Recently a new PCOS program appeared on my radar called “Freedom from PCOS” written by Katie Humphrey, which promises “three proven steps to naturally overcome Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Insulin Resistance”.

Obviously I was excited to discover it because (a) there isn’t a good digital online resource specifically aimed at PCOS sufferers that I can refer people to and (b) Katie’s approach promises natural methods (and you all know I prefer the natural health approach whenever possible).

But, before I started recommended it I wanted to check it out and give you a detailed review of the resource including what I like (and dislike) about it so you can decide for yourself if it is something you can use to overcome your own PCOS.

What I Liked about “Freedom from PCOS”

1. A personal story I can identify with. Katie’s life with PCOS very much mirrors my own (although she discovered she had PCOS much earlier) and I was drawn into her story and the similarities between us
2. This resource has not been written by someone just trying to cash in on the PCOS market. Katie has PCOS herself and has overcome it. She also works regularly with women who have PCOS, including as a support person for Insulite
3. Katie offers an holistic approach to dealing with PCOS and explains why not everything can be solved with a pill and synthetic drugs
4. She backs everything up with science, experience and the resources of a few well-known health professionals
5. “Freedom from PCOS” offers a sensible method of dealing with PCOS through her Triple Threat approach. There is no magic wand, but she does explain why the right combination of these elements will work a lot better than just dieting or general diet and exercise alone.
6. This isn’t about traditional dieting – HOORAH! In fact, Katie makes an excellent case against doing “diets” and explains why you should be eating well and often. This is about eating the right foods in combination with the other elements of the Triple Threat approach.
7. It isn’t so regimented that you feel you can never have treats or miss a day of exercise. This is a sensible approach at gradually introducing a lifestyle change that will work for life.

What I Didn’t Like about “Freedom from PCOS”

• Actually the first thing is something pointed out to me by someone on Twitter, and that’s the “sales page” for “Freedom from PCOS”. These can be a turn-off for some people although,  as someone who works in marketing, I tend to tune them out and just scan for the vital information. So, if you don’t like sales pages like this you may be turned off or skip to the end – don’t let it stop you buying if you think this may be something that can help you

• When you get to the Nutraceuticals section there is a huge emphasis on the Insulite system, which Katie recommends. Now I think Insulite is excellent but I was initially annoyed that I had paid for “Freedom from PCO”S only to be pushed towards buying a much more expensive program. BUT, she did redeem herself quite well by:

1. still explaining the most important supplements every PCOS sufferer should be taking
2. giving a full rundown of what is included in the supplements that come with the Insulite program
3. explaining that, while they are not cheap, the Insulite system works out as a cheaper option for buying the best supplements for PCOS than actually having to buy all the supplements individually (and they provide them in the right dosages and combinations).

Who Will Benefit from “Freedom from PCOS”?

This program will work for you if you want good sensible advice on dealing with your PCOS and Insulin Resistance, and are prepared to gradually introduce the Triple Threat process into your life (again, Katie is sensible enough not to suggest you do everything all at once).

It’s perfect for anyone who has ever reached a plateau in their weightloss and wondered why they can’t get over it.

This is ideal for you if you want to rid your body of synthetic drugs and find a natural solution to overcoming your PCOS.

Who Shouldn’t Buy “Freedom from PCOS”?

This program will not work for you if you want a magic pill that will solve all your problems immediately. While we’d all like one of those, they don’t exist and Katie is thorough in explaining why traditional diets do not work, or appear to work but are not sustainable and eventually all the weight returns (and more).

This program is also not for you if you need your menus for the next 6 months mapped out for you and to be told exactly what to do and when. Katie offers all the information and sample meal planners etc. you need to get started but the rest is up to you.

(Note: Katie is in the process of setting up a “Freedom from PCOS” Inner Circle to provide support, exercise plans, menus, videos and teleclasses, and members’ forum, so if you are in need of that extra support and information that is probably the ideal opportunity for you and should be available in August 2010)

Am I Happy to Recommend Freedom from PCOS?

Absolutely! I found the whole resource well-written and engaging, and I really connected with Katie’s story and her sensible, natural approach to dealing with PCOS and Insulin Resistance. It will not be right for everyone (see reasons above) but it is the best online resource I have come across that is focused specifically on women with PCOS and offers exactly the kind of natural, alternative and balanced program I recommend here at PCOS Matters.

To pick up your own copy of “Freedom from PCOS” by Katie Humphrey click here, and make sure you come back and tell us about your own experiences with it.

In my last post, I mentioned that I had been suffering with some pretty bad PMT due to a long delay in my period. In order to resolve the problem I turned back to a herbal medicine I have used in the past – Agnus Castus (also known as Vitex and Chaste Tree Berry).

Agnus Castus can be a useful natural treatment for PCOS and has been used to help regulate female hormones for centuries.

It can lengthen the menstrual cycle in women who are experiencing menstruation too often, but shorten it in women who are not experiencing it often enough. This is due to it raising production of the luteinizing hormone (LH), while decreasing the follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This in turn increases Progesterone levels.

In simple terms, that means a better ratio of oestrogen to progesterone and so a more natural cycle.

The Benefits of Agnus Castus

Studies into Agnus Castus have shown it can:

• increase fertility (due to the increase in progesterone during the 2nd half of the cycle)
• reduce PMT/PMS (water weight, bloating, irritability, fatigue, cramps and headaches)
• reduce acne and excess hair by neutralizing excess testosterone
• reduce the health risks of excess oestrogen, such as breast cancer and obesity

Risks and Side Effects of Agnus Castus

In general, Agnus Castus has been proven to have very few side effects and can be taken consistently for long periods of time (18 months is the recommended max).

However, due to the way it alters your hormone levels, you should avoid taking it:

• as soon as you think you might be pregnant
• if you are on the Birth Control Pill or Hormone Replacement Therapy
• if you are taking a dopamine agonist (used for treating Parkinson’s disease, Restless Leg Syndrome and some pituitary tumors)

What Else Should I Know About Agnus Castus?

To really see the benefits of Agnus Castus you should continue taking it for at least a month to start to see the benefits and 6 months to really see it take full effect.

I prefer to take a tincture rather than capsules and stick to the recommended dosage (usually 20-30 drops in a little water first thing in the morning).

If you are concerned about taking Agnus Castus then consult a qualified herbalist or natural health professional for more information and recommended dosages. This blog post is not designed to be a substitute for professional medical advice.

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Try Agnus Castus (Chaste Tree Berry) Tincture from Herbal Remedies

Ingredients: Certified Organic Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex angus-castus) Herb Strength Ratio 1:3.

In this video I talk about my experiences of natural treatment for PCOS.

In most cases, our doctors do a good job, but they tend to treat symptoms rather than the whole body. Alternative therapies are much more holistic and look at everything happening to the body, not just the symptoms.

If you feel uncomfortable about giving up your medical treatment then don’t. The two can work together.

To explore natural ways to reduce your PCOS symptoms take a look at Freedom from PCOS.

The system offers a Triple Threat approach to naturally overcome Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome and Insulin Resistance, addressing the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms. You can tackle your PCOS using a natural, holistic approach… Click here to find out more

One of the aspects of the 30 Day Detox (and beyond the detox) is drink hot water with lemon and lime every day before eating or drinking anything else. In fact, this is a feature of many diets. So, what are the benefits of drinking hot water and lemon?

You might imagine that lemon juice in water would be highly acidic but actually the lemon (and/or lime) raises the alkalinity of your body.

Why do you want your body to stay alkaline?

An acidic environment can play havoc with your digestive system, reduce your body’s ability to store energy, damage free radicals, cause allergies, raise your cholesterol and blood pressure, inhibit the metabolism of fats….the list goes on and on.

Drinking hot water and lemon flushes your body of toxins and enables the body to work more effectively and be healthier. It cleanses and stimulates the liver and kidneys and eases digestive problems.

The benefits of drinking hot water and lemon to start your day are numerous. Lemon and/or lime both work in the same way (I personally prefer the taste of lime). Make sure you use warm water (not too hot or cold as these will make your body work harder) and then continue to drink it during the day for a healthier body.

Some people have asked me to blog a bit more about my 30 Day Detox and why I am doing it.

The best way to learn what I am doing here is to visit Trisha Stewart’s website for a greater explanation and buy her Healthy Tart book. This talks a lot about good nutrition and also details the 30 Day Detox along with all the necessary recipes.

My BEST Consultation with Trisha

Essentially, I went to see Trisha because I wanted to try a totally holistic approach to my health. I have always sought out alternative therapies but after having extremely poor health last year (I was eventually diagnosed with an underactive thyroid) and putting on a helluva lot of weight, I knew I needed help to get my health back on track. I had tried to tackle it on my own, but sometimes you need assistance and shouldn’t be afraid or ashamed to ask for it.

I found Trisha Stewart on Twitter through a friend and went for my first consultation 3 weeks ago. Trisha begins by doing a health screen using the BEST system (BioEnergetic Stress Testing). This uses a non-invasive probe on Acupressure points to test for hormone levels, toxins, sensitivities, allergies, intolerances, parasites, bacteria etc. At the end of the process you receive a full printout of all the findings.

My readout showed some high scores to indicate a toxic system including some parasites, bacteria, candida and viruses. My hormone levels were not unusual, but that is probably because I am on Thyroid medication.

Trisha then recommends the 30 day detox, in order to clean the system and enable Trisha to see what we are left with once I am all cleansed and flushed of as many toxins as possible. She also gave me some homeopathic drops for the parasites and a good quality probiotic for my digestive system.

What Happens at the End of the 30 Day Detox?

Who knows?

I will go back to see Trisha and then she can assess how to progress now that the “decks are cleared.”

Certainly, in the Healthy Tart book, she advises a continued Vegan diet but if I can’t live without meat, fish, eggs etc. then she suggests keeping it to a minimum. Also, some yeast-free bread every other day.

As well as clearing the toxins, the other upside of the detox is some weightloss and an increase in energy and general wellbeing.

Hope that explains more. If you have any further questions please add them to the comments section or send me (@PCOS) or Trisha (@TrishaStewart) a message on Twitter.

My cold seems to be clearing fairly quickly, but I still haven’t been feeling too good today. I spent most of the morning sleeping and then had a serious need to replenish some fluids so have drunk a lot of water, as well as plenty of hot water with lemon, lime and ginger. I’ve also done some juicing, which I love.

I’m pretty adventurous when it comes to trying out new juices, and since I have a fridge full of fresh, organic veg I added a little bit of all sorts of things: pear, spinach, brocolli, cucumber, aduki and chick pea sprouts, and ginger. And it tasted pretty good!

I always think it’s a waste to throw out the pulp left over from juicing, because it is still packed with vitamins, minerals and fiber, so I added it to a bean chili I made for dinner: onion, garlic, chili pepper, fresh chopped tomatoes, and various beans (red kidney, butter, aduki, haricot, chick peas).

Apart from this, I also ate some cashews, a nice crisp Braeburn apple, and some organic oat cakes with herbs and pumpkin seeds.

If it wasn’t for this cold, I’d be feeling quite good!

To find all the posts related to the 30 Day Detox, simply do a search (top right of the blog) for #30daydetox.

Not the most auspicious  start to my 30 day detox. Yesterday I could feel myself coming down with a cold so when I woke up this morning I felt pretty ropey.

My day has been filled with sleeping, and drinking lots of fluids – namely water, herbal teas and hot water infused with lemon, lime and ginger (great for the immune system). I didn’t feel much like eating but eventually made some vegetable soup for this evening.

In some ways this may have worked for the best. Not that I want to be ill, but I was dreading coming off the coffee and sugar, and expected some pretty bad headaches from the caffeine withdrawal (it’s happened before). So, feeling a bit grotty meant I didn’t feel like coffee or sugary foods anyway and, while I did get headaches, I expect them when I have a cold.

I’m already straying from the exact 30 Day Detox eating plan that Trisha Stewart lays out in her book Healthy Tart, but I figured that would happen a little bit anyway (and she says that’s OK) but I will be sticking to the main principles.

And, as soon as I feel like eating more, I’ll be trying some of those great recipes.

To find all the posts related to the 30 Day Detox, simply do a search (top right of the blog) for #30daydetox.

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This week I went for my first consultation with Trisha Stewart, a nutritionist and natural health practitioner, and author of the Healthy Tart series of books. I’ll be blogging more about what the consultation involved and the results (and you can learn more on her website), but one of the things Trisha recommends everyone do is a 30 day detox.

Before you panic and tell me that detoxes are too extreme, even dangerous, this isn’t the sort of detox where participants avoid food for weeks and only drink juice. Her detox plan is a lot more gentle and involves eliminating as many toxins as possible from the diet, eating a Vegan, organic diet, and learning to change eating habits to more nutritious and healthful foods.

The first 7 days are called a gentle detox, easing the body into things as it learns to do without bread, bad carbs, sugar, caffeine etc. It also limits fruit intake to just apples and pears.

I’ve become a complete caffeine and sugar fiend over the last couple of years and use them as a crutch when I’m tired and need more energy. Yep, I know it’s a false buzz and not very healthy but old habits are hard to break. Actually, saying that, if you can stick to a new way of doing things for 30 days it becomes a habit – that includes healthy eating.

The main focus of the detox is not weightloss, it’s more of a focus on overall health and wellbeing, but hopefully it should include weightloss as well.

To find all the posts related to the 30 Day Detox, simply do a search (top right of the blog) for #30daydetox.

If you are trying to find a homeopathic doctor online to consult regarding your PCOS, here are some tips that may help you.

Firstly, it is critical that you check sites where the doctors are licensed and accredited by an institution specializing in this field.  You may come across websites that claim they are the only site where you can find homeopathic doctors, but check the site closely as they may not be registered with anyone.

For example, the British Homeopathic Association has a list of members who meet the guidelines in accreditation and licensing.  You can find a doctor within the UK, or anywhere else in the world, simply by clicking on the country. Within seconds several names will appear from your country.  In addition, the city and town in which they are located will be listed along with their specialty.

In addition, when you click on the details you will be directed to another page which gives personal information on the doctor, such as profession, qualifications, address, email, telephone number, and website address.

In the US, there is the Natural Center for Homeopathy.  However, because anyone can join there is no guarantee that the homeopathic doctors have been accredited, have credentials, or a license of any kind.  So, it is worth bookmarking the British Homeopathic Association website.

Secondly, if you know a friend or family member who has knowledge of, or is currently seeing a homeopathic doctor, ask for a consultation to determine if he or she is right for you.  Ask about their medical background and the methods used in treatments.  Ensure that you feel comfortable with the doctor.  Sometimes they may be good at healing, but have a lousy bedside manner (and vice versa).

Thirdly, don’t settle on the first homeopathic doctor you find.  Interview two or three and then make a decision.

Finally, read all you can about homeopathy.  This will help you to ask the right questions.  Most importantly, ensure the doctor is certified by having any of the following: A Council of Homeopathic Certification, belongs to the Homeopathic Association of Naturopathic Physicians, or the American Board of Homeotherapeutics.  If you have chosen a practitioner but the course of treatment is causing harmful affects, consult your own physician (but be aware that sometimes your symptoms may get worse before they get better).

While you have the best intentions for finding homeopathic doctors, it would be a wise decision to keep the lines of communication open with your health care provider, just in case an unforeseen problem occurs.

What are probiotics and how can they help with your PCOS?

The Food and Agricultural Organization defines probiotics as “live micro organisms administered in adequate amounts which confer a beneficial health effect on the host.”  In simple terms, probiotics are good bacteria found in dairy products such as yogurt.  The use of this type of bacteria improves lactose digestion in people who lack it and can have positive effects on the immune system as well.

For example, yeast infections are a common problem for women with PCOS because they flourish in high sugar environments.  Research shows that consuming yogurt would alleviate the symptoms because of the probiotics contained in natural live yogurt.

Moreover, studies have shown that three or more servings of dairy products a day can lower levels of obesity.  So, dairy products combined with probiotic bacteria can improve overall health and aid digestion.

Other conditions in which probiotics play a major role are:  diarrhoea, chronic use of antibiotics, IBS (irritable bowel syndrome), IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), lactose intolerance, hypertension, cancer, high cholesterol, and certain allergies, many of which are associated with having PCOS.

What effect do probiotics have in common with all of these conditions?

While antibiotics are often the medical solution to kill bad bacteria, it is true that they can kill off good bacteria as well.  Probiotics will replace the good bacteria that have been lost.  With reference to irritable bowl syndrome, probiotics have been known to provide some symptom relief from diarrhoea and bloating. Inflammatory bowel disease treated with high levels of probiotics has been shown to increase the period in which a person is free from the problem.

For those who cannot tolerate lactose, studies have concluded that consuming yogurt and unfermented dairy products aid in its digestion.  Probiotics have also been shown to reduce the systolic blood pressure in those suffering from hypertension.

Cancer causing agents can reside in the gastrointestinal tract and the use of probiotics can decrease the user’s exposure to cancer risks.

Also, studies to determine the effects of probiotics in dairy foods have shown a reduction in cases of high cholesterol.  However, research is still ongoing.

Probiotics and their utilization can help to treat acute intestinal infections, aid digestion, improve health, and possibly reduce the risk of disease — all good news for PCOS sufferers.  Studies are ongoing to determine the full benefits of probiotics, however, so far, there seems to be positive results.