Effective Natural Remedies for Managing PCOS

Dietary Changes

Posted by Sarah (Toronto, Canada) on 12/08/2007
★★★★★

It has been almost a year since I had my last period. I'm 19 and not pregnant so this is not normal. I believe I have PCOS since I have all the side effects of loosing my hair, cysts etc. I've done lots of reading on the subject and it seems the only "cure" proscribed by doctors is hormone therapy-- which I am against. I then found some postings about low carb diets. So I tried it. I've cut the whole grains food group out of my diet (I still eat as much fruits and veggies as I like--I'm not on an Atkins style diet--I'm on a healthy one!). I've been at this for only a week and I woke up this morning with my period! I don't think most women wake up excited about getting their period, but I did!! I encourage any woman dealing with PCOS to try this before they go on any hormones! Giving up breads and desserts is a sacrifice I am willing to make if it means I won't have to be on hormones for the rest of my life!

Dietary Changes

Posted by Elise (Perth, Wa Australia) on 03/18/2011

atkins is like a cult..... Open mindedness people? I saw a doctor who runs an atkins diet club on a weekly basis. It included high fat, high protein, very few veg and the only fruit I was allowed was bananas. So im not entirely sure where your information is coming from. It also advocates the Atkins bars and diet sodas etc... Which are full of chemicals and sweetners. Quite unhealthy and actually gave me cholestrol problems, and im only 22! If you google atkins, it says all of the above again and again.

So really, saying someone has no clue is a bit rough, you may just personally have had a good experience, but I think you need to realise that its not for everyone, and clearly there are variations on the topic.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Lynde (South Africa ) on 10/09/2021

Hi Monica

I commend you for all you are doing to control your PCOS. It takes a lot of perseverance and the right mindset which isn't always easy.

I would suggest you add Chasteberry (Vitex Agnes Castus), a few drops of tincture in water first thing in the morning. It should reduce the heavy blood flow and help to regulate your periods.

Good luck and hope you keep getting better.

NAC

Posted by Jen (Queensland, Australia) on 12/03/2016
★★★★★

I would like to know why NAC (N-acetylcysteine - an amino acid) is not mentioned under PCOS as a treatment. My daughter is just awaiting blood results to confirm she has PCOS (difficulty losing weight, hirsutism, acne etc) and I have been researching it.

I ordered NAC for other reasons and was amazed to see how many other benefits it has including treatment of PCOS. I ordered her some as well and she is going to take it to her Dr and tell him she wants to try this rather than prescription drugs (ie Metformin - same results, but no side effects). According to scientific studies there was a trial of NAC and women taking 1.6g a day apparently had decreased BMI, hair loss, acne etc..

If anyone else has tried this I would like to know their experience with it and I will also report down the track on results for my daughter.

Raw Vegan Diet, Kale Juice

Posted by Holly (Manchester, Uk) on 06/18/2013
★★★★★

Hello, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovaries at 17. I am now 22. I refused the help my doctor gave as all he said he could do was put me on the contraceptive pill. Synthetic hormones which would lead to more inbalance in my body, no thank you.

For around 6 months I did the paleo diet. Which is more or less veg and meat. Very clean way of eating.

With this I did research and read that kale juice is apparently very good, so I bought a juicer and juiced kale as often as I could.

I lost 40 pounds in about 5 months. Had 3 periods in this time which I thought was amazing as I am usually lucky to get one a year.

Now 2 years on I am fully raw vegan, it's not for everyone I know. However the effects are too great to ignore. I have completely regulated my periods, I'm a healthy weight, and I feel amazing.

I had a scan on my ovaries a few months back and my doctor was astounded he said I was more or less cured and my ovaries looked like an average pair lol.

Please please please research the raw vegan way, read the amazing stories from people who have overcome illnesses.

Oh and kale kale kale, amazing!

Chaste Tree Berry

Posted by Jezebel (Taftville, Ct) on 04/20/2012
★★★★★

I was told I could never have kids get a hysterectomy due to my pos. Started taking vitexberry and was able to concieve within three months after five years of trying. I used the liquid form from a local health food store it also makes your period regular.

Iodine

Posted by Bill (San Fernando, Philippines) on 12/28/2011
★★★★★

Hi Lara... Perhaps the easiest way to cure PCOS is to take lugol's iodine orally. Here is a broadcast by Dr Flechas from the Iodine Project which describes the many successful outcomes in people who have had this problem

http://curezone.com/ig/i.asp?i=21730

This is a one hour audio broadcast where Dr Flechas also describes and covers how he has cured hypothyroidism, PCOS, Fibrocystic breast disease, diabetes, varicose veins, obesity etc using lugol's iodine.

And here is another extract from another research article by Dr Flechas on the use of oral lugol's iodine to help cure PCOS:

Iodine deficiency may cause the ovaries to develop cysts , nodules and scar tissue. At its worse this ovarian pathology is very similar to that of polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). As of the writing of this article I have five PCOS patients. The patients have successfully been brought under control with the use of 50 mg of iodine per day. Control with these patients meaning cysts are gone, periods every 28 days and type 2 diabetes mellitus under control.

Source: http://www.optimox.com/pics/Iodine/IOD-10/IOD_10.htm

So the dosage of iodine needed per day would be 50 mgs (8 drops of 5% lugols iodine) per day in a glass of water in split doses. According to Dr Flechas, this normally heals the PCOS problem within about 6 months.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Cloud (Olympua, Wa, Usa) on 03/28/2012

I drink Kombucha Tea which I use Apple Cider Vinegar with to balance it.

Also there are many other supplements that are popular like D-Chiro-Inositol.

I also take ______Insulite's PCOS supplement system.

Vitex is a well-known herb for helping and/or black cohosh and crampbark tea. Also a good dose of Advil usually helps :)

Taking the right supplements combined with daily exercise and a low sugar diet will help you loose weight and be able to have children in the future.

So all in all I take ______ PCOS supplement series and D-Chlor-Inositol and Fish Oil. These have helped me loose 40 pounds and get my periods back.

I cannot stress enough, you need to avoid sugar and processed carbs such as bread, potatos, and sweet breads entirely.

Treating your insulin resistance will stop the symptoms you have from growing worse. And if you your doctor doesn't agree, find one who is up to date with the current PCOS research and is not so egotisical to think they know it all.

Saw Palmetto

Posted by Latinavaquerita (La Grande, Or) on 11/19/2011
★★★★★

Hi, regarding the hair loss from PCOS, I am on Metformin, Spirinolactone & Yaz for insulin control and androgen blockers. This probably helped a bit in my hair loss around my face, but I added Saw Palmetto Capsules 450mg, 2 in the morning, and 2 at night to my routine and it made a big difference, I don't shed excessively or lose so much hair like before, now I shed what is normal like other people. Just wanted to share that with you to give you ideas. The Saw Palmetto is super cheap and you can get it at Walmart and other places that sell vitamins. Hope it helps. I just started with the Apple Cider Vinegar in hopes it will regulate my insulin. My weight spiked recently and I didn't get my period so hopefully the ACV will help.

Apple Cider Vinegar

Posted by Acv Fan! (Ky, USA) on 11/12/2009
★★★★★

Hi I am 22. I have an illness called PCOS and it causes me to have a lot of trouble with everyday life. One really bad part about it is my acne, its on my back and face. I've tried everything. Over the counter acne meds and doctor's have given me things to use, all making it worse, and really dry. Then I heard about apple cider Vinegar. I was told to poor 1 cup of the ACV in my bath water and lay in it and take a cotton ball and dab the ACV on my face. I did. The VERY next morning my face looked so much better and my back to! I am convinced so now I am also drinking a small bit of it! I feel a lot better and look a lot better.

Also, This is personal but it may help someone so its worth it. When I was 21 I suffered from a miscarriage and Due to that, I suffered (for 9 Months) from a bacterial infection. I took all meds, pills and creams, for that to, then one day I cried to my doctor telling her nothing was giving me relief and my doctor told me just to use the ACV, After a week of bathing in it, I've not had one since.

Chaste Tree Berry

Posted by Lindsy (Calamine, WI) on 12/08/2008
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with PCOS when I was eighteen. I hadn't had my period in seven months by the time I went to the doctor. He put me on birthcontrol so that I would get my period. It worked, I did get my period. Three years later when I decided to go off...my period disappeared too. After a year of barely having periods again, I talked to a nutritionalist who recommended chaste tree berry (VITEX). I got my period three weeks after starting it and my period started coming regularly at 31 days. I went off of it after ten months and my cycle has shortened to 29 days. I have only missed it twice since then. Once was about six months after going off of it. My nutritionist said that I went off too soon and that I should stay on it for eighteen months to make sure my hormones were completely balanced. The second time, about three and a half months ago was way better. I missed my period because I am pregnant. Chaste tree berry also helps treat infertility :) which affects most women with PCOS!

Green Tea Extract

Posted by Jacy (Sydney, Australia) on 09/27/2008
★★★★☆

This is a remedy that I have researched and am only just beginning to try. As we all know, PCOS is a syndrome that presents itself in different forms in every woman. For instance, according to my doctors, although I have cysts on my ovaries and have weight issues, my periods are very regular, progesterone is fine, I ovulate each month, BUT I do have elevated testosterone (which causes the hormonal body hair, and in some women, baldness, and acne).

I looked into the elevated testosterone levels, and found that not only does excess body fat EXACERBATE testosterone levels (best solution - reduce body fat), but the KEY to reducing testosterone could be in ELEVATING your SHBG (Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin) levels.

For those of you who have had a thorough blood test for your hormones, you will note that Doctors mainly talk about your Oestrogen, Progesterone and your Testosterone Levels. But I suggest you look at your test and note the levels of your SHBG. SHBG is a glycoprotein in your blood that BINDS the FREE ANDROGENS in your blood stream. Free Androgens are the Male Hormones that are floating in your bloodstream that cause the male pattern baldness, hormonal hair, acne and other androgenous conditions. If your Testosterone is high, more than likely your SHBG is in the lower levels. Basically, there is not enough of the SHBG protein to catch these little fellows that cause all this damage.

I researched how to elevate SHBG naturally, and it seems that GREEN TEA is the best solution. BUT since we all can't drink countless cups of Green Tea to elevate these levels, it would be a wonderful idea to take a natural supplement of GREEN TEA EXTRACT. Check with your health food store or pharmacy, you should be able to get it in capsule or tablet form.

Along with increasing your SHBG levels, Green Tea Extract may also serve to speed up your metabolism, and also burn body fat. If you have PCOS and are experiencing baldness or thinning of your hair, this may be the best long term "INTERNAL" solution to the problem.

My other suggestion is to stay away from hormonal contraceptions at all costs. They do more damage than good to your already sensitive hormone levels. Synthetic hormones are not easily assimilated in our bodies, and therefore, our body reacts adversely. The pill may be the cause of greater infertility than you realise.

The final note for women with PCOS is to remember that PCOS is linked to DIABETES, SYNDROME X/INSULIN RESISTANCE. The majority of women with PCOS have been found to have a history of Diabetes in their families, or come from a culture where diabetes is prevalent. The key for all of us therefore, is to reduce our consumption of simple sugars and any food that elevates our blood sugar levels too quickly (high GI foods). Higher protein, lower PROCESSED carb diets work well for us. Increase your raw vegetable and fruit consumption. Also increase your essential fatty acid intake (i.e. good oils - extra virgin olive oil, flaxseed oil etc).

These changes will go a very long way to ensuring greater fertility, better balance in your hormones, and long term prevention of heart disease and diabetes.

Good luck everyone. If you wish to email me with questions, you are more than welcome to.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Monica (United States) on 06/01/2020
★★★★★

I was diagnosed with PCOS 2/2019.

I've always had irregular periods since puberty at 11. I grew up on junk food (90s kid) and continued to eat that way throughout early adulthood (fast food and junk food). I developed psoriasis when I was 12 and it gradually got worse over the years.

In 2010ish I had an episode where I bled very heavily. Massive blood clots, could not make it to the bathroom without my vision turning white, head pounding, heart palpitations. I eventually recovered but never tried to figure out what happened. The same episodes happened again in 2015 and 2017. In 2017, I was hospitalized twice and the second time I was sent to ICU because my hemoglobin dropped to 2.4. They put me on birth control for the first time (high dose estrogen) and my bleeding stopped.

I continued to eat bad (chips, cookies, fast food, etc.) even though I am vegan. I never ate healthy. In 2019, I went to the RE (reproductive endocrinologist) because me and my husband could not get pregnant. She diagnosed me with PCOS after running tests. Since then, I still ate bad.

Starting this year 2020, I made the change to eliminate all inflammatory foods and get my life back. I was tired of going back and forth of being anemic. I cut out gluten, artificial and all sugars, refined oils.

I have lost 48lbs! PCOS is a low grade consistent inflammation disease and symptoms get worse from insulin spikes. Unfortunately, I am still dealing with irregular periods but that just tells me that I have a long ways to go.

My journey does not end here just because I lost 48lbs. I'm going to keep going until I get my symptoms under control.

My daily routine consists of: Intermittent Fasting Hot Green Tea (I can feel a huge difference when taking this daily on my testosterone levels)

11am-VERY LOW INTENSITY Indoor Cycling

11:30am- VERY LOW INTENSITY Weights >10lbs (push, pull, legs 5x a week)

12pm- Eat My Heaviest Meal (consists of whole foods; choice of beans or pulse, big bag of steamed veggies and choice of vinegar based sauce, choice of spices), extra virgin olive oil, cooked in cast iron pan. 2-3 squares of 90% dark chocolate lemon water throughout the day drink as much water as possible 5pm-Berry Smoothie with Myo-Inositol (blueberries, almond milk, chia seeds, vanilla pea protein, banana or dates) Gingerbread Smoothie with Myo-Inositol(blackstrap molasses, ginger powder, cinnamon powder, almond milk, chia seeds)

My period schedule: Prenatal with applesauce with breakfast and inositol with lemon water 23g Chelated Iron with lunch Blackstrap Molasses shake for dinner. Ibuprofen when I'm really desperate. I don't exercise during this time. My periods are extremely heavy and prolonged.

Massive clots then drop every time I go to the bathroom and flooding of bright red blood for 3 days then I spot the rest of the month.

Focusing on anti-inflammatory foods, healthy carbs, fiber, and loads of iron rich foods really helps me! P.S. I forgot to mention above that I had to have 10 blood transfusions and platelet transfusions. That's how much I bleed! Also I drink red raspberry leaf tea in the mornings in place of green tea if I feel like it, I feel it lightens up my period a bit.

Maca Powder

Posted by Jdixon (Surrey, England. ) on 09/23/2014
★★★★★

I recently bought Maca Powder from one of the supermarkets as I have been suffering from Polycystic Ovary Syndrome since I was 15 years old. I am 22 years old now, and I hadn't had a natural period in over 5 years. I have been trying every remedy that has been researched for reliving PCOS. Apple cider vinegar being one of them, yet that seems to have no real impact.

However, I used maca powder in my smoothies for 2 weeks. And voila!. my first period! I haven't been so delighted! It may taste absolutely foul and smell revolting, but it seems to be the miracle for me. I have it in my smoothies every morning.

Try it and see what the benefits are for you. Many say it does nothing for them, but you may well be the lucky one.

Good luck :)

Chaste Tree Berry

Posted by Angie (New Milford, Nj) on 10/27/2016

Pam, hopefully you've already found a solution to your vaginal infection, but I'd try treating your husband with the antibiotics at the same time you are treated. That happened with me. Once we were both treated everything was okay. if you do that and it doesn't work, buy a parasite cleanse from the health food store. That has been known to cure chronic BV

Apple Cider Vinegar, Blackstrap Molasses

Posted by Jenatray (Alameda, California) on 05/09/2012
★★★★★

I just want to thank Earthclinic and everyone who shared their stories because your stories really helped me. I was bleeding continuously since late January 2012 and as of yesterday it stopped all together. I really believe Spirit lead me to this website. I figured out, via symptom list, 1 month ago that I was deficient in magnesium and iodine. I was diagnosed hypothyroid about 3 years ago. I was also briefly diagnosed with being Vit D deficient and was prescribed 5000IU of D3 for 2 weeks until the doctor ruled my levels to be back to normal.

I think with me being allergic to fish, since birth, and with having to take a short sale on the selling of my home, money loss, that I was unable to eat as much seafood and nuts that I usually wood to make up for it. To make a long story short I bought J. Crows liquid iodine and started supplementation a month and 2 weeks ago, I also suspected that I may have had calcified uterine fibroids so on top of taking geritol pills once a day and 3000mg of Inositol with folic acid, and B-complex I also added 400mg of magnesium citrate 2x per day, and so not only did this save my hair and instead of me going through 2-3 overnight maxi pads per 24 hrs per day I was now down to just 1 overnight maxi pad per day. I have to admit I read this website before around early 2011, when I should have been seeing the signs that my body was in distress, and I thought I would not have to resort to molasses or apple cider vinegar well I'm glad I did.

I made myself a coffee mug full of tea which included water, 2 capfulls of ACV(apple cider vinegar with mother), 1 squeeze of real lemon juice, and 1-2 teaspoonfuls of unsulphured blackstrap molasses. I drank this 2x per day, morning and evening. I know everyone's body is different. I thought due to me being obese that it would take a week or month for me to see results but in my case it took really just the first 2 days by the 3rd day I just drank 1 cup and by the 4th day I decided to only drink it if I saw spotting and I have not. I want to also add that I do suffer with PCOS and a week before I added the J. Crows iodine I also added extra b-6(1 capsule) and zinc supplements(1 25mg tablet) to help my body create progesterone to get me balanced again. For me all of this helped to gradually get my body balanced but the kill shot was definately the BSM, and I was able to do my 40min workouts again. I did research and I had no idea BSM had iodine, iron, potassium and so many other vitamins and minerals our bodies need. *For anyone reading this please listen to your body. Not listening to mine, inspite of genetics, definately was a factor in me becoming hypothyroid and PCOS. * I hope to share again in a few months with news of BFP. Wish me luck.

Dietary Changes

Posted by Mumof2 (Stavanger, Norway) on 12/27/2011
★★★★★

Hi, I don't know about Apple Cider Vinegar for pcos but I was diagnosed with pcos some 7 years ago. Thank God I have two kids now. First one on clomid and the second one three years later on mega vitamins. This is my recommendation - remove all sugar from your diet at least for the period you are trying for baby (refined sugar, sodas, bread, cakes, rice, potatoes etc) you will notice your periods becoming regular, also take mega doses of vitamin C (up to 1000mg daily) also take magnesium. After ovulation add Vitamin B6 to help prevent miscarriage. Good luck.

Saw Palmetto

Posted by Jane (Australia ) on 11/12/2016
★★★★★

I can confirm the same as Latinavaquerita from La Grande, Or.

Saw palmetto has worked for me also, pcos symptoms gone and period cycle has returned to normal.

Chaste Tree Berry

Posted by Vy (BX, NY) on 08/20/2008
★★★★☆

I have read everyone's comments and I would also like to add another natural form of attempting to regulate your period. My doctor recommends chasteberry extract - liquid form - add 23 drops to tea or room temperature water and this should be taken for 3 months before you can see any changes. I'm on my first month and I'm supposed to get my period soon. So I'll let you know how that turns out.

White Peony Tea

Posted by Erynn (New Haven, CT) on 06/25/2008
★★★★★

PCOS Treatment: White Peony Tea. This is a new remedy. I found on that the Chinese have been using White Peony to treat infertility. I started drinking white peony tea. My periods regulated, and my OBGYN says the cysts are starting to go away.

White Peony Tea

Posted by Shannon (San Antonio, Tx) on 01/21/2010
★★★★★

Thank you for replying. I bought the white peony tea but as of now have not tried it. I went to a naturopath and he gave me a mixture of three teas: dong quai, chaste tree berry and prickley pear root, and told me to take three caps daily of evening primerose oil, garlic, and vitamin E. This I took for four months then didn't take anything else. I simply changed my eating habits and exercised more. All you have to do is avoid all forms of sugars especially those found in milk and alcohol. Avoid gluten and dairy as well. Exercise daily, even it it's just for 10 minutes as long as its CONSISTENT! I have always taken fish oil tablets and multivitamins as supplements, and I started sleeping before 10 pm and this decreased my stress levels immediately!!! For some reason, stress and pcos go hand-in-hand. Well, I hope that this advice helps. My period has been regular for about a year now and my last two ultrasounds taken six months apart have been normal and without visible cysts. When I was diagnosed my ovaries were twice their size and full of cysts. My doctor was amazed on how well my condition has been controlled. I told him I was just happy I didn't take the clomid and glucophage he had originally prescribed! I am almost certain that anyone with this condition can overcome it if the follow the above advice. I know I did! There is hope out there ladies!