Microsoft word - faq progessesnce plus.docx

Dr. Dan Purser, MD
Frequently Asked Questions about
Progessence Plus
Fall 2013
In my professional opinion:
Progessence Plus
Is Progessence Plus® safe to take? Yes. It’s just that simple. It
contains a tiny amount of a biologically identical (to humans)
hormone called progesterone that is not only safe, but
incredibly beneficial to women. Natural progesterone has no
long-term problems associated with it – even at high doses.
Are natural hormones safe to take? Yes, they are very safe to
take (unless you have Factor V Leiden or breast cancer).
Studies have shown that synthetic hormones may have
health risks that may exceed the benefits of HRT. A woman's
body has trouble assimilating synthetic hormones effectively
and the side effects that result are often much worse than
the original problems being treated.
Why is there a statement about causing cancer on the package?
This is an outdated statement that is required by law in
California. Proposition 65 is placed on anything brought into
the state of California that contains hormones. Unfortunately,
the law does not differentiate between synthetic and natural
hormones (they also do not slap it onto Vitamin D3 which is
also a hormone – like I said a bad law, very outdated).
Young Living has a Progessence® cream, which also carries the required Prop 65 statement on the tube. This is because synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate (which is found in so many products made for women) along with the synthetics in the various birth control pills, have all been shown to cause cancer. Research has proven that natural human progesterone does not. Here is Young Living’s official statement about the Warning on the label: ―There is no cancer causing agents in Progessence Plus®. This statement is due to an outdated California law that actually refers to the cancer known to be caused by the synthetic medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA as in the drug Provera®) that has been shown in a number of studies to cause breast cancer. But MPA is not the human P4 or bio- identical progesterone made from natural yam products that we used in Progessence Plus® – the generic chemical names are just similar. But the law is poorly written and mistakenly refers to any hormone as cancer causing when no naturally occurring human hormone has been associated with any cancer ever (not even estradiol – CEE has but no human 17-beta- estradiol). Human progesterone (even the compounded version like in Progessence Plus®) actually reduces breast and ovarian cancer risk (and reduces a lot of other risks such as CAD, stroke, DVT, etc). This can all be verified by searching on PubMed. If you live in California please lobby for the change of this law. Thank you for the great question. Does this mean I won’t get cancer now that I’m using
Progessence Plus®? No, it can and in some cases, will still
happen. We just hope it reduces your risk. But California
government still requires the Prop 65 statement on the
bottle. Let me be clear – Progessence Plus® and
progesterone will not cure you of cancer, nor do I want to
give you any idea that it will. Medically & legally, I am
ethically bound to say that if you indeed have cancer please
follow the instructions of your allopathic (western) physicians
(or physicians of your choosing) and have the proper
surgeries or therapies. If necessary I would encourage you to visit with Dr. Young at his clinic in Ecuador. I have found that faith can also do marvelous things and I pray for those of you whose lives have been affected by cancer. I take birth control pills (or shots) and wonder why I can’t
take the Progessence Plus®? If or when you develop blood
clots or breast cancer from the synthetics we don’t want
Progessence Plus® to be associated in any way or on the
radar screen of possible causes when your attorney is
looking for culprits. Natural progesterone does not cause
clots or breast cancer, period.
Research has proven that synthetics are cancer causing and if you are using synthetics, it would be too easy for doctors to point the blame at the natural product. The safe and 100% natural human progesterone reduces your risks of clots, strokes, heart attacks and cools your arteries besides. I’ve had breast cancer and my doctor says not to take any
hormones – why? Because synthetic hormones have been
associated with breast cancer and as all hormones can
sometimes be lumped into the same category, this opinion of
staying away from hormones has tainted natural hormones
as well (There is no data that supports the connection
between synthetic and natural hormones).
This is the like the Proposition 65 Statement law required in California where they combine all of the hormones in one category, then they make a broad sweeping and inaccurate statement about them. They are not even remotely similar. However; you should still talk to your doctor and get their approval to use Progessence Plus® if you have any questions about it. If my doctor says not to take Progessence Plus®, what should I
do? Hopefully, your doctor is trained in preventive medicine,
endocrinology, gynecology, or is well versed in natural and
modern methods of prevention. Today there is so much
information available about hormones that your doctor
should be able to provide you with a well-researched reason
to avoid it. I would suggest you seek a second opinion. But
always listen to your doctor FIRST.
I’ve had progesterone receptor (PR+) positive breast cancer;
can I take Progessence Plus®? Again, please talk to your
personal physician first. If you were my patient, I would say
that because of your experience with cancer, that it is even
more reason to use a natural progesterone product.
Research continues to prove that natural or human
progesterone will connect to that progesterone receptor and
cause apoptosis (see my book on Progesterone for more
details) or ―destruction of the cell.
Should I take Progessence Plus® while I’m pregnant?
Technically and legally our answer is No. There is no need
because you usually have high levels of progesterone when
you are pregnant. But in her book “Gentle Babies: Essential
Oils and Natural Remedies for Pregnancy, Childbirth and
Infant Care” (available on Amazon), Debra Raybern says
there is no problem with the oils and that it would be safe.
It’s your decision. We encourage you not to take any risks
with your baby, so please don’t use this during pregnancy!
I have endometriosis – will Progessence Plus® be safe for me to
take? Progessence Plus® is not only safe but from may
studies we know progesterone will probably help your
endometriosis maybe even dramatically reduce your
symptoms.
I am 18 and have severe PMS – is Progessence Plus® safe to
take? Progessence Plus® is not only safe, but we know from
lots of studies that progesterone will probably help your PMS. We’ve found that it usually does help. I have menstrual migraines -- is Progessence Plus® safe to
take? Yes -- research has shown the positive effect natural
progesterone has on migraine headaches.
I’ve had a hysterectomy so why would I take Progessence
Plus®? Lack of progesterone can occur whether your ovaries
are there or not – and as a woman you need a sufficient
amount of progesterone to balance your hormones.
I’ve had blood clots from birth control pills – is Progessence
Plus® safe to take? Synthetic progestins are known to cause
clots, while human (natural) progesterone has been shown
in a number of studies to not cause clots. I would consult
with your physician to be sure, but I believe that you can
safely take Progessence Plus® without increasing your risk of
more blood clots.
I’ve had a stroke/heart attack -- is Progessence Plus® safe to
take? Synthetic progestins are known to cause strokes or
heart attacks (vascular disease), while human (natural)
progesterone has been shown in a number of studies to
reduce vascular inflammation and heart attacks/strokes. I
believe that you are safe to use Progessence Plus®, but I
would consult with your doctor if you have any concerns.
I have high blood pressure – is Progessence Plus® safe to take?
Natural progesterone has been shown to lower blood
pressure in women, so yes.
I have insomnia -- is Progessence Plus® safe to take? Yes, progesterone has been shown to cause somnolence (sleepiness) in women and you could find yourself sleeping deeper when using it. I have hot flashes/night sweats -- can Progessence Plus® help?
Yes, lack of progesterone has been shown to stop these
98% of the time. (You might try the Young Living product,
FemiGen®, to take care of the other 2% -- it increases
estrone.)
I have no libido – will Progessence Plus® make this worse? No,
research has shown that using progesterone should improve
libido – so go ahead and try some, but warn your honey first!
The bottle of Progessence Plus® is clear -- why? I’m not exactly
sure why, I do know that Young Living’s product team didn’t
give me a scientific reason other than to distinguish it from
the other line of essential oils.
What is the source of Vitamin E that Progessence Plus® uses?
Is it wheat germ? Yes, and we only use natural means to get
it.
Can Progessence Plus® be taken with thyroid medications?
Absolutely! And they do not cross react.
Can a cancer patient use Progessence Plus®? Yes, always,
since your ovaries make natural progesterone. But of
course, it is best to consult with your oncologist first.
I have had a breast removed, can I use Progessence Plus®?
What if I am currently being treated for breast cancer?
Always ask your doctor first before adding anything to your
routine, but we, of course, would encourage you to use
Progessence Plus® (as long as they approve).
Is Progessence Plus® safe for breast cancer survivors taking
tamoxifen? Ask your doctor of course, but yes, we believe
so.
What are the implications of using Progessence Plus® on MS
patients? The implications are really good—and so I suggest
taking more. I know from the literature and our experiences
that the top teaching hospitals advise all kind of hormones
for their patients (like testosterone) and progesterone
because it is thought to be quite beneficial in remyelinating
nerves. It’s unfortunate that a lot of docs don’t read the
research or literature, but instead let drug companies
influence their opinions on medical issues.
The symptoms for low progesterone seem to be very similar to
the symptoms of Lupus. Could this be the hidden cause of
Lupus/SLE? Maybe—and it definitely won’t hurt to try
Progessence Plus®, especially if you have symptoms of low
progesterone.
How would you recommend taking the Progessence Plus®
serum? Begin with just a drop on your neck or the hairless
part of your arm each night and let your body adjust to the
intake of progesterone. You can increase the amount as you
feel the need, but I would advise you to start with a small
amount and increase it over time. Remember that every
woman will react differently to the increased progesterone
levels in her body, so be aware that you may have some
kind of reaction too. Sometimes women using Progessence
Plus® experience an increase in hot flashes and that
sometimes indicates an increase in application of
Progessence Plus® is needed before they subside. IF
YOU’RE REALLY DESPARATE for RELIEF – put a drop in
the middle of your forehead (WARNING: DO NOT GET
INTO YOUR EYES and wash your skin first!!!)
Can Progessence Plus® be taken orally? No, we don’t
recommend it and yet, we know some women will do it
anyway and we don’t think it will hurt them (especially if
under the tongue), but still, just don’t do it.
How should menopausal women use this serum? Probably
daily, I suggest that they rub it on their neck or hairless parts
of their forearms.
What do you mean by no cycling? Is the information given at
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:MenstrualCycle2.png
correct? Could we still use the chart to know if we need to give
more support to the Pituitary Gland, Thyroid or Adrenal
during days 10 though 14? Sure. Cycling is a male idea that
came about in the 1960’s when they developed the birth
control pill – the researchers - (all male of course) thought it
would be more comfortable for the women if they
hemorrhaged once a month so they’d feel more natural. So
they created the idea of cycling. It was a bad idea when it
was introduced and in my opinion, it still is today. Also, the
website really refers to normal women and none of these are
normal women who don’t desperately need this just to make
it through the day.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Combined_oral_contraceptive_pill
Is there a maximum amount a day that I should use? Follow
what the instructions on the bottle say however; I say take as
much as you feel that you need – 8 drops/day is probably
the average. (Remember that your serum progesterone
levels can get 400X higher with pregnancy.)
What would cause my headaches and hot flashes to increase?
Should I discontinue my use of Progessence Plus®? No, the
symptoms are a result of your hormones adjusting and as I
sometimes call it, a --fighting back of sorts (we don’t know
what else to call it but we see it on occasion in our office). In
these rare instances, we advise women to step on the gas
pedal and increase your dosage because you can beat it!
How many milligrams (mg) of progesterone are in a drop of
Progessence Plus®? Well, Progessence Plus® has less than 15
mg per ml of progesterone (about 14.2 or so – just about the max allowed by the FDA) but the secret is in the quality of the progesterone we used. One milliliter (ml) has about 30 drops total in it and so one drop has about 0.5-1.0 mg of progesterone. All of this may be technical talk and is meaningless when compared to the quality of this product and absorption properties. There are a number of poor quality progesterone’s out there for oral or sublingual use, and thankfully we will never keep company with any of them. Just try it and see for yourself – everyone is a little different and your results will probably vary. What we do know is that as you are testing this, your body will appreciate your daily applications. Can Progessence Plus® replace my oral or sublingual
progesterone completely? Possibly but it’s according to the
quality and amount of the progesterone that you’re taking at
night. Remember to check with your doctor before changing
over. Progessence Plus® is certainly good to take in addition
to sublingual or oral progesterone.
What if a person is predisposed to Pituitary Adenoma’s could
they still use this product? Absolutely. Could it possible
exacerbate this problem? No.
I was so excited to try this Progessence Plus® that I put ten
drops on at convention (10 drops every hour!) and now I’m
dizzy or feel a little wobbly. What’s up with that? Some
women are really sensitive to progesterone and I would
advise you to be careful to only use Progessence Plus® right
before bed and only in small amounts to start off with (such
as one drop) – keeping in mind that this is not a cure all and
that you may have a number of other medical issues or
problems to deal with too and all of these affect your physiology (blood pressure, balance, etc) to a certain extent. Remember that progesterone also tends to lower blood pressure in some women too – this should also be considered. Why do I get a headache whenever I use Progessence Plus®?
This is a little uncommon but it can occur, especially if you
have a lot of vascular inflammation – it’s kind of a way your
blood vessels fight back against the relaxation and reduction
in inflammation going on after you apply Progessence Plus®.
If you have this symptom then only apply small amounts
before bed and build up slowly over a matter of months.
My high cholesterol problem went away (or improved) when I
used Progessence Plus® – my doctor is mystified by this – what
happened? We know from a number of good studies that in
women increasing progesterone often causes a drop in
cholesterol levels sometimes returning them back to normal.
It’s a cool benefit (literally for your arteries) and is one of the
reasons why progesterone has been shown to reduce the
risk of stroke and heart attacks in women.
Can I use Progessence Plus® with Depo-Provera®? These
synthetic hormones cause vascular inflammation and thus
blood clots and strokes/heart attacks – human or natural
progesterone does not. So when or if you have these side
effects we do not want our wonderful Progessence Plus®
being associated with these in any way shape or form –
that’s all. We’re being protective of our product and don’t
want to be colored with the same brush as the synthetics.
Can men use Progessence Plus® for any reason? NO! We get
asked this all the time so let me answer it again – HECK NO!
It causes a decrease in libido and vascular inflammation
(mild) in men – so best to be avoided by men.
How is low thyroid related to menopause? And, will the
Progessence Plus® help with both thyroid and hormonal
adjusting? Low thyroid is not specifically related to
menopause – a lot of women just tend to have it by then. No
thyroid improvement or adjusting is necessary with
progesterone (appears to be an old wives’ tale) though it
helps balance estrogen levels (when you have an estrogen
dominance problem).
Progessence Plus® seems to be working on old whiplash
injuries! How could this be? Whiplash can cause pituitary
damage (which I share in my Progesterone book) that could
cause a decline in FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) which
would lower progesterone levels. Also, progesterone aids in
demyelination repair. It does nothing but help!
I get up every morning and apply my Progessence Plus® and
then I feel dizzy all morning – why? Progesterone lowers
blood pressure (by relaxing arteries) – this is why, if you
have just started using Progessence Plus® and have had
years of low progesterone you should not use Progessence
Plus® in the morning (start at night until your body gets used
to it again). Progessence Plus® also makes some women
very sleepy so again another reason to take before bed.
After you’re used to it again for a while THAN you can start
adding it in the morning.
Can Progessence Plus® make my hair loss worse? Definitely
not, (though I guess anything could) and many studies have
shown that women who have been deficient in progesterone
will typically have more luck re-growing their hair when they
use progesterone.
Is Progessence Plus® safe to use with my regular BHRT (Bio-
identical Hormone Replacement Therapy)? Absolutely and
may help with your regular BHRT (can’t hurt) but ask your
Is Progessence Plus® safe to use, with synthetic progesterone
(sic – progestins)? Yes, but we’d prefer you didn’t because,
again, we don’t want Progessence Plus® caught in the blame
game when women start having the blood clots, strokes,
breast cancer and other side effects that are common from
the synthetics.
Can Progessence Plus® replace my oral/sublingual
progesterone in my regular BHRT (Bio-identical Hormone
Replacement Therapy)? Possibly – in my experience, most
compounded hormones are not of a very good quality. But if
curious, get your doctor to check levels before and after. And
make sure they approve this first.
If your doctor WON’T order the labs you can always go to my website – www.danpursermd.com and click on the Direct Labs button and order a progesterone level (they have 1300 draw sites, are relatively inexpensive, and are easy to use). Is Progessence Plus® safe to take with DHEA or Young Living
products containing DHEA? Sure, why not? These are not
mutually exclusive in any way and both are natural
hormones produced in your body so they work together –
remember though, do not take DHEA if you have a personal
breast cancer risk factor.
Will Progessence Plus® balance my estrogen dominance issue?
The natural progesterone in Progessence Plus® should help
or may actually do it if it’s not too severe an imbalance.
If I have high estrogen levels, how can I lower my levels of
estrogen? You don’t try to lower estrogen levels in estrogen
dominance, but instead you raise your progesterone level to
balance it out. Use Progessence Plus® to do this and if you
would have any questions, check with your doctor while you
Is Progessence Plus® safe with any cancer? Sure, why not? It’s
a natural hormone not associated with causation of any
cancer (though the lack of progesterone has been
associated with a higher risk of a number of cancers).
Remember though to talk to your doctor first.
I’m not losing weight on Progessence Plus®, why? Well, there’s
not a perfect weight loss idea that’s guaranteed to work
100% of the time. I wish there was, but it just isn’t so. Sorry.
Studies have shown that women deficient in progesterone
do tend to lose weight in general when you start them back
on natural progesterone. So no promises, but that’s the best
we can say. Also, watch what you eat when you use
Progessence Plus® – avoid carbs and eat more protein
because progesterone tends to be a little anabolic (muscle
building and fat burning) in women.
Is Progessence Plus® safe with prolactinomas and adenomas of
the pituitary? Yes, sure, why not? There’s no connection
between the two at all. If a woman makes progesterone in
her ovaries and develops a pituitary tumor or brain tumor,
doctors don’t start ripping out ovaries usually (hopefully
never). So it’s safe – but make sure you talk to your doctor
first.
I have endometriosis and my doctor wants to do a
hysterectomy – in light of this is Progessence Plus® safe to
take? Yes. They are taking out the uterus probably because
with endometriosis you’re bleeding and are miserable. I
believe that they’re just doing the best they can to try to help.
I disagree with encouraging women to have hysterectomies.
I personally like to treat endometriosis with lots of
progesterone until symptoms resolve, but I’m not your doctor
so talk to them first.
I have really high blood pressure that is difficult to treat – is
Progessence Plus® safe to take?
In almost every study I have read, the women taking progesterone have experienced lower blood pressure. So yes, take it and chances are very good that you will have lower blood pressure sometime soon. I have Factor V Leiden (a genetic clotting disorder) – can I
take the Progessence Plus®? No -- this is the only
contraindication to using Progessence Plus®. You should
NEVER use topical or oral hormones. You can and will die
from a clot if you do.
I have heavy menstrual bleeding, is Progessence Plus® safe to
take in this situation? Yes, progesterone has been shown to
reduce crazy heavy bleeding – this is why gynecologists use
synthetic birth control pills to control this kind of periodic
bleeding, so try the natural progesterone instead – safer and
equally beneficial results.
I’m 60 years old and still having periods – can I use
Progessence Plus®? If you have the need or feel like you need
it – sure it’s safe and may actually be very beneficial,
whether you’re 25, 35 or 75.
My daughter has menstrual migraines, should she try cycling
Progessence Plus® to see if this assists? Sure, it may help
(probably will).
My daughter is 12 and suffers with severe PMS and migraines
– how should I use Progessence Plus® with her? When she has
any signs or symptoms just try a drop on her neck (over her carotids) – you’ll see if it gives her some relief. My daughter is 11 and complains of stomach aches low down
in her abdomen once a month – I think she’s almost ready to
start her cycles – can I use Progessence Plus® with her? Sure –
these are probably early or pre-menarche PMS symptoms –
so give her a little to see if she benefits.
I started using Progessence Plus® and started breaking out –
why? I thought it was supposed to clear up my skin. Well,
usually progesterone does clear up skin dramatically but on
occasion, some women break out when using it. In our office
practice we advise taking more to see if you can get past all
of this and get your skin to clear up – if this does not work
just stop the use (better than acne).
My doctor says I have uterine polyps/fibroids/ovarian cysts –
can I use Progessence Plus®? Uterine polyps/fibroids/ovarian
cysts have all been shown to be caused by low levels of
progesterone over long periods of time – so it does not hurt
to take Progessence Plus® now.
Does taking Progessence Plus® reduce my own production of
progesterone? No, no, no. Never! Topical progesterone does
not cause negative feedback loop suppression like birth
control pills cause. The serum just adds to your levels.
How do I know I really need Progessence Plus®? You can get
levels checked -- 99% of women we checked at the Young
Living International Grand Convention of 2010 in Salt Lake
City effectively had zero levels (<0.20 ng/ml) of progesterone
in their blood – no matter what their age. This was appalling.
Plus if you have symptoms of low progesterone (hot flashes,
night sweats, migraines, loss of libido, depression, etc) you
may benefit.
How does Progessence Plus® compare to oral or sublingual
progesterone my doctor gave me? This is a common question
we’ve gotten – they don’t really or it’s kind of like comparing
apples to peanuts – there’s no way other than by the way
you feel and following blood levels can you tell for sure.
Maybe your progesterone you’re using is not very well
micronized or maybe it’s very well micronized and you’re
running optimized levels – either way there’s no way of
knowing without blood levels or symptom alleviation.
Does Progessence Plus® help women get pregnant? Anything
that increases progesterone levels in pre-menopausal
women who have chronically low progesterone levels may
benefit attempts to get pregnant. We don’t know for sure but
our guess it might indeed.
Is Progessence Plus® safe to take with medications besides
BCPs? Always ask your doctor but we’d say yes. It’s a just a
little low dose topical progesterone in Vitamin E (with a few
critical essential oils) so we’d say sure – no problem. But
please ask your doctor first.
I started having really bad headaches, which sometimes
developed into a migraine headache right after I started using
Progessence Plus®, can you please help me understand why?
Well, normally in our office with patients starting sublingual
progesterone we occasionally (rarely actually) see some
develop new headaches. We believe this to be a result of
having low progesterone for years and it seems like the
opposite reaction you should get – and it is.
We think the blood vessels (arteries) are very reactive and sensitive to any progesterone, so they don’t know how to react and are caught between two worlds (one of rich progesterone levels and one of no progesterone) so they spasm a little (or a lot) causing the headache. We usually advise these patients to use more – push their progesterone levels higher. If this happens to you or anyone using this product, please advise them to do the same and/or have them see a doctor experienced in the use of hormones to obtain larger doses of sublingual or oral progesterone (they may also want to be evaluated for some other more serious cause of their headaches – we’d advise it). I’ve started having periods again, and some of them are heavy,
since starting Progessence Plus® – why and what should I do?
This may be because of a fibroid or polyp. Try taking a little
more but if this does not work see a doctor experienced in
hormones ASAP or your Ob-GYN to evaluate this. In our
practice when we get this we often do find fibroids or polyps
(occasionally tumors) more often than not, the woman did
not even know she had any.
Resources If you would like more information about Dr. Dan Purser and his research on the powerful effects of natural progesterone, order his book: Progesterone: The Ultimate Woman’s Feel Good Hormone on Amazon Kindle (www.GreatMedEBooks.com) or the paperback from www.danpursermd.com Also, “like” Dan Purser MD on FaceBook where he can answer your health questions. I hope this helps answers some of your questions. I was on
the team that helped formulate this product at Young Living
and I know with great confidence that Progessence Phyto
Plus® will help women of all ages. Thanks to all of the
women who submitted these questions and I pray that all of
you will enjoy good health.
*Disclamer: The  information  contained  in  this  FAQ  is  intended  for  educational  purposes  only.  It  is  not  intended  to  substitute  for  medical  care  or  to  prescribe  treatment  for  any  specific  health  condition.  Dr.  Dan  Purser,  M.D.  and  Young  Living  assume  no  responsibility  to  or  liability  for  any  person  or  group  for  any  loss,  damage,  or  injury  resulting  from  the  use  or  misuse  of  any  information  herein.

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