The following symptoms and diseases respond to progesterone therapy, if they are hormone related. It is important to remember that progesterone is not a drug, it is a hormone vital to our well being.
Please click a letter to show symptoms and diseases begining with that letter (if you cannot click a letter, it means that section is empty):
Aggression
A drop in the blood sugar level makes the body release adrenalin which causes the cells to release their stored sugar. Adrenalin is the 'fight, flight, fright' hormone. As progesterone cannot be used by a cell if too much adrenalin is in the blood, the limbic region of the brain is badly affected, as it has the greatest concentration of progesterone receptors in the body. The limbic system is an area in our brain controlling rage, violence, panic, anxiety, sleep, hormones, depression, learning and our immune response. Researchers have found that too low a level of cholesterol causes an increase in aggressive behaviour. An interesting fact this, because cholesterol is the precursor to progesterone.
Prevention : It is essential to eat small, starchy meals every 3 hours to keep the blood sugar stable. Progesterone helps to stabilise blood sugar, so using 20mg/day should help.
Alcoholism
In a woman alcoholic binges can occur the 4 days before and the 4 days after menstruation. During this time, when the level of progesterone is at it's lowest, the break down of alcohol in the liver is slowed, so more accumulates in the blood. PMS sufferers, who already have low levels of progesterone, have worse symptoms after drinking alcohol. Researchers have found that alcohol lessens the ability of progesterone to break down the enzyme monoamine oxidase, thereby increasing depression.
Prevention : Keep the level of progesterone high if there is a problem with alcohol, particularly in a woman during the 8 days described above. Try to avoid it during these days and especially if you suffer from PMS. Also make sure the blood sugar levels are kept stable by eating small starchy high fibre meals every 3 hours. Unless the problem is severe approx. 20mg/day of progesterone should help.
Allergies
One in two people now suffer from allergies in industrial countries. It has been found that the bodies reaction to an allergen, with the production of histamine, can be lessened if there are good levels of the anti-inflammmtaory hormone cortisone. Women who are susceptible to allergens find their reaction worse in the two weeks before menstruation and the five to ten years before menopause, when the level of oestrogen is high compared to that of progesterone. Much of the 'allergic' reaction is nothing more than water retention causing the problem.
Prevention : Cortisone is made in the adrenal glands from progesterone. Keeping adequate levels of progesterone in the blood would ensure a good supply of cortisone. Generally 20mg/day is sufficient.
Alzheimer's
One in ten people over sixty-five and one in two over eighty-five have Alzheimer's. The first indications are confusion; depression; loss of memory and irritability. (see Depression). Some researchers believe it is caused by incorrect nutrition, pollution, oxidation and atherosclerosis, leading to a lack of vital anti-oxidants to the brain, which in turn suffers from free radical damage. The result of all this is a lower level of vital neurotransmitters in the brain, in particular serotonin and actetyl-choline. Found in the brain of Alzheimer's patients is a toxic substance called beta-amyloid which causes inflammation. Also implicated are high levels of calcium and aluminium.
Prevention : Of greatest importance are those agents for reducing inflammation: 1 to 6gm/day glutamine; 20 to 200mg/day progesterone; for improving oxygen use: 100 to 1000mg/day Vit B3 (Niacin); and for improving memory: 100 to 300mg/day phosphatidyl serine; 250 to 750mg/day pyroglutamate; 500 to 1000mg/day choline; 150 to 300mg/day gingko biloba and progesterone. Avoid all synthetic oestrogen and aluminium products: cooking pots and pans, foil, toothpaste in aluminium tubes, carbonated soft drinks in aluminium cans, most deodorants, many antacids. Balance calcium levels with magnesium.