THE MULTIPLE FUNCTIONS OF NATURAL PROGSTERONE & IT’S POTENTIAL AS A
TREATMENT FOR AUTISM & OTHER PSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS
By Janet McAuley
Progesterone is a remarkable hormone with multiple functions that should be investigated as a
potential treatment for individuals with psychiatric and neurological disorders – such as autism and
schizophrenia, whether male or female, young or old. Natural Progesterone cream, which can be
purchased over the counter, significantly improves PMS and menopausal symptoms. 1,2,3,4,5 However,
other functions of this remarkable hormone may be even more important. Progesterone is the most
protective hormone that the body produces.6 “Normally the brain contains a very high concentration
of progesterone, reflecting its protective function for that most important organ. The thymus
gland, the key organ of our immune system, is also profoundly dependent on progesterone.” 6 The
adrenal glands use progesterone to produce anti-stress hormones, and when there is enough
progesterone, the adrenals don’t have to produce potentially harmful cortisone. 6 In a progesterone
deficiency, our bodies produce too much cortisone, and excessive cortisone causes damage to brain
cells.6 It is important to note that progesterone does not produce secondary sex characteristics,
and in itself causes neither feminization nor masculinization. 7 However, in large doses it can be
antagonistic to testosterone.1
Progesterone supplementation is necessary to balance xenohormones, chemicals with estrogenic
activity, that we are daily exposed to in our food, air, and water. 3,4 “All xenohormones should be
considered toxic; the majority have estrogenic effects on both male and female bodies.” 4 They are
extremely potent and active in unbelievably small doses; many are nonbiodegradable, so they
continually accumulate in the environment.4 “Early in the study of estrogens, it was noticed that
soot, containing polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, was both estrogenic and carcinogenic. Since
then, it has been found that phenolics and chlorinated hydrocarbons are significantly estrogenic,
and that numerous estrogenic herbicides, pesticides, and industrial by-products persist in the
environment1…” In November 1995, an international conference concluded that, “Endocrinedisrupting chemicals can undermine neurological and behavioral development 1…” Estrogens,
whether natural or xenobiotic, can wreck havoc in the body, if not balanced by progesterone and/or
detoxified by the liver.
Estrogen dominance is a term coined by John R. Lee, MD in his groundbreaking book.3 It describes
a condition where an individual can have deficient, normal, or excessive estrogen but does not have
sufficient progesterone to balance the levels of estrogen and xenohormes in the body. 4 Because
there are so many xenohormes in our environment, it’s possible that we – men, women and children
are all suffering a little from estrogen dominance. 4 “You would have to virtually live in a bubble to
escape the excess estrogens we are exposed to through pesticides, plastics, industrial waste
products, car exhaust, meat, soaps, and much of the carpeting, furniture and paneling that we live
with indoors every day.”4 Xenohormones are particularly damaging to ovaries and testicles during
the embryo stage.4 Chronic exposure eventually results in functional loss of ovarian follicles
(decreased progesterone production) and decreased sperm production. 4
Estrogen can be produced in practically every part of the body, whereas the production of
progesterone is limited and can be blocked by excessive estrogen, stress hormones, prolactin, and
deficiencies of thyroid hormone or vitamin A. Progesterone is mainly produced in the ovaries and
testicles.1 Small amounts of progesterone are also produced in the brain and adrenal glands.1 The
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ovaries only produce progesterone after ovulation. 4 Many young girls and women do not ovulate,
even though they have normal periods, as a result their bodies are not producing progesterone in
any significant amount.4 And when a pre-menopausal woman stops ovulating, her progesterone
production falls to practically zero.3 Estrogen is a different story. Even when ovaries are removed,
hormones from the adrenal glands can be turned into estrogen by fat cells. 1 “In general, the fatter
a person is, the higher their estrogen levels are.”1 Excessive production of estrogen can also result
from a sick or damaged liver.1 B-vitamin deficiencies, which contribute to an underactive liver, can
also cause estrogen dominance. 1 A simple vitamin-A deficiency causes an inability to use protein
efficiently or make progesterone. 1 Vitamin-A deficiency, in itself, mimics some of the effects of
estrogen.1
“Estrogen is dangerous in any amounts, unless it is balanced by an abundance of the natural forms of
thyroid, progesterone, and DHEA. Estrogen is a cumulative toxin, because it causes changes in
every system of the body, even when present in normal amounts. ”1 Estrogen and insulin lower blood
sugar, while progesterone and thyroid sustain it. 1 Excess estrogen causes anxiety, excitability,
aggressiveness, depression, insomnia, fatigue, lethargy, irritability, mood swings, foggy thinking,
headaches, excessive worry or crying, fear of public places, loss of zinc, retention of copper, salt &
fluids; depletes oxygen levels in all cells, releases stress hormones, interferes with thyroid
hormone, converts food energy to fat, creates deficiencies of magnesium and the B vitamins,
increases risk of breast, prostate, ovarian and endometrial cancers, shrinks the thymus, and
contributes to autoimmune disorders (among other things). 1,4,8,11
Progesterone relieves anxiety, improves memory, promotes calm and normal sleep patterns, acts as
a natural antidepressant, normalizes zinc and copper levels, helps normalize blood sugar levels,
facilitates thyroid hormone function, restores proper cell oxygen levels, has beneficial antiinflammatory effects, helps metabolize body fat for energy production, prevents cyclical migraines,
protects against breast, prostate, ovarian & endometrial cancers, and increases immunoglobin E to
help prevent sinus, respiratory and vaginal infections and allergic reactions (among other
benefits).4,8,11 Progesterone, like testosterone, helps build tissue, creates energy, and is essential
for the growth and repair of body tissues. 1
Progesterone fosters brain growth and intelligence.1 “Progesterone is one of the few essential
requirements, besides nutrients, for nerve (brain) cell growth and survival.” 1 “During pregnancy,
very large amounts of progesterone are made. It protects and stabilizes practically all functions of
both the mother and the fetus. Progesterone, glucose and the thyroid hormones powerfully
influence the brain development and intelligence of the baby 1…” Dr. Katherina Dalton’s studies of
babies whose mothers received natural progesterone showed significantly higher intelligence
compared to a control group.1,15 Rat studies show that increased prenatal exposure to progesterone
increases rats’ learning ability and the thickness of their cerebral cortex, but the scientific
community’s lack of interest in these studies has been great.” 1 In young people of both sexes, the
brain contains more progesterone than any other organ and has a protective function in both sexes. 1
“Relatively large amounts of progesterone are present in brain cells, twenty times greater than in
the blood. It is thought that progesterone enhances the amount of oxygen in the cells of the brain,
thereby increasing mental acuity.”5 In the brain, progesterone reduces brain cell excitability; this
allows people to focus, or concentrate, better. 1
Progesterone may be particularly helpful for individuals that have toxic levels of mercury.
Research indicates that mercury may interfere with progesterone metabolism without affecting
serum levels of progesterone.9 If so, testing for progesterone may indicate incorrect levels.
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Mercury binds to a free sulfhydryl group on the progesterone receptor and may thereby diminish
progesterone binding and cellular response. 9 Mercury also blocks the conversion of the inactive
form of thyroid - T4, to the active form - T3.9,10
Estrogen’s brain-toxic effects have been known since the 1950s.1 Textbooks in the 1960s discussed
experiments in which either estrogen or insulin stopped growth of the fetus’s brain.1 “Estrogen,
even in physiological amounts is nerve-exciting, and eventually contributes to the excitotoxic death
of brain cells.”1 Progesterone and magnesium are protective of nerves; while calcium opposes the
anesthetic effect of magnesium, and is always involved in toxic or excitotoxic cell death. 1 “Since
progesterone and pregnenolone protect brain cells against the excitotoxins, anything that
chronically lowers the body’s progesterone level tends to accelerate the estrogen-induced
excitotoxic death of brain cells.”1
Progesterone has a direct affect on neurotransmitters.5 “According to an article appearing in 1987
in the International Journal of Fertility, changes in levels of progesterone have been shown to
influence the production and breakdown of brain chemicals that modulate mood. These include the
central-nervous-system neurotransmitters dopamine, norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. 5
Both the peripheral and central nervous systems have hormone receptors and react to changes in
the level of progesterone. It is thought that the ability of progesterone to generate a sense of
well being depends on this brain-related activity.”5 Mercury interferes with neurotransmitters in
multiple ways. “Cell studies indicate mercury exposure directly affects uptake and release of
dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin. Indirectly, mercury burden can be associated with
depletion or poor assimilation of specific amino acids which are precursors of neurotransmitters.” 9
In addition, persistent candidiasis and dysbiosis associated with mercury burden can compromise
the absorption of the amino acids which are precursors to dopamine, norepinephrine and serotonin. 9
“Estrogen mimics the shock reaction. Stress, exercise, and toxins cause a rapid increase in
estrogen. Males often have as much estrogen as females, especially when they are tired or sick.” 1
The stress hormones ACTH and cortisone inhibit progesterone production. 1 Stress also stimulates
estrogen synthesis in the liver.1 “Large doses of estrogen were found to destroy certain areas of
the adrenal cortex, while large doses of progesterone have been shown to have anti-stress effects
without harming the adrenals (and probably protecting them, by lowering the demand for adrenal
hormones).”1 “Stress increases levels of cortisol, which blocks progesterone from its receptors.
Therefore, normal progesterone levels do not mean that supplemental progesterone is not needed.
Extra progesterone is necessary to overcome the blockade of its receptors by cortisol.”4 Once the
high levels of cortisol drop, extra progesterone may not be necessary. 4
Progesterone is sometimes referred to as a natural tranquilizer, as it has a calming effect.5 "It is
thought that this calming effect is due to the conversion of progesterone into substances that slow
activity at GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid) receptors.5 GABA is an amino acid that inhibits
neurotransmitters (chemicals that relay information from one part of the brain to another) and has
a calming effect.”5 Researchers have noted that progesterone babies [whose mother’s were
supplemented with progesterone during pregnancy] have strong, serene, and independent
characters.1,15
Estrogen increases the brain’s susceptibility to epileptic seizures while progesterone tends to
prevent seizure activity in brain cells.1 Goodman and Gilman’s text on pharmacology discusses the
ability of estrogen to make animals susceptible to seizures, and progesterone’s opposing effect. 1
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Part of progesterone’s protective effect is a result of its quieting effect on cells.” 1 Recent
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research shows that estrogen and cortisol promote the effects of the “excitotoxins,” which are
increasingly implicated in degenerative brain diseases. 1
“Progesterone helps to maintain the health of the nervous system. Nerves extend throughout the
body and are coated with a protective covering, the myelin sheaths. These help protect the nerves
from injury caused by trauma and chemical damage, and prevent the electrical impulses from being
short-circuited. Myelin is produced by specialized cells called Schwann cells. These cells also
produce progesterone, which makes the manufacture of myelin possible. Besides helping to maintain
healthy nerves, progesterone may also be of use in repairing nerve damage. Animal studies have
shown that progesterone levels near the site of a nerve injury are far more concentrated than they
normally are in the blood, and when the animals receive additional progesterone, the myelin sheaths
surrounding the nerves thicken.”5
“Progesterone allows the thyroid gland to secrete its hormones, especially when the thyroid
function has been inhibited by estrogen. Since thyroid hormone is needed to produce progesterone,
a supplement of either tends to normalize both thyroid and progesterone production.”1 Thyroid and
Vitamin-A are essential for the conversion of cholesterol to progesterone. 1 Thyroid therapy should
sometimes be used with a steroid, preferably progesterone, to promote adrenal and other glandular
functions.1 “Cortisol, like estrogen, inhibits the thyroid, creating a vicious cycle that can only be
broken by proper hormone balancing, such as thyroid therapy, and by opposing cortisone and/or
estrogen with progesterone.”10 “Uptake of magnesium is promoted by thyroid, and progesterone
promotes thyroid function, while tending to block the stress-induced loss of magnesium.”1 Thyroid
is also antagonistic to some of the pituitary hormones, especially prolactin. 1 An excess of prolactin
has been found to block progesterone synthesis.1,4 Stress also elevates prolactin.4 Many drugs can
dramatically elevate serum prolactin levels, such as reserpine, the phenothiazines (antipsychotics
such as Haldol), the newer antipsychotic risperidone, the tricyclic antidepressants, and oral
contraceptives, etc.4,12 In theory, anyone using these drugs, should greatly benefit from natural
progesterone supplements.
It is best to use progesterone cream in normal physiologic doses, rather than in pharmacologic
megadoses.4 “Excess progesterone exhausts or otherwise reduces receptor sensitivity so that its
benefits are often lost.”4 “If progesterone supplementation is excessive for more than six months,
people become mentally lethargic and even depressed. This happens most often with oral,
micronized progesterone and high-dose creams.”4 The effects are reversible by returning to
normal levels of progesterone.4 When progesterone is taken orally (rather than applied to the skin),
a much larger dose needs to be taken because the liver converts 80 to 90 percent into metabolites
for elimination from the body. 4 This not only puts a larger burden on the liver but some of the
metabolites can have undesirable side effects.4 Dr. John Lee believes that oral dosing should be
avoided.4 Dr. Peat recommends and has patented a sublingual progesterone oil (541-683-4279),
which gets to the blood stream almost immediately after being applied to the lips, tongue or gums. 1
This method also bypasses the liver. In the midst of a panic attack or other acute distress, where
speed of action is important, sublingual progesterone oil has an immediate effect but the dose may
need to be repeated three or four times a day. 1 One researcher stated that she had seen
hysterical women calm down within minutes of being given sublingual progesterone.13 The cream has
the same effect, but takes 30 to 45 minutes longer to work (but can last up to 12 hours.) 14 In the
beginning, larger doses of the cream, applied more often, may be necessary for acute symptoms. 14
It takes time to build up progesterone in the body’s fat stores. Info from one of Dr. John Lee’s tapes
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Do not confuse progesterone with the frequently harmful synthetic progentins.1 Natural
progesterone is not marketed by the big drug companies because it is a natural substance that
cannot be patented.4 Progestins are synthetic drugs made from progesterone or testosterone,
which results in varying effects, including an array of potential side effects that range from
unpleasant to harmful but fail to provide the full spectrum of natural progesterone’s benefits. 4
Progestins inhibit normal progesterone production whereas natural progesterone stimulates its own
synthesis (i.e. taking progesterone does not suppress the body’s ability to synthesize it, as happens
with cortisol).1 For women that do not ovulate, sometimes a few doses can restore the body’s
ability to produce enough progesterone of its own. 1 Dr. John Lee believes that females (but not
males) must cycle off progesterone every month, so that progesterone receptors will continue to
respond to the hormone.3,4 This is tailored to an individual’s response and menstrual status, the
minimum time off is three days, the maximum time off is half the menstrual cycle or 14 days. 4
Obvious Questions: Given the abundance of toxins and xenohormones in our environment, and the
many benefits of progesterone to the brain, thyroid, liver, adrenals, immune, and nervous systems,
would supplemental progesterone be beneficial for infants, young children, and adults that have
already developed autistic and other neuro-developmental symptoms? If so, what doses should be
used for infants and young children? Would children need to cycle on and off progesterone? What
doses would be appropriate for adolescent males and prepubescent females? Appropriate doses for
menstruating females, menopausal females, and mature males can be obtained from Dr. John Lee’s
books and tapes.3,4,8 Since testosterone opposes and neutralizes estrogen, it seems likely that
young males with high levels of testosterone would probably not benefit from added progesterone,
unless they are under stress and producing high levels of cortisol. However, experts need to be
consulted. Progesterone has not been found to have anti-testosterone effects in men when used in
low doses, but in large doses can block the growth of whiskers1 and reduce libido.10
Because of natural progesterone’s potential benefits and lack of side effects, it seems safe to use
the cream on females that are at least pubescent, being careful to cycle on and off as indicated by
Dr. John Lee. Each parent needs to make an informed decision on whether to experiment with small
doses on their infants and children that have symptoms which would benefit from natural
progesterone therapy. Dr. John Lee recommends using creams that contain only 1.6% natural
progesterone4, such as Emerita’s Pro-Gest (the original cream), which can be purchased at health
food stores or on the internet. In addition, vitamin and mineral supplements are recommended
along with a change in diet. Since estrogens like DES are given to cattle and poultry to fatten them
up and estrogenic pesticides are sprayed on fruits and vegetables, only organic fruits, meats &
vegetables should be eaten.4 Also, milk products, soy, peanuts, and beer contain estrogenic
hormones and may need to be avoided. It is also important to have a healthy diet with sufficient
protein, fruits, and vegetables.4 Refined starches and sugars need to be avoided due to their
stimulation of insulin, the resultant increase of fat cells and further production of estrogen. 4
A partial list of symptoms that respond to progesterone, thyroid and nutritional therapy:
Aggressiveness, allergic rhinitis, anxiety, appetite disturbance, asthma (especially in adolescence &
menopause), cold hands & feet, colitis, regional enteritis, constipation, colicky pain, depression,
epilepsy, vertigo, facial pallor, puffiness, darkening under the eyes, fainting, fatigue, crawling
sensation on the skin, headache, eye pain, flashes of light, photophobia, hypoglycemia, hysteria
(many emotional symptoms), inner ear dizziness, insomnia, irritability, low blood pressure, lethargy
and clumsiness, migrane, panic, weepiness, night-worry, and porphyria.1 [Only those symptoms most
relevant to autistic or psychiatric symptoms have been listed.]
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REFERENCES
1.
Raymond Peat, PhD, FROM PMS TO MENOPAUSE: FEMALE HORMONES IN CONTEXT, 1997,
P. O. Box 5764, Eugene, OR 97405, 541-683-4279, www.efn.org/~raypeat/sub.html
2. John R. Lee, MD, NATURAL PROGESTERONE: THE MULTIPLE ROLES OF A REMARKABLE
HORMONE, revised edition 1999, Bristol, England, Jon Carpenter Publishing.
www.johnleemd.com, P. O. Box 3527, Santa Barbara, CA 93130-3527, 800-528-0559
3. John R. Lee MD and Virgina Hopkins, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL YOU ABOUT
MENOPAUSE: THE BREAKTHROUGH BOOK ON NATURAL PROGESTERONE, New York, NY,
Warner Books, 1999. www.johnleemd.com, PO Box 3527, Santa Barbara, CA 93130, 800-528-0559
4. John R. Lee MD, Jesse Hanley, MD and Virginia Hopkins, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT
TELL YOU ABOUT PREMENOPAUSE, New York, NY, Warner Books, 1999. www.johnleemd.com
5. Susan M. Lark, MD and James A. Richards, MBA, THE CHEMISTRY OF SUCCESS, SIX
SECRETS OF PEAK PERFORMANCE, San Francisco, CA, Bay Books, 2000.
6.
Raymond Peat, MA, PhD, “Three Youth-Associated Hormones”, 1996, www.efn.org/~raypeat/horm.html
7. C. Norman Shealy, MD, PhD, NATURAL PROGESTERONE CREAM - SAFE AND NATURAL
HORMONE REPLACEMENT, Los Angeles, CA, Keats Publishing, 1999.
8. John R. Lee, MD, David Zava, PhD and Virginia Hopkins, WHAT YOUR DOCTOR MAY NOT TELL
YOU ABOUT BREAST CANCER: HOW HORMONE BALANCE CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE, New
York, NY, Warner Books, 2002. www.drjohnlee.com, 800-528-0559
9. David Quig, PhD, “Cysteine Metabolism and Metal Toxicity”, Alternative Medical Review, August
1988, Vol3, Num4, www.thorne.com/altmedrev/fulltext/tox3-4.html
10. Lita Lee, PhD, “Hypothyroidism, A Modern Epidemic”, revised 2000, www.litalee.com
11. Lita Lee, PhD, “Estrogen, Progesterone and Female Problems”, revised 2000, www.litalee.com
12. Carla M. Canuso, MD, Jill M. Goldstein PhD, Alan I. Green, MD, “Schizophrenia in Women: The
Role of Estrogen”, Primary Psychiatry, April 2000; 7(4):38-44
13. Personal communication from Lita Lee, PhD. www.litalee.com
14. Personal observations by author.
15. Dr. Katharina Dalton, a British physician, noticed that many of her female patients were greatly
improved or cured during the last trimesters of pregnancy from their monthly episodes of
asthma attacks. She hypothesized that this was due to the large amounts of progesterone
produced during pregnancy and successfully tested her theory with injections or suppositories
of progesterone (no cream then). In 1953, she coined the term “premenstrual syndrome”. For a
report on her studies of progesterone babies, go to www.tidesoflife.com/superbaby.html.
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Note: The author would be very interested in hearing from anyone with comments about this paper,
or who knows of positive and negative results from using natural progesterone therapy for
psychiatric or autistic conditions. Please correspond to: Janet McAuley, P. O. Box 9290, Mammoth
Lakes, CA 93546, js.mc@verizon.net
Version 2, July 28, 2002
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