ch, so you may want to use this remedy early morning before taking breakfast.
- Take another tablespoon of the soaked seeds just before meals during the day.
- If this is not possible, simply add the fenugreek seeds to your regular food intake.
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1 Teaspoon of chasteberries (whether fresh or dried), 1 cup of water and a strainer.
Taking chasteberries is one of the recommended remedies for the management of PCOS. Sometimes referred to as vitex, these berries are loved for their hormonal-balancing attributes. When consumed on a regular basis, the berries are able to regulate menstrual periods while keeping the hormones in check. You may use fresh or dried chasteberries depending on what is available. The supplemental form of this herb may also be used in place of the berries, but for the proper dosage and efficiency of the same, this must be done following consultations with your doctor.
- Boil 1 cup of water and proceed to add the chasteberries.
- Cover the cup and let the berries steep for 15 minutes.
- You will then follow this up with straining the mixture before enjoying this tea.
- Take this remedy once daily until you are content with the progress made.
- If you opt for the chasteberries supplement, make sure you talk to your doctor about it.
Time Required: 20 Min
What You Need: 1 Teaspoon of licorice root (dried), 1 cup of boiling water, strainer and supplements (optional).
Licorice is a herbal remedy recommended for the natural treatment of PCOS as it helps with the reduction of testosterone levels in the body. The presence of the active ingredient in licorice, glycyrrhizin, allows for the inhibition of an enzyme required to synthesize testosterone. Through this mode of action, licorice is able to reduce the concentration of androgens in the body, and therefore reverse the symptoms of PCOS. Other benefits of using licorice include liver detoxification for the metabolism of estrogen, improvement of ovulation as well as the management of excessive body hair.
- Place a teaspoon of the dried licorice root in a cup of boiling water.
- Allow it to simmer for about 10 minutes before straining.
- Take this tea thrice daily.
- You may also use the supplemental form of licorice, but ensure you get your doctor’s advice on the way forward for the proper dosage.
NOTE: Licorice root is not recommended for those suffering from kidney disease, hypertension or diseases of the liver.
7. Take Foods with a Low Glycemic Index:
Time Required: Varies depending on the foods to be prepared
What You Need: Balanced diet and foods with a low glycemic index
One of the most common complications that arise from PCOS is the increased risk of diabetes as a result of insulin resistance. When the body is resistant to insulin, there is an increased concentration of the hormone. This impacts the process of ovulation negatively by preventing the maturation of the egg, and therefore delaying its release from the ovaries. In addition to this, insulin resistance also makes it hard for implantation to occur in the uterus, reducing the chances of a successful pregnancy. All of these factors have a great effect on a woman’s fertility, which is why it is important to address the diet bit. Below are tips on eating a balanced diet and focusing on foods with a low glycemic index.
- Increase your protein intake to prevent fluctuating levels of the insulin. Studies show that a low carbohydrate high-protein diet helps manage insulin resistance, and the reverse is true.
- Increase the amount of fiber-rich foods in your diet. Fiber helps PCOS patients in two key ways: it slows down the digestive process so that sugars are absorbed steadily without sudden spikes that worsen insulin resistance. Secondly, fiber-rich foods enhance the proper metabolic processes to ensure hormonal balance.
- Add more low glycemic index foods to your diet. Glycemic Index (GI) is a measure of how high and how low blood glucose levels change. As such, foods with a low GI are those that are digested slowly and the absorption of glucose does not cause sharp 