Natural antiandrogen supplements either inhibit or lower testosterone levels. In women, androgen blockers can help with hirsutism, acne, weight gain, and other androgen or testosterone disorders. Otherwise, they can control PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) and other forms of excess androgens. Antiandrogen pills are not a stand-alone treatment for acne or facial hair. You still need to determine the root cause of the excess androgen. If you have used a type of contraception, for example, your best course of action is to stop. If you have PCOS, specify your type of PCOS and treat accordingly. Restoring normal ovulation can help lower testosterone significantly since both estrogen and progesterone have antiandrogenic properties.
Natural Antiandrogen Remedies for Hirsutism
Zinc improves ovarian function, so it reduces androgen levels and raises progesterone—a natural androgen inhibitor. Zinc further reduces the enzyme 5-alpha-reductase, thereby reducing the conversion rate of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT).
Just eight weeks of zinc supplementation greatly reduced hirsutism in a recent clinical study. The recommended dose is 30 to 50 milligrams eaten immediately after dinner. Avoid zinc on an empty stomach; can cause nausea.
Progesterone can reduce testosterone in three ways: it lowers 5-alpha reductase, blocks androgen receptors, and lowers luteinizing hormone (LH), thereby reducing the stimulation of LH by the ovaries to produce testosterone. Ovulation and production of your own is the easiest way to get progesterone. An additional increase in progesterone is cyclic progesterone therapy.
Peony (Paeonia lactiflora) stimulates the enzyme aromatase, which changes testosterone into estrogen, thereby slowing down testosterone synthesis.
Glycyrrhiza glabra, licorice, reduces the enzyme CYP17A1, which produces testosterone and contains phytoestrogens that reduce the production of androgens and block androgen receptors. Licorice can help balance pituitary hormones along with peonies. In a 2017 PCOS clinical study, the combination of peonies and licorice performed very well.
Ganoderma lucidum, a reishi mushroom, blocks 5-alpha reductase, an enzyme that changes testosterone into the more potent DHT hormone. Among the many other health benefits of this natural antiandrogen are immune boosting and stabilization of the HPA (adrenal) axis.
The phytonutrient DIM (diindolylmethane) comes from kale, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, and broccoli. By regulating 5α-reductase and adjusting the activity of enzymes involved in the metabolism of steroid hormones, such as the cytochrome P450 enzyme, it can lower androgen levels in women. DIM also reduces the enzyme aromatase, thereby lowering estrogen levels. Clinically, for both hirsutism and acne, a DIM of 100 mg per day has been quite successful.
In many clinical studies on polycystic ovary syndrome and androgenic alopecia, melatonin has shown excellent results. It works by reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.
Quite different from PCOS, Vitex agnus-castus reduces prolactin and can help with excess androgens with high prolactin. High prolactin can promote excess androgens by 1) increasing the adrenal androgen DHEA and 2) by increasing the regulation of 5-alpha reductase. Vitex may exacerbate excess androgen PCOS in low prolactin levels. One of the most unpleasant symptoms of PCOS that disappears the slowest is facial hair or hirsutism. You may have to wait twelve months to notice the difference even after you have done all the correct treatment.
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