Oh....TRUST me...you aren't going to bore us at all!! Do tell what you've done....
Well, this might be the only forum where folks won't call me crazy, lol, so I'll try! I was getting frustrated over a period of growth that has started with pregnancy, but seemed to be tapering off. I got stricken with boobie greed! I wanted to know if there was a way to find my growth triggers and naturally and gently annoy them to cause more growth.
I added herbs one by one, and in consultation with a herbalist, observing signs and symptoms and keeping a daily journal. I began to make changes based on the intensity of the symptoms and further research. While my tinctures are customized to my needs (so I'm less sure about the doses), these are the key players:
- Goat's rue: raises prolactin and builds mammary tissues (I take a very small dose; lactation is not my goal).
- Fenugreek: I take a ton of this. This is based off a study of saponins where they actually helped to stimulate estrogen receptors.
- White peony: blocks 5ar (an enzyme that can convert the body's testosterone into DHT, and yes... women have this too!) and acts as a Pro-Aromatase (increases estrogen)
- Evening primrose: helps by increasing fat and glandular tissue
- Gingko: Helps with circulation
There are other items in the tinctures that are more specific to my unique situation, but the ones above are the big helpers. Here are some that did NOT work:
- Fennel and red clover -- these are both phytoestrogens, but they are fairly weak. Fenugreek plays a similar role, but also helps to deregulate the receptors so that they respond more readily.
- Saw Palmetto -- this is an anti-angrogen and it appears in many off the shelf formulas. It's supposed to block androgen production, but compared to White Peony, it's weak.
- Wild Yam -- this is a weak phytoestrogen and a supposed phyto-progesterone. It caused me to stall, and when we tested my hormones, it's because I already had too much progesterone (look up at home saliva hormone testing for test kits. They're not quite as accurate as blood tests (which insurance won't cover in most cases), but they give a good baseline).
Long story short, avoid those "off the shelf" combination pills. Invest in a hormone test to see where things are. Journal and take good notes. Keep what works and toss what doesn't. This can take time, but it's worth it! Also, be very careful of interactions with any other medications and the herbs. Just because they're from nature, it does not mean they're safe for everyone. Also, invest in high quality, organic/non-GMO herbs. You don't want to put sketchy stuff into your body and there have been studies showing how cheap herbs tend to have fillers or are otherwise less potent compared to the promised dose.
...and the growth is happening! I even went through my cycle and detox week and kept the majority of the growth. My starting measurement was 44.8". The biggest measurement with premenstrual swelling was 45.8"
, but that shrank to 45.4" afterward (still a gain!). I'm now measuring 45.6" (a solid i cup).