READ THIS BEFORE BEGINNING NATURAL PROGESTERONE THERAPY
AND/OR STARTING ANY OF YOUR CLIENTS ON PROGESTERONE CREAM
PHYTOPROLIEF: is primarily for Menopause symptoms. It contains Phytoestrogens
which can be useful because they occupy estrogen receptors so they can protect against
excess estrogen*
PROLIEF: is for men, teens, infertility, pregnant or lactating moms, women with
migraines and some women who have had breast cancer. Everyone can start with this
product.
*Phytoprolief has the addition of natural herbs which act as phytoestrogens. These
“phytoestrogens” or natural plant estrogens have been added to the Prolief cream to help
women who are experiencing hot flashes or vaginal dryness. For those women using
Phytoprolief, you may begin to transition to the Prolief after the first 2-3 months of use if
the hot flashes and vaginal dryness has subsided. If your symptoms have not diminished,
you may need to increase to two pumps /day, but the desired goal is to wean off of the
phytoestrogens and back onto the regular Prolief.
Dosage instructions:
Men: Use 1/8 tsp. (1/2) pump each day. There is no need to stop. Apply to shaven face or
soft tissue.
Women: The cream is to be massaged into soft tissues of the body: neck, chest,
abdomen, inside arms from wrist to armpit, breast tissue and inside thighs. Alternate the
locations everyday in order to stimulate the various progesterone receptors. Use 1 pump
in the morning and one pump at bedtime. One pump equals ¼ teaspoon (20 mg
Progesterone)
***The most important thing to remember in using the progesterone cream is to listen to
your body and the physiologic effects. Make sure to follow up with your clients within 2
weeks of starting and address any concern that they may have. Some clients may need to
use the Phytoprolief for one bottle to balance estrogen and then continue with regular
Prolief. Have your clients chart their symptoms to help to know what is improving.
P=PROLIEF
PP=PHYTOPROLIEF
Category 1: Teens, Pregnant/Lactating/Premenopausal women
The above measurement should be used from day 12 through day 26 of your cycle. Day 1
is the first day of your period. Stop on day 26. Continue the following months again on
days 12 through 26. (So stop using the cream the day that you start menstruating until the
day you stop). –P
Category 2: Menopausal women not using estrogen and post-menopausal women
The above measurements should be used for about 3-4 weeks a month. Discontinue use
for 3-5 days of the month. Many women start on the 1st day of the month because it is
easier to remember. You may start at any time and count 25 days and then stop for 3-5
days. Some women’s symptoms recur during their days off of the cream. If this happens,
listen to your body and begin the cream again.—PP
Category 3: Menopausal women taking a cyclic estrogen supplement
The above measurements should be used for about 25 days a month then off for 3-5 days
a month. If on estrogen, start weaning yourself off. If using the patch, cut in half. If using
the pill, take it every other day. Continue lowering the amount you are taking over a 5-6
month period until it is no longer needed. Continue using the natural progesterone cream
for 24-25 consecutive days. –PP
Category 4: Menopausal women taking an estrogen and progestin combination
Dr. Lee suggests that she should stop the progestin immediately when the progesterone
cream is added. The estrogen should be tapered slowly. In some cases the Premarin and
the Provera are separate pills. Simply stop taking the Provera side. Estrogen and
progesterone can be used together during a three-week or 24-25 day period each month,
leaving 5-7 days each month without either hormone. The estrogen dose should be low
enough that monthly bleeding does not occur but high enough to prevent vaginal dryness
or hot flashes. –P
Category 5: Premenopausal women with period irregularity or no period
It is recommended that you use the cream for 45 days straight for the first month and then
STOP. Your cycle should begin 1-2 later. Then use regularly on days 12-26 as listed
above. Your cycles should become more regular and PMS symptoms should diminish as
you use the cream but because your body was so out of balance, it could take 3-5 cycles
to balance out. –P
Category 6: Women trying to get pregnant: Start taking the cream and do not stop
until you start bleeding or take a pregnancy test. If you become pregnant on the cream
DO NOT stop using it until the 5th or 6th month when your body naturally starts
producing 400-500 mg of progesterone. If you experience the baby blues after delivery, it
is safe to take the cream to restore the progesterone to normal levels. –P
Category 7: Endometriosis: Use the cream from day 5-8 to day 26 of your cycle, to
reduce the effects of estrogen, which stimulates the endometrial growth. This gives your
client one week off of the cream to refresh receptors. Use about one ounce of cream per
week which is about 3 pumps per day. It will take up to 6 months for symptoms to be
controlled and they may not go away altogether. As the endometriosis becomes more
tolerable decrease the dosage to as close to two pumps a day as possible. Increase the
dosage if there is a flare up. If your client gets sleepy, have her lower dosage until
sleepiness goes away. –P
Category 8: Menstruating but not ovulating: Dr. Lee suggests starting the
progesterone between days 10 and 12 of your menstrual cycle and continuing to day 2630 depending on the normal length of her menstrual cycle. Use approx. 1-2 pumps per
day. –P
Category 9: PMS: These symptoms usually indicate stress and higher levels of the
hormone cortisol. Cortisol competes with progesterone for common receptor sites, so you
may need a higher dose. For the first month or two, from days 10-12 to 26-30, use the
cream in a crescendo pattern with a pump at night starting on days 10-12 and gradually
increasing to 2 pumps a day morning and night. Finish off the last 3 or 4 days with 4
pumps a day morning and night. Once symptoms are relieved, taper down to using one
pump a day in the evening then gradually increasing to two pumps a day through days
26-30. –P
Category 10: Uterine Fibroids: (With the exception of cancer or severe uterine
bleeding) Use category 8 instructions but you can start as early as day 8-12 to day 26-30.
Use about one ounce of the cream during this time. A little over one pump a day.
Ultrasound tests can be obtained initially and after 3 months to check results. A good
result would show the fibroid size had not increased or had decreased by 10-15%. If good
results are obtained, this treatment can be continued through menopause. –P
Category 11: Using Progesterone with birth control: If the birth control pill is a
combination estrogen/progestin this will lessen the effects of the progesterone cream. Try
alternating birth control at night and progesterone at night or vice versa. This may help
with absorption. Don’t continue taking both the cream and birth control together for a
long period of time without consulting your Dr. They are not meant to be used in
conjunction long term. –P
Category 12: Fibrocystic breasts: Use one pump per day from ovulation around until a
day or two before your period starts. This will usually result in normal breast tissue in 3-4
months. When under control, taper dosage to the minimum needed to maintain results.-P
Category 13: Hysterectomy with ovaries: Use same dosage as Category 8. If symptoms
are not helped substantially, use Phytoprolief for a month to see if that balances the body.
–P
Migraine headaches: use the progesterone cream on the base of neck or on temples 1
pump every four hours
Joint pain: Rub the Progesterone cream onto the area where there is pain. Progesterone
is a natural anti-inflammatory which is very effective against joint pain.
Cramping in the ovaries during ovulation: Rub the progesterone cream onto the area
where there is pain.
PLEASE NOTE:
If you are using skin care moisturizers and lotions that contain petroleum products or
mineral oil, this will clog your pores, prevent hydration to the lower levels of the skin and
reduced the effectiveness of the progesterone cream. It is very important to use a healthy,
natural and botanically based skin care products without harmful, toxic ingredients.
Arbonne International offers an exceptional green chemistry skin care regime. Speak to
your consultant about what products are best for your skin.
When you begin natural progesterone supplementation, you may experience magnified
symptoms for a short while. This is your body’s natural response and will subside as your
hormones achieve balance. Some women may experience a little breakthrough bleeding
and this, again, is a positive sign that your body is using the natural progesterone cream
to achieve balance.
If a woman has not been making progesterone for a number of years her body-fat
progesterone is probably very low. Since progesterone is fat soluble it is likely that
during the first month or so, much of the progesterone that is absorbed will be taken up
by body fat. For these women, I recommend using 2 oz of the cream each month for the
first 2 months. After that, one ounce should be a sufficient monthly dose…
Since prevention or reversal or osteoporosis is a goal of progesterone usage serial lumbar
bone mineral density (BMD) tests are very helpful. If the BMD rises on one-half jar per
10-12 months, then one knows that the progesterone dosage is sufficient. Since individual
needs vary, the correct dose is the one that works. “Over the past 15 years I have been
struck by the fact that my patients on progesterone (and without estrogen supplements)
have been remarkably free of heart disease.” –Dr. John Lee
For additional information on the benefits of natural Progesterone supplementation check
out the following:
Series of 3 books entitled: What Your Doctor May Not Tell you About Menopause, What
Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause, What Your Doctor May Not Tell
You About Breast Cancer by Dr. John Lee, MD
The Estrogen Alternative: Natural Hormone Therapy with Botanical Progesterone by
Raquel Martin and Judy Gertung, D.C.
Hormone Heresy-What Women MUST Know About Their Hormones by Sherill Sellman
It is also important to live healthy! It is suggested that we decrease estrogen dominance in
your diet by looking for organic meat and dairy products that are free of hormones and
antibiotics. Try to lower your consumption of sugar, refined carbohydrates (pastas, white
bread and white rice), and trans-fatty (hydrogenated oils, margarines, fried foods). Eat
organic, fresh fruits and vegetables as much as possible. We can also decrease estrogen
dominance in your environment by avoiding all types of pesticides, herbicides and
fungicides, including household cleaning products.