Fiona McCulloch - 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS: A Proven Program to Reset Your Hormones, Repair Your Metabolism, and Restore Your Fertility

When it comes to managing PCOS symptoms, knowledge is power. For women with PCOS, Dr. Fiona McCullochs groundbreaking new book is a wealth of this immediately applicable information that can make a difference in learning to manage their symptoms. Dr. McCulloch has interpreted all of the latest PCOS research and applied her own knowledge and expertise to create an easy-to-read, comprehensive resource. This brilliant book is the must-have guidebook for any woman who wants to manage her PCOS with a holistic lifestyle approach. Dr. Fiona can certainly be counted among the great PCOS medical experts, such as Dr. Walter Futterweit and Dr. Samuel Thatcher, who have blazed a trail of empowerment for the PCOS patient.

AMY MEDLING, PCOS Diva

Dr Fionas eagerly awaited book on PCOS is everything I hoped it would be: comprehensive and insightful.

DR. LARA BRIDEN, author, The Period Repair Manual

8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS is a detailed, engaging, and practical approach to the very complex issue of PCOS that it is easy to understand. Dr. Fiona puts each piece of the PCOS puzzle in place to provide a truly complete answer in restoring proper hormonal balance.

DR. MICHAEL T. MURRAY, coauthor, The Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine

I highly recommend this book! PCOS is a topic that is past due for global attention and clarity, and Dr. McCullochs book delivers on these needs. 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS helps readers understand if PCOS may be the hidden cause behind their weight gain, hair loss, or missed cycles. It will also help them understand why they are afflicted and give them a path back to health. The recommendations given are safe, well-balanced, and evidence-based, and they come from Dr. McCullochs clinical experience and extensive research. The steps outlined also serve as an excellent guide for those with metabolic syndrome or prediabetes.

DR. ALAN CHRISTIANSON,New York Times best-selling author of The Adrenal Reset Diet

I was impressed by the comprehensive and integrative approach that Dr. McCulloch has achieved in this book, which will help women with this complex endocrinological disorder. Medicines understanding of PCOS has come a long way in the last three decades, and Dr. McCulloch has grasped that evolution and embraced our modern scientific understanding of PCOS, including the science and importance of natural medicine in treatment strategies for PCOS

DR. TORI HUDSON, Clinical Professor, National University of Natural Medicine, Bastyr University, Southwest College of Natural Medicine; author, Womens Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine; Director of Education and Research, Vitanica; Medical Director, A Womans Time

Dr. McCulloch has done an impeccable job at capturing the whole picture of PCOS, including the emotional effects that are so commonly experienced throughout the journey. This book clearly and thoroughly outlines a step-by-step process that can be easily followed. 8 Steps to Reverse Your PCOS is a must-have resource for women with PCOS, clinicians working with womens hormones or the emotional impact of having PCOS, and mothers of teenage daughters who may be experiencing symptoms related to PCOS. Knowledge is empowering, and Dr. McCulloch provides the knowledge and guides us through the actions necessary to grab hold of our life and turn it around!

DR. JULIA SEN, psychologist

This book is intended as a reference volume only, not as a medical manual. The information given here is designed to help you make informed decisions about your health. It is not intended as a substitute for any treatment that may have been prescribed by your doctor. If you suspect that you have a medical problem, you should seek competent medical help. You should not begin a new health regimen without first consulting a medical professional.

Published by Greenleaf Book Group Press
Austin, Texas
www.gbgpress.com

Copyright 2016 Fiona McCulloch

All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission from the copyright holder.

Distributed by Greenleaf Book Group

For ordering information or special discounts for bulk purchases, please contact Greenleaf Book Group at PO Box 91869, Austin, TX 78709, 512.891.6100.

Design and composition by Greenleaf Book Group and Deborah Berne
Cover design by Greenleaf Book Group and Deborah Berne
Cover images: gettyimages.com/heroimages

Cataloging-in-Publication data is available.

Print ISBN: 978-1-62634-301-6

eBook ISBN: 978-1-62634-302-3

Part of the Tree Neutral program, which off sets the number of trees consumed in the production and printing of this book by taking proactive steps, such as planting trees in direct proportion to the number of trees used: www.treeneutral.com

Printed in the United States of America on acid-free paper

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First Edition

To my husband, Shaneinnovator and visionarythank you for believing in me.

And to our sweet boys, Logan, Zachary, and Theoyou fill up my heart.

My first real introduction to polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) was in the nineties, early on in my acupuncture practice. While I had enough rudimentary information gleaned from the standard medical school curriculum, it merely touched upon how to diagnose this obscure and misunderstood disorder and medically control it, as there was no cure. The remedies at the time included the following:

1. Put the woman on oral contraceptives.
2. Treat her insulin resistance pharmaceutically (never mind the side effects).
3. Perform ovarian wedge surgical resection, if there were cysts.

Clomiphene was the only recommendation if infertility was part of the cascade. Rarely was this effective, and sometimes it worsened the presentation. There was no mention of dietary changes, modifying exercise, nutritional and supplement recommendations, or the effectiveness of acupuncture or herbs.

When my first atypical PCOS patient consulted me for help, I was at a loss. The Chinese medical literature did not address this scenario. I consulted other experts in the field of Oriental reproductive medicine, and none had success. There was nothing out there on treating this condition naturally. I scrambled. I researched, researched some more, and as my practice was getting busier, I started seeing the myriad presentations of different women who were diagnosed with PCOS. Some were thin. Some were heavy. Some had regular periods. Some had none. Some had other health conditions associated with their endocrine disorder that were being managed pharmaceutically. None were happy with their medical care. Each was trying to conceive.

A challenging environment presents itself for a pioneer in the field of natural reproductive medicine: Youre on your own, and your laboratory is made up of patients who have no other options. You come to understand what the components of the health condition are. You apply different natural remedies (none proven). Some work. Some dont. Sometimes I could get patients who were not menstruating to menstruate, and the bleeding wouldnt stop! Then Id have to try to control their bleeding before we could move on to encourage ovulation.