17-11-2011, 18:12
Hi shortcake and Susan,
Flax counts: it's a phyto-estrogen. Some sources say it's more in the fibres than in the oil, but still.
Dandelion is a phyto-estrogen:
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19007317
Milk thistle is a phyto-estrogen too. No wonder you get headaches, certainly if you're prone to estrogen dominance.
I'm a firm believer in simple programs. Why not do a few discontinuation tests? Stop milk thistle, see what happens. Stop flax seed oil, see what happens. Same with MSM and collagen. If the dandelion alone does it for you, keep it up for a few months. Play with the dose, measure, cycle, you know the drill.
If you still experience estrogen dominance on dandelion alone, try a more balanced program. Fennel is a good one to try out how much phyto-progestin you need. Make a whole pot of fennel seed tea from 2,000 mg, keep it in the fridge, and increase the number of cups every day until you get easily irritated. That's a symptom of progesterone toxicity, probably around 8 cups. Decrease to a dose that doesn't give any trouble, and increase dandelion until you get headaches, and go back to a safe dose too.
Then find a single herb that gives you both doses at the same time, and you never have to worry again. Licorice if you get trouble with acne or facial hair, red clover if you don't. I use tables 2 and 3 to compare how much phyto-estrogen and phyto-progestin is in each herb:
http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/estrogenherbdata.html#table3
Dandelion is not in the tables because those researchers didn't test it. I prefer hops and fennel to balance my doses, because they are pure phyto-estrogen and pure phyto-progestin.
Another approach would be to just try red clover or licorice. If you are still prone to estrogen dominance, shift towards the more progestinic herbs: thyme, or even turmeric. Make sense?
Flax counts: it's a phyto-estrogen. Some sources say it's more in the fibres than in the oil, but still.
Dandelion is a phyto-estrogen:
http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=19007317
Milk thistle is a phyto-estrogen too. No wonder you get headaches, certainly if you're prone to estrogen dominance.
I'm a firm believer in simple programs. Why not do a few discontinuation tests? Stop milk thistle, see what happens. Stop flax seed oil, see what happens. Same with MSM and collagen. If the dandelion alone does it for you, keep it up for a few months. Play with the dose, measure, cycle, you know the drill.
If you still experience estrogen dominance on dandelion alone, try a more balanced program. Fennel is a good one to try out how much phyto-progestin you need. Make a whole pot of fennel seed tea from 2,000 mg, keep it in the fridge, and increase the number of cups every day until you get easily irritated. That's a symptom of progesterone toxicity, probably around 8 cups. Decrease to a dose that doesn't give any trouble, and increase dandelion until you get headaches, and go back to a safe dose too.
Then find a single herb that gives you both doses at the same time, and you never have to worry again. Licorice if you get trouble with acne or facial hair, red clover if you don't. I use tables 2 and 3 to compare how much phyto-estrogen and phyto-progestin is in each herb:
http://www.cancersupportivecare.com/estrogenherbdata.html#table3
Dandelion is not in the tables because those researchers didn't test it. I prefer hops and fennel to balance my doses, because they are pure phyto-estrogen and pure phyto-progestin.
Another approach would be to just try red clover or licorice. If you are still prone to estrogen dominance, shift towards the more progestinic herbs: thyme, or even turmeric. Make sense?