What you need to know about coming off the OCP and how Naturopathic medicine can help.

Coming off the pill can be daunting! Most of us don't get educated either on some of the things that may happen to your body and how to deal with it. Fortunately Naturopathy has some great options available to help manage and reduce the likelihood of negative symptoms occurring when you stop taking the OCP.

Here are some of the things that may happen to your body when you come off it and some Naturopathic remedies that can be used to help relieve these symptoms!

It can take up to 1 year to get your period back....

You may also develop hormone imbalances such as...

Post pill amenorrhea

whereby the body has to get used to making its own hormones again which may cause hormonal imbalances in the interim. Herbs such as chaste tree, tribulus, black cohosh, paeonia, dong quai and schisandra can be beneficial here.

Post pill polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Which is caused by an imbalance of testosterone that may occur whilst your body is getting its own rhythm back and learns to produce it's own hormones. Licorice, paeonia and tribulus can be beneficial here.

Post pill infertility

This is very similar to post pill amenorrhea whereby the body will not be ovulating regularly due to unbalanced hormones. We will need to work on your hormones and achieving regular ovulation and healthy luteal phases. Chaste tree, dong quai, shatavari and false unicorn can be beneficial here.

Post Pill Acne

This is caused by increased levels of testosterone in the body which sometimes happens to individuals coming off the pill we need to address this imbalance to avoid further acne developing. Spearmint, nettle, paeonia, licorice can be beneficial here.

It is likely you will have nutritional deficiencies which need to be addressed!

Unfortunately, the pill depletes certain very important nutrients which are essential for your wellbeing and cellular processes.

Supplementation:

Zinc- helpful for reducing post pill acne and replenishing the body's reserves

B vitamins- required for detoxification, mood support and energy production

Magnesium- required for mood and blood sugar balance. Also helps with sleep onset and stress.

Diet:

Focus on whole foods: whole foods naturally contain higher levels of nutrients which will be nourishing to the body and help to regulate the hormones. You want to be consuming complex carbohydrates (brown rice, quinoa, sweet potato), protein (chicken, fish, meat, eggs, legumes) and healthy fats ( at least 1 tbsp with each meal- olive oil, avocado, hemp seeds, chia seeds)

Water: drink plenty of filtered water to support the kidneys and flush the body.

We need to give some love to your liver and gut health.

With the pill being a pharmaceutical drug, it is important to support the liver to prevent any damage that may have occurred. The liver is also incredibly important and maintaining hormonal health. Improving hormone detoxification via the liver will be very important if you find yourself developing post- pill acne. Herbal medicines such as Rosemary and Schisandra are fantastic for this.

Improving your gut health will again be important for balancing your hormones post pill and also for helping to regulate your mood. Try consume plenty of probiotic rich foods (yoghurts, sauerkraut, kimchi, kefir) as well as prebiotic foods (onion, garlic, green bananas, artichoke) to support a healthy gut flora. Other considerations would be to include bone broth/ collagen and turmeric in the diet to help with any potential intestinal permeability that may have developed.

Everyone will have their own unique differences with the symptoms experienced coming off the pill. Some people may even have none!

However, if you ARE experiencing these symptoms just know that help IS available

It is always best to consult your medical practitioner if you are wanting to come off the pill or seek hormonal support. This post is not designed to treat or diagnose conditions. You can also always book in with me or jump on my waitlist! To get in contact email me at hello@amy-jade.com.au or DM me on instagram x