The one natural remedy that almost nobody knows about.
If you are experiencing hormone-related weight gain, anxiety, fatigue, or even arthritis and osteoporosis, there is one simple hormonal solution that you should know about.
It’s called pregnenolone.
It’s the one hormone that the body uses to make all the others—like DHEA, cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone. Pregnenolone, however, unlike its more highly publicized “daughter” dehydroepiandrosterone (or DHEA) can also transform itself into progesterone, for which it has a biochemical bias.
This puts pregnenolone in a league of its own because it can also offset excess estrogen—which—like a magnet can “attract” and stockpile more fat and water in the body along with side effects like depression, a lowered sex drive, upset blood sugar balance, headaches, and a higher risk for cancer by stimulating breast and uterine cell growth.
Here’s the scoop:
Back in the 1940s Dr. Hans Selye, the father of the “fight or flight” theory of stress, studied the benefits of pregnenolone in terms of anxiety and fatigue. In the 1950s, pregnenolone was also researched for its ability to control pain and swelling in cases of rheumatoid arthritis. The most exciting result was that it caused absolutely no metabolic side effects.
The problem with pregnenolone was that the medical establishment could not patent this natural substance. So research was redirected toward some of pregnenolone’s offspring like cortisol and its many synthetic corticosteroid derivatives such as prednisone and other similar medications.
The so called “miracle drugs” were born!
And so were all of the adverse side effects associated with the pregnenolone wannabes: high blood pressure, weight retention, and the “moon face” facial puffiness.
Luckily, most doctors now hesitate to prescribe corticosteroid drugs over the long term because they recognize that the treatment is usually worse than the original disease. And thus, pregnenolone is being rediscovered. In fact, some researchers are heralding pregnenolone as a most powerful memory enhancer, most likely due to its ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.
While pregnenolone comes in varying strengths, I generally recommend that people start with one 5 mg tablet of pregnenolone daily and slowly work their way up to 10 mg max.
Here are some very positive pregnenolone testimonials from a few of our fans:
“Pregnenolone—I don’t understand what it is or how it works, but it completely stopped the Perimenopause symptoms I’ve been suffering with! I started taking it, and 4 days later I noticed a huge change—no more moodiness or edginess and my libido resurfaced. I am totally amazed. If I forget to take it, I notice the difference. Also, it’s extremely reasonably priced. I will definitely keep buying this! Thanks for everything!” –Monique S., Pennsylvania
“I can see a big difference in my attitude! I’m not cranky anymore, and it helps to regulate my cycle.” –Annette C., Virginia
“I’ve been following Ann Louise Gittleman’s regimens for a number of years and rave in a most unseemly manner about the efficacy. I started taking UNI KEY’s Pregnenolone about 3 months ago and can happily attest that it’s taken my health and vitality to another phase—transformative. Well worth considering, even if The Fat Flush Plan is already working for you.” –Claudia, Forum Member
Pregnenolone is a remarkable adaptogen that seems to work for just about everybody!
Evelyn V. White says: That is my question also? Is the Pregnenolone better or should they be taken together?
administrator says: HI Heather: and Evelyn: Ultra H-3 and pregnenolone are a terrific combination. Dr. ALG takes both. Take Ultra H-3 on an empty stomach and the pregnenolone with breakfast.
HI Katie: With regard to your son, it would be very helpful to first do a salivary hormone test and assess all of his adrenal hormones and then proceed from there once you have a baseline. Cortisol and DHEA levels would be helpful to know.
imgrateful says: I am perimenopausal and currently taking estrogen patch – 0.5 dose – as well as wellbutrin. Both are intended to help me to sleep and stabilize my mood. I want so badly to come off both but am concerned about becoming somewhat depressed; dealing with sleeplessness; or an interruption in my sex drive. It seems to me that perhaps Ultra H-3 and Pregnenolone may be good alternatives to my current medication regimen – would you agree or not?
administrator says: Imgrateful: We would always suggest that you monitor your levels with a baseline salivary hormone test (especially estrogen and progesterone in this case) before and aone month after starting the low -dose pregnenolone and Ultra H-3. Everybody is very
different and all hormones – natural or not – should ideally be monitored especially when you are already on hormone replacement . Thanks for your question.
Donna says: I am estrogen dominant and have the tipical symptoms that go along with it. I’ve tried taking progesterone four different times, with different doses ranging from 10 mg to 150 mg. daily, stopping for a week each month. Each time I do I feel great for a few weeks but have always ended up feeling lousy and having to stop. Would something like this work for me?
Ann says: Can pregnenolone work for me even if I am taking birth control pills? thank you!
Bea says: I’ve read it can suppress pituitary function… comment?
susan morin says: My daughter is 29 years old and has endometriosis, she is on a birthcontrol pills to stop her mens. What would you recommend for her to take to control this condition? I do not think birthcontol is the answer. Could pregnonolone help her. If so should she get of those birth control pills.
Sierra says: Hi Susan,
Your daughter would certainly benefit from a Salivary Hormone Test. With the results of this test, we can create a plan of action to bring her back to hormonal balance naturally. She may indeed benefit from the Pregnenolone, but I wouldn’t recommend it until seeing her hormone test results.
administrator says: Ladies: Thank you for your comments. In exceedingly high dosages pregnenolone, like any hormone can impact the system. That is why the dosage is simply 5 mg and not higher. We do not agree with those experts who suggest 25 mg or more per day.
That being said, we suggest to be on the safe side for all of your various conditions, it would be very helpful to test your current levels with the salivary hormone testing offered by unikeyhealth.com. Or – please call LIz at Uni Key for more information.
Deana says: I was hoping you’d address dosage. I looked around for pregnenolone and only found 50 mg and 100 mg! I was hoping your article was a mistake.
Nancy says: does it matter if you have high cholesterol ( mainly high triglycerides)? I read on another site that this is used if you have low cholesterol. Does your current cholesterol level matter in taking this?
Janine says: So, would this be instead of the Progesterone Cream or in addition, to?
administrator says: Nancy and Janine: Since pregnenolone is an adaptogenic hormone, it will transfer into whatever the body needs hormonally but has a preference for progesterone, which is probably due to the biochemical fact that progesterone is deficient in so many women of all ages and stages of life. Pregnenolone can can be used to balance high cholesterol levels but has not appeared to have an impact on high triglycerides which are more diet-driven with carbohydrates, alcohol, and sugary foods.
administrator says: We suggest that if you are taking additional progesterone, that you simply decrease its use on a daily basis and use it every other day or every third day in accordance with the basic instrucftions on age/stage of life that is printed on the label.
Lisa says: I am very hopeful that this could turn my health around- I will add it to ultra H3. I also have unikeys adrenal formula; should I hold off on starting that again (it can be hard for me to tolerate), so just take Pro.. And H3 or also adrenal formula? And how is the adrenal formula different than these others?
Sierra says: Hi Lisa,
In my opinion, you should give yourself a window of opportunity to benefit from one new product before adding another. Probably 3 weeks to 3 months, depending on how sensitive you are.
The Adrenal Formula is an amazing product that has changed my life, so yes, I do recommend taking it. It is different from the others because it contains the DNA blueprint and building blocks of healthy adrenal cells, so your body can not only use the nutrition to repair damage, but build new and healthy cells.
marion says: I have had the saliva testing which resulted in a written recomendation from your office to take 5 mg. of pregnenolone every other day along with many other recommended suppliments .The first two weeks I felt great and then my breasts became so unbearibly sore had I to stop. I called and spoke with one of your assistents three times and they tried to help me, but nothing worked. Last September I did follow up with a new more comprehensive saliva test with my doctor which tested my saliva 4 times throughout the day. I never returned to my doctor to go over the test results as I went over the new results with one of your assistants. We determined that the dhea had dropped some and the cortizol levels were still over the top. Now 4 months later my symptoms are greater as I am closer to my 52nd birthday and closing in on the menapause symptoms.
I remember the great two weeks I had , but am at a loss of what to do next as it seems that adding even natural hormone replacement gives me severe side effects even in small doses. I am also concerned as I have breast cancer in my immediate family. If you can help I would be grateful.
Sierra says: Hi Marion,
I’m sorry to hear of your troubles. Maybe you try taking just one Pregnenolone per week? With your sensitive system, this might be just enough to give you some relief without being overwhelming.
As far as cortisol goes, it can be very helpful to normalize your daily rhythms if possible- waking at 6 am and retiring for the night at 10 pm. Sleep in a dark room and turn off and unplug all electrical appliances.
Earthing can also help tremendously with high cortisol, as well as inflammation, chronic pain, and getting a restful night’s sleep. Here is a link to read more about that > http://www.unikeyhealth.com/earthing
Marion says: Hi Sierra,
Yes , I am in bed normally by 9:30pm and up between 5:30 and 5:45am. I have purchased the earthing bracelet with the cord that plugs in. I will have to try again. I will also try the weekly pregnenolone . I was unaware that was an option.
Thank you,
Marion
Sherry says: What about if you are a cancer risk (ie. Breast Cancer)…will this aggravate or promote cell growth?
colleen says: It can promote cell growth if you have breast cancer and the cancer has positive progesterone receptors. 75% of breast cancers have a positive estrogen receptor. Not sure of the progesterone receptors, but most positive estrogen receptor cancers also seem to have positive progesterone receptors. I do breast biopsies for a living and I know for sure that taking progesterone will increase the risk of breast cancer.
Sierra says: Hi Sherry,
Your question intrigued me, and after doing a bit of research, this is what I have found:
Please refer to this study > http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17333341?dopt=Citation
“What Fournier and colleagues found in the first study is that of all the progestogens studied, natural progesterone had the lowest risk, which was actually lower than no treatment at all.” – http://david-zava.blogspot.com/2010/12/does-progesterone-increase-breast.html
The Progesta-Key that Dr. Ann Louise recommends is indeed a natural form of progesterone, derived from the wild yam plant.
Lynn says: I just started taking Preg 5mg. I was wondering how long it takes to build up in the system and also, would you recommend taking it daily or every other day? I also take CLA, GLA, multi vitamin and Fish Oil with D3. Also, shall I stop taking it during the onset of my period? I normally have regular periods, but have had a few irregular months during which I was taking Evening Primrose GLA..have recently switched to Black Currant GLA, hoping no breakthrough bleeding with that.
Thanks for your info.
Sierra says: Hi Lynn, the pregnenolone can be active in your body immediately, but for some people it may take up to three months to experience the full benefits. If you haven’t done any baseline hormone testing, 1 every other day should be sufficient. Do this from the day you’ve finished your period until 2 days before you expect to start your flow again. If you do experience any breakthrough bleeding or any other irregularities, you should have your hormones tested through saliva before you continue with the pregnenolone. From the results of this test, we can make more appropriate recommendations based on your hormone levels. Here is a link to the UNI KEY self testing kit for hormones > http://www.unikeyhealth.com/product/Salivary_test
I have read many recommendations from the “Taking Charge” book and am confused at what to take when and with what. Progesterone Cream or Capsule? Ultra H3, Multi Vitamin with B complex, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C, E, Flaxseed Oil, Black Current Seed Oil. Should all of these be taken on a daily basis.
betti says: Ann Louise recommends ProgestaKey progesterone creme, use according to the directions on the label. She also formulated a wonderful Female Multiple vitamin that has all the needed amounts of the vitamins and minerals. Ultra H-3 is very rejuvinating.
I’ve been taking it for 12 years and love how I feel on it. That is taken twice a day. It is good for hormone balance to take Flaxseed oil every day, 2 Tbs. in a shake or on food,
Black Current Seed oil is also good and be taken in the form of a small gel cap, It’s called GLA 90 and is also available from http://www.unikeyhealth.com
Betsy says: I started taking a low dose of Pregnenalone after discovering my levels were very low (as were DHEA). But my breasts have become so engorged and painful that I have to stop. What are alternatives to taking Pregnenalone to raise levels?
liz says: It’s true that Pregnenalone can go into Progesterone which can cause tenderness. You could try taking the Pregnenalone once a week. For DHEA you could try taking the 7 Keto DHEA.
I ordered the ultra h-3 for this very thing…should I switch to this, add this or what? I’ve only been on the H-3 for 2 weeks. It sounds like the Pregnenolone may target my specific problems.