did go on to have a baby. The changes in the control group were minimal.
Bottom line: the study showed that – in the treatment of PCOS – there are real benefits to using certain herbal supplements combined with lifestyle changes. Of course, more research is (always) needed. But, this is encouraging news!
Sources used in this article include:
Food & Nutrition
Natural Health 365
Natural Health 365 is a premium source of trending and popular health-related news, science, testimony & research articles on the most up to date and relevant natural health information. The Food & Nutrition articles found herein are meant to inform and advise our site visitors on eating healthy, nutritious foods and safely using supplements and vitamins to achieve optimal health.
Join thousands of daily visitors staying informed and involved on Natural Health 365! We seek out scientific solutions with proven results and it is our mission to keep you informed! Articles range in topic from the cancer fighting qualities of Olive Oil, to the remarkably high concentration of anti-oxidants found in blueberries, to how to make your own almond milk, to a nutritional comparison of organic vs conventional produce, to an analysis of the health benefits of tree nuts. You can find all of the Food News Articles here
Read Some of Our Most Popular Articles
Artichokes, Olive Oil, Almond Milk, Blueberries
More Food & Nutrition Articles
Fresh Organic Produce Fights Cancer, Susan G. Komen on Organic Foods, Hemp Seeds for Inflammation, Pau D’Arco For Improved Immunity
In addition to exploring health benefits of certain foods, vitamins and supplements, we also aim to connect healthy eating and balanced consumption of dietary supplements to long-lasting health and adding healthy, happy years to your life. For example, did you know that eating Granny Smith Apples on a regular basis can reduce your chance of building up unhealthy gut yeast? Or that ingesting ground hemp seeds can significantly reduce inflammation throughout the body? Perhaps you didn’t know that Fresh Organic Produce has been found to have higher concentrations of key, cancer-fighting anti-oxidants and vitamins than conventional produce? You can find all of that information and more right here on Natural Health 365.
We’d love to know what you’re thinking! Please join the conversation on Facebook, post comments here on the website and feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions.
Please use and share the articles you find here with your friends, family and peers.