Natural Methods to Regulate Hormones and Stay Off Birth Control
If you go to the doctor because you’re a woman and you’re having hormone issues or menstrual problems, chances are your doctor will prescribe birth control pills if you aren’t already taking them. But before you jump on that bandwagon, there are some natural remedies that are much kinder to your body and that can lead to some spectacular results health-wise in terms of hormone balance. Most notable among these is IODINE but also vitamin B17. If you have menstrual problems, fertility issues, or any kind of hormonal imbalance, you need to be supplementing with high-dose iodine (see below for more information about how to do this). Most women these days take the pill or use some form of birth control product that involves synthetic hormones, which is unfortunate. For sexually active women, unless you have perfectly timed periods, with perfect “flow”, and you’re using a diaphragm or condoms, it can be hard to escape from synthetic hormones according to the conventional medical model. But synthetic hormones put women at risk for developing cancer as well as other health problems. If you'd rather avoid birth control pills this is an important article for you.
If you struggle with vaginal yeast infections or systemic Candida albicans, this infection is related to hormonal imbalances and I would suggest reading the article How to Cure Candida before making any attempts to modify your hormones using herbs. After you cure candida, you may not have any hormonal imbalances anymore and herbal remedies may not even be necessary.
But are synthetic hormone treatments really safe?
There are a number of studies demonstrating that synthetic hormones are not very safe. Women who have used synthetic hormones to help them whether the symptoms of menopause have a higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and stroke. In fact, the increased risks associated with the use of synthetic hormones by menopausal women was so high that the Women’s Health Initiative closed down a synthetic hormone study before it was slated to end [1][2][3]. Bio-identical hormones aren’t necessarily a better choice, even though they’re purportedly identical to the hormones found in the female body [3].Effects of Birth Control
Many women take birth control pills as a form of contraception. If this is your situation, you’ll need to find another form of contraception if you decide to use herbs to control your hormone levels. Herbal remedies aren't 100% sure to help you prevent pregnancy (though there are some herbs with contraceptive properties that can be used with another form of birth control, such as condoms or the diaphragm, as a kind of "back up" option!).On the other hand, if you’ve been prescribed birth control pills to control aspects of your monthly period that are undesirable, you might want to try using herbs to control the symptoms first. Herbs are generally safer (at least the ones I recommend below) and they won’t interfere with your ability to become pregnant later…in fact, they may even help with problems like infertility. My doctor prescribed birth control pills when I showed up at her office because I’d been getting my period every two weeks. I wanted to have her check me out first to make sure I didn’t have cancer, or fibroids, or some other problem. I didn’t. I got my prescription filled since I was going to be leaving soon on a three month trip to Egypt and I didn’t want to be without a solution to my problem while I was abroad. But before I took the pills, I decided I’d try some herbal remedies for my problem first. I wasn’t excited about taking the pill because when I was in college the pill caused me to gain about 20 pounds and in my opinion, the synthetic hormones in birth control pills are just as dangerous for women as the synthetic hormones used in hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women.
Iodine: Every Woman Should Be Taking It In the United States iodine deficiency is widespread for the following reasons:
- Bromine competes with iodine. Bromine is ubiquitous in the United States. It causes weight gain, fatigue, foggy-headedness along with breast tenderness and fibrocystic breasts (eventually leading to breast cancer). It's impact on women is stronger than it's impact on men, although men need more iodine too. Women need iodine in order for their reproductive system and hormones to work properly.
- I need to say this again: BROMINE CAUSES WEIGHT GAIN. Taking iodine supplements will help you lose weight quickly and effortlessly, especially if you follow a healthy diet based primarily (95%) on fresh fruits and vegetables.
- Bromine replaced iodine in bread products many years ago. In bread, iodine was stable and people were able to get plenty of it. Iodine in so-called "iodized salt" vaporizes within days after the salt box is opened. For many people, this is their only source of iodine.
- Bromine is used in swimming pools rather than chlorine these days. It is also sprayed on crops as an insecticide (methyl bromine) and used on children's pajamas as a supposed "fire retardant". The widespread use of bromine leads to an iodine deficiency. Many experts blame the meteoric rise of breast cancer rates in the U.S. on the pervasive iodine deficiency.
The AlivenHealthy Iodine Bible - Everything you need to know to get started taking iodine and more!
Many people are afraid to take iodine supplements even though it's unlikely that you'll overdose on iodine. It's important though, that if you take an iodine supplement for hormonal imbalance that you take something that contains both iodine and potassium iodide. Iodoral or Lugol's Iodine are both excellent choices. Iodoral is taken in pill form while Lugol's can be put with water to drink or it can be placed on the skin. If you have a hormone imbalance and all the accompanying symptoms including breast tenderness, fibrocystic breasts, endometriosis, menstrual problems, irregular periods, breast cancer, uterine cancer, or any other reproductive organ cancer, bladder issues or problems with infertility, you should be taking high-dose iodine supplements. Expect for positive results to take up to 6 months to emerge and be prepared for a bromine detoxification that includes some pretty weird symptoms as soon as you start taking the iodine.
Vitamin B17: Why Every PERSON Should Be Taking It: Vitamin B17 in the form of laetrile is illegal in the United States. Why? Because research that was done at Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital about 50 years ago proved that it cures cancer (which means it would put the Big Pharmaceutical companies out of business). Most Americans are deficient in vitamin B17 because it's found mostly in seeds and most fruits have been genetically modified so as not to produce seeds anymore (grapes, for example). Without an adequate amount of vitamin B17, a wide variety of degenerative diseases begin to develop including candida and cancer. A yeast infection (candida) can wreak havoc on the reproductive system. One of the best ways to get rid of a chronic yeast infection is to take adequate amounts of vitamin B17 regularly. The infection won't go away immediately but over time, people who take this vitamin after having been deficient for years see some amazing health benefits. Long-standing diseases go away. Brain fog disappears. Weight loss happens effortlessly. If you struggle with infertility, order some bitter, raw, organic apricot kernels and eat 20 to 40 of them per day (consume them periodically throughout the day, not all at once) and give your body some time to recalibrate.
Herbs
Below are herbal remedies that I’ve used with success to treat hormonal imbalances that have caused me to have all kinds of issues with my reproductive organs:
For Bi-weekly Periods
For me, bi-weekly periods started happening after I was infected with parasites, did a cleanse, and gained some weight after taking a month off from my usual routine of jogging 25 to 40 miles a week. I started exercising more regularly and lost some weight and began taking the following herbs every day to regulate my periods:
Vitex Berry– This herb is also known as chaste berry. It can help regulate periods that are missed or periods that are coming too frequently. No one really knows exactly how the herb works, but it helps a woman’s body produce the correct amount of her own progesterone by working directly on the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland [4]. I take two 400 mg capsules a day to keep my periods regular.
Maca – Maca is a staple food in the diet of Andeans. It helps promote healthy sexual functioning by balancing hormones in both men and women and it can also help reduce the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disruptions, and depression. Maca promotes fertility and it can also give women a boost of energy [5] I take two 750 mg capsules daily.
For Missed Periods
As a 41 year-old-woman, I’ve also had problems with missing periods for several months in a row. Below is the herbal remedy that I use to bring my periods back when they go MIA.
Vitex Berry –I take Vitex Berry (aka chasteberry) for missed periods as well as periods that are too frequent. It has a regulatory effect on the body and it can help in either case. Be prepared to take this herb for two to three months if you’ve started skipping periods. Take two 400 mg capsules every day.
Maca – I take Maca Root for both missed periods and periods that are too frequent because it also helps in both instances. Maca is an herb that encourages the body to self-regulate. I take 2 750 mg capsules a day.
Evening Primrose Oil – Evening Primrose Oil contains Omega-6 Fatty Acids which help the body produce hormones. Evening primrose is the most effective herb that I’ve taken to bring back missed periods. I take one 1300 mg capsule daily [6].
Cod Liver Oil – I also take 1 tablespoon of Cod Liver Oil per day to give my body all the tools it needs to build hormones and keep my body balanced [6].
Black Cohosh Root – This herb works well for bringing on periods that have gone missing, but it shouldn’t be used over the long-term. Use it sparingly, usually for less than 6 months at a time for best results.
Final Thoughts
Health issues like infertility and irregular periods that are related to hormone imbalances might respond well to little-known alternative therapies like those offered by Rosita Arvigo-trained practitioners. This type of therapy originated with Mayan shamans and it involves visceral manipulation. Visceral manipulation is NOT a surgical technique, but rather, it involves the careful movement of organs through the skin. By moving organs, particularly the uterus or other organs in the pelvic region, other organs start functioning better because they receive better blood-flow and their positioning is healthier.
Rosita Arvigo studied under a Mayan curandero to develop her technique though there is also a French physician, Dr. Barral who developed a similar technique that's officially known as visceral manipulation. This type of therapy can have dramatic results for women who are struggling with hormonal imbalances and the corresponding problems that come along with them. Making a connection with a knowledgeable alternative practitioner like Rosita Arvigo can be valuable in terms of locating lesser-known herbs that could be helpful for specific hormonal issues.
And finally, women with mercury amalgam fillings should consider getting these fillings removed and replaced with biologically-friendly composite fillings instead. Mercury amalgam fillings "gas-off" inside the mouth until they're removed from the body which means that the body is bombarded with more and more mercury over time which leads to heavy metal poisoning. Heavy metals cause all kinds of health problems, among them hormonal disturbances. Seek out a biological dentist who uses the Huggins Protocol to remove the amalgam fillings and plan to get some chelation therapy done following the dental work. Consider visiting Tijuana, Mexico to find a high-quality dentist at an affordable price. American Bio-Dental Center and American Holistic Care are located in the Grand Hotel in Tijuana where both biological dentistry and chelation therapy is offered in one location for an affordable price in English.
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References:
[1] Women’s Health Initiative (n.d.). Hormone Therapy Trials. Available online: https://www.whi.org/about/SitePages/HT.aspx January 23, 2017. [2] Cancer.gov (n.d.). Oral Contraceptives and Cancer Risk. Available online: https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/hormones/oral-contraceptives-fact-sheet January 23, 2017. [3] Harvard University (2010-2017). Bioidential Hormones: Help or Hype? Available online: http://www.health.harvard.edu/womens-health/bioidentical-hormones-help-or-hype January 23, 2017. [4] DrAxe.com (2017). Vitex or Chasteberry, the Female-Friendly Fruit for PMS and More. Available online: https://draxe.com/vitex/ January 23, 2017. [5] Group, E. (2010). 7 Benefits of Maca Root for Women. Available online: http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/natural-health/7-benefits-of-maca-root-for-women/ January 23, 2017. [6] DrAxe.com (2017). Available online: https://draxe.com/evening-primrose-oil/ January 23, 2017. [7] Barton-Schuster, D. (2007-2015). Black Cohosh Benefits the Menstrual Cycle, Pain, and Uterine Health. Available online: http://natural-fertility-info.com/menstrual-pain-relief-with-black-cohosh-other-fertility-benefits-of-this-herb.html January 23, 2017. [8] Farrow, L. & Brownstein, D. (2013). The Iodine Crisis: What You Don't Know About Iodine Can Wreck Your Life. Devon Press. [9] Kaczor, T. (2014). Iodine and Cancer: A summary of the evidence to date. Retrieved May 25, 2018 from https://www.naturalmedicinejournal.com/journal/2014-06/iodine-and-cancer [10] Alaeea, M., Arisb, P., Sjodinc, A., Bergman, A. (2003). An overview of commercially used brominated flame retardants, their applications, their use patterns in different countries/regions and possible modes of release. Retrieved May 25, 2018 from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12850087 [11] Lyday, P. A. (2006). 2006 Minerals Yearbook: Bromine. Retrieved May 25, 2018 from https://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/bromine/mybl-2006-bromi.pdf [12] Dach, J. (2018). Iodine Treats Breast Cancer, Overwhelming Evidence. Retrieved May 28, 2018 from https://jeffreydachmd.com/iodine-treats-breast-cancer/
