Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Australian Study Shows Power of Diet, Lifestyle & Herbs
Are diet and lifestyle are effective tools for managing PCOS? You may be wondering: is there any proof? Well, here it is!
An Australian clinical study illuminates the the effectiveness of naturopathic medicine (including diet, lifestyle and herbal medicines) for relieving PCOS symptoms and increasing fertility.
PCOS is believed to affect up to 21% of women in their reproductive years. Of those, it’s thought that around 70% are undiagnosed. In talking with women with PCOS about their options, a survey conducted by National Institute of Complementary Medicine, Western Sydney University, Australia research fellow Dr. Susan Arentz (who led the study highlighted below), finds an astounding 99% would prefer alternative therapies to birth control and fertility drugs.
Today, some evidence finds around 70% of women with PCOS use complementary therapies. 2 out of 5 also use herbal approaches! Moreover, recent research finds herbs along with diet and lifestyle may be a very good approach to consider for PCOS.
The PCOS Study:
A 2017 study published in Phytotherapy Research, studied two groups of overweight women with PCOS. Both groups received a 3-month program, involving 150 minutes of exercise each week, and a low glycemic, high nutrition plan. One of the groups received herbal extracts tailored towards PCOS management containing: Cinnamon (Cinnamomum verum); Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra); White Peony (Paeonia lactiflora); St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum); and Tribulus (Tribulus terrestris).The Results: Of the two groups, around half of the women given herbal extracts had a regular cycle at the end of the three months, compared to under a quarter of women in the diet/exercise group alone. While both groups showed benefits, the combined therapy group lost more weight; had better hormone test results (including fasting insulin levels); higher rates of conception; and less anxiety, depression and stress.
If you have PCOS and wish to have regular healthy periods or conceive a baby, we have a well proven, evidenced based naturopathic PCOS wellness program waiting for you!
