IMPORTANT
Unless otherwise stated on the package, most supplements and herbal remedies aren’t suitable for children under 12.
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Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

What you need to know:

Commonly referred to as PCOD, polycystic ovary disease is frequently undiagnosed in its early stages. Symptoms may occur with or without period problems, so young women and their families often don’t think of getting conventional gynaecological advice. It’s commonly first spotted by complementary health practitioners when women look for alternative treatments for adult acne, excess facial or body hair (hirsutism) or unexplained weight gain.

Even when the condition has been diagnosed, treatment can involve powerful medications, which sometimes have unpleasant side effects. As long as it’s done in co-operation with your GP or specialist, it’s worth trying the more gentle natural approach first.

A vegetarian diet could help - but don’t let any young person to make fundamental changes to her diet without consulting a registered naturopath, state registered dietician or degree-qualified nutritionist. Girls in particular need to ensure that they’re replacing the Iron which they’ll be short of if they aren’t eating meat.

If she’s not keen on going veggie, make sure the meat or poultry she eats is organic so that it doesn’t contain added hormones. Even if the meat is organic, ensure that it’s as lean as possible - and encourage her not to eat any processed meat products like sausages, salamis, pates etc., which all contain high levels of animal fats.

She should also:

Eat more vegetables, fruit, wholegrain cereals, beans, peas, nuts and seeds
Stick to modest amounts of dairy products, again preferably organic
Drink Soya milk and eat more of the other soya-based foods, like tofu

Live yoghurt is important for its beneficial bacteria, and if she’s eating enough wholegain cereals and beans, these good bugs will get all the special fibre they need as their own food.

The most useful Herbs:

Agnus Castus
Black Cohosh
Liquorice
Red Clover

The most useful Supplements:

Vitamin B complex
Magnesium
Zinc
Selenium
Soya extracts
Probiotics
Chromium

Other useful advice:

Naturopaths believe that short periods of fasting can stimulate the body to get rid of waste products which are the by-products of the body’s chemistry and boost the natural immune defence system due to the large increase in the white cell count that fasting produces. This combination can help to balance the hormonal system and heal the cysts, but young people should never fast without the strict supervision of an expert.

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This information is licensed for use by Wellbeing Information Systems Ltd ("WIS"), and protected by international copyright law. All rights are reserved. (email info@wisinfo.co.uk).
The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.