TESTIMONIES ABOUT NATURONE and PREGNANCY 

PREGNANCY

I began using progesterone cream 5 months before falling pregnant after 9 years of infertility. And I used it liberally during my pregnancies and now have 2 bright and lovely children.

I am interested to know whether I can use naturone on my children, from what age, and how my husband would use it.

SALLY’S REPLY

Your children .... do not use progesterone therapy on them until their endocrine system is fully developed i.e. until puberty.  Thereafter you can use it liberally.

Re your husband, Dr Shirley Bond's book Natural Progesterone therapy which she wrote with AnnA Rushton, has a chapter on men and how they use it.  Basically they use it for whatever a woman does (except falling pregnant!!)  but they use 1/3 of the female dose.  It is excellent for stress ... i.e. in being non-reactive to stress, as well as for allergies and auto-immune disease prevention and treatment in the early stages to reverse the condition and also men respond especially well for Arthritis.  It is natures anti-inflammartory and pain-killer and rubbed onto the joint it works wonders.



PREGNANT AT LAST 
 I was going to give you a call but will drop you a short e-mail in the meantime. I wanted to tell you that I started taking progesterone in November, Pip actually gave me a sample when he popped in to see my Mom and Dad and then I came to a talk and carried on with it. I have been trying to fall pregnant since the beginning of last year – not ovulating – and low and behold, am now 12 weeks pregnant! (just 3 month’s later) The progesterone definitely worked for me, unless the fertility dolls from a friend in Kenya did the trick! 

A Mitchley




Hi Sally, 

Thought you would like to know ….., both girls that were on Naturone to enhance there chances of pregnancy are now pregnant. One stopped the cream before I knew she was pregnant and hasn't ordered any more but she is doing okay. The other girl has just found out today (and rang me first - delighted!!!), I advised her to stay on the cream which she has agreed to do but has discussed whether she needs to stay on it throughout. She is the client the has the polycystic ovaries. How should I advise? 

Take care, 

Patricia

Dr. Mercola's Comments:

For 15 years women have been able to take a class of drugs called biphosphonates, which are marketed directly to consumers as a so-called treatment for osteoporosis.

While the drugs do show some short-term effectiveness at preventing hip fractures in severe cases of osteoporosis, multiple studies are now beginning to point to the drugs causing some unusual bone problems in many older women.

Researchers state these unusual bone problems are rare, but with millions of more women beginning to reach the age when these drugs are commonly prescribed (as the baby boom generation turns grey), perhaps these rare effects are now in danger of becoming quite common.

I believe this is another classic illustration of the failed drug model.

Once again, this is an instance of pills being over-prescribed, mainly through the odious direct-to-consumer marketing, resulting in increasing unnecessary risks for the majority of people taking these drugs, and especially in people taking these drugs longer than five years.

Also, as so often happens with pharmaceutical drugs in the US, the FDA allows them to be sold on the market before they are actually proven to be safe!

Only later, when large-scale problems start to get reported in the media, are the drugs re-evaluated for safety, and often the new studies citing problems with drugs are done by a third-party unrelated to the drug manufacturers or the FDA (never by the FDA itself, because the FDA is loathe to interfere with its drug-company-client-partner profits).

This is part of the broken health care model currently in effect in the US, where the FDA sees its mission as rushing drugs to market for maximum profits for corporations (it's said drug companies lose one to two million dollars for every day that a drug is kept off the market!), instead of thoroughly evaluating a new drug or new class of drugs for safety in order to protect the public.

What are Biophosphonates and What Does the New Study Say about Them?

Loss of bone mass is one of the common signs of aging, because as you age your existing bone is absorbed by your body while new bone is created to replace it. But in the case of osteoporosis, the formation of new bone falls behind the rate of bone absorption, leading to weakened, thinner and more brittle bones.

A thinning hipbone is a major concern if you are elderly, because any fall increases the risk of a broken hip, which always carries a great risk of complications and usually requires prolonged specialized care for recovery. It's estimated that 25% of elderly people suffering a hip fracture die as a direct result.

Biphosphonates are branded and marketed under these names:

Aredia

Fosamax

Bonivia

Actonel

Zometa and Aclasta

Non-nitrogenous versions that work through a different cellular mechanism are branded and sold under these names:

Didronel

Bonefos

Loron

Ostac

Skelid

All these different marketing names belong to the class known as biphosphonates. But these drugs may not be the magic bullet for thinning bones that the drug companies would lead you to believe.

The new study above found that women taking biphosphonates for five years or longer actually showed signs of having weaker femurs,

Taking this drug long-term you have about a three times greater risk of suffering a very unusual fracture either at the socket connecting the femur to the hip, or in the upper femur itself (which is usually the strongest part of the bone).

More Women Hurt than Helped by these Drugs

This means that for every woman gaining a benefit in their hips from taking a biphosphonate for a short-term, there are many more women out there in danger of weakening their femur bones as a result taking this class of drugs long-term.

The problem is, thanks to the drug companies' multi-million dollar PR campaigns, many doctors AND the public today believe this class of drugs should be given even before bone density starts dropping, meaning the vast majority of women currently taking biphosphonates are beginning them too early, and staying on them too long.

Experts are beginning to agree that only women with documented osteoporosis should even consider taking these drugs, and not stay on them for a very long duration if they do use them.

But will the treatment of osteoporosis now change thanks to this new study and studies like it that have been appearing for the last few years?

It's not likely, because the drug companies usually let nothing stand in the way of their profits.

Although the FDA has already included a warning against long-term use on the label of these drugs, the direct-to-consumer marketing continues unabated, ensuring that many older women will show up at their doctor's office demanding a prescription for the drug that they mistakenly believe will strengthen their bones with little risk of ill effects, since nothing in the advertisement mentions long-term risks associated with biphosphonates.

Although the advertisement does mention (because they are forced to by law) some disturbing potential side effects, including:

Difficult or painful swallowing

Chest pain

Severe or continuing heartburn

Severe joint, bone or muscle pain

Other side effects, listed by WebMD include:

Heartburn, abdominal pain, and irritation of the esophagus

Headache and pain in muscles and joints

Constipation, diarrhea, and increased gas (flatulence)

Allergic reactions

Other Problems Associated with Biphosphonates

Some media reports have indicated that biphosphonates have been associated with osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ), also called "jaw death". ONJ occurs when your jawbone is weakened to the point that it "is no longer alive", because unlike other bones in your body there is a limited supply of blood to the jaw, which is not sufficient to grow new bone.

And this class of drugs is reported to permanently weaken the jawbone, leading to a chronic, painful, and disastrous outcome. According to a study in The Journal of Endodontics:

"There are an increasing number of reports of bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaws that have substantial implications for the patient and for the treating dentist."

That is quite an understatement if you are no longer able to use your jaw to chew your food!

Another study involving cancer patients indicates that as many as 1 in 10 women taking biophosphonates will develop this jaw problem. So, a potential 10 percent chance of having your jaw "die" as a result of taking this medication is clearly a cause for alarm if you don't already have a fairly serious case of osteoporosis.

But that's not all, another study has linked biphosphonates to an increased risk of erratic heart rhythms, called atrial fibrillation.

Also a 2010 study suggests that the risk of oesophageal cancer increased with 10 or more prescriptions for oral bisphosphonates and with prescriptions over about a five-year period. This same study also cites research stating:

"Adverse gastrointestinal effects are common among people who take oral bisphosphonates for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis; they range from dyspepsia, nausea, and abdominal pain to erosive oesophagitis and oesophageal ulcers."

How to Reduce your Risk of Osteoporosis

Prevention, once again, is a much preferable route than trying to "cure" osteoporosis symptoms with the drug companies' offerings, so here are some top ways you can reduce your risk of having to deal with osteoporosis in the first place:

Optimize your vitamin D levels

Avoid processed foods and artificial sweeteners

Increase your Omega 3 intake

Increase your vitamin K2 intake

Get some exercise, including weight-bearing exercise like resistance training

Women should always maintain healthy hormone levels

Avoid steroidal drugs

I will discuss more information about each of these preventative factors below, one factor you do not see on this list is calcium supplementation, and I'll tell you the reason why.

The Truth about Osteoporosis and Calcium Deficiency

I'm sure you've heard that the cause of osteoporosis and the key to its prevention revolve around calcium, right?

Unfortunately, nothing could be further from the truth.

Dr. Robert Thompson, M.D., wrote an entire book on this subject called, The Calcium Lie, which explains that bone is comprised of at least a dozen minerals and the exclusive focus on calcium supplementation is likely to worsen bone density and increase your risk of developing osteoporosis!

As mentioned in this previous article, Dr. Thompson recommends the use of unprocessed salt as a far healthier alternative to calcium supplementation.

I recommend using Himalayan salt as it is an excellent way to feed your body the trace minerals it needs to function optimally.

Steer Clear of Steroids

According to a study done at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, there is a strong link between osteoporosis and the use of steroids," so says senior author Steven L. Teitelbaum, M.D., Messing Professor of Pathology and Immunology:

"High-dose cortisone is the second most common cause of osteoporosis, and we currently have no real treatment for this serious side effect. Given how frequently these drugs are used to treat many different conditions, that's a major clinical problem."

The conclusion of the study revealed that although the steroid cortisone appears to inhibit the ability of osteoclasts to dismantle old bones in genetically normal mice, the inability of the skeletal structure to renew itself may cause bones to weaken dramatically from aging and stress.

If you suffer from an autoimmune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, multiple sclerosis orchronic obstructive pulmonary disease, click on the links above for natural alternatives for healing.

On the other hand there is one steroid hormone that will likely help build bone and that is progesterone. Many pre and post-menopausal women are deficient in this important hormone.

Other Foods that Lead to Bone Loss

Processed and fast foods are the worst stuff you can put into your body. In order for your body to function optimally, it needs the type of balanced diet that I suggest in the next section.

Processed foods such as potato chips, French fries, microwaveable "meals", soda and candy contain very little nutrients and are chock full of undigestible fats and dangerous additives such as high fructose corn syrup, aspartame and preservatives.

If you think switching from a mainly processed food diet to a healthy, nutritious one will be next to impossible, I'm here to tell you it's easier than you think. In my previous article, I explain how to wean yourself off processed foods in 7 easy steps and how to give your body what it's really craving.

When cooking, I advise you to avoid most all omega-6 based oils such as corn, safflower or soy oil. These oils are loaded with highly processed, damaged omega 6 fats, which contribute to inflammation in your body.

Instead, I recommend using healthful olive- and coconut oils. For more information, see my video on the health benefits of these oils.

Prevent Bone Loss with Appropriate Sunshine Exposure

The health benefits of vitamin D cannot be overstressed. An alarming number of people in the United States are vitamin D deficient, and vitamin D deficiency can lead to a host of health problems, including osteoporosis.

Despite what you may have heard, appropriate sunshine exposure is not bad for you. It is healthy and necessary. Just 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure per day can make a dramatic improvement in your health, and appropriate sun exposure is the ideal way to maintain your vitamin D levels in the optimal range.

Alternatively, you can use a safe tanning bed to naturally increase your vitamin D..

However, if neither of those options are available to you, the next option is to take an oral vitamin D3 supplement. Typical adult doses for vitamin D range from 5000 to even 40,000 units per day, please consult with a holistic doctor to check your blood levels and help to determine an appropriate dose for you.

Keep in mind that it is very important to get your vitamin D levels checked by a qualified lab (I recommend LabCorp) to avoid under- or overdosing. An optimal blood level of vitamin D for a healthy adult is between 50-70 ng/ml.

Vitamin K2 is CRUCIAL in Preventing Osteoporosis

Vitamin K can be classified as either K1 or K2:

Vitamin K1: Found in green vegetables, K1 goes directly to your liver and helps you maintain a healthy blood clotting system. (This is the kind of K that infants need to help prevent a serious bleeding disorder.) It is also vitamin K1 that keeps your own blood vessels from calcifying, and helps your bones retain calcium and develop the right crystalline structure.

Vitamin K2: Bacteria produce this type of vitamin K. It is present in high quantities in your gut, but unfortunately is not absorbed from there and passes out in your stool. It is present in fermented foods, particularly cheese and the Japanese food natto, which is by far the richest source of K2.

How does vitamin K lead to bone health?

Osteocalcin is a protein produced by your osteoblasts (cells responsible for bone formation), and is utilized within the bone as an integral part of the bone-forming process. However, osteocalcin must be "carboxylated" before it can be effective. Vitamin K functions as a cofactor for the enzyme that catalyzes the carboxylation of osteocalcin.

Vitamin K2 has been found to be a far more effective "activator" of osteocalcin than K1 because your liver preferentially uses vitamin K1 to activate clotting factors, while most of your other tissues preferentially use K2.

Are You Getting Enough Vitamin K from Your Diet?

Eating lots of green vegetables will increase your vitamin K1 levels naturally, especially:

Kale

Spinach

Collard greens

Broccoli

Brussels sprouts

You can obtain all the K2 you'll need (about 200 micrograms) by eating 15 grams of natto daily, which is half an ounce. However, natto is generally not pleasing to the Westerner's palate, so the next best thing is a vitamin K2 supplement.

But remember, you must always take your vitamin K supplement with fat since it is fat-soluble and won't be absorbed without it. You must use caution on the higher doses if you take anticoagulants, but if you are generally healthy and not on these types of medications, I suggest 150 mcg of K2 daily.

Fortunately, you don't need to worry about overdosing on K2—people have been given a thousand-fold "overdose" over the course of three years, showing no adverse reactions (i.e., no increased clotting tendencies).

Exercise to Prevent Bone Loss

Remember that bone is living tissue that requires regular physical activity in order to renew and rebuild itself. Peak bone mass is achieved in adulthood and then begins a slow decline. Exercise is very important in maintaining healthy bone mass. Weight-bearing exercise is one of the most effective remedies against osteoporosis.

Your bones are actually very porous and soft, and as you get older, your bones can easily become less dense and hence, more brittle. Especially if you are inactive.

Resistance training can combat this effect because as you put more tension on your muscles it puts more pressure on your bones, which then respond by continuously creating fresh, new bone.

In addition, as you build more muscle, and make the muscle that you already have stronger, you also put more constant pressure on your bones.

A good weight bearing exercise to incorporate into your routine (depending on your current level of fitness, of course) is a walking lunge, as it helps build bone density in your hips, even without any additional weights.

One of the best ways to improve bone density is to use acceleration training equipment like the Power Plate, that I have recently discussed.

Osteoporosis in Men

Here is something about osteoporosis in men you may not have realized: Men over the age of 50 are at greater risk for developing osteoporosis than prostate cancer. Men develop this disease because of a condition called hypogonadism, which may lead to shrinking in height by several inches. Risk factors in men include:

Alcoholism

Obesity

Smoking

Gastrointestinal disorders

Sedentary lifestyle

Lack of sunlight exposure

Men with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, emphysema, Crohn's disease, herniated disks, and autoimmune disease taking steroids such as prednisone or cortisone are increasing their risk of developing osteoporosis that much further.

Sally's Comment




Natural progesterone is the only known molecule to stimulate the Osteoblast function, i.e. the bone building function. Supplementing with a good quality Natural Progesterone such as Naturone, can reverse osteoporosis, provided the pH of the diet is right and daily exercise such as walking for 40 minutes is adhered to.

Taking progesterone restores the important hormonal balance so necessary for bone health.

 Reactive, if it is the result of a death for example, and endogenous or clinical when it occurs for no external reason. The latter is also referred to as a depressive illness.

Depression is on the increase. Figures for the UK show 10% of the population have mental health problems. In America approximately seventeen million people are affected by it.

Research indicates that the causes are many. The majority of these support the linkage between low levels of progesterone and depression. One in four people become depressed because of allergens within food. A low level of cholesterol increases the risk, hypoglycaemia is another cause. Any stressful event, thyroid malfunction, a low level of serotonin and environmental oestrgens are all know to contribute to the problem.

But what of its treatment? Aside from progesterone WHICH WILL PUSH UP SEROTONIN LEVELS NATURALLY nutrition is one of the most widely ignored of the various natural remedies for depression. It can play a major role in overcoming the condition, with a success rate of over 80%. Another very important factor is lack of Vitamin D3 which is obtained primarily from exposing skin to sunlight (preferably between 10am and 2pm for 20 – 30 minutes)

Twice as many women as men suffer from it, and more women are affected by seasonal affective disorder (SAD) than men. In the latter case the cause may be either excessive oestrgen or a low level of progesterone, as progesterone levels drop during dull or cloudless days. This is particularly noticeable in higher latitudes during the winter months. Some of the symptoms of SAD are weight gain, cravings, panic attacks, lack of energy and low libido. Progesterone is involved in sugar metabolism and in increasing libido and energy.

Increasingly progesterone is helping women and men to overcome depression. It acts as a natural remedy for depression by inhibiting the action of the enzyme monoamine oxidase (MAO) which oxidises the amines rendering them ineffective. It has none of the adverse side effects that the synthetic MAOI’s (such as Prosac) have.

Progesterone's action as one of the most effective natural remedies for depression is its influence in the metabolism of serotonin and dopamine, both known to play a role in depression.

Serotonin, melatonin, dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline are known as monoamines. The amino acid tryptophan is the precursor to serotonin and melatonin while phenylalanine and tyrosine are precursors to dopamine, adrenaline and noradrenaline. A derivative of the amino acid methionine, S-adenosylmethionine (SAMe) has anti-depressive properties, but is extremely expensive.

Methionine, together with the co-factors folic acid and vitamin B12 is an effective and affordable combination of natural remedies for depression. SAMe, folic acid and vitamin B12 influence serotonin metabolism.

Depressed people have been found to have low levels of these B vitamins: 1,3,6,12 and folic acid, a higher incidence of hypoglycaemia and an excessive excretion of cortisol.

Progesterone and depression are linked through the interaction of the following drugs which cause an imbalance between the monamines...

beta-blockers

caffeine

contraceptives

corticosteroids

nicotine

...while oestrgens and cortisol affect mood by disturbing tryptophan metalbolism. Progestins are sometimes thought of as natural remedies for depression. This is a grave mistake as they are the synthetic "progesterones" found in HRT and the Pill and are known to lower levels of natural progesterone and serotonin manufactured in the body.

Women suffering from PMS are the victims of a lack of progesterone and depression is a common result. They have been found to have low levels of serotonin in their blood.

Ten per cent of women get either acute or chronic postnatal depression (PND) after giving birth, the reason being a sudden drop in progesterone levels once the placenta has come away. A few rare cases (0.5%) develop postnatal psychosis. This is a temporary disorder that is also helped by progesterone.

There are many mental and physical symptoms associated with depression. The milder problems in women manifest themselves in PMS and menopause, while the severest appears in PND and pre-menstrual and post-natal psychosis. In very rare cases the latter ends in infanticide, murder or self-mutilation.

All the above mentioned natural remedies for depression can alleviate all or any of the following symptoms...

mental - loneliness; feelings of uselessness; endless crying; irrational behaviour; confusion; feelings of unreality; guilt; feelings of worthlessness; anxiety; agitation; panic attacks; agoraphobia; claustrophobia; irritability; aggression; anger; rage; violent mood swings; rejection of the baby; delusions; hallucinations; visions; voices in the head; suicidal thoughts; paranoia; changed personality, manic depression

physical - asthma; bingeing; bloating; epilepsy; exhaustion; dizziness; hunger; insomnia; migraine; muscular weakness; sinusitis; thirst


Progesterone can help prevent and reverse the above symptoms in both sexes and through all age groups. It is particularly helpful for women during puberty, for PMS and menopause symptoms. It is essential to maintain adequate levels.

An underactive thyroid can be the cause of depression, so a test is advisable. If this is diagnosed then supplimental progesterone can help increase thyroid metabolism especially if used in conjunction with the nutrient based natural remedies for depression.

The following nutrients are essential on a daily basis...

15 to 60ml Omega 3 flax oil

50mg zinc (extremely important for PND)

100 to 1000mg niacin (vitamin B3)

100 to 200mg vitamin B6

500mg inositol

500mg choline

1000 to 3000mg vitamin C

10 to 20mg manganese

200mcg chromium picolinate

500-1000mg magnesium

400mcg folic acid

300mcg vitamin B12

500mg-6gm of the essential amino acid tryptophan for the manufacture of serotonin

500mg-2gm tyrosine and 400mg DL- phenylalanine for the production of dopamine

500mg methionine

500mg GABA to relax and calm




The following natural remedies for depression can be taken initially, but should be discontinued once the nutrients take affect...

500mg kava-kava (a natural relaxant)

500-1000mg of St John's Wort (an effective natural anti-depressant with very few adverse side effects - unlike the synthetic SSRI’s (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors). It works in the same way - by curing the symptom not the cause

Ignatia amara (a herb that helps with grief)


Food should be natural and unprocessed and include organic protein and fibre, particularly complex carbohydrates as this leads to increased tryptophan uptake. At least 50-75% of all food consumed should be raw.

Keep meals small and frequent. An interesting fact is that after a large meal progesterone levels drop.

Increase intake of cold-water fish such as mackerel, tuna, salmon, and herring, avoiding those with high levels of mercury.

Avoid:

• all forms of oestrgen
  
  
• the Pill (change to another form of contraceptive)
  
  
• HRT
  
  
• Tamoxifen
  
  
• all non organic dairy products and meat, including chicken, as these often contain oestrgenic growth hormones
  
  
• sugar
  
  
• oxidised fats, i.e. margarine, refined oils, saturated fats and fried foods, in particular fried animal protein
  
  
• milk
  
  
• coffee
  
  
• reduce sodium intake, but replaced with Himalayan salts.
  
  
• wheat, as the protein in wheat has been linked to depression
  
  
• all sodas, in particular diet drinks and sweeteners containing aspartame, which blocks the manufacture of serotonin
  
  
• alcohol
  

SALLY’s COMMENTS


Attached is an article on depression, hormonal balance and nutrition. I strongly agree that 3 factors are at play in depression

1. Xeno-oestrogens have made us all "oestrogen Dominant" which effect our Serotonin levels and the result is depression. Get progesterone levels up ... it regulates Serotonin and it is also known as "Nature's Valium". Often just getting people on to this alone is enough to sort the problem out. However there is more...

2. Vit D3 deficiencies have a huge role to play. We have now for a few decades smothered our skins in sunscreen filtering creams, thus not getting the Vit D3 we should. Our skin makes Vit D3 when exposed to sunlight. This also explains the normal increase in depression (SADS) during UK winters and also the increase in colds and flus during winter months, when our skins are covered with clothes. This is all due to a depressed Immune system (Vit D3 is essential for a good immune function).If you cannot get the sun then DO supplement with a tablet of Vit D3 x 3 per day until feeling better, then reduce to recommended doses.

3.Nutrition. Junk food has not only caused obesity, but we are all now deficient in a number of essectial Vits and Minerals which all play a role in Depression . The most important being the VIT Bs, especially Vit B3 (Niacin.


The answer is to address all three areas asap .... it may take some time to build up the immune system and levels of Vit D3 and B, but this is definitely the way forward.


Good luck in changing your life. You will look back on this period as a "life-changing time" for the better of course.