Progesterone
What are the symptoms that progesterone can help?
ALLERGIES
Allergies are often worse with low levels of progesterone.(35)
ANXIETY
Estrogen Dominance:
Estrogen-like compounds are all around us. These are called Xenoestrogens. These are fat-soluble and non-biodegradable. The major sources of these Xenoestrogens are pesticides, detergents, petroleum products, plastic products, cosmetics, even spermicides used for birth control in diaphragm jellies, condoms and in vaginal gels. Stop drinking hot coffee or tea in that plastic or styrofoam cups. What ever you do, DO NOT heat your food in plastic cookware. All of these contribute to the estrogen dominance and have been linked to birth defects in both humans and animals.
One of the most common symptoms is the high anxiety that can come when the ratio of progesterone to estrogen is out of balance.
Anxiety, nervousness, mood swings, and nervous tension and signs that estrogen is high and progesterone is low. Dr. Lee referred to this as Estrogen Dominance. One way to address it is to increase levels of progesterone using natural progesterone cream. Vitamin B6 and magnesium (estrogen creates deficiencies) actually help with progesterone levels. Also, increase fiber in your diet and to decrease saturated fat and refined carbohydrates. Progesterone itself soothes the nervous system. Progesterone produces chemicals in the brain that act like Xanax and Valium to calm anxiety.
High estrogen to progesterone ratios lower endorphins, and endorphins normalize or improve mood.
BONE LOSS
Dr. Lee observed that his patients bone density increased with the application of natural progesterone cream. Other studies of progesterone alone don't show a real benefit, studies of estrogen in combination with bio-identical progesterone show an increase in building bone beyond estrogen's effect alone. So here's a clear case where estrogen and progesterone in balance enhance each other.
BRAIN FOG
Progesterone can help clear the brain fog. Researchers think that one of the signs of progesterone dropping too low is in fact a sense of confusion. One preliminary study showed that postmenopausal women did better on some brain tests when they were on estrogen plus either progestin or progesterone than on estrogen alone. Spatial cognition tests too showed that estrogen alone didn't have a positive effect. Though in this case, testosterone showed the most benefit.
Even more interesting, was that brain-damaged rats left in a water maze (aren't you glad you're not a lab rat?) did much better when given estradiol plus progesterone. They learned the maze and wandered less. Progesterone seems to protect learning and memory. In another rat study, they mimicked the damage done by a stroke on the brain. Rats given progesterone after the stroke had significantly less damage and had more improvement in function afterward. In that case, progesterone protects the brain and nerves and may even help them regenerate. Progesterone can reduce cerebral edema after an injury too.
Sleep Disorders
Progesterone can be sedating and helpful for men and women to bringing sleep on. The hormone also balances estrogen's effect on serotonin and norepinephrine, which both act to make us wired.
Progesterone also helps too improve breathing and may even help sleep apnea better. It's important to remember though that it's bio-identical progesterone that makes the biggest difference. There was a study that compared women on either Premarin and Provera (synthetic progestin) or Premarin and Prometrium (bio-identical progesterone). Women taking the Prometrium found they fell asleep more easily and stayed asleep for more of the night. Caution: Too much progesterone can be sedating.