Patent Application
20110201579
For a more complete understanding of the present invention, including its features and advantages, reference is now made to the detailed description of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:
While the making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below, it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that may be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.
Pregnenolone is a natural hormone that is sometimes referred to as the body's “master hormone” since it is the precursor for all other steroid hormones. It is converted directly into dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and/or progesterone. DHEA converts to testosterone and estrogens; progesterone converts to estrogens, cortisol and aldosterone. It is this succession of conversions that makes human life possible. Without pregnenolone, there can be no human steroid hormone production.
Back in the 1940's, when researchers started experimenting with the use of pregnenolone, they realized that it could be helpful for people under stress and it could increase energy in those who were fatigued. However, about the same time, cortisol was discovered.
Cortisol stole the limelight. When cortisol was given to individuals with rheumatoid arthritis, they experienced outstanding short-term improvements. Photographs of these remarkable recoveries were circulated and the medical community was impressed. Scientists then basically put pregnenolone aside to focus on cortisol. The structure of cortisol was altered to make similar molecules such as dexamethasone and prednisone, much more powerful steroids. Dexamethasone and other similar corticosteroids could be patented, and thus a pharmaceutical company could make a lot of money. Pregnenolone has stayed in relative obscurity since the 1940's, with only rare mentions in the medical literature. However, there have been few studies published on pregnenolone in recent years, and only a couple of the studies involve human subjects.
Some people find pregnenolone improves energy, vision, memory, clarity of thinking, wellbeing, and often sexual enjoyment or libido. Pregnenolone may be considered a good brain enhancer in those who are deficient. Studies in rodents show pregnenolone to be one of the most effective and powerful memory boosters. In addition, pregnenolone may increase levels of acetylcholine in the hippocampus and other memory regions in the brain. Some women report lessening of hot flashes or premenstrual symptoms.
Pregnenolone production has also been found to decrease as humans get older. Like many health-promoting hormones, levels of pregnenolone drop with age. Although the data is not as abundant or definitive for pregnenolone as it is for DHEA, Dr. Eugene Roberts, a pioneer in hormone research, believes that the age-related drop in pregnenolone is as dramatic as the drop in DHEA. At 75, our bodies typically make 60% less pregnenolone than at age 35. This is a point of great concern, considering pregnenolone's numerous protective, health-promoting properties Pregnenolone replacement therapy normally consists of patients taking oral supplements but the therapy is still evolving.
An embodiment of the present invention utilizes pellets of pregnenolone that are injected into the subcutaneous fat (fat beneath the skin) of a patient at various areas.
Another embodiment includes equal parts of pregnenolone and DHEA combined into a cream and is applied directly on the skin. Application directly on the skin helps replenish the pregnenolone and DHEA normally produced within the skin. Consequently, direct skin application has been found to improve the overall health of a patient. In addition, positive effects have been found if the cream is applied to thin vascular skin such as between the inner arm and the side of the arm or flank.
In this embodiment, the pregnenolone/DHEA cream is applied topically to skin on the face 102, hands 104 and the chest 106 of the patient 100. This embodiment contemplates two applications per day in each of those areas. Applications of this type have shown to positively effect the mood and well-being of patients. In addition, these types of applications have also shown to decrease pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion production stimulated by ACTH and stress. Such, the applications have been shown to improve the muscle to fat ratio of patients.
The pregnenolone/DHEA cream can also be applied to the nipples and clitoris of a female patient and the head of a male's penis. This application has been shown to improve libido and sexual response of the patients. One reason that this type of application helps is because the combined pregnenolone/DHEA cream has been shown to have a strong affinity for the Sex Hormone Binding Globulin (SHBG).
These types of applications have a strong affinity for serum albumin and positively effect cognition, depression and mobility. In addition, the applications affect global self-rated health for men and especially women. Moreover, the applications lower blood pressure and improve cardiovascular health in men. Further, the applications are antagonistic to cortisol and thus decrease abdominal fat. The applications also improve the skin and joints and increase hair growth.
Although this invention has been described with reference to an illustrative embodiment, this description is not intended to limit the scope of the invention. Various modifications and combinations of the illustrative embodiments as well as other embodiments of the invention will be apparent to persons skilled in the art upon reference to the description. It is therefore intended that the appended claims accomplish any such modifications or embodiments.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 61305594 | Feb 2010 | US |
