TOP 3 REMEDIES FOR PCOS

21 Sep 2018

By: Dr. Kelsey Duncan, ND

If you’ve followed along with this series, you will have seen the signs and symptoms of PCOS, as well as the lab work that I recommend women complete in order to rule in or rule out PCOS. If you haven’t seen those blogs yet, please feel free to read them here:

PCOS – Do you have it?

How do I know if I have PCOS?

After a woman has been diagnosed, it can get very confusing. There are so many variable opinions on the internet, and quite frankly, lots of ‘B.S.’ to navigate. With PCOS being a metabolic condition, it’s important we work with diet, lifestyle and supplements to reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cycle complaints and infertility.

Here are the top things I recommend women with PCOS to start today to get their hormones and their bodies back in balance.

#1. Intermittent Fasting and Moderate Carb Diet
Notice how I said “moderate” carb instead of no or low carb. If you have been diagnosed with PCOS that includes insulin resistance, which is one of the most common types I see in my practice, then limiting carbs and sugar is going to be important in your journey. We want to get your cells communicating properly again and reduce the level of insulin in your body to ensure no further metabolic damage or disruption to ovarian function can occur. Focusing your diet on good quality protein, healthy fats, and getting 1-2 servings of complex carbohydrates per day can be immensely helpful. Adding in intermittent fasting can also be a game changer for women with PCOS. This gives your body a longer amount of time to deal with the insulin and glucose leftover from the day before. Before starting IF or changing your diet, I highly recommend speaking to your healthcare professional to make sure this is a safe and appropriate road for you to walk down.

#2. Myo-inositol
Myoinositol helps your cells communicate with insulin better and works to reduce insulin resistance. By doing so, women with PCOS taking 4g of inositol have seen an improvement in regulating ovulation and better chances in conceiving. By reducing insulin resistance, your ovaries will stop producing excess testosterone and symptoms such as unwanted hair growth and acne will be managed.

#3. Saw Palmetto
Saw palmetto is a great herb for reducing androgens, so if you’re a woman who had high testosterone or DHEA on her labs than saw palmetto is for you. Like any herb quality and dosage matter so make sure you’re working with a qualified professional when adding this to your regiment.

PCOS diagnosis can be a tough thing to navigate. Fortunately, the world of Naturopathic Medicine is well equipped to help women with PCOS regain control of their lives, balance their hormones, and help those who wish to conceive do so naturally. If you’ve been battling your PCOS without getting any answers, I encourage you to find an ND in your area that can offer the support you deserve.