What is the difference between a compounding pharmacist and a herbalist?

In a sense, the herbalist has basically taken over the role of the pharmacist, prescription drugs excluded. There is a difference in the two methods of treatment and their purpose. A pharmacist will meet the script of a doctor while a herbalist can tailor make for the individual but does not necessarily have to meet the requirements of a doctor. A herbalist is licensed to make herbs and use natural remedies, not S4 drugs, and he cannot make therapeutic claims.

There are many talented herbalists out there who can balance a woman’s hormones specifically through herbs. And herbs are something that cannot be underestimated. The power of herbs is unique and incredible, and dates back many centuries. In the right combination, they can do some miraculous things in our body.

Many women realise remarkable results with hormone balancing without the need of progesterone replacement therapy.
Often we do suggest a woman try a herbalist, particularly if she is ovulating and is not showing severe estrogen dominance. We know from experience that herbs such as Vitex can often bring a woman’s hormones back into balance, in some cases increasing her fertility, without the need for natural progesterone treatment. This approach treats hormonal imbalance by stimulating the pituitary, in turn getting the body to regulate, stabilise and normalise its messages rather than putting the progesterone molecule back into the body.

A woman who believes she is using ‘real’ progesterone cream compounded by her herbalist, be warned. Your herbalist may not be telling you the whole truth or breaking the law. In countries where progesterone is classified a prescription drug, herbalists are NOT permitted to incorporate micronised progesterone into their preparations. To imply otherwise is bending the truth. If, however, he or she is adding micronised progesterone to your cream, it would be illegal. Moreover, it is highly unlikely the insignificant levels of progesterone (often referred to as homeopathic) would be of benefit to a woman suffering severe progesterone deficiency.

It should be understood that if your adrenals are functioning optimally, they will produce progesterone but maybe not at the levels required to offset the fact you are no longer producing progesterone month to month through ovulation. Once you enter menopause your adrenal glands will provide minute amounts of progesterone, however, not nearly enough to counter-balance the effects of too much estrogen in your body.