Can Holistic Treatments & Essential Oils Help PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) is an endocrine disorder that affects women, mainly those of childbearing age. It can cause menstrual irregularities, infertility, increased hair growth, high cholesterol, depression and sleep apnea. PCOS has no known cure, but you can treat the symptoms to improve your quality of life. A natural approach to PCOS has shown a reduction in some patients' complaints.
Acupuncture
Holistic treatments like acupuncture, along with a healthy diet, can improve a woman's general health and well-being. According to the SoulCysters website, because PCOS is a hormonal imbalance, acupuncture may provide better mental and physical balance through relaxing the nervous system, as well as reducing stress to promote healthy ovulation and help with infertility issues.
Ginseng
Siberian ginseng, a relative of the Chinese Panax ginseng, is thought to reduce stress and may improve insulin resistance and high cholesterol. Products touting ginseng as an additive don't contain enough to have an effect on PCOS symptoms. Nutros.com suggests taking 300mg to 500mg daily in capsule form.
Teas
SoulCysters reports that green tea is thought to reduce appetite, increase fat burn, and help with hair loss when consumed daily by PCOS sufferers. Add a citrus squeeze to your green tea, either lemon or lime depending on your preference. This may help your body absorb more of the nutrients. Common tea addresses the insulin resistance most woman have by increasing insulin activity more than 15-fold, according to Apples for Health. Consume tea in its natural form, as the addition of milk products and sugar seems to neutralize the benefits.
Essential Oils
One of the main benefits of aromatherapy is stress reduction. So it makes sense that essential oils will help PCOS sufferers feel better. Lavender is used the most for stress relief and relaxation. Geranium, a hormonal normalizer, is used to treat female troubles such as menopause and infertility. Bathing in a combination of these oils may alleviate stress.
Apple Cider Vinegar
It's almost comical how many ailments that can be "cured" by apple cider vinegar. For PCOS patients, however, a dose of apple cider vinegar taken before a high-carb meal directly affects the rise in blood sugar. According to the PCOS Support Blog, in a study at Arizona State University's Department of Nutrition, people who were pre-diabetic or insulin-resistant experienced a reduction in blood-sugar levels. This is effectively the same reduction expected from drugs such as Metformin used in PCOS treatments.
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