Expert: Tonja Wells - 8/30/2004

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I have read Dr. Lee's book "What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause". . . . .Are you familiar with what it talks about?   I will start by giving you some of my personal information and then maybe you can tell me if you think I'm on the right track and how I need to proceed . . . .

I am now 36 years old.  My menstrual cycle had always been like clock work until the birth of my 2nd child in 1990 and then it was "off".  It came every month but you could never count on when.  In February of 1995 I was diagnosed with diabetes . . . . classic symptoms of hunger, extreme fatigue, blurry vision, frequention urination, weight loss. . . . . .  in the summer of 1995 I started taking some herbs for faster weight loss.  When I first started them, I was told that after taking them, if they made me really jittery and then made me tired that I probably had weak adrenal glands and should not take them.  Otherwise they should just give me energy. . . . . One of the ingredients was Ma Huang (sp).  I was fine with them and took them for about a year and then quit.  I mention the herbal stuff because I think maybe I messed up my adrenal glands.    In the summer of 1996 I began to have some brown patches on my fast after being out in the sun. . . at first I thought they were just freckles popping out.  The patches were mainly on my forehead.  Then later they out more all over my face and I went to a dermatologist who told me that I had too much estrogen in my system and this is what was causing it.  I could try a lightening cream which I did, and it didn't help.  He said I could do a chemical peal or laser it off, but that it would return.  So anyway, at this time I realize that my hormones are off.       At some point after this I decide that I needed to lose weight again and tried the herbs again. . . . this time I am unable to take them as they just jitter me up and drop me down.  I continue to have the brown patches on my face and about a year and a half ago I started to have yeast infections 1 to 3 times every month!  I know it's a hormonal imbalance.  After reading Dr. Lee's book, I bought some of the natural progesterone and tried it and for the first time in a year and a half had no yeast infection!  I read that if you had been estrogen dominant for a number of years that symptoms of estrogen dominance may worsen for the first 3 months or so, but that also if you used too much of the progesterone cream you could also have the same type of symptems. (Ihave ALOT of the symptems that they list)  The thing is, I became very irritable the first month.  The second month I wasn't as irritable but I still had PMS symptoms.  I also used a different kind of cream and I'm not sure it's the true stuff.  What I'm wondering is how I go about getting the correct dose. . . . how long of time I should give it (6 months?) and so on.  I just need help and advice in getting balanced out.  I read on a web site of natural progesterone cream that some ladies had brown spots on their faces and they went away after balancing out their hormonal levels.  Then, in the book it was saying something about brown spots being caused because of overworked adrenal glands, and something about progesterone being a precurser to a hormone that the adrenals put out.  I am also very, very tired sometimes.  I'm not sure if it's to do with the hormones, with the adrenals, or with the diabetes.  Anyway, I would just like some advice and someone knowledgable to ask questions of concerning how this all works together and if I'm on the right track.  Also, my daughter who will be 17 in a month, may also need to use it as well, I think.  Her monthlies have always been off and with all the research I've been doing, I think she has PCOS.  I would like to start her on it, but if I'm on the wrong track I don't want to mess her up.  Any advice there would be appreciated. I realize after re-reading through this e-mail that it seems a bit jumbled, but I hope that you can make sense of it.  I hope that we can talk back and forth a bit and help me get things straightened out.  Thanks so much for your time.  
Answer -
Although progesteron cream will help you it is not the total answer. Without doing a complete consult, I would suggest following the directions on the cream.  You may want to double it for the first few months. Always rotate the area on the skin where you are using it.

You must address the diabeties and adrenal burnout as well.
Diabeties includes circulation issues so I am wondering if the brown spots on the face may be promoted by the diabeties.

I would suggest getting the book called "The Zone" and combine this diet with your blood type diet. You must control what you eat and eat no white foods. You need to get all estrogens out of your diet.  You need to eat all non estrogen, organic, hormone free foods to help correct the hormone issues.

It is not the Ma Haug which burns out your adrenals but the other herbs like gurana or kola nut ( which is caffeine.)

One of the main areas I deal with is the area of adrenal burnout.

I do offer complete client consults via the phone.  I am in the DFW area.  I offer basic and advanced consult (which include blood work)  It also sounds like you have some liver issues going on which you have never addressed.

Tonja Wells, CNHP, NHC
www.herbalhealthsolutions.4the.net

I've read that tomato juice/V-8 juice is supposed to be a good rejuvenator of the liver. . . . . would drinking a cup of this twice a day be enough to help things get back into balance?  

Answer
I am sorry, I just received this e-mail and am not sure which is old and which is new.  My husband just passed away and I have been overwhelmed.  
I think your question is about the V-8 juice.
I suggest organic lemon water or black cherry juice. You may want to set an appointment with me as you have many health challenges.