Progesterone is a hormone produced in your ovaries, placenta and adrenal glands that controls the menstrual cycle, pregnancy and fetal development. If you have low progesterone levels, you may experience infertility, menopausal symptoms and miscarriage. Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, may help raise progesterone levels, but it can have unpleasant side effects. Herbs are a natural remedy and may be helpful for low progesterone. Consult your health care provider before starting herbal therapy.
Herbal Actions
Progesterone and estrogen must be balanced for proper reproductive functioning. Disorders usually occur when estrogen is too high and progesterone is too low. Herbal remedies for progesterone deficiency work by raising its level to a point where hormonal balance is restored. Some hormone normalizing herbs do this by affecting your endocrine glands, which regulate hormonal production. Check with a knowledgeable practitioner for advice about the dosage and preparation of herbal remedies for low progesterone.
Chasteberry
Chasteberry, or Vitex agnus-castus, is a small European tree with a long history of use for gynecological problems. Herbalists use the fruits to treat PMS, menopausal symptoms, depression, and progesterone deficiency. In his 2003 book, "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine," clinical herbalist David Hoffmann, FNIMH, AHG, explains that chasteberry acts on your pituitary gland to reduce the hormone known as prolactin, which stimulates milk production and inhibits progesterone. Blocking prolactin leads to an increase in the endocrine glands known as corpus luteum, which produce and secrete progesterone. Do not use this herb if you are pregnant or nursing.
Dong Quai
Dong quai, or Angelica sinensis, is an important female tonic herb in traditional Chinese medicine. Practitioners use it to enhance fertility and restore balance to the menstrual cycle after discontinuing oral contraceptives. In their 2001 book, "Herbal Remedies," naturopathic doctors Asa Hershoff and Andrea Rotelli recommend dong quai to increase progesterone and maintain a balanced estrogen/progesterone ratio. Do not use during pregnancy.
Wild Yam
Wild yam, or Dioscorea villosa, is a climbing vine with heart-shaped leaves. The rhizome is a source of diosgenin, a natural steroid saponin used to synthesize cortisone and progesterone. Naturopathic doctors Asa Hershoff and Andrea Rotelli state that wild yam regulates progesterone levels, and helps correct a low progesterone and high estrogen ratio. Do not use during pregnancy or in high doses.
References
- "Medical Herbalism: The Science and Practice of Herbal Medicine"; David Hoffmann; 2003
- "Herbal Remedies"; Asa Hershoff, N.D., and Andrea Rotelli, N.D.; 2001
