Herbal Medicine

  • Fertility, Herbal Medicine, PCOS, Women's Health

    The Best 5 Herbs for PCOS

    Let’s talk about the best 5 herbs for PCOS. If you’re struggling with PCOS symptoms like an irregular cycles, acne, or sugar cravings? Certain herbs can help balance hormones, support ovulation, and improve insulin sensitivity naturally. Examples include spearmint for lowering androgens and Gmnema for blood sugar control, these natural remedies may be the missing piece in your PCOS journey.

    Herbs can help you:

    1. 1. Establish a regular cycle by improving ovulation
    2. 2. Help with acne, unwanted hair growth and thinking hair by lowering serum testosterone 
    3. 3. Help weight loss by reducing insulin sensitivity

    Black Cohosh

    Black Cohosh can help suppress lutenising hormone (LH) which can be elevated in PCOS. Elevated LH can lead to increased testosterone production and associated symptoms like hirsutism (excess facial and body hair), acne, scalp hair thinning, oily skin, and irregular cycles.

    Contraindications: History of migraines or severe headaches: Introduce black cohosh slowly.

    Spearmint

    Spearmint may help reduce androgen levels, alleviating symptoms like hirsutism (excess facial and body hair), acne, scalp hair thinning, oily skin, and irregular cycles in women with PCOS. Lower androgens can also support overall skin and hair health.

    Recommended Dosage: 2-3 cups of strong spearmint tea per day.

    Contraindications: Potential issues for individuals with LH dominance

    Saw Palmetto

    Saw palmetto is a herb that can help manage PCOS symptoms by acting as a natural anti-androgen. It works by inhibiting 5-alpha reductase, the enzyme that converts testosterone into its more potent form, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). This can help reduce symptoms of hirsutism (excess facial and body hair), acne, and scalp hair thinning associated with high androgen levels in PCOS.

    Gynmema 

    Gymnema is a herb known for its blood sugar-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects, making it beneficial for women with PCOS-related insulin resistance. It works by improving glucose metabolism, enhancing insulin function, and reducing sugar cravings, which can help with weight management and blood sugar control—key factors in managing PCOS symptoms.

    Caution: If already taking metformin or myo-inositol it’s best to seek medical advice.

     

    Licorice & Peony

    Together licorice and peony can help lower testosterone, increase estrogen, reduce prolactin, and balance LH and FSH levels. This helps reduce acne and facial hair, support ovulation and fertility, regulate cycles, and improve hair growth.

    Contraindications: cases of high blood pressure and elevated cortisol levels.

    Need more help?

    Incorporating the right herbs into your routine can be a powerful way to support your PCOS symptoms naturally. However, every person’s body is unique, and what works for one may not work for another. If you’re considering herbal support, it’s always best to test first, to see if your luteising hormone is elevated. From this you can then determine if black cohosh is the best herb for you!

    If you need help book in for a consultation so we can find the right approach for you. Have you tried any of these herbs for PCOS? Share your experience in the comments below, and don’t forget to pass this along to someone who might find it helpful.

    Herbs for PCOS

    Need help choosing the best Naturopath approved prenatal Supplement for PCOS?

    Download my 20 page guide that gives the 3 key ingredients that I look for in a prenatal for those with PCOS! I also give you step by-step instructions to ensure you know how much folate your prenatal contains.

    Download your copy today!

    How to Choose the Best Prenatal for PCOS
    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath Blog
  • Fertility, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, PCOS, Women's Health

    Your Guide on How to Increase Progesterone Naturally

    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath

    Your Guide on How to Increase Progesterone Naturally

    As a woman, you know the importance of progesterone. It’s often called the “pregnancy hormone” because it’s required for optimal fertility and helps to maintain a healthy pregnancy. What you may not know is that low levels of progesterone can also cause symptoms like irregular and heavy periods, PMS, PMDD, androgen excess, and migraines. Luckily, there are some simple ways to increase your progesterone naturally.

    What is progesterone?

    Progesterone is a hormone that prepares the uterus for pregnancy, allowing an embryo to implant after it’s been fertilised. Progesterone is produced after ovulation, that is once the egg has been released from the ovary. This is then known as the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle. About 36 hours after ovulation progesterone will increase basal body temperature. If you are not pregnant, progesterone levels will drop 12-14 days after ovulation and cause your bleed to begin. 

    Progesterone really helps to regulate the menstrual cycle. That’s why women with PCOS have an irregular cycle, because they do not ovulate regularly. Progesterone also has other important functions, it helps support healthy bones, muscles, and heart and brain function. 

    What are symptoms of low progesterone levels?

    If you don’t ovulate regularly or have low progesterone, it can cause:

    • – Irregular periods or no period at all
    • – Spotting before your period
    • – Infertility
    • – Miscarriage
    • – PMS
    • – PMDD
    • – Depression
    • – Anxiety
    • – Brain fog (a lack of mental clarity)
    • – Weight gain
    • – Carbohydrate cravings
    • – Breast tenderness

    Looking for other causes of infertility? Check out my 4 causes of infertility article. 

    Increase Progesterone Naturally

    What is an optimal level of progesterone?

    If you want to know how do I increase my progesterone levels? First we need to know what an optimal level of progesterone is. The optimal amount of progesterone varies from person to person but in clinical practice I look at ranges above >4 nmol/L to confirm that you have ovulated that cycle. With regards to fertility, I’m looking for a minimum of 30 nmol/L of progesterone to be able to support a pregnancy. If you have low levels then there are things you can do to increase them naturally. Click here to read more about hormone test results.

    How do I increase my progesterone naturally?

    If you have low progesterone levels and want to increase them naturally, there are a few things you can do.

    First off, Vitex, otherwise known as Chaste Tree Berry, is one of my go-to herbs when increasing progesterone, BUT it is not for everyone. Once I have tested my clients hormones I will know if vitex is the right herb for them. This is because in addition to increasing progesterone, vitex can also increase oestrogen. This is an issue if you already have high oestrogen. 

    Second: Flax seeds are an amazing dietary strategy that that help increase your progesterone levels. Flax seeds contain lignans, lignans have been associated with improvement in increased progesterone and luteal phase length. Aim to consume 30 grams a day of freshly ground flax seeds for best results. 

    Thirdly: Implement stress management techniques weekly. This can include techniques like exercise, journalling, breath works, meditation, gardening, crocheting, or anything that relaxes your nervous system and centres your thoughts. This is because stress negatively impacts your progesterone levels in several ways. Through increasing cortisol and prolactin, and decreased lutenizing hormone.

    Lastly: Add some omega 3’s to your diet! Long chain omega 3’s (EPA and DHA) from either fish or algae supplementation can have beneficial affects on your hormones and progesterone levels. Research shows that omega 3’s decrease the risk of not ovulating and are also associated with higher concentrations of progesterone. Many people don’t eat enough fish, if this is something that doesn’t appeal to you, then I suggest taking a good quality supplement.

    Now you know how to increase your progesterone naturally!

    Progesterone also plays an important role in regulating menstrual cycles, fertility, and pregnancy. If you have low progesterone levels then this can cause symptoms such as PMS, PMDD, infertility, and  miscarriage. If you’re looking for help with how to understand your hormone levels then book in for a 1:1 consultation so you can start improving your hormone health today. 

    Need help choosing the best Naturopath prenatal Supplement for PCOS?

    Download my 20 page guide that gives the 3 key ingredients that I look for in a prenatal for those with PCOS! I also give you step by-step instructions to ensure you know how much folate your prenatal contains.

    Download today!

    How to Choose the Best Prenatal for PCOS
    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath Blog
  • Fertility, Herbal Medicine, Nutrition, PCOS

    Busting PCOS Myths with Naturopath Lesley O’Connor 

    Fertility Naturopath

    Busting PCOS Myths with Naturopath Lesley O’Connor 

    Today I’m busting 3 PCOS myths. There is a lot of misinformation about PCOS out there that can be so tramatising to so many women! Here are 3 common PCOS myths I frequently hear that are actually not true! It’s harmful that these incorrect stories keep getting peddled around and can impact the mental health of women with PCOS. If you’re feeling confused about PCOS when keep reading and I hope you learn 3 facts about PCOS!

    Busting PCOS Myth 1

    Busting PCOS Myth 1: We don’t know what causes PCOS

    PCOS Fact 1: Research shows that guth health play a significant role in the underlying factors that drive PCOS

    Gut Health plays a central and essential role in regulating metabolism (blood sugar and insulin), nutritional status, hormone balance, appetite, and inflammation. Multiple studies have shown that women with PCOS have significantly lower microbial diversity, an altered composition of microbes and intestinal permeability. 

    Research now also shows that dysbiosis and intestinal permeability play a significant role in the underlying factors that drive PCOS (insulin resistance, high androgen levels, and chronic inflammation).

    In clinical practice, most of the women I help with PCOS have under functioning digestive systems. This can look like burping, bloating, irregular bowel habits, constipation, and stomach pain. Luckily there is plently we can do help improve your gut health.

    Busting PCOS Myth 2

    PCOS Myth 2: There is no treatment for PCOS

    PCOS Fact 2: Nutrition, lifestyle, and herbal medicine can put PCOS into remission. 

    For every underlying factor of PCOS natural medicine has a tool that can help!

    Some of the most common tools are:

    • – Herbal Medicine
    • – Lifestyle medicine such as stress reduction, and physical activity
    • – Nutritional Medicine including nutrition interventions and supplementations such as inositol

    Here are a few examples:

    Myo-Inositol

    • – Can improve both insulin sensitivity and free testosterone levels, improves ovarian activity and regulates menstrual cycles
    • – In women with PCOS who weren’t ovulating, over 60% of women started ovulating again and 37% became pregnant after using 4 grams of myo-inositol each day over 3 months.
    • – Myo-inositol increased pregnancy in infertile women using ovulation induction (such as clomid and letrazole)

    Cinnamon:

    • – Has less side affects than metformin with a similar outcome 
    • – 1.5 grams daily taken over 6 months, significantly improved women having a regular cycle and inducing ovulation when compared with placebo.
    • – 1.5 grams of cinnamon showed improved antioxidant status and cholesterol profile which are benefical for women with PCOS
    •  
    Busting PCOS Myths

    Busting PCOS Myth 3

    PCOS Myth 3: You won’t be able to get pregnant with PCOS

    PCOS Fact 3: The path to pregnancy with PCOS can look a little different 

    I hear frequently from women with PCOS that they’ve been told they won’t be able to get pregnant, which is honestly heart breaking to hear. It’s also completely incorrect! Rather, we should acknowledge that the path to pregnancy with PCOS can look a little different that the ‘norm’. 

    Getting pregnant with PCOS is covered in my soon-to-be-released program: The PCOS Preconception Protocol! If you’re someone who needs help and wants to conveieve naturally then this is the program for you! 

    In this program we conduct a proper assessment of the driving factors of your PCOS so you can start ovulating sooner! We also cover how to improve your gut health, have more energy, and less acne all in a safe and supportive space.

    If you’re ready to feel confident in your body’s ability to have a baby then join the waitlist today!

    Thanks for reading this blog! If learnt something new from this blog then let me know in the comments below!

    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath Blog
  • Fertility, Herbal Medicine, PCOS, Women's Health

    September is PCOS Awareness Month

    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath

    It’s PCOS Awareness month!

    PCOS Awareness Month aims to improve the lives of women affected by PCOS and to help them to overcome their symptoms. It’s vital to increase awareness of, and education the general public, women, and healthcare professionals, about PCOS.

    PCOS is a leading cause of infertility in women

    Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a genetic, metabolic and reproductive condition that most commonly presents as a hormonal disorder in women. It’s one of the leading causes of female infertility and is also a precursor to other conditions such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and endometrial cancer.

    What are the symptoms of PCOS?

    • – Missing or no period
    • – Irregular period, that’s more than 35 days between bleeds
    • – Acne, mainly around the chin and jaw line
    • – Thinning hair on the head
    • – Unwanted hair growth on the face, chest, back
    • – Fatigue and Mood Swings
    • – Trouble getting pregnant
    • – Easily gaining weight
    • – Skin tags
    • – Darkening of the skin
    • – Anxiety and Depression are also very common

    Who can help you with your PCOS?

    A General Practitioner (GP) with an awareness and understanding of PCOS is a great starting point. Also an Endocrinologist or Reproductive Endocrinologist is one of the best specialists to see. Naturopaths are also a great health professional to have in your support team, especially if you’re wanting to get to the root cause of your PCOS and get pregnant naturally. 

    A recent literature review found that herbal medicines are a cost-effective, efficacious, and a highly esteemed source of management and treatment for PCOS than conventional medicines.

    Did you know that Naturopathy has been found to be one of the best ways to help manage PCOS? There is so much that Naturopath Medicine has to offer women with PCOS. That’s because we look at your health as a whole picture. I always want to treat the root cause of your PCOS and that’s going to look a little different for each person.

    PCOS can greatly impact your life in so many ways. Fertility, mood, energy, and confidence! That’s why it’s important to work with someone who understands PCOS. Sometimes Doctors and even some Specialists aren’t up to date with the latest research on PCOS. So make sure you choose your support team careful with those who you feel validated and seen by!

    If you have enjoyed learning about PCOS, please comment below and give me a follow on my Instagram where I share more education and tips on managing your PCOS!

    Lesley O'Connor Fertility Naturopath Blog