Natural Treatments for PCOS

Chromium Picolinate

While most women will be on one type or another of prescription medication for the treatment of the PCOS, there are lots of natural supplements which can significantly decrease the symptoms, while promoting healthy fertility. Chromium picolinate is a by-product of tryptophan, an amino acid. When paired with chromium, it has been shown to reduce body fat while building healthy muscle, enhance insulin function and promote weight loss. Carrots, potatoes, broccoli, whole-grain products and molasses all contain chromium naturally, but it is probably easiest to take a chromium picolinate supplement. Chromium picolinate can also lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and has been shown to improve glucose tolerance, although it did not lessen abnormally high levels of male hormones.

Cinnamon for PCOS

Women who suffer from PCOS have problems with insulin resistance--which in turn increases production of androgens. Studies have been conducted which showed that women who consume cinnamon reduced insulin resistance in women with PCOS. Cinnamon has shown huge promise as a natural way to reduce blood sugar, increase insulin levels and aid in weight loss and can also have positive effects on memory and brain function and reduce cholesterol levels. Using from one to six grams of powdered cinnamon per day or 200-300 milligrams of cinnamon extract, may significantly reduce your insulin resistance and other PCOS symptoms as well.

Other Natural Supplements for Treatment of PCOS

Women with PCOS should take a good zinc and magnesium supplement as both zinc and magnesium help promote a healthy blood sugar balance and function with selenium in the manufacture of thyroid hormones. Co-enzyme Q10 is important for the normal metabolism of carbohydrates. A good multi-vitamin with extra b vitamins are important for hormone imbalances and metabolism. Chasteberry can be helpful in the treatment of PCOS as it stimulates the pituitary gland, controlling the release of luteinizing hormones, and enhances progesterone levels. Licorice has been shown to help regulate hormones as well as improving the LH to FSH ratios, and adrenal tonics such as Rhodiola, and Siberian Ginseng can help balance your adrenal glands. Blue cohosh is a known pelvic anti-inflammatory, and saw palmetto has been used in the treatment of excess testosterone.

Exercise

The single most important change you can make in your lifestyle in order to combat the symptoms of PCOS is exercise, which can both prevent and reverse insulin resistance. Regular exercise can help you lose the abdominal body fat commonly associated with PCOS and reverse the muscle mass loss which can be associated with insulin resistance. Even walking briskly for half an hour four times per week can make dramatic improvements in reducing your overall food consumption, decreasing insulin resistance and getting rid of your stores of body fat. Recent studies showed that insulin resistance was improved by as much as 25% in overweight women with PCOS when they followed a moderate exercise program for five months. Although you should be guided by your doctor in your overall treatment of PCOS and the symptoms of insulin resistance, trying some of these natural methods may pleasantly surprise you in the benefits they can offer.