From Lyn
I have missed my period for 3 months now. I am 50 years young. I was having severe hot flashes every 30 minutes or so. I started using the progesterone cream once a day, and my hot flashes are completely gone after only a few days of using it. I’m amazed. –Lyn
Dr. Leonetti Responds to Lyn
Ah, yes, dear Lyn, it is truly magic, and real magic at that! Continue with remembering to stop for a few days at month’s end to down-regulate the hormones; and most importantly, nurture yourself in every way, by tending to your healing foods, your exercise, and your emotional/spiritual practices: prayer, meditation, yoga. Hugs, Helene B. Leonetti MD
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From Katy
Hi. All the talk is about this new anit-aging supplement resveratrol. Anyway, I tried it and it totally interfered with my progesterone. I researched it and it is made from a phyto-estrogen. How will taking a phyto-estrogen effect men? They are really pushing this as a wonder supplement. I couldn’t make it two weeks without having serious estrogen issues. Wow, what would this do to woman on birth control. Any insight on this? I know so many people jumping on this as Oprah’s Dr. Oz recommends. hmmm?
Dr. Leonetti Responds to Katy
I find your reaction curious, and wonder if it could be attributed to other factors. Yes, resveratrol is a phytonutrient, perhaps can even be called a phytoestrogen, as are red clover, lentils, licorice, and pomegranate. But I am of the understanding that it has both agonist (pro-estrogen) and antagonist (against-estrogen) properties which essentially are neutral. I marvel at how once pronounced as the miracle anti-aging nutrient, many entrepreneurs rally to promote their various products. Like everything, there are good quality preparations and not-so-good quality preparations.
For several years, I have taken Longevinex resveratrol, because I am very impressed with the science that this company provides. Perhaps the anti-aging qualities of red wine can be explained by the theory that as we age, the calcium, copper, and iron stores in our bodies are no longer needed for growth, and actually become oxidative, or damaging to our cells. Because Longevinex adds gentle chelators to their capsule (quercitin and ferulic acid) these minerals can be bound so as not to cause undue stress to our bodies. This is a theory, but plausible, so I wanted to share it with you.
Dr. Oz recently stated on national TV that he does not endorse any supplements and to avoid any companies that claim he does, or that include his photo with their products.
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From Michelle
Hola Everyone, I had my tubes tied 2004 and a year later I was dealing with excessive bleeding, night sweats, low libido, acne, anemia, foggy thinking, loss of memory, moodiness, painful intercourse and many more. Well, today after two years on this progesterone cream, plus making healthy choices and adding wonderful supplements, I corrected my problem (post tubal ligation syndrome) up to 90%! May God bless Dr. John Lee. I have always been healthy but after messing with my hormones I do understand to not fix something that does not need to be fixed. Bummer for us women who have been fixed. But there is hope!
Dr. Leonetti Responds to Michelle
A blessing that you have recovered. I am of the belief that we learn lessons, and move on. Though it was a painful two years until you empowered yourself with knowledge, it nonetheless gave you wisdom that now you can pay forward to the many women whose lives you touch. I was reviewing the amazing work that Dr. Lee did in revealing our very own literature to us as physicians, and continually quote from a study he found in Obstetrics and Gynecology, 1979, (54:189-192) that women who have their tubes tied produce 50% less progesterone than women not sterilized. The work goes on. And slowly, as we speak the truth of valid studies instead of pharmaceutical dogma, the paradigm will shift and we will begin seeing a more wellness-inspired profession.
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From Jane
I have a question. I am a 57-year-old female on 100 mcg levothyroxin daily and wonder if taking progesterone orally or by cream would be better for me. I have done both but am not taking any bioidentical hormones at this time. I thought I read that I may not absorb progesterone well on hypothyroid medication. Is that true? I have migraines and was asked by family physicians to stop them to see if the headaches would get better. They have not so would like to start with the hormones once again. I am experiencing menopausal symptoms which are bothersome and wonder which progesterone (orally or cream) might be best for me? Thank you for any help you can give me.
Dr. Leonetti Responds to Jane
Because I have been so positively influenced by Dr. John Lee’s teaching and philosophy, I am prejudiced for the use of progesterone transdermal cream rather than oral, the latter converting almost 90% to metabolic byproducts not truly desired, because they make us sleepy, dizzy, flaky. And remember, our poor livers are trying valiantly to detoxify all of the chemicals ingested and inhaled from our environment.
My experience is often that one’s thyroid becomes more efficient when we use progesterone, and you can often have your dose lowered. Remember, our thyroid needs many cofactors to work optimally: selenium, zinc, iron, iodine, and vitamin D is a big one. Little known is that if the vitamin D level is lower than 50 (50-90 optimal range), the T4 which is the inactive levothyroxin cannot convert to the bioactive T3. Nor does it work well if ferritin levels are lower than 30 or greater than 100, so I regularly measure those levels. Adding sea vegetables (kelp, kombu) to your diet also assists thyroid health. And remember, metaphysically, the thyroid is in the area of the fifth chakra, or energy center, and it represents speaking your truth.