(07-01-2014, 19:43)lostacres6 Wrote: surferjoe,
I take PM 1000 mg in 2 divided doses. I recently switched from FG seed to FG extract but cut down on the mg's. Within 2 weeks I experienced depression which always happens to me if I don't balance the phytoestrogens with the phyto progesterones. Why does this happen?
I could only guess without a hormone test. But here's some general info:
Estrogen raises prolactin
Prolactin lowers estrogen and greatly lowers dopamine
Dopamine greatly lowers prolactin
Dopamine lowers serotonin
Serotonin lowers dopamine
I hear a lot here that prolactin herbs raise progesterone, but I haven't checked that myself.
Dopamine makes you happy-excited with drive, serotonin makes you happy-calm. It's harder to notice serotonin because it's a peaceful effect.
PM is a strong estrogen imitator. Fenugreek raises your sensitivity and/or production of estrogen, progesterone and prolactin. AFAIK there aren't any real phyto-progesterones, but there are some prolactin (or anti-prolactin) ones which might be related. For example anything more than a tiny amount of vitex actually raises dopamine and lowers prolactin. What herbs were you taking for progesterone specifically?
Besides being interconnected, sexual and mood hormones also draw on a lot of the same resources. Especially at your age you could try to improve your overall health, especially B vitamins. Some of the healthiest foods are large amounts of spinach, cilantro, broccoli, watercress or wheat germ. As in a pound of good veggies a day or a quarter pound of wheat germ. Raw or minimally cooked without discarding any cooking water. Also in smaller amounts, around a few spoonfuls: rice bran, oysters, brewer's yeast or sunflower seeds. Or instead of germ & bran, you can get large amounts of the whole grains they come from of course. You also need 1000-2000 IU vitamin D, which comes almost entirely from either a little UV sun or from supplements. And you need a couple servings of seafood a week or else a teaspoon of fish oil a day.
There are a lot of good spinach or broccoli recipes out there. You can also make a nice salad with equal parts cilantro, watercress and bean sprouts, dressed with a honey-ginger dressing. Wheat germ is used like breading in a lot of old health nut recipes, or it can go into smoothies or juice. It needs to be fresh or it tastes burnt as it gets rancid. Oh, and you probably don't want to use large amounts of anything right off the bat or you may end up hating me; work your way up.