An English news source reported that progesterone may have a protective effect on the brain by reducing swelling and improving mental clarity after a traumatic brain injury. This new approach was the result of research conducted by American doctors in the mid-eighties when they noticed that women with brain injuries recovered better than men. Dr. John Lee, a pioneer in the use of progesterone, was one of the doctors to recognize this benefit.
“…researchers discovered that progesterone was a key component of the myelin
sheath that protects or insulates the nerves - so important in fact that
progesterone is made in the myelin sheath.”
“Dr. Lee famously said that if anyone in his family had a brain injury,
he would slather them with progesterone cream.”
The article states that progesterone protects the brain by reducing swelling, allowing a healthy blood supply to the brain, and decreased cell death. Rat studies suggested that when progesterone levels were highest, brain injuries improved with less swelling and better functional recovery. A recent trial in the United States showed that while 30% of patients given a placebo died within 30 days of injury, the death rate of patients given progesterone was only 13%.
Progesterone is not just a woman’s hormone that regulates menstruation and pregnancy. Progesterone is also made by men in lower amounts, and it influences the production of sperm cells and testosterone. It plays a role in sleep and mood in both men and women.
Our natural, God-given hormones are powerful regulators and protectors of the human body. How has progesterone improved your life?