FAQ

FAQ’s on Progesterone Cream, Estriol and Adrenaline Dominance

Q: What are the benefits of using Progesterone Cream?

A: When you realize that there are over 300 receptor sites for progesterone throughout the body, you can begin to appreciate the powerful effects people can experience when they are given this hormone. There are at least 16 Benefits using P Cream. It is a hormone that is present in both sexes. It blocks the toxic effects of three hormones in the body - estradiol, insulin, and adrenaline.

Q: What is the difference between a 5% progesterone cream and a 2% cream?

A: 5% (50 mg per pump) is the exact, effective strength required to block adrenaline and insulin and the ideal strength to provide protection from excess estrogen. Lower strength progesterone cannot provide these benefits. In fact, 2% cream or less can actually stimulate estrogen receptor sites and cause unwanted side effects.

Q: Are your progesterone creams ‘natural’? I avoid products with harmful ingredients.

A: All the ingredients in our creams are natural. There are no soy derived ingredients, parabens, or phenoxyethanol. The base of our P cream is organic wild yam and is paraben free, soy free, MSM free, EDTA free and fragrance free. In addition, the natural ingredient "wild yam extract" includes "USP progesterone" to help the body to convert wild yam extract into progesterone. If a P Cream does not include USP Progesterone listed, then you should avoid this cream as it won't convert to progesterone cream as needed by the body.

Q I have been told to use progesterone cream from Day 14 of my cycle forward. Why does your Platt Protocol recommend using it daily?

A: I have had the benefit of studying and researching the benefits of a high dose progesterone cream for over 20 years. Through assisting thousands of patients, I found that they had the fastest, most effective relief from troubling symptoms when using the cream daily. Cycling progesterone can be utilized if the only concern is regulating periods. However, the Platt Protocol requires the use of daily progesterone in order to control insulin and adrenaline – hormones that are produced daily, both day and night.

Q: Are there any side effects caused by using progesterone cream?

A: For the most part, progesterone cream is extremely safe. Women may notice some nipple tenderness upon initial use because there are multiple progesterone receptor sites in that area. In addition, because progesterone helps to heal uterine tissue, a woman might experience a heavier period or even spotting between periods. Both these issues are temporary phenomena and subside once the body acclimates to more balanced hormones.

Q: When a man or a woman is using progesterone do they have to be careful not to expose it to their children?

A: Progesterone cannot harm children in any way and can in fact be helpful for conditions like ADHD, bedwetting, temper tantrums and more. Note that the fetus gets exposed to incredibly high levels of progesterone when it is in the womb.

Q: I have been told that progesterone is a woman’s hormone. Is this true?

A: Men and women have the identical hormones – different levels, but the same hormones. Therefore, as I researched I uncovered the fact that both men and women can benefit equally from using a 5% progesterone cream. Men stop producing progesterone around the age of 50. Clinically, this often results in fat deposits around the middle and can lead to prostate cancer.

Q: Can the use of Bio-Identical Cream get rid of Hot Flashes?

A: It is not unusual for women to experience hot flashes either in the perimenopause or the post-menopause. In almost all cases, it is treated with some type of estrogen, usually estradiol. However, very often this might provide a reduction in the severity of hot flashes, but may not cure the problem. The frequency and intensity of hot flashes vary among women and can last up to 10 years.The best approach to dealing with this problem is to treat the cause of the issue, which can be the release of luteinizing hormone. This can be treated with a combination of estriol, DHEA, and progesterone. If the hot flashes occur around 2:30 am then the cause is most likely excess adrenaline which is treated with progesterone. You can read more here.

Q: What is the difference between natural Progesterone and Synthetic Progesterone?

A: It is important to differentiate between natural, bio-identical progesterone and synthetic progestogens. Bio-identical progesterone is identical to the progesterone produced in the body. Progestogens are synthetic, and are the ones that are found in birth control pills, hormonal IUD's, and drugs like Provera. Progesterone receptors will not transport progestogens to the nucleus of a cell and thereby they can never duplicate the action of natural progesterone. They are also responsible for almost 100% of the listed side effects attributed to synthetic progesterone, including cancer.

Q: Does Progesterone Cream Block Estrogen?

A: The body keeps making estrogen and, as we get older, we become estrogen dominant. Progesterone is probably best known as an anti-estrogen hormone. Estrogen can in some ways be considered a toxic hormone. It is responsible for causing cramps and PMS in women, as well as fibroids, endometriosis, fibrocystic disease of the breast, and PCOS. It is also likely responsible for menstrual migraines, asthma, gallbladder disease, and cellulite. It is the cause of phlebitis and blood clots, and is associated with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis (conditions rarely found in men). As a lipogenic (fat-creating) hormone, it puts on fat around the hips, buttocks, and thighs. It is largely responsible for morning sickness that often occurs during the first three months of pregnancy. In addition, estrogen is linked to six different cancers in women - the breast, uterus, ovaries, vagina, cervix, and colon. It may also be the cause of breast cancer and prostate cancer in men. Progesterone cream can help with all these conditions.

Q: Why Progesterone Cream vs. Oral Pills?

A: Many people ask whether they should use oral progesterone or the cream. The definitive answer is the cream. When you take oral progesterone, it goes straight to the liver where it is converted into allopregnaneolone - a derivative of progesterone. It is recognized on a lab test as progesterone, but is not able to attach to progesterone receptor sites. It causes drowsiness, which is why they recommend taking it at night. The cream, however, enters your bloodstream and bypasses the liver which explains why it is much more effective than oral progesterone.

Q: What is the best way to apply P Cream?

A: You want the P Cream in the bloodstream so they can attach to the receptor cells. You want to apply the cream to an area where the skin is thin (not where there is a lot of fatty tissue) i.e., where there is good blood supply. The best area is on the forearm. Put one pump (roughly 50 mg) and rub the arms together. It can also be applied to the back of the neck. Watch Dr. Platt’s explanation here.

Q: Can you safely use P Cream after a Hysterectomy?

A: Progesterone cream is the most important hormone to replace after a hysterectomy. Ironically, there are doctors who give women only estrogen after a hysterectomy because they feel that progesterone is not needed if there is no uterus. I guess that these doctors are not aware that these women also have breasts.

Q: Is P Cream safe for men as well?

A: Most people are not aware that progesterone is not a sex hormone and that it is safe for men. Men and women have identical hormones, with different levels. Men stop producing progesterone around the age of 50. You might notice that men start putting on weight around the middle after this age because they no longer have progesterone to block insulin. In addition, they start developing prostate cancer because they are no longer protected against estrogen.

Q: Should you use P Cream along with Estrogen?

A: Progesterone cream should always be used when using an estrogen preparation (other than estriol) to protect against developing cancer. Those women who are receiving estradiol pellets are always put on oral progesterone, which will not protect them from cancers caused by estradiol.

Q: How do you overcome Estrogen Dominance?

A: Estrogen is the primary female sex hormone — it is responsible for the development of the female reproductive system and other characteristics that define women. Both men and women have circulating levels of estrogens within their bodies, but the level of estrogen in men is lower than in women. Here are the 3 types of estrogen: Estrone (E1), Estradiol (E2) and Estriol (E3).

Too much estrogen can wreak absolute havoc on your whole body. It can cause things such as fatigue, fibroids, endometriosis, abnormal menstruation, and most importantly breast cancer.

Be wary of estradiol. Estriol is the only estrogen that does not cause cancer and is the only estrogen effective for vaginal dryness. It will eliminate vaginal dryness in 10-14 days when used intravaginally (a 2.5mg strength).

The treatment of estrogen dominance is best achieved with a 5% progesterone cream. It is important to understand that progesterone cream used in low doses can cause symptoms of estrogen dominance because progesterone in low doses can stimulate estrogen receptor sites. That is why it is important to use a 5% progesterone cream. Learn more here.

Q: Will you start losing weight using Progesterone Cream?

A: As everyone knows, concerns about weight are exceptionally common. Perhaps the most frequent unrecognized cause of weight gain can occur when people have excess adrenaline. In order to understand this last statement, it is necessary to understand why the body is producing excess adrenaline. Thousands of years ago, the only time the body released adrenaline was during periods of danger. As soon as the danger passed, the body immediately stopped producing the adrenaline. Nowadays, however, people are often producing excess adrenaline all day and all night and they are not in danger. The reason for this is that the body is using adrenaline to raise sugar levels for the brain via a process called gluconeogenesis. Many people do not realize that the brain utilizes more sugar per weight than any other tissue in the body, and that the brain cannot function without sugar. When sugar is taken away from the brain, the brain falls asleep. From a survival standpoint, the body always wants to make sure the brain can function. Because of this, any time the body detects the brain has run out of fuel it puts out adrenaline to help fuel the brain by raising sugar levels. People that toss and turn at night, or grind their teeth, or get up to urinate, are having issues caused by excess adrenaline. If these people wind up producing more sugar than they can burn up, the excess sugar winds up being stored as fat inside fat cells. In other words, they are gaining weight while they’re sleeping.

I have developed a protocol to combat excess Adrenaline along with a 30-Day Meal Plan called the Adrenaline Dominance Bundle.

Q: How can I get more information on the benefits of progesterone cream?

A: My two books outline my 20 + years of study and assisting thousands of patients to live happier, healthier lives through hormonal balance: “The Miracle of Bioidentical Hormones” and “Adrenaline Dominance”. Both books can be purchased from this site or on Amazon, in soft cover edition or Kindle.

Q: How does Adrenaline play a role in wellness?

A: In Dr. Platt’s “Adrenaline Dominance” book, covers  conditions caused by excess adrenaline by addressing the reason why the body releases this powerful hormone, even when we are not in danger.

The primary function of adrenaline is to ensure that the brain has a proper amount of fuel to operate.

Adrenaline raises sugar levels via a process called gluconeogenesis, whereby it converts protein into glucose. The brain can use up fuel in as little as three hours. Understandably, adrenaline levels peak around 2:30-3:00 am, contributing to insomnia and an urge to urinate around that time. Adrenaline can create stress. This stimulates the release of another hormone called cortisol which is an anti- stress hormone.

As a result, the body is putting out two hormones that raise sugar – while people are sleeping (or trying to). When it comes to sugar, it does not matter whether you are eating it or if the body is making it, if you don’t burn it up, the sugar is stored as fat in your fat cells. This may be the number one reason why people are fighting weight.

Anytime a low level of fuel is detected, the body releases adrenaline to increase glucose to fuel the brain, which can have a significant effect on our health, and certainly, on the quality of our life.

Conditions caused by excess adrenaline may include the following: anger, road rage, restless leg syndrome, teeth grinding, depression, anxiety, fibromyalgia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), brain fog, PTSD, autism, bed wetting, leg cramps, TMJ, headaches, ADHD, interstitial cystitis, PMDD, occipital neuritis, plus many others.

The book also provides an in-depth discussion about how to lower excess adrenaline levels. This can often be accomplished in less than 24 hours once the Protocol is started.

Q: Do you recommend a certain type of diet or exercise to enhance the effectiveness of the Adrenaline Dominance Protocol?

A: Yes! And, we now offer a 30-Day Meal Plan with deliious recipes of low glycemic meals similar to diets like the Mediterranean or Paleo plans have worked well for many of my patients, especially when fortified with leafy green vegetables. I also suggest always eating breakfast and small meals throughout the day every 3 hours, using at least 2 tablespoons of coconut oil daily, avoiding all sugar and processed foods, packaged foods, eating certified organic food, and choosing foods with the Non GMO Project Verified label on foods. Breakfast: many are benefiting from using whey protein for breakfast in a quick shake adding leafy green vegetables or vegetable powder and coconut oil.

It has been shown that regular exercise, especially short bursts of high intensity exercise, and walking daily is essential for optimal health.

Q: What is the difference between Adrenal Fatigue and Adrenaline Dominance?

A: Adrenal fatigue is a diagnosis used mostly in alternative medicine, usually among naturopathic physicians. The diagnosis is based solely on the misinterpretation of a low level of cortisol on a morning saliva test. What doctors are not aware of is that excess adrenaline, acting as a survival hormone, cuts off blood supply toareas of the body not needed for survival. This results in cold hands and feet, the constipation associated with IBS, and low cortisol levels in the saliva due to a cutoff of circulation to the salivary glands. Unfortunately, not realizing that cortisol levels are actually high, treatment often involves prescribing cortisol. Prescribing cortisol for a condition possibly already associated with a high cortisol level may have unintended consequences. Cortisol, if given inappropriately, can produce unwanted weight gain by raising sugar and insulin levels. It can also cause osteoporosis, cataracts, stomach ulcers, muscle wasting, brain damage and impair the immune system which is not recommended at this time of COVID-19. You read more here.

Q: Can I get rid of headaches or migraines with bioidentical creams?

A: Migraines or headaches can be caused by excess adrenaline or estrogen. Either way, progesterone cream is used as a treatment to block estrogen, adrenaline and insulin. If it is caused by excess adrenaline, I propose a meal plan to fuel the brain along with a 5% progesterone cream.

People with excess adrenaline often suffer from frequent headaches. Adrenaline can give rise to muscle tension in different areas of the body. When the tension is localized to the neck—not an uncommon place to feel tension—it can cause traction headaches, also known as tension headaches. One type of traction headache, called occipital neuritis, is often mistaken for a migraine headache because the pain can be severe. However, a migraine is characterized by a pulsating type of pain, while the pain of occipital neuritis is piercing. It arises at the base of the skull on one side or the other and shoots into the back of the eye on the affected side. The diagnosis can be confirmed by pressing the thumb into the suspected area at the base of the skull, which should be very painful. Applying progesterone cream to this area usually provides relief; however, preventing muscle tension around the nerve sheath by lowering the adrenaline level is the cure. Learn more here:

Q: Do bioidentical hormones make you gain or lose weight?

A: Estrogen is a lipogenic (fat-creating) hormone. It usually puts on fat around the hips, thighs, and buttocks. It can also be blamed for the addition of cellulite to the thighs and buttocks. On the other hand, progesterone cream is a thermogenic (fat-burning) hormone. To aid in this endeavor, it helps reduce adrenaline and cortisol levels, helps the thyroid produce thyroid hormone, and, most importantly, it blocks insulin which is the hormone that creates fat around the middle. This blockage of insulin also helps people to not get sleepy in the afternoon when insulin peaks between 3-4 pm, and prevents people from getting sleepy in the afternoon. Read more here.

Q. What causes endometrial hyperplasia?

A. There is only one thing that stimulates the growth of endometrial tissue and that is estrogen.