alopecia and raised testosterone in postmenopausal female

[Guest guest]

Dear List

I'm treating a 64 year old lady who has androgenetic alopecia and

acne. She has been treated by a private Belgian doctor for several

years. Apart from Thyroxine, he initially gave her DHEA for 2 years,

which she says raised her testosterone levels and set off the

alopecia. She approached me for herbal tx to reduce the testosterone

(blood tests show still raised).

She is also apple-shaped, overweight and borderline diabetic so

insulin resistance is an issue I am talking to her about.

PMH: eventually had hysterectomy for fibroids after successful herbal

tx for years.

My initial rx included Glyc glabra, but she said Marilyn Glanville

had said at a talk to avoid liquorice as it 'stimulates the

adrenals'. I notice medical books sometimes say this too.

Current rx is:

Arctium lappa 5, Paeonia lact 1:3 60, Trikatu 25, Scutellaria sp 25.

5 ml tds.

Also advised florisene.

Questions are: will Paeonia (which acts on ovarian testosterone

production I think) affect testosterone production post-menopausally?

Would Glyc gl help, and how can I explain the action to this px who

is very anxious about her appearance and not wishing to take further

risks after the DHEA?

How else could I improve the treatment?

Also: the acne amounts to small uninfected spots (quite difficult to

see) mainly on cheeks which become quite visible brown macules. I

have advised her to dab vit E on. Is there better advice I could be

giving?

I can give values from test results if it helps.

Many thanks Katharine