Agnus castus

[Murphysmum]

In addition to my exercise post and it’s relation to my reappearing symptoms, it occurred to me that I’ve been taking this supplement for the last two weeks.

In that time it’s already significantly improved my menstrual symptoms so I’m wondering if it is having some kind of impact on my thyroid?

I’m taking agnus castus for estrogen dominance/low progesterone- I’m sure it will interact with the thyroid function in some way as all hormones are interlinked if you get my jist - but could this be the reason for everything going off kilter recently? 🤔🤷🏼‍♀️

Thanks as always!

[Murphysmum]

Well yes, quite.

I can’t remember the dose but it has definitely made a difference in two weeks. I’ve been suffering the same symptoms for around two years now so Im not imagining it!

I’ve tried using bio identical pg cream and it seemed to help at first and then not so much, hence I’m trying this. I’ll check the dose shortly.

It just occurred to me that if it’s made that much difference to my other hormone issues, maybe it’s affected my thyroid function more than I thought too!

Here was me blaming the exercise as well 🤷🏼‍♀️

[Serendipitious in reply to Murphysmum]

Are you still taking Agnus Castus? How is it working out for you?

[Murphysmum in reply to Serendipitious]

So I didn’t take it straight away but started about 4 weeks ago now. It’s working well, def less peri symptoms.

Doesn’t appear to be affecting the thyroid hormones in any way

[Serendipitious in reply to Murphysmum]

That’s good, I’d like to try it for heavy periods. I’m also thinking of bio identical progesterone too. Not sure what at the moment.

[Murphysmum in reply to Serendipitious]

I’ve tried that too. The bio PG worked well for me as I think my low thyroid had led to low pg... or certainly estrogen dominance. I used it for about a year - maybe around 4/5 months, then a bit of a break and then another 6 or so and it definitely helped.

I stopped using it about 6 months ago only because a hormone test beforehand had showed everything was still in the “normal” range so I knew things weren’t too far wrong and I didn’t want to overdo it.

The agnus Castus is definitely evening things out too... month two at the moment. We’ll see how things pan out.

Good luck

[Serendipitious in reply to Murphysmum]

That’s really good to hear I’m probably in a similar boat and possibly similar age to you. Which brand did you use? Or did you get a compounded one?

I was thinking of using the Medichecks hormone tests to track my progress. Not sure if there’s any good and affordable alternatives. How often were you testing?

[Murphysmum in reply to Serendipitious]

So I was tested right at the start, when we (I) was still trying to work out why I felt so rubbish. So that would be beginning of 2018 I guess.

I didnt retest until a few months ago, rightly or wrongly I just went on symptoms.

I did the medichecks test but the one ok got didn’t test for progesterone. Not sure how I missed that. That’s how I found my low testosterone though so I was satisfied with that!

I got biovea bio pg cream but it comes from the states. It’s good though and arrives no problem.

[Poniesrfun]

Good write up here:

mskcc.org/cancer-care/integ...

Aka CTB, Vitex , monk’s pepper.

Need caution with hormone driven cancers.

We’ve always used it with “moody mares” and helps with coat shedding for horses with Cushing’s. That’s because it works on the hypothalamus- pituitary axis, which is also involved in thyroid response.

Can be really helpful but just a reminder that when we take anything that is potent enough to have a desired effect it can be potent enough to also cause unwanted side effects.

Patti in AZ

[Hillwoman]

I'd be a bit cautious with this one, as others have suggested. It can have potent effects in some. I tried it about 15 years ago, just for a couple of months, to see if it would help with peri-menopausal symptoms. I kid you not, it made my boobs shrink! They never re-inflated...😥

[Murphysmum in reply to Hillwoman]

At this point I’m not sure that’s a bad thing but, point taken! 😬😳