Natural progesterone, a cholesterol derivative, comes from the Mexican yam or soybeans. It matches exactly the chemical formulation of the body's own progesterone and thus causes no side effects. Manufacturers of synthetic progesterone alter the chemical makeup of progesterone in order to create progestins.

Synthetic progesterones (called 'Progestins') are drugs created and manufactured by drug companies. They are patented molecules not found in nature or our bodies. Because there are known side-effects, they are only available by prescription and require physician oversight. Synthetic progesterone once inside your body seeks out and resides in the cells, which have progesterone receptor capabilities.

Natural" progesterone (also termed USP Progesterone) refers to a single molecular structure that is "bio-identical" to the progesterone molecule that the body makes. Synthetic "progestins" or "progestogens," do not exactly duplicate the body's own progesterone molecule. They mimic the body's progesterone closely enough to bind to progesterone receptor sites and have some progesterone-like effects, but they do not deliver the full range of "messages" that a natural progesterone molecule would.

According to physicians who use natural progesterone in their practices, the instructions are as follows: st Month: Use cr?me as directed. Take synthetic estrogen pill every other day or cut estrogen patch in half. nd Month: Use cr?me as directed. Take synthetic estrogen pill every third day or cut estrogen patch in quarters rd Month: Use cr?me as directed. Take synthetic estrogen pill every fourth day. If using the patch, go totally off it.

There are many comparisons to the benefits of natural versus synthetic foam. In order to compare the benefits, it is necessary to first consider in what capacity the natural or synthetic material will be used. In terms of bedding or furniture, products made of natural foam are sturdier than products made of synthetic foam. Natural foam products are able to withstand "wear and tear" longer than synthetics.

Synthetic progesterone (progestins) simply do not perform the same functions in the body. They can even lower your levels of progesterone. Natural progesterone is also a precursor to many other hormones in your body, so it is imperative that it be used in its natural form.

Progesterone is the hormone which, during a woman's fertile years, is produced by the ovaries and has effects which are in some ways opposite to those of oestrogens. During the menstrual cycle, oestrogens build up the uterine lining (called the endometrium), but if the egg is not fertilised the lining is not required; it is progesterone which stimulates the lining to shed, causing a period. Progesterone is included in hormone replacement therapy in a synthetic form called progestin.

Progesterone binds with progesterone receptor sites in the brain and causes a calming effect on the central nervous system. In excessive amounts, progesterone may have a relaxing effect on the brain, and may cause drowsiness. In a very small group of women who are extremely sensitive, progesterone of any kind may aggravate hormonal headaches or PMS symptoms.

During peri-menopausal or menopausal stages, monthly cycles occur wherein women do not ovulate. Without ovulation, the ovaries do not produce progesterone. Progesterone levels get lower, while estrogen levels may stay the same. This fluctuation in hormone levels may result in hot flashing, night sweats, insomnia, changes in bleeding patterns and other menopausal symptoms. Adding progesterone may help restore the bodies balance and alleviate symptoms.

Progestins do not convey the full spectrum of progesteron's benefits as listed above and they have numerous potential deleterious side-effects not found when using natural progesterone. The natural hormones are more quickly metabolized and excreted than the synthetic versions. Progesterone has no known side effects.

Pharmaceutical progestins do not appear in the biosynthetic pathway. The fact is, they are not found in any living forms. Furthermore, being foreign to all living things, they are patentable and thereby potentially more profitable. Natural Progesterone is from a plant extraction and is not patentable

During the years before actual menopause, estrogen may be decreasing only slightly and ovulation has ceased or is rare. Without ovulation, progesterone production is essentially zero making a woman estrogen dominant. Further supplementing the dominant estrogen simply does not make sense, and synthetic progestins have undesireable side effects.

USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) provides standards for more than 3,700 medicines, dietary supplements and dosage forms. The "USP" on natural progesterone USP is given because it meets standards of purity (99%). To visit the website of U.S. Pharmacopeia, please click the link at the bottom of this page.

This is the question most frequently asked of Dr. John Lee during his more than 30 years of active clinical practice. To quote from Dr. Lee: "The medical-industrial complex refers to the close knit association of organized medicine with the pharmaceutical manufacturers and governmental medical regulatory agencies... The system taken together is neither necessarily corrupt nor evil, but, like any human agency, is subject to the frailties and faults of humankind.

HTP stands for 5 Hydroxy Tryptophan and is the "immediate precursor" building block for Serotonin, a very important neurotransmitter in the brain. Serotonin helps to maintain emotional stability and aids in sleep. 5HTP is derived in the natural state by the grinding of seeds from the Griffonia plant. It is not a synthetic chemical. Serotonin syndrome” is most commonly caused by the combination of multiple antidepressant medications.

Natural hormones are, in fact, bioidentical hormones. The fact that the bioidentical hormones come from natural plants (soy or yam plants) does not make them bioidentical. From there they are taken to a chemical plant where they are further processed into the bioidentical forms. They are further tested for bioidentical purity, so that when a compounding pharmacy receives these products they are ready to be compounded into different dosage forms.

Latex International makes two kinds Talalay latex: Talatech, which is a blend of 30% natural and 70% synthetic, and Talalay Natural, which is 100% natural latex from the rubber tree. J