The impact of MTHFR genetic variants

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase …have you heard of it? 

Sadly, many find this out as a result of recurrent miscarriage or difficulty trying to conceive.

MTHFR refers to a genetic variation that encodes for an enzyme involved in converting to the biologically active folate or methyl-folate (this form represents 95–98% of folate in serum + passes through to placenta).  

Folate is critical for many bodily functions especially fetal development hence is important before and during pregnancy. 

The active folate (5-MTHF) also provides the body with methyl-groups, which in everyday biology is critical for growth, development, detoxication, neurotransmitter production, fat metabolism and so much more. 

For example, the methyl from the folate pathway is donated into the methionine cycle and is required to re-cycle homocysteine back into methionine (alongside other B vitamins + nutrients like betaine).  Methionine is used to make proteins and other important compounds.

Elevated homocysteine is associated with:

• inflammation

• heart disease

• pregnancy complications

• and even miscarriages

Other important functions of methylation include:

• Turns genes on and off (cancer promoting genes)

• Building DNA and RNA (important for fertility)

• Reduces ageing process (telomeres)

• Detoxifies chemicals and heavy metal

• Processes hormones (COMT needs methyl to work, clears toxic oestrogen)

• Builds immune cells

• Turns the stress response on and off (critical as you need enough to turn it off)

• Provides us with energy

• Reduces histamine (HNMT)

There are over 30 MTHFR polymorphism. But the 2 we look at are C677T and A1298C.

• Heterozygous = 1 copy of the gene from mum or dad

• Homozygous = 2 copies from mum and dad

• Compound heterozygous =  heterozygous for C677T and heterozygous for A1298C

So what is the impact on the enzyme function:

• MTHFR C677T heterozygous  - 30-40% loss of function 

• MTHFR C677T homozygous - 60-70% loss of function 

• MTHFR A1298C Heterozygous = 20% loss of function 

• MTHFR A1298C - homozygous = 40% loss of function

• Compounds heterozygous = 40-50% loss of function. 

As scary as that all sounds, there is a reason I haven’t written about the MTHFR gene variation before

1. It’s just one gene variation that affects methylation (there are a dozen others) and they all function as a complex web. So hyper focusing on just one variation doesn’t make sense.

2. Methylation is complex, and even someone without the genetic variation can struggle with methylation, likewise someone with it, can be methylating fine.

3. Genes load the gun, environment pulls the trigger (focus on the latter)

4. You can’t change your genetics but you can change your environment (again focus on the latter)

5. Knowing this gene mutation doesn’t significantly change my recommendations as I focus on improving gut dysbiosis, optimising nutrient status with food and the most biologically appropriate supplements (in this case not folic acid), addressing adrenal health, thyroid health, controlling stress, improving sleep, reducing environmental toxins - all if which will optimise methylation

6. In saying all that, I have spoken about the importance of getting adequate FOLATE not folic acid on my Instagram TV - which is really relevant for everyone and especially those with a MTHFR genetic variation. I invite you to read this article, by dietician Lily Nichols - FOLATE: WHY IT’S SUPERIOR TO FOLIC ACID FOR PREGNANCY (EVEN IF YOU DON’T HAVE MTHFR)

What can you do to support methylation:

• Check if you are actually having trouble methylating (just having the gene variation doesn’t always mean there is going to be issues)

  • Functional methylation markers (low serum folate, low serum B12, high serum MMA, and high serum homocysteine)

• If planning on becoming pregnant, work with a Practitioner who is knowledge about MTHFR

• Avoid supplementing with folic acid and limit consumption of foods fortified with folic acid

• Remove gluten, dairy and processed foods

• Support key nutrients

  • methylcobalamin (B12) and methyl-folate, but other nutrients such as cysteine, taurine, DHA, zinc, magnesium, potassium, riboflavin, niacin, pyridoxine, betaine (beets), choline (eggs), and sulfur

  • Foods high in these methylation-supporting nutrients include beets, spinach, mushrooms, eggs, organ meats, and shellfish.

• Restore good gut health

  • Stool test to assess for any infections, dysbiosis or low levels of beneficial bacteria

• Reduce environmental toxins

  • personal care items, cleaning products, etc (one big reason why I recommend and use doTERRA essential oils)

• Reduce chemicals and heavy metals

  • filter water

  • remove mercury amalgams and root canals (see a biological dentist)

• Address histamine intolerance

  • limit high histamine foods

  • check for gut dysbiosis (stool testing)

  • rebalance high oestrogens (drive histamine and histamine drives high oestrogens) (DUTCH testing)

• Manage stress * the biggest way to deplete methyl donars - this is often when you notice symptoms

• Avoid alcohol (deplete all B vitamins, of which folate is one )

• Increase intake of methylation adaptogens

  • these are phytonutrients found in nutrient-dense diet, but additional supplementation may be helpful in some

  • curcumin (in turmeric), betaine (in beets), anthocyanins (berries), quercetin (variety of fruit and veg), rosmarinic acid (rosemary), lycopene (tomatoes), and sulforaphane (broccoli sprouts + cruciferous vegetables).

• Sauna or sweat at least three times per week

• For more insights check out MTHFR.net by Dr. Ben Lynch.

I did choose to check my own MTHFR genetic variation as a part of my pre-conception plan and I am homozygous for C677T.

So I will be more diligent with checking how I am functionally methylating and I’ll be all over consuming liver (a wonderful source of folate) and supplementing with a good pre-natal that contains methylated B’s and other supportive nutrient when it comes closer to my prep work. 

In reflection - knowing this now, it has probably lead me to a lot of the environmental changes that I have made along the way through listening to what my body was telling me eg. addressing gut dysbiosis, histamine intolerance, eliminating major sources of stress, focusing on a whole foods nutrient dense diet and eliminating environmental toxins

I hope this help a shed some light for other fellow variants. I by no means feel like an expert on this topic but as I continue to dive into things I will share more along the way.

To my fellow variants, I’d love to hear from you, too.

What impact did finding out you have it, have on your fertility outcomes and or health? 

If you have more questions, feel free to reply or get in contact at chantelhutnan@gmail.com or you can check out the “work with me” section on my website HERE

Progesterone - a serious case of mistaken identity (part 1)

I never like to single out a particular hormone because the truth is hormones never act in isolation. Each hormone is one part of an intricate web of communication. They also never have one single role but rather work on multiple functions and areas in the body.

In the case of progesterone, I want to highlight the importance of this hormone, for health, beyond fertility.

In order to that I also need to make it abundantly clear that progesterone is different to progestin medications given in hormonal birth control and hormone replacement therapies.

Let’s clear up one of the greatest cases of mistaken identity I witness amongst health professional and women.

Progesterone = the hormone created by our body , in large amounts by our ovaries, after ovulation in cycling women, and by the adrenal glands in a lesser amount by women (even if not cycling) and men.
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The body naturally produces progesterone, each month, mainly via the main event of our menstrual cycle which is {insert drumroll}, ovulation. That’s right friends, ovulation, not menstruation, is the main event of this monthly show, that is, our cycle. ⠀
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For ovulation to occur each month, a lot has to come together, to allow this rather masterful event to occur. After all, this event, has the potential to form new life, if that released egg is fertilised. Ovulation, is kind if of a big deal and is now being recognised as vital sign of health.⠀
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Even if an egg being fertilised, is not your goal, ovulation, still results in a nice healthy dose of progesterone each month, for 10-14 days (the lifespan of the corpus luteum, a temporary endocrine organ the body “whips” up, from the ruptured follicle, that then secretes progesterone until either a). the placenta takes over or b) it breaks down, towards the end of the luteal phase, resulting in a decline in progesterone, that results in menstruation). ⠀
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It’s true that progesterone is really important for pregnancy, after all, “pro= for; gestation = pregnancy” but progesterone has other effects in our body (hormones RARELY act in isolation):⠀
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Some of these include:⠀
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- Increasing bone formation ie. builds bone⠀
- Increasing thyroid function (T4), heating things up, and boosting metabolism ⠀
- Promoting sleep ⠀
- Calming the nervous system and stabilising our stress response system⠀
- Modulating the immune system + reducing inflammation (important for autoimmune conditions)⠀
- Counterbalances the stimulating effects of oestrogen on both breast and uterine tissue⠀
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Endogenous progesterone IS NOT the same as progestin medications found in the pill, HRT or hormonal IUD. They are different, structurally and functionally in the body.⠀
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To get the wonderful benefits from our own naturally occurring progesterone, the key questions to ask is 1. “are you ovulating” and 2. if you suspect you are not, “why not?”⠀
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We’ll explore more on progesterone (and how it gets’ mistaken for “progestins”) in the next posts …. ⠀

Was this helpful? Stay tuned as we dive deeper into progesterone + ovulation. If you are interested in working one-on-one to dig into things more deeply and take a holistic approach, you can visit HERE .

* I have been offering my services at a discounted price so that I can continue to accommodate my clients and those needing support through this time. I am happy to discuss this together. Chantel xxx

What you need to know about your menstrual cycle ...

When I say the words “menstrual cycle” what pops into your mind?

I am going to take a wild guess and assume that words like vital, flowing, ease, monthly report card, excited, natural, celebration, don’t pop in?

Am I right?

The reality is that so many women today either a). don’t have a regular menstrual cycle or b). experience physical and or emotional discomfort and or pain, with their menstrual cycle.

I find this concerning and I don’t accept that this is “ok” or “normal” or “just live with it.”

Let me share why …

A regular, uneventful, menstrual cycle, is a vital sign of your overall health.

As women we have a built in menstrual biorhythm, that is cyclic in nature, that of course, plays a critical role, in the ripening of an egg and subsequent release of menstrual blood or pregnancy.

That enormous job alone should tell us this whole process is kind of a big deal.

Even if you aren’t too phased by the whole egg release/pregnancy thing right now, I need you to know that this natural cycle is how you produce your primary sex hormones each month.

What do these sex hormones do?

Well I am glad you asked - short answer, a hell of a lot!

Estradiol is an important oestrogen that gets released from your follicles.

Beyond it’s important role of thickening up your uterine lining in prep for a baby and stimulating fertile cervical mucous, it also plays a role in:

• Boosting mood

• Influencing libido

• Stimulating bone formation & preventing breakdown

• Keeping skin supple and hair luscious

• Protecting heart health

• Enhances your sensitivity to insulin

• Supporting brain health

All stuff we want right?

Progesterone, is released from the corpus luteum (a temporary endocrine gland that forms from the emptied ovarian follicle) , as a result of ovulation (when a follicle ruptures and releases an egg).

An important note on this new formed gland - it takes 100 days for your follicles to mature from their dormant state all the way to ovulation. Hence, the health of the corpus luteum depends on everything that affected your follicles during those 100 days. This is why, pre-pregancy prep, should start at least 90 days prior but ideally, 6-12 months prior to conception.

Progesterone’s biggest job is pro-gestation; gestation = pregnancy. It helps to hold and nourish a pregnancy. But, like oestrogen it does so much more:

• counterbalances oestrogen eg. thins the uterus lining, lightening periods

• Stimulates thyroid hormone which raises body temperature, energy and metabolic rate

• Promotes sleep

• Calms the nervous system, anti-anxiolytic

• Nourishes hair and skin

• Reduces inflammation

• Protects against heart disease

• Supports bone and muscle growth

As you can see, these primary sex hormones, are critical to so many different areas in our body, beyond reproduction.

When things are humming along nicely, we should experience all the wonderful benefits that these hormones bring.

What does “normal” even look like?

Here are 5 key things I want you to track each month, to get to know your body a little better:

1. Cycle Length: Measure this from the first day of bleeding (referred to as Day 1) to the first day of bleeding in the next cycle. On average we are looking for a cycle length that is between 24-35 days consistently (remember: this is different for teenagers & in peri-menopause).

2. The Menses (or period): this should last between 3-7 days (average is 5 days). The volume of total blood loss over the course of the period should be around ~ 50ml in total (10 fully soak regular tampons or pads). Less than 25ml is a scanty period and can be due to low oestrogen and more than 80ml of menstrual fluid 🩸, is excessive and may be due to excessive oestrogen and or low progesterone.

3. Pre-ovulatory phase: We want to identify cervical fluid. It can look like creamy white moisturiser and progress into clear stretchy, raw egg white fertile mucous. We are typically looking for 2-7 days of this with at least one day of the clear stretchy (usually occurs during the days prior to ovulation).

4. Ovulation (the main event, and remember this is how you produce progesterone): This can occur between days 10-23 (count back 14 days from the first day of your next expected period). Eg. for a 28 day cycle, this is around Day 14. If you are temp. tracking you will see a rise in basal body temp. of about 0.3C, this stays elevated until you get your period.

   Because lots of things can influence temperature,  I also get clients to use ovulation test strips to detect the surge in luteinising hormone which precedes ovulation by 36 to 40 hrs.

   Other signs of ovulation: mild twinging pain, fluid retention, and breast tenderness.

5. Luteal Phase, this is the phase from ovulation until your menstruation and should last at least 12-16 days. It is determined by the lifespan of the corpus luteum. A luteal phase less than 11 days, is short and results in less than optimal progesterone. 

Where can things go wrong …

1. You’re on hormonal contraception

And hence, you are not cycling naturally, or producing your own beneficial sex hormones.

The primary mechanism for most combined hormonal contraception (eg. combined oral contraceptive pill, Nuvaring, Patch) is to give the body a synthetic form of oestrogen and progestin that shuts down communication between your brain and ovaries and therefore inhibits ovulation. Hence, shutting down our natural cyclical release of sex hormones.

Progesterone only contraception (eg. depot injection, Mirena IUD, implant, mini pill) contain different progestin medications, NOT, progesterone, that we produce after ovulation. They works to prevent pregnancy by thinning the uterus lining, impairing cervical fluid, and can inhibit ovulation in most cases (but not always).

Unfortunately, these hormone-like medications, do not elicit the same benefits in our body as our own natural oestrogen and progesterone. Which explains why so many women experience such a wide variety of side effects and can react very differently to different types of hormonal contraception.

2. Your cycle is MIA

Well friend, first and foremost, are you pregnant, breastfeeding or in menopause? If yes, then this is totally normal. Enjoy it.

If you aren’t you are going to want to dig deeper to find out WHY:

• Have you recently stopped hormonal contraception? If yes, it can take time for your brain to re-estalbish communication with your ovaries. Investigate further if nothing happens in 4-6 months. I like to get to work with women prior to coming off the pill to support their liver, gut, and replenish nutrients that the pill is known to deplete.

• Are you under large amounts of stress? If yes, keep reading.

• Are you overtraining and or not consuming enough calories for your activity level? If yes, you NEED to increase calories and or reduce your training.

• Do you have a diagnosis of PCOS or symptoms of PCOS (see below)?

• Do you have hypothyroidism? Or symptoms of low thyroid function (cold hands and feet, fatigue, stubborn weight gain, brain fog, anxiety, low mood)?

• This is not an extensive list but please go and investigate this ASAP! It is a sign something is up.

3. Your cycle is irregular ie. cycle length varies widely from month to month eg. 21 days, then 45 days, then 60 days

There are three situations in a woman’s life when this can in fact be normal:

1. Teenage girls: for several years after their first period as their body tries to establish the communication between the brain and ovaries and she begins to ovulate more regularly (we don’t want to shut down this communication system whilst it’s trying to establish itself).

2. Peri-menopause: the 10 years prior to ovulation stopping for good and your last period.

   * Both these situations can lead to irregular cycle lengths, increased bleeding, and other symptoms associated with lack of ovulation and or lowered progesterone.

3. Postpartum: When you give birth you produce prolactin which brings on breastmilk and suppresses ovulation, so if you don’t ovulate you won’t have a period. This lasts a different length of time for every women.

Other major causes of irregular periods include:

• Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS)

  • too much oestrogen and testosterone, which disrupts ovulation and leads to lowered progesterone.

  • This is often driven by insulin resistance and inflammation.

  • Symptoms include: excessive hair growth on face or chest, hair loss on head, acne, mid section weight gain, insulin resistance, polycytic ovaries on ultrasound, elevated androgens in blood.

  • Diet and lifestyle are SO important.

  • Taking the contraceptive pill will not regulate or fix your hormones, however it will mask the symptoms of PCOS. If you plan on having children, work on the underlying causes ASAP.

• Thyroid dysfunction

  • Heavily influences ovulation and your menstrual cycle

  • Disrupts ovulation resulting in irregular periods by disrupting Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH), Luteinising Hormone (LH) and Prolactin which messes with the ovulatory process, beginning in the brain.

  • Hypothyroidism deprives your ovarian follicles of the thyroid hormone they need to develop

  • Work with a practitioner to rule out thryoid dysfunction.

  • This is SO prevalent in the female population and especially postpartum and is also a major common missed caused of recurrent miscarriage.

  • You will need to get a full thyroid panel (probably with a Functional Medicine Practitioner) that includes:

    • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

    • Free Thyroxine (T4)

    • Free Triiodothyronine (T3)

    • Thyroid antibodies (Thyroid Peroxidase (TPO) antibodies and Thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies)

• Stress

  • Chronic stress leads to Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal Axis Dysfunction (HPA-D)

  • I would say that 99% of females in this modern world would have some level of this

  • High cortisol brought on by chronic stress (perceived, mental, emotional, lack of sleep, blood sugar disturbances, inflammation from environmental toxins and gut etc), can inhibit the hypothalamus’s production of Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH). This hormone talks to the pituitary gland to release LH and FSH. Both are critical for reproduction ovarian production

  • Cortisol also inhibits FSH and LH directly at the pituitary , to further attempt to suppress ovulation and potential pregnancy, hence oestrogen and progesterone and even testosterone are all affected

  • This is a safety / protective mechanism of the body , as it knows bringing another human into this situation isn’t wise for survival

  • You have to build relaxation and restoration into your life and create a state of safety in your body. You cannot out supplement this situation. You have to make changes.

• Nutrient deficiences

  • Vitamin D: critical for proper ovarian production and progesterone production. Get 20 minutes of sun exposure per day

  • Magnesium: support liver detoxification from the body, helps to avoid oestrogen excess (associated with heavy periods, endometriosis)

  • Vitamin C: associated with higher progesterone

  • Zinc: helps follicles to mature, improves insulin resistance and hight testosterone and supports thyroid hormone production

  • Selenium: support healthy ovulation

  • Iron: important for production of thyroid hormone

4. You have a short cycle length <21 days

• This may indicate an anovulatory cycle (anovulatory means no ovulation), a short follicle phase (common in early perimenopause), or a short luteal phase (often caused by stress and results in low progesterone).

5. You have a longer cycle length > 35 days

• This too may indicate an anovulatory cycle or a longer follicular phase (stress, under-eating, PCOS, thyroid dysfunction, later in perimenopause years)

6. You have consistent heavy (>80ml) and prolonged bleeding (>7 days)

• If prolonged, often means you didn’t ovulate. Common in PCOS, low thyroid, perimenopause

• If heavy, also consider the above + endometriosis, and low progesterone and oestrogen excess (often caused by reduced metabolism via liver and the gut and or endocrine disrupting chemicals)

In my work, I like to check how oestrogens are being detoxified through your Phase 1 and Phase 2 detox pathways via functional tests like a Dried Urine Total Comprehensive Hormone Test and a comprehensive stool test to asses Phase 3, as well as assessing lifestyle factors, like diet, environmental toxins, alcohol consumption etc.

7. You experience consistent light (<25ml) or short bleeding (<2 days)

• Check and make sure you are ovulating

• If yes, it may be a sign you have lowered oestrogen.

• Are you eating enough calories? Eating too much soy? Managing stress?

8. You experience period pain that disrupts your ability to function

• Normal period pain usually doesn’t interfere with your daily function. You can get cramping that occurs just before and the day of your period.

• This is caused by the release of prostaglandins in your uterus.

• Having more oestrogen and less progesterone can contribute to high levels fo prostaglandins and more pain

• Severe period pain needs to be investigated with a medical doctor to rule out things like endometriosis and adenomyosis.

• Diet and lifestyle can make a huge impact on period pain that is caused by excess oestrogen and higher levels of inflammatory in the body.

• Ditch the dairy, gluten, sugar and vegetable oil as a starter.

The first steps you need to take …

You have to begin to appreciate a new way of thinking about your monthly menstrual cycle.

Every single month your body is sending you a message to tell you about your health.

Whatever you are a experiencing isn’t a result of your body acting at random against you. It is simply your body’s way of communicating with you.

For as long as you ignore it, suppress, or neglect it, the more alarming the warning signs will become.

Just like a fever is a sign of an infection and gets your attention, your menstrual problems are also a sign of your body needing your attention.

The fix lies in first understanding how your body works and knowing what to do in order to nourish it.

This is not something we really haven’t been taught.

Which is why I wrote this and will continue to educate and work with women on this so you have an appreciation of what is possible. Your body is always working for you not against.

This is my work. Digging into discovering the root cause to your symptoms and working with you to educate and take action on the many things that you can control.

There is SO much that you can do to nourish your body and when you do, you start to celebrate and marvel at just how magnificent you are.

With love,

Chantel

If you are ready to work, one-one-one, you can visit my website HERE and reach out via email to chantelhutnan@gmail.com, as I am offering 20% my consultations, for the month of April 2020.

Everyone deserves to feel their best.

A class on Oestrogen dominance

I recently did a class on oestrogen dominance after receiving a question in my closed oil Facebook group. Many of you messaged to say how helpful it was, so I wanted to house the video and my notes, here.

To watch the livestream, click the image below…..

To read through a condensed version of my notes, keep reading below …

(it’s important to note that it is important to be working with a practitioner to properly assess the specifics and make tailored recommendations. The points I have made below are for generalised information purposes).

What is oestrogen dominance?

A more accurate description of this term is the presence of either ….

1. Oestrogen excess

   • via ovarian production *usually only in peri-menopause

   • Impaired clearance or metabolism (by the liver and gut) * most common cause I see alongside low progesterone

   • Excess exogenous sources (xenooestrogens = defined as chemicals that mimic some structural parts of our physiological oestrogen compounds)

AND/OR

2. Low progesterone

• Peri-menopause (common as ovarian function declines)

• Anovulatory cycles (cycles where you don’t ovulate and therefore don’t produce progesterone)

• Ovarian function 

What are the symptoms of oestrogen excess :

• Heavy periods 

• Breast tenderness

• PMS

• Fibroids, endometriosis, fibrositic breasts

• Headaches

Where do oestrogens come from:

1. Made by the ovaries (a good thing, has many beneficial roles in our body)

2. Fat cells via aromatisation *

3. From adrenal androgens + testosterone through aromatisation *

4. We can also get exposure to oestrogen like substances from outside sources - from the environment (xenoestrogens)

*** When we are inflamed or insulin resistant, aromatase is unregulated, resulting in increased aromatisation of androgens into estrogens’s.

What can go wrong and cause it’s excess 

Before we dive into the main reason for oestrogen excess, there are two scenarios where this can occur due to naturally hormonal changes.

1. Peri-menopause (oestrogen can increase (rather significantly ) during the years prior to menopause. Read more HERE.

2. Teenagers (in the first few years of menses, cycles can be annovulatory so no progesterone been made leading to symptoms of excess oestrogen) .

The other primary reasons for excess oestrogen are related to:

Impaired detoxification (3 major phases phases) 

Phase 1 (occurs in the liver)

• Our primary oestrogen's are hydroxylated to their metabolites 

• Metabolites are active and then need to enter in Phase 2 liver detoxification

• Some metabolites can be more toxic (4-OH Estrone E1)* and damaging and some can be more potent and proliferative * (16-OH-E1)

Supporting Phase 1

Look at what is coming in or impairing the water and reduce 

• Bath tub analogy (quality of the water and how fast or slow it’s filling up)

• Alcohol: women who drink more than 1 drink per day have measurable higher blood levels of oestrogen

• Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals: industrial chemicals like BPA, Phthalates, solvents, pesticides, birth control

• Excess caffeine 

• Medications 

• Pollution 

• Smoking 

• Some heavy metals – including aluminium, mercury, and lead – are considered “metalloestrogens,” which means they are capable of mimicking estrogen in the body.

Look into natural alternate for: SKINCARE, CLEANING PRODUCTS, VEGGIE WASH, SMELLY THINGS/FRAGRANCE, SHAMPOO, CONDITIONER, DEODORANT, TOOTHPASTE, MOISTURISERS, PURE-FUMES ETC

Ways to further support Phase 1

• Diindolylmethane (under supervision of a practitioner) lowers estrogens AND promotes healthy oestrogen metabolism (it shifts phase I metabolism so more “good” 2-OH oestrogen metabolites are made and less “bad” 4-OH and 16-OH metabolites are made)

• Cruciferous vegetables: These vegetables contain a phytonutrient called I3C (indole-3- carbinol) which the body converts to DIM (diindolylmethane). DIM supports healthy oestrogen metabolism. Cruciferous vegetables include: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, bok choy, Brussels sprouts, collard greens, kale, arugula. 

• Flax seeds, omega-3 fatty acids, rosemary, raspberries, prunes, 

• Lignans, the fiber in flax, bind to estrogen and facilitate its excretion. Flax can be added to the diet as ground flax seeds or high- lignan flax oil or through supplementation - doTERRA Phytooestrogen complex

• Buy organic whenever possible (but prioritise animal products and fruits and vegetables on the EWG’s “Dirty Dozen” list). 

• Drink only filtered water (tap water may contain traces of xenoestrogenic chemicals and pharmaceuticals like HRT and oral contraceptives). If you don’t filter your water, your body becomes the filter! 

• Avoid sources of aluminum (a metalloestrogen) [deodorants and antiperspirants, cookware]

• Consider liver support therapies: coffee enemas and castor oil packs 

• Sauna: Far-infrared saunas can help detoxify excess estrogen out of the body through sweat. Using a FIR sauna 2-3x/week can assist in getting excess oestrogen out of adipose cells, where it’s frequently stored . Apply Zendocrine EO prior too sauna session over the liver.

• Fasting

• Get 7-8 hours of quality sleep (melatonin helps balance excess estrogen in the body)

• Protective antioxidants (vitamin C), carotenoids, coenzyme Q10, Vitamin E, Vitamin A, Selenium, Zinc - doTERRA Life Long Vitality supplement

• ZENDOCRINE + SAUNA/CASTOR OIL PACK

• CITRUS OILS IN WATER

• DOTERRA PHYTOESTROGEN COMPLEX 

• DOTERRA DEEP BLUE POLYPHENOLS 

Phase 2  (occurs in the liver)

• Very nutrient requiring process 

• Also requires functioning COMT enzyme (genetic mutations) that affect this* 

To support Phase 2

• Magnesium 

• B vitamins especially B6, B12, folate

• Zinc , Selenium

• Proteins for amino acids 

• Alpha lipoic acid

• Taurine 

• Milk Thistle 

• Turmeric 

• Eat liver for you liver

• Sulphur donars: cysteine, NAC, methionine, taurine

• Conjugation: glycine, glutamine, 

• glutathione 

• COMT support: Magnesium, B6, S-adenosyl-L-methionine (SAMe)

• LLV + DEEP BLUE POLYPHENOLS / TURMERIC

• Zendocrine complex  1 twice daily 

Phase 3  (occurs in the bowel in the presence of healthy bacteria)

• Supporting gut health to eliminate oestrogen via the bowel 

• Requires a healthy gut microbiome (I usually run a comprehensive stool test to see the environment)

• When there are unhealthy gut bacteria present they impair oestrogen metabolism by making an enzyme called beta-glucoronidse which reactivates oestrogen , which is then reabsorbed back into circulation. Contributing to excess oestrogen.

Support for Phase 3:

• Reduce things that damage gut bacteria eg. antibiotics, oral contraceptive pill, sugar, low calorie diets, alcohol, poor sleep, stress, low stomach acid, eat probiotic rich foods

• DOTERRA GX Assist + Terrazyme + PB Assist Protocol

An important nutrient for oestrogen excess is IODINE

• Promotes healthy metabolism of oestrogen and makes cells less sensitive 

• Ovaries need a lot go process to ovulation 

• Kelp salt 

• Make sure you get enough selenium alongside iodine especially for those with Hashimotos

What about Low Progesterone 

• Are you ovulating? If no, then no progesterone 

• Do you have a short luteal phase (less than 11 days between ovulation and menstruation) as this usually results in less than optimal amounts of progesterone

To support low progesterone 

• All about restoring ovulation (look for you individual WHY and read this blog for ideas as to your WHY)

• Managing stress (essential oils, breathing practices, mindfulness, self care) 

• Nutrients to support healthy ovarian follicles (100 days) * Life Long Vitality full dose

• Vitamin C at least 1000mg

• Magnesium 300mg 

• Vitamin B6, 50mg- 100mg  (synthesis of progesterone, supports oestrogen detox, natural diuretic) 

• Selenium 100-150mcg daily (essential for the formation of the corpus luteum) 

• Micronised progesterone 

Excess oestrogen protocol (doTERRA product integration suggestions **)

1. LLV* twice daily 

2. Zendocrine complex* twice daily 

3. Terrenzyme* 1 prior to meal 

4. GI Assist* 1 twice daily for 30 days

5. PB assist* 1 night 

6. Deep Blue Polyphenols* / Turmeric Capsules* 2 daily 

7. Zendocrine EO*, 1-2 drops internally or on the soles of feet nightly 

Menstrual cycle massage blend

Day 1 to ovulation: massage once daily over lower abdomen 

• Geranium 4 drops 

• Fennel Sweet 7 drops 

• Clary Sage 3 drops 

• Rose 1 drop 

Day 14 to menstruation : ClaryCalm* roller twice daily over lower abdomen

Helpful testing

Testing for oestrogen excess

• Estradiol is considered excess if greater than 270pg/mL or 1000 pmol/L at Day 21 or mid luteal phase

• Dried Urine Total Comprehensive Hormone (DUTCH) test looks at levels of oestrogens and progesterone and their metabolites and how they are being excreted (alongside adrenal hormones, melatonin and androgens)

Testing for Progesterone

• Middle of you lutueal phase or about 5-7 days post ovulation 

• Should be at least 9.5nmol/L or 3ng/mL (optimal is more like 15-25ng/ml)

• Temperature rise of 0.3 degrees Celsius maintained for greater than 11 days post ovulation is a good sign of adequate progesterone

For more information you can visit the work with me section of my website and to read more about the DUTCH test, click here.

For my support with purchasing and integrating doTERRA into your life and joining our community CLICK HERE.

All informations, advices or recommendations offered in this action plan by Chantel Hutnan (Gough) (whether in person, by phone or email) are based on her own research and study, personal experience, and conversations with other health professionals and is not meant to treat, prevent or diagnose a medical issue but is to be used as a source of general information only.

Why is my hair disappearing?

Are you finding your ponytail isn’t as thick as it once way? Hair clogging up the drains in the shower? Or are you are noticing your scalp more when you part or pull back your hair?

I get asked a lot about hair thinning / loss by women of all ages and stages of life.

Hair, for most of us, is a big part of our identity. In an aesthetic driven society luscious hair is often associated with greater beauty, being more attractive and feminine, so it’s no wonder when this is compromised we start to panic, as subconsciously we attached way more meaning around it. For example, we are no longer as attractive, youthful, desirable etc. It’s also just confronting to see the changes and feel as though you cant’t stop it.

So I really do get how distressing it can be to see it disappearing before your eyes. Hence, I wanted to offer you this information, in hope it helps to uncover areas that you can address.

A large component of the female hair loss / thinning I see is associated with altered hormonal function. We are going to look into the key hormone players and how it attributes to hair loss.

Hair loss is an important sign that something is impacting your body. As you continue to read you may find that your hair loss is normal considering the natural biological changes that have occurred or are occurring or it may be a sign that something needs to be addressed.

Either way there is comfort in knowing what’s happening and that in most cases there are steps you can take to help.

Remember that nothing happens in isolation. So when someone reaches out to me about hair loss, I have to dive in deep to all of their other symptoms, their past experiences, and really work to uncover the underlying cause(s). Often that involves looking into hormones, listeyles factors, the gut and digestion, and adequate nutrient intake. That’s the holistic approach that I like to take when dealing with all things.

Ok, let’s look for the root cause(s) as to why your hair is disappearing:

1. Stress

Have you been sick or unwell? Have you been burning the candle at both ends for a while now? Have you had some serious life events take place? Have you been watching the news or scrolling social media during March/April in the year 2020?

Chronic stress down regulates non-vital aspects of our function to ensure that we have enough energy to survive.

Cortisol pushes hair growth into the resting phase (known as the telegenic phase) for longer to conserve on energy and as result you may notice hair loss or thinning several months after the stressful period.

This is known as telogen effluvium and is characterised by thinning or shedding of hair resulting from the early entry of hair in the telogen phase.

Good news girlfriends, it’s reversible, IF, you start working on managing your stress and or aiding your recovery.

Also, when we are under chronic stress, we burn through way more of our key nutrients - think B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, protein, all of which are important for hair growth.

So we want to focus on the 3 R’s: Rest, restore, replenish.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• It’s now of never to implement some self care routines to replenish yourself.

• Depending on what is causing the stress this may mean: learning to delegate, asking for help, saying no and setting boundaries; weekly massage; going out into nature daily; moving your body; reading a book; making a herbal tea and being still; connecting with friends.

• Make sure you aren’t skipping meals or eating take out on the run. You need enough calories but also enough nutrients.

• Focus on high quality protein (cold water fatty fish, pasture raised poultry, oysters, liver), healthy fat (avocado, olive oil, nut oils, grass fed butter, nuts, coconut milk/cream/oil) and complex carbohydrates (quinoa, root vegetables, buckwheat, wild rice, whole fruit) as well as cold water fatty fish.

• Take a high quality multivitamin/multi-mineral supplement or a pre-natal (high in important nutrients to support hair growth).

• Implement 3-5 minutes of deep breathing per day

• Sleep, lots of sleep.

2. Postpartum hair loss

Can you guess what else is a huge stressor on the body? You got it - pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period. Your body needs so much nurturing in your fourth trimester. Need I remind you that you grew, birthed, fed, and are raising another human. That’s going to take several months and even years, to rebuild your nutrient stories, get hormones back on track and replenish your tank.

It’s no wonder that this whole process also causes your hairs to go into the resting phase. Hence, it is normal for you to experience hair loss around the four month mark. I know it can be alarming as often it’s quite substantial amounts. This is probably because during pregnancy the growth or anagen rate increases, so you have more hair to lose when this occurs.

You were loving your luscious pregnancy locks weren’t you?

Try not to stress (as we now know that will only make matters worse) as most of the time your hair will even out to it’s pre-pregnancy hair.

However, if you are still experiencing significant hair loss 8 months or more postpartum, go and chat with you doctor and get a full thyroid panel and your iron and ferritin levels checked (those sections are coming up soon).

Thyroid problems are so common during the 12 months after having a baby, so please keep your eye out for any of the thyroid symptoms listed in the thyroid section. I personally wish that this was screened for as a part of a postpartum check up. And I mean a comprehensive thyroid panel, as antibodies can elevate prior to thyroid hormones or thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) going out of range.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• Continue to take your prenatal vitamins, as well as a high quality omega 3 fatty acid supplement.

• Get enough calories + nutrient dense foods to replenish, especially if you are breastfeeding. I love the idea of organising a food train post birth.

• Consider some adaptogenic herbs that nourish your adrenal glands (chat with a naturopath or practitioner for which ones are safe to use)

• Make up the hair growth serum at the end of this blog and apply weekly or add oils to your natural shampoo.

3. Thyroid Problems

Both hyper and hypo thyroid conditions can be at play. However I see far more underactive or hypothyroidism. In particular the autoimmune versions ie. Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis.

Telogen effluvium is the most common type of hair loss we see with Hashimoto’s. Like what we see with stress and childbirth, what is often experienced is large clumps of hair falling out, while showering or brushing. It most commonly causes hair loss in a diffuse pattern, over the entire scalp.

One theory with autoimmune thyroid conditions is that they develop as a protective measure to conserve energy when resources are low (you can understand why post pregnancy is a common time for a thyroid diagnosis). If the body detects there is not enough nutrients getting in, either from inadequate calories or a comprised digestive system, this may signal danger and cause a slowing of thyroid function, to conserve it’s resources.

If you are on thyroxine (T4) replacement therapy and you are still experiencing hair loss, you may need to look at adjusting your dose, to be in a more optimal range for you (usually between 0.5 and 2 μIU/mL), or look into thyronine (T3) containing options, as some people do better when on a combination, due to a poorer conversion of T4 to T3.

It’s also worth checking your iron, as adequate stomach acid is important for iron absorption and low thyroid function can be associated with hypochlorhydria or low levels stomach acid. This can also lead to impaired nutrient absorption of other key nutrients as well.

If you do have an autoimmune thyroid condition such as Graves or Hashitomo’s, both are known to be associated with a particular form of hair loss called, Alopecia areata (Aa). Aa is commonly associated with various autoimmune disorders; the most frequent among them is autoimmune thyroid disorders. This can flare up and cause patchy hair loss all over the scalp due to an immune attack on the hair follicles. More on that to come.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• Get a complete thyroid panel. This includes:

  • Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (TSH)

  • Free thyroxine (Free T4)

  • Free triiodothyronine (Free T3)

  • Thyroid antibodies (thyroid peroxidase (TPO) and thyroglobulin (Tg) antibodies)

  • Particularly if you are postpartum or have other symptoms of low thyroid function eg. constipation, low mood, anxiety, fatigue, cold hands and feet, infertility, irregular periods, brain fog, digestive problems, high cholesterol

  • Important caveat on thyroid testing: TSH is often the only marker checked when you request your thyroid be checked with a doctor. Also, the lab range for this is much wider than the one I listed above. I constantly hear “the doctor said my thyroid is normal” only to find a TSH level checked and it may even be elevated functionally but not mentioned because it’s still in the wider reference range. You most likely will need to work with an integrative practitioner to look deeper. Trust yourself, test results are important, but you have to know the full picture.

• Nutrients/herbs to support thyroid include: Ashwagandha, iodine, zinc, selenium, biotin

• Look into a Autoimmune Paleo Diet which has shown improvements in symptoms, reduction of medication dose, reduced inflammation, and nutritional status. At the very least remove gluten .

• Work with an integrative or functional medicine health practitioner to customise dietary interventions, supplements and correct root causes (intestinal permeability, infections like Epstein-Barr virus). There is so much you can do.

4. Low iron

Iron deficiency is the most common cause of hair loss that I see in premenopausal women. Hair needs lots of iron. So get your levels checked ASAP. Especially if you are experiencing heavy and or prolonged periods OR you aren’t consuming animal products like red meat/organ meats OR you have low thyroid function OR you suffer from chronic digestive issues. All can lead to low iron.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• Get your iron checked and your serum ferritin tested with your GP. Ferritin should be at least 50ng/ml.

• If you are midly deficient or not consuming enough iron rich foods, consider an iron supplement or adding some organic liver into your diet twice a week or a desiccated liver capsule. .

• Look into WHY your iron is low in order to address it properly (gut infections, heavy periods, etc)

5. High androgens that cause Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL)

Androgens are male hormones such as testosterone, androstenedione and DHEA. It’s normal for us to have them, but too many or converting them down a more androgenic pathway or being overly sensitive to them can lead to female pattern hair loss loss (and sometimes acne, and excessive growth of dark or coarse hair in a male-like pattern, chin, cheeks, belly and around nipples).

Female pattern hair loss is also called androgenic alopecia and can include hair thinning and miniaturisation of hair follicles, typically affecting the crown of the head and hairline.

It can be present in women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS), which is characterised in one part by elevated testosterone, often driven by insulin resistance and or inflammation.

However women can still experience FPHL without a diagnoses of PCOS.

On a Dried Urine Total Comprehensive Hormone Test (DUTCH Test) test we look at androgens and the conversion into metabolites.

Dihydrotestosterone is a potent testosterone metabolite and potent to hair follicles. It’s made by 5-alpha-reductase (5-AR) , the enzyme that converts testosterone into the more potent DHT. If 5-AR activity it high, more testosterone will be converted into DHT, and greater hair loss will result.

Inflammation, insulin resistance and obesity can cause it to increase, so you have to work on addressing the root cause of this.

Holistic hair repair rx:

This really does require working with a practitioner to address the underlying drivers. Any changes in hair growth will take several months or longer for improvements to be seen. But you will see changes more quickly in other areas of your health.

For PCOS

• PCOS is really a whole body hormonal condition that does have serious health consequences if not properly treated, so it is important to work with an endocrinologist or experienced women’s health doctor.

• However, there is SO much that you can be doing to manage diet, lifestyle and supplements alongside your doctor recommendations to improve and even manage PCOS. I have seen restoration of ovulation and menstrual cycles by a combination of modalities.

• The key areas to focus on is restoring blood sugar balance, reducing stress and nourishing the adrenals, reducing environmental exposure and supporting detoxification, and using effective supplements in support these key pieces

• Supplements that can be useful: magnesium, zinc, mayo-inositol + steps below can be helpful too

For Female Pattern Hair Loss

• There are some natural inhibitors of 5-alpha reductase which is the enzyme that converts testosterone to the more potent DHT hormone (this can be seen on a Dried Urine Total Comprehensive Hormone Test)

  • Reishi mushroom

  • Green tea extract (Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG))

  • Zinc

  • Saw Palmetto

  • Spearmint tea

  • Rosemary - for topical use, you can make a solution of 6 drops rosemary essential oil into 10 ml of carrier oil like Jojoba / Castor Oil and massage into the scalp for 30 minuets before washing your hair. Repeat three times per week.

6. Perimenopause + menopause

As hormone levels begin to change, changes in hair texture and thickness, is common. Both oestrogen and progesterone are wonderful for hair.

Progesterone levels start to decline first during perimeonpause. This can contribute to a relatively higher androgen state (as we see above) as progesterone naturally reduces testosterone activity.

Oestrogen works to keep hair follicle healthy and as it declines closer to menopause, this may cause some shrinking of hair follicles and hair loss.

This stage of life can be an extremely emotionally stressful time as you care for children, elderly parents and are still working 9-5. In case you needed more on your plate, you start to experience hormonal changes that often disrupt sleep and affect your ability to cope with stress, all of which can contribute to hair loss, too.

Perimenopause can also imitate thyroid symptoms eg. low mood, insomnia, irregular periods, brain fog, anxiety and weight gain. So it’s really important to check your thyroid function, too, as about 26% of perimenopsaual women also have autoimmune thyroid disease.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• For perimenopuase consider steps in the “High androgens that cause female pattern hair loss”

• Rest and self care is paramount here. Looking at reducing your working hours, hiring help, saying no, setting boundaries and asking for help.

• Weekly massage and sign up for a yoga class or meditation class

• Reduce alcohol as this will interfere with the calming effects of progesterone on the brain which is already declining

• Supplements: Magnesium, Taurine, Vitamin B6, Ashwagandha

• Consider a holistic plan to work on ways to support sleep, stress and blood sugar

• Consider body identical micronised progesterone and low dose estradiol with your integrative GP - (not the same as progestins given in hormone replacement therapy or the Mirena or the pill)

7. The Pill / IUD/ Depot injection

Most forms of contraception contain a progestogen medication (note: this is different to progesterone that you produce when you ovulate). Some progestogens have a high androgen index, meaning they work a lot more similarly to testosterone, then they do progesterone. These include: levonorgestrel (Mirena, Levlen), medroxyprogesterone (depot), norgestrol, etonogestrel (implant, Nuvaring).

The effect over time, is that they can shrink hair follicles, so it may be a gradual loss of hair that you notice over many months or years.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• Take a high quality multivitamin or pre-natal supplements

• Take a probiotic to support gut bacteria that can be impaired on the pill

• Consider alternative means of contraception

8. You recently came off the pill

This is something I wish all women new prior to going onto the pill, so they can be better prepared when they decide to come off it. Pills that contain progestogens with a low androgen index include cyproterone (Diane, Estelle, Brenda) and drospirenone (Yasmin) can cause hair loss when you stop them. This is due to a rebound surge in androgens and greater sensitivity that usually happens around 3 to 6 months after stopping the pill.

For many women, their doctor may have recommended this type of progestogen containing pill due to acne or PCOS and often when you stop it, it feel like all that and more is coming back with vengeance. . And it may very well be, if you haven’t done any work on addressing the underlying causes as to WHY you were experiencing problems prior to the pill.. This is why I am not a fan of women going on the pill to mask symptoms like acne, menstrual irregaurlies, heavy periods, PCOS without addressing the root cause etc.

If you who didn’t go onto this pill for this reason, it may be the first time you ever experience acne, oily skin, or hair loss. The answer is NOT going back on the pill. Read that again, do not go back on the pill. You have to give it some time. There are targeted strategies that you can implement prior to coming off the pill to ease the burden, but knowing it is coming, is important, and working with someone to navigate through those times, is what I do.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• I love to see women proactively supporting their bodies when coming off the pill (that’s for another blog)

• Key areas to work on are gut health, replenishing nutrients that the pill deletes (B vitamins, zinc, magnesium, selenium) and supporting liver detoxication.

• I’ll do a whole other post of coming off the pill and how to support your body.

9. You aren’t ovulating

Your hair LOVES your own natural oestrogen and progesterone! Who knew that all we had to do was let our body cycle naturally, produce it’s own natural hormones, and it would take care of all the things (heart, moods, brain, bones etc), including our hair.

A really important question is… are you ovulating each month?

If the answer is yes, wonderful, keep it coming.

If the answer is no, then why not? Some major reason for anovulatory cycles are stress, low calorie diets, dramatic weight loss, low carb diets, periods illness/trauma, overtraining with not adequate nutrients/calories, hypothyroidism, PCOS and hormonal contraception.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• This will depend on why you are no longer ovulating

• For my female fitness enthusiasts or professionals: be very careful of the super lean, six pack abs, thigh gap, women you see in magazines or on instagram promoting health. Many, no longer have a menstrual cycles as a result of hypothalamic ammenhorea. This is where your brain stops communicating to your ovaries usually as a result of undereating, over exercising, low body fat, excess stress, the pill or a combination of these.

• Work to restore ovulation and work with your natural cycle

• This will require working one on one with a holistic health practitioner.

10. Autoimmune conditions like alopecia areata and universalis

Alopecia means hair loss. Both are autoimmune conditions where hair loss is the main symptoms and is more common with autoimmune thyroid conditions.

Holistic hair repair rx:

• Working on the lifestyle and nutrition areas that can be helpful on autoimmune conditions may be helpful alongside some of the more general recommendations in the hair growth protocol below

Holistic Hair Growth Protocol

1. Identify your root cause(s) and work to address these as they will make the biggest impact. It is going to take some time for you to see improvements, so don’t leave it too long, before acting

2. Make sure you are eating enough overall calories. Plug in your info HERE, then track a few days worth of food intake in an app like MyFitness Pal.

3. At each meal focus on including healthy fats (olive oil, coconut products, avocados, nuts, and seeds, salmon, sardines, anchovies, tuna, grass fed and finished red meat, grass fed butter), protein (beef, lamb, seafood, eggs, quinoa, buckwheat, chia, a good quality grass-fed whey protein body, legumes) and nourishing carbs (fruit, potatoes, pumpkin, brown/white rice, quinoa).

4. Alongside this, consider a high quality multivitamin or  pre-natal supplement + omega 3 fatty acid supplement. I prefer the DOTERRA LifeLong Vitality Pack as it’s a food based multi-mineral & multivitamin + omega 3 fatty acid complex + anti-oxidant and cellular energy complex. This is helpful if you’ve come off the pill, are on the pill or even as a pre-post natal supplement (with some additions). I really like it as contains milk thistle, some powerful polyphenols, the brassica family, for liver support. To purchase doTERRA at wholesale head HERE and watch this VIDEO.

5. Check out Biosil - comes recommended by some colleagues.

6. Also, add in some superfoods weekly for their nutrient profile: organic liver (50g twice a week), oyster (6-12 per week), bone broth (most days).

7. If you aren’t consuming bone broth regularly, add in a collagen powder, and consume in your smoothie or hot drink daily. If you don’t consume liver or can’t source high quality, look into desiccated liver capsules

8. Make sure you have tools and activities built into your day to manage stress (P.S the antidotes to stress can be found in pleasure, joy, gratitude)

9. Be aware of the toxic chemicals and gluten (if you have an autoimmune condition like Hashimoto’s) you are applying to your scalp through hair dyes, shampoos, hair sprays and other products that can cause hair follicles to become inflamed. There are a host of endocrine disrupting chemicals in most commercial hair care products that can wreak havoc on your hormones.  I use the doTERRA Shampoo and Conditioner, which I’ve found to be both safe and effective in giving me beautiful and shiny hair.

Topical Hair Growth Solutions

1. Castor oil: supports circulation through the scalp and helps hair shafts retain moisture.

2. Jojoba: Increases hair luster, encourages the growth and decreases scalp dryness. May even help reduce the appearance of gray hair.

3. Incorporate essential oils that can encourage growth into your weekly or daily routine. My tried and tested favourites are rosemary, geranium, cedarwood, cypress..

   Note: Rosemary inhibits 5-alpha reductase which is the enzyme that converts testosterone into dihydrotestosterone (DHT).

Ok, here are a few recipes to try out. Remember you will have to be patient, and give it time, but be consistent, as I have seen some really incredible results in telogen effluvium and post pill.

Recipes

1. Hair Growth Serum

Mix 2 drops each of cedarwood, cypress, geranium and 4 drops rosemary essential oil in 1/4 cup each of organic jojoba and castor oil and massage mixture into the hair and scalp, three times a week (or more). You can substitute the castor oil for coconut oil if needed.

2. Hair Growth Spray

Mix 7 drops each Rosemary, Cedarwood, Cypress, and Geranium into 120ml of distilled water and spray roots of hair daily.

3. Pimp Your Shampoo / Conditioner

Add 7 drops each of Rosemary, Cedarwood, Cypress and Geranium to a 250ml bottle od shampoo or conditioner.

I would only recommend using Certified Pure Therapeutic Grade essential oils, such as doTERRA essential oils and organic, cold pressed, jojoba and castor oil (prefer this in a glass bottle).

Noone wants the stress of losing their hair and feeling at a loss as to why. It can make us feel really vulnerable and even devastated, especially when it gets dismissed as nothing you can do about it. This is why getting clear on what if any are the underlying causes for your hair disappearing. The great news is that many of causes can be reversed and whilst hair regrowth is a slow process (at least 3-4 months) it can be rewarding to see things get back on tract and stay that way.

However, friends, there are times when genetics, autoimmunity or an undiagnosed condition are at play and even with all the natural approaches, you may not see results. If this is the case, please don’t lose hope, there are still many other options and advances in technology that you can explore.

I hope this helps. If you are interested in working one-on-one to dig into things more deeply and take a holistic approach, you can visit HERE .

If you would like to purchase doTERRA at wholesale price with my ongoing support you can do that HERE or email me at chantelhutnan@gmail.com

CLICK HERE for the results from my stepdad’s hair growth after using the hair growth serum for 3 months.

Love,

Chantel x