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7/25/2025 Myo-Inositol and Insulin-Resistant PCOS: A Natural Approach to Hormone and Cycle SupportRead Now 
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a health problem that continues to affect women and people assigned female at birth all over the world. This complex condition is primarily driven by insulin resistance and often higher than average visceral fat stores which can impair the communication between your brain and reproductive organs regarding the regulation of your hormones. The imbalances in your body as a result of insulin-resistant PCOS can increase your risks of developing health complications, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, and even infertility.1 Myo-inositol is a natural sugar alcohol that promotes insulin sensitivity, thereby helping your cells receive their power supply to function optimally. However, people with PCOS are often deficient in myo-inositol. Hence, nurturing its levels through nutrition and supplementation is important in helping your body naturally heal itself and regulate its processes, including your hormone levels.
Understanding PCOS
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a type of endocrine disorder affecting women of reproductive age. It happens when there is a problem with the regulation of your reproductive hormones due to miscommunication between your brain and reproductive organs (a.k.a. your ovaries which sends out signals to your hypothalamus to secrete stimulating hormones). Miscommunication can result from problems hormone synthesis, insulin resistance leading to inadequate delivery of energy to cells, or high body fat stores impairing signaling between cells.3 Unfortunately, this miscommunication can lead to problems with menstruation, blood glucose regulation, ovulation and fertility, and even excess of androgens that can trigger acne and hair growth. In the long run, people with PCOS are at higher risk of developing hypertension, heart disease, or type 2 diabetes.3 Hence, the first-line management of insulin-resistant PCOS is centered around correcting problems with insulin resistance and increasing your cells’ sensitivity to insulin through nutrition and lifestyle changes.
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Topical Remedies for Rapid Pain Relief
Because sunburns can cause severe pain and discomfort, providing relief to affected areas can help support the recovery process. Luckily, nature is blessed with different resources to help soothe and heal your skin!
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel helps reduce inflammation, provides soothing relief, and promotes skin repair through nurturing epithelialization, which is a process where a new layer of skin is formed to replace damaged areas.3 The gel can also be taken orally to help nurture your skin barrier and improve its elasticity.4
Calendula Cream
Applying calendula cream on sunburned skin can help soothe areas of pain and discomfort. Calendula also reduces inflammation and promotes skin rejuvenation, thereby nurturing your skin’s recovery process.5 Interestingly, calendula offers added sun protection and guards your skin against harmful UV rays!5
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel (yes, the famous skincare ingredient) is effective in calming pain and inflammation while nurturing your skin barrier.6 Additionally, witch hazel delivers antioxidants that will help protect your skin from UV radiation and its damaging effects, such as wrinkles and aging.6
Aloe Vera Gel
Aloe vera gel helps reduce inflammation, provides soothing relief, and promotes skin repair through nurturing epithelialization, which is a process where a new layer of skin is formed to replace damaged areas.3 The gel can also be taken orally to help nurture your skin barrier and improve its elasticity.4
Calendula Cream
Applying calendula cream on sunburned skin can help soothe areas of pain and discomfort. Calendula also reduces inflammation and promotes skin rejuvenation, thereby nurturing your skin’s recovery process.5 Interestingly, calendula offers added sun protection and guards your skin against harmful UV rays!5
Witch Hazel
Witch hazel (yes, the famous skincare ingredient) is effective in calming pain and inflammation while nurturing your skin barrier.6 Additionally, witch hazel delivers antioxidants that will help protect your skin from UV radiation and its damaging effects, such as wrinkles and aging.6
Internal Support
Although most sunburns eventually heal without having extensive treatments, keeping yourself hydrated helps support your body’s recovery. Drinking adequate amounts of water everyday can prevent dehydration from the loss of fluid secondary to the burn. Taking collagen can help nurture your skin’s elasticity by promoting the production of hyaluronic acid, which help moisturize the skin and improve its healing ability.2 Eating carotenoids, on the other hand, can help protect your skin against UV damage.2 Additionally, supplementing your diet with vitamin E and vitamin C can help protect your skin from sun damage and act as antioxidants that help nurture your overall health.
Talking to your naturopathic doctor will help you explore the right foods and supplements and their optimal levels in the body tailored to your unique case.
Talking to your naturopathic doctor will help you explore the right foods and supplements and their optimal levels in the body tailored to your unique case.
When to Seek Help
Without timely and proper interventions, sunburn can cause complications that will not only severely damage your skin, but also put you at risk of different types of infections. Always remember that your skin serves as a protective barrier against harmful microorganisms and substances from the environment. A break in the skin means weakening your body’s first line of defense against potential harm. If the affected skin is full of blisters or if you are experiencing signs of infection (fever, redness, swelling, nausea, or chills), visiting your healthcare provider will be the best step you can do to prevent unwanted complications from the burn. We also recommend regular skin-screening appointments to help detect and treat any potential issues early.
At Natural Path to Wellness, your team of naturopathic medicine advisors will help you discover the best natural and effective strategies that will help your body recover from damage, all of which are tailored to be the best options for your unique case and preference. To learn more about the naturopathic approach that can help heal your skin, talk to us today!
At Natural Path to Wellness, your team of naturopathic medicine advisors will help you discover the best natural and effective strategies that will help your body recover from damage, all of which are tailored to be the best options for your unique case and preference. To learn more about the naturopathic approach that can help heal your skin, talk to us today!
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Guerra KC, Crane JS. Sunburn. In: StatPearls. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; October 29, 2023.
- Fernández-García E. Skin protection against UV light by dietary antioxidants. Food Funct. 2014;5(9):1994-2003. doi:10.1039/c4fo00280f
- Oryan A, Mohammadalipour A, Moshiri A, Tabandeh MR. Topical Application of Aloe vera Accelerated Wound Healing, Modeling, and Remodeling: An Experimental Study. Ann Plast Surg. 2016;77(1):37-46. doi:10.1097/SAP.0000000000000239
- Tanaka M, Yamamoto Y, Misawa E, et al. Aloesterol supplementation improves skin elasticity in Japanese men with sunlight-exposed skin: a 12-week double-blind, randomized controlled trial [published correction appears in Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016 Dec 16;10:1. doi: 10.2147/CCID.S129668.]. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol. 2016;9:435-442. Published 2016 Nov 10. doi:10.2147/CCID.S118947
- Mishra A, Mishra A, Chattopadhyay P. Assessment of In vitro Sun Protection Factor of Calendula Officinalis L. (Asteraceae) Essential Oil Formulation. J Young Pharm. 2012;4(1):17-21. doi:10.4103/0975-1483.93575
- Liu X, Hage TW, Chen LC, et al. Revealing the Therapeutic Potential: Investigating the Impact of a Novel Witch Hazel Formula on Anti-Inflammation and Antioxidation. J Cosmet Dermatol. 2025;24(2):e16662. doi:10.1111/jocd.16662
Honey is a natural sweetener that has been used for centuries due to its wonderful health properties, providing antioxidants, as well as antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and organ-protective effects. Diabetes mellitus, on the other hand, is a health problem that affects how your body is able to use and convert sugar from your diet into energy for your cells to function adequately. Considered one of the most common diseases that affects the world’s population today, getting diagnosed with diabetes mellitus involves a wide array of treatments to help regulate blood sugar levels for life, preventing the highly-feared end-organ damage associated with its complications. The good news is that these complications can be prevented with timely and holistic care!
Bonus point! You can actually add honey into your daily routine.
Bonus point! You can actually add honey into your daily routine.
What is Honey?
Honey is a nutritious substance that has been transformed by honeybees from nectar produced by flowering plants. Most of the world’s supply of honey is found in Asia, while approximately 4.1% of the honey supply are produced in the United States.1 Different sugars make up 80-85% of its contents (with fructose comprising 21-43%), while the remaining components are made up of water, proteins, and a variety of vitamins, minerals, and phenolic compounds, which contribute to its antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects.1
Understanding Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic problem that happens when too much sugar is present in the blood due to problems with insulin secretion or resistance. The type that mostly affects the adult population is type 2 diabetes, a condition featured in our previous blog post, and is caused by the dangerous resistance of your organs and tissues against insulin, a hormone that helps them store and replenish their energy for adequate functioning.
The Effects of Honey on Blood Sugar
Consuming honey in moderation can actually have beneficial effects on your blood sugar and insulin levels. Honey has been known to decrease your blood sugar levels by stimulating insulin secretion and promoting your body cells’ sensitivity to insulin!1 Additionally, honey can also help in producing hydrogen peroxide, which not only acts similarly to insulin, but also supports your immune system in fighting off infections.2 Consuming honey also helps minimize the production of prostaglandins that inhibit insulin secretion, ensuring adequate levels of insulin are maintained in the body.
Benefits of Honey for Diabetics
Aside from the wonderful effects of honey on blood sugar and insulin levels, this natural substance is safe to consume as an alternative sweetener for when you still want to have that hint of sweetness in your favorite foods and drinks. Fructose, the type of natural sugar found in honey, only has a glycemic index of 19, while glucose (another type of sugar commonly found in most foods you eat everyday) has a glycemic index of 100!2 This means that honey has a lower potential to quickly make your blood sugar levels rise compared to your favorite bread or pasta! In fact, honey’s high fructose content can help reduce dangerous blood sugar spikes through activating a special enzyme (glucokinase) which helps transport glucose into a safe storage site: the liver!1 Additionally, the negative consequences of eating heavy amounts of glucose long-term, such as heart problems and insulin resistance, have not been associated with consuming honey.2
Interestingly, the antioxidant properties of honey also help protect and nurture your pancreas, which is a vital organ that primarily secretes insulin and glucagon, two hormones that maintain optimal levels of sugar in the blood and energy in tissues. Honey shields the pancreas against oxidative stress, preventing organ damage and complications associated with diabetes.2
Interestingly, the antioxidant properties of honey also help protect and nurture your pancreas, which is a vital organ that primarily secretes insulin and glucagon, two hormones that maintain optimal levels of sugar in the blood and energy in tissues. Honey shields the pancreas against oxidative stress, preventing organ damage and complications associated with diabetes.2
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Finding Safe Honey
It is important to remember that not all available honey in the market are packed with all the essential components you need.
Additionally, most store-bought honey is often mixed with corn syrup or sugar syrup that defeats the purpose of using honey to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Hence, the first step to experiencing the full healing goodness of honey is by buying the local, raw, and unfiltered type! To learn more about finding healing honey, we have the perfect blog post for you!
Additionally, most store-bought honey is often mixed with corn syrup or sugar syrup that defeats the purpose of using honey to help regulate your blood sugar levels. Hence, the first step to experiencing the full healing goodness of honey is by buying the local, raw, and unfiltered type! To learn more about finding healing honey, we have the perfect blog post for you!
The Naturopathic Approach
The full benefits of therapeutic honey can only be experienced with expert guidance and monitoring to ensure levels of its components in the body are safe and optimal. At Natural Path to Wellness, your naturopathic medicine advisors are committed to helping you discover the wonders of nature for your long-term health and wellness. Whether you are currently starting your health and wellness journey or having doubts if you are on the right path, we are here to help. Talk to us today!
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Palma-Morales M, Huertas JR, Rodríguez-Pérez C. A Comprehensive Review of the Effect of Honey on Human Health. Nutrients. 2023;15(13):3056. Published 2023 Jul 6. doi:10.3390/nu15133056
- Bobiş O, Dezmirean DS, Moise AR. Honey and Diabetes: The Importance of Natural Simple Sugars in Diet for Preventing and Treating Different Type of Diabetes. Oxid Med Cell Longev. 2018;2018:4757893. Published 2018 Feb 4. doi:10.1155/2018/4757893
Naturopathic care offers a holistic and unique approach to healthcare that promotes your body’s inherent abilities to heal and nurture itself. It centers around redirecting your nutrition, lifestyle, and health practices to help nurture hormonal balance, gut health, and the connection between the ecosystems inside the body that make it function optimally. Unfortunately, naturopathic care is currently not fully covered by many insurance companies or even considered a tax-deductible medical expense, making it difficult to enjoy its full services without having to pay the full price. The letter of medical necessity (LMN), however, is a tool written by your allopathic (conventional) doctor that can possibly help secure insurance reimbursements, allow the use of FSA or HSA funds, or provide medical tax deductions for availing yourself of naturopathic services as a form of a health-related expense.
What Is a Letter of Medical Necessity?
A letter of medical necessity is a type of healthcare documentation that you can ask from your healthcare provider for a specific healthcare service to be considered for funding by insurance companies, FSA/HSA funds, or medical tax deductions.1 This emphasizes that the service or care given is medically necessary for the patient, hence he/she can be eligible for funding or monetary support. A health approach or procedure is considered a medical necessity when not performing it may mean the patient will have a greater chance of suffering from a deterioration in one’s health or will continue to suffer from a less-than-normal state of health.1 A letter of medical necessity is written by your licensed healthcare provider. If your provider determines it is medically necessary, they can write LMN’s for services such as naturopathic medical consulting, personal trainers, acupuncture, and more!
How a Letter of Medical Necessity Supports Tax Deductions
Having your insurance support your decision to avail yourself of naturopathic care services for your health problem can be very challenging, especially since the majority of the healthcare coverage offered by insurance companies are limited to allopathic or conventional treatments. The good news is that the naturopathic services you desire may be considered as a tax-deductible medical care expense through a letter of medical necessity. Medical care expenses that are able to receive this type of tax exemption include payments to diagnose, cure, treat, prevent, or mitigate diseases or problems with any body structure or function, or to provide personal health education.
Here’s the full list of eligible medical services for tax deductions.
Since naturopathy utilizes standard medical assessments and procedures and use these to manage disease conditions with natural approaches such as personal health education, nutrition, counseling, botanical medicine, lifestyle counseling, mind-body therapies, and natural childbirth, naturopathic services are medically necessary expenses that can be tax-deductible with a LMN. Talk to your doctor about your rights for utilizing naturopathic services and check with your insurance company or FSA/HSA administrator about your eligibility and their process for reimbursement and coverage.
A little bit of effort on your part can prevent bureaucratic issues in the future and open up a world of alternative medicine deductions and holistic care tax benefits while exploring the wonders of naturopathic medicine.
Here’s the full list of eligible medical services for tax deductions.
Since naturopathy utilizes standard medical assessments and procedures and use these to manage disease conditions with natural approaches such as personal health education, nutrition, counseling, botanical medicine, lifestyle counseling, mind-body therapies, and natural childbirth, naturopathic services are medically necessary expenses that can be tax-deductible with a LMN. Talk to your doctor about your rights for utilizing naturopathic services and check with your insurance company or FSA/HSA administrator about your eligibility and their process for reimbursement and coverage.
A little bit of effort on your part can prevent bureaucratic issues in the future and open up a world of alternative medicine deductions and holistic care tax benefits while exploring the wonders of naturopathic medicine.
What is Inside a Letter of Medical Necessity
Because a letter of medical necessity centers around the explanation and description of your healthcare provider on the different medical services, supplies, or equipment used for your optimal health, a list of prescribed services or equipment, medical explanation and rationale highlighting the connection between utilizing such tools for your condition, and evidence of a physical assessment should be included in your requested LMN. For example, if you are experiencing hormone imbalances, your endocrinologist or primary care provider could write a LMN citing a need for naturopathic medical consulting on the grounds that we provide personalized health education, and support optimal hormone levels through the use of nutrition, lifestyle, and botanical medicine.
Steps to Obtain a Letter of Medical Necessity
A letter of medical necessity can be obtained through your licensed medical provider. You simply tell them your preference for naturopathic care and ask them to provide an LMN in support. After evaluating your health condition and concerns, your licensed provider will document their assessment of the need, emphasizing the need for naturopathic medical consulting to be considered for insurance coverage or tax exemptions. Click here to learn more about the coverage of LMNs. Don’t forget to renew your LMN yearly to maximize tax savings and save money on naturopathic care!
At Natural Path to Wellness, your team of naturopathic medical advisors are committed to helping you discover the best natural and holistic options for your optimal health. We will guide you through every step of the natural path, helping you nurture your health without breaking your budget. Talk to us today!
At Natural Path to Wellness, your team of naturopathic medical advisors are committed to helping you discover the best natural and holistic options for your optimal health. We will guide you through every step of the natural path, helping you nurture your health without breaking your budget. Talk to us today!
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. Please consult your licensed naturopathic physician or other licensed healthcare provider before making changes to your medications or supplements.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
REFERENCES:
- Wilkinson DJ. What is 'medical necessity'?. Clin Ethics. 2023;18(3):285-286. doi:10.1177/14777509231190521
THE BLOG AT NATURAL PATH TO WELLNESS
AuthorS
Natural Path to Wellness values community education and welcomes contributions from writers with a background in Naturopathic Medicine, natural health and wellness, herbalism, homeopathy, Nature Cure, and more.
Medical Reviewer:
Marney Johnson, ND, MSCI-TS is a Naturopathic Doctor and Naturopathic Medicine Advisor with a background in allopathic (standard American medicine) medical research, Dr. Johnson, is uniquely qualified to evaluate current scientific research and offer insight to help you make sense of how you can integrate natural medicine into your health plan. She is passionate about the roles of Nutrition, Lifestyle, and Nature in health and constantly seeks new ways to make these accessible through food as medicine, encouraging new, healthy habits, and promoting interaction with Nature in its many forms.
Disclosures & Policies: This and other blog posts may contain affiliate links. Please view our disclosures page for more information.
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