For countless generations, girls grew into women, gave birth to children, and experienced the change of life more or less without incident. As the industrial age emerged, however, women began to report a wide variety of unpleasant manifestations that occurred at certain times during the menstrual cycle, during perimenopause, and at menopause. Since then, these complaints have grown in frequency, until they now affect over 60% of American women.

When these problems surfaced, most experts blamed them on psychological disturbances or estrogen deficiency. In 1938, however, Dr. Leon Israel reported in The Journal of The American Medical Association, that they may instead be caused by estrogen dominance, which occurs when the body’s natural ratio of progesterone to estrogen tilts too far toward estrogen. Dr. Israel reported as well, that natural balance could be reestablished by increasing progesterone levels, and that this could be accomplished with natural progesterone supplements.

Since this article appeared, many experts in women’s health have adopted its premise. Among these are Dr. Katharina Dalton, of Great Britain, who gained worldwide acclaim by demonstrating that natural progesterone supplements could raise the body’s progesterone levels; Dr. Joel Hargrove, of Vanderbilt University, who reported that such supplements provide outstanding premenstrual support; and Dr. John Lee, who writes that such supplements provide equal support for women experiencing perimenopause or menopause, as well as through the years that follow.

Some 60 years ago, Dr. Russell Marker found that certain enzymes could convert a substance in wild yams (diosgenin) into an exact duplicate of the human progesterone molecule. This molecule is referred to as USP Progesterone. Because the body can use it exactly as it uses its own progesterone, it is ideal for human supplementation.

The purpose of progesterone supplements is, of course, to restore natural levels that the body may no longer be able to maintain for itself. Dr. John Lee, the world’s leading authority on natural progesterone, reports that this requires about 480 mg. of progesterone per month.

Because natural progesterone is absorbed better through the skin than the gastrointestinal tract, experts agree that it is best delivered in topical cremes. Since dermal absorption is thought to average about 50%, such cremes should contain about twice the amount we need, or 960 total mg. per month.

Progesterone is a hormone the body makes for itself, and is best known for maintaining the uterine lining, during pregnancy, and for its role in supporting skeletal health. Prior to menopause, the body’s production of progesterone rises and falls with the phases of the menstrual cycle, with peaks reaching about 25 mg. per day. During pregnancy’s third trimester, however, production may reach 400 mg. per day.

At menopause, the ovaries shut down, and progesterone levels drop dramatically. Because this is part of Nature’s plan, it is unlikely to cause serious problems. Poor foods, however, along with constant stress, may weaken the adrenal glands, which reduces progesterone levels still further. It may be this further decline that permits estrogen dominance to surface.

Dr. John Lee believes that problems associated with the monthly cycle, or with premenopause and menopause result from an imbalance between progesterone and estrogen, and that natural progesterone cremes may help calm them. While no clinical trials have been undertaken to confirm this, the fact that thousands of women report benefits from using such cremes supports his position.

Natural progesterone should not be confused with the progestins or progestogens in birth control pills and other drugs. While physicians often refer to these compounds as progesterone, they are, in fact, synthetic chemicals that have never existed in Nature. Because of this, they can cause a wide variety of side effects, some of which may present extreme danger. Natural, USP progesterone, on the other hand, is identical to the body’s own progesterone molecule, and has no serious side effects when used as directed.

It is well known that Japanese women rarely experience the unpleasantries associated with estrogen dominance. It is thought that this is largely because the Japanese diet is rich in phyto-estrogens, which are the gentle estrogens made by plants.

Phyto-estrogens are thought to guard against estrogen related imbalances in two ways. Because they can plug into the body’s estrogen receptors (see figures below), they may serve as safe, gentle estrogen supplements if the body’s own levels are low. They may also, however, help prevent xeno-estrogens from attaching to such receptors.

Xeno-estrogens are synthetic chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body. They are found in pesticides, herbicides, artificial fabrics, certain plastics, soaps, detergents, etc. Because they are millions of times stronger than our own estrogen, even small amounts of them can trigger severe imbalances. Natural health practitioners believe that keeping these chemicals out of estrogen receptors may promote healthful ratios between estrogen and progesterone.

Of the many herbs that contain phyto-estrogens, black cohosh is by far the best researched. It is, in fact, the only herb recommended by the German “Kommission E” (the worldwide authority for regulating herbal products) for menopausal support. This commission suggests 40 mg. of 2.5%, standardized black cohosh for this purpose. Because FemCreme is the only progesterone creme that provides this full amount, it is the most effective natural progesterone creme ever offered, and also provides greater protection against xeno-estrogens. In short, natural progesterone and black cohosh may be more effective together than either one is alone.

Due to conflicting definitions of the word “natural,” many products that call themselves “natural” actually contain many synthetic chemicals. Nowhere is this more common than in personal care products, such as cremes, lotions, shampoos, etc.

While some of the chemicals in such products are relatively benign, others have been linked to ill health, and all contribute to environmental degradation. Because of this, we suggest that you avoid products that contain carbomers, triethanolamine, quarterniums, stearalkonium chloride, DEA, imidazolidinyl urea, methyl, propyl or butyl parabens, propylene or butylene glycols, phenoxyethanol, ethoxydiglycol, etc. (Note: “Gels” may contain triethanolamine.)

In short, when selecting your personal care products (including, of course, your natural progesterone creme), make sure that the entire creme, and not just the main ingredients, are natural. Stay away from ingredients with which neither you nor your retailer are familiar. If necessary, call the manufacturer for information on an ingredient.

While many manufacturers say it is impossible to make cremes and lotions without synthetic chemicals, this is not the case. It is difficult to find labs that have retained the art of making truly natural personal care products, for most of their chemists are young, and have learned their trade in the chemical age. But, purists do exist, and supporting them furthers both our own personal health, and the purity of the environment in which our children must live.

With FemCreme, you’re getting the finest natural progesterone creme available anywhere, and a product that supports, rather than violates, environmental integrity.

As women have discovered the benefits of natural progesterone, “progesterone type cremes” have proliferated rapidly. Sadly, however, many such cremes provide only fractions of the progesterone Dr. Lee recommends, and some contain none at all. In addition, most are made with synthetic chemicals, and few provide meaningful levels of the herbs required for total balance.

When selecting your natural progesterone creme, pay close attention to the following factors:

1. Progesterone Content: 450 to 500 mg. per ounce of natural, micronized, USP progesterone from wild yam. (Natural progesterone from soy is just as good, but may present problems for those who are soy sensitive.)
2. Herbal Content: 400 mg. per ounce of 2.5%, standardized black cohosh, which provides the gentle plant estrogens (phyto-estrogens) that help block dangerous, synthetic estrogen (xeno-estrogens) from receptor sites, and which add additional protection against hot flashes, mood swings and other difficulties.
3. Texture: The thinner, the better, but not runny. Thinner cremes spread over larger surface areas, which means the progesterone and herbs are absorbed through greater numbers of pores. This facilitates greater overall absorption and yields better results.
4. Color: Because herbal extracts are deep browns in color, adding even small amounts of them will impart a tan color to cremes. In short, if a creme is white, it’s herbal light. Look for a rich, tan color.
5. Purity: It is always wise to avoid synthetic chemicals. A partial list of those we try to avoid is included in the “No Synthetic Chemicals” section on a previous page.

Each Ounce of FemCreme contains: 480 mg. of Micronized, Natural USP Progesterone, and 400 mg. of 2.5%, Standardized Black Cohosh, in a base of Purified Water; Safflower Oil; Vegetable Glycerin; Vitamin C and Vitamin E; Cetyl Alcohol; Sorbitan Palmitate and Polysorbate 40 (combinations of naturally occurring sugars and fatty acids); Wild Yam Extract; Almond, Jojoba, Sesame and Avocado Oils; Extracts of Red Raspberry, Nettles, Chaste Tree, Dong Quai, Blue Cohosh, Damiana, Irish Moss, Siberian Ginseng, Burdock Root, Hops, Uva Ursi, Passion Flower, Lemon Balm, Squaw Vine, Yellow Dock, and Tansy; St. John’s Wort Oil; Sargassum Sea Minerals; Peach Oil; Alantoin; Citrus Seed Extract.

FemCreme is the purest, cleanest, most complete, best balanced, and most effective natural progesterone creme ever offered. It contains the precise amount of natural progesterone suggested by Dr. John Lee, and the exact levels of standardized black cohosh recommended by the German “Kommission E” (the world’s most respected authority on the regulation of herbal products).

FemCreme is produced in extremely small batches, so that freshness is always assured, and packaged in sanitary tubes and pumps to avoid contamination. To the best of our knowledge, it is also the only completely chemical free product in its category, and your retailer always has access to independent laboratory analyses, so that both you and they may confirm that you’re getting exactly what you need.

In the final analysis, however, FemCreme’s worth must be judged not by us, but by you. And, for this reason, it is guaranteed to your complete satisfaction. This means, of course, that you may try it, entirely at our risk, and, if you are anything less than delighted with your results, return it, at any time within 60 days, for a refund of your entire purchase price.

We invite you to join the FemCreme family, and hope you will also entrust Pure Essence with your other nutritional needs. We pledge to spare neither time nor expense to provide the most beneficial products possible, to offer them at fair and affordable prices, and to do all in our power to forever merit your trust.

P.S. We do not advise using FemCreme in body locations that alpha hydoxy acids have been used within the last 24 hours. Some data indicate such exfoliating acids may interfere with progesterone absorption.

Note: the FDA has not evaluated these statements. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Copyright ©2004, Pure Essence Labs, Inc. All rights reserved.