[Lotus]

First, Lotus it is so great to see not only your progress and decisions in moving forward, but also the absolutely astounding depth of your research and interpretation for us non-science nerds! I hope you have a speedy recovery from both your back surgery and your encounter with Omicron. I have spent a great deal of the last 5 days reading and trying to absorb both your Anti-androgen thread and this magnum opus. It is so interesting and helpful to see the evolution in both. THANK YOU!

Wow, hi Lisa...so good to hear from you again. Thank you for the kind words. I hope you achieve the results you're looking for this time around. I find the creams useful as skin penetration (or absorption) avoids the first pass metabolism. Estradiol is a small molecule @272.4 and progesterone at 314.5 is well below the Dalton rule of 500.0 (info provided below). Thank you for the attached links.  Fwiw, the following is what I've posted on Hops, hope it helps.

PM and hops, hmm...sounds interesting. I can't see much conflict, but it could work. Reportedly, cell receptors number in the 100,000+ per cell, of that???, how much ERa to ERb would depend on the preferential binding of a supplement/med. though I would keep PM during the day while taking HOPS at night giving a boost towards growth hormone. 

 8-pin ( known as " Prenylnaringenin " ) is a flavonoid...a phytoestrogen in HOPS. In relation to PM, deoxymiroestrol (in PM) has been identified as stronger than HOPS in a few studies, (probably stronger at ER-a over ER-b), I believe we have posted a study or two about it though, still needs verifying. 

As mentioned, HOPs is 70x stronger in ER-b (beta) binding than estradiol....

Hi Marcy, 

From the studies I've seen, HOPS is 70 times more potent for ER-b (estrogen receptor beta) over estradiol and 20,000 times less potent at ER-a (estrogen receptor alpha) over estradiol. If I didn't mention already, HOPS upregulates progesterone receptor mRNA (signaling). Besides stimulating IGF-1 HOPs enhances thermogenesis in BAT (brown adipose tissue, aka " fat " ), which means counteracting increases body fat......I know right, I'm thinking beer means beer belly imo, didn't make sense, but here's the study. 
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/m/pubmed/26098641/

FWIW I don't think HOPS will comprise HRT, for me I'd take it at night time for the IGF-1 stimulation and promotion of PR (progesterone receptor).  

Hop and red clover extracts, as well as 8-PN upregulated progesterone receptor (PR) mRNA in the Ishikawa cell line. In the MCF-7 cell line, PR mRNA was significantly upregulated by the extracts, biochanin A, genistein, 8-PN, and IX. The two extracts had EC50 values of 1.1 and 1.9 μg/mL, respectively, in the alkaline phosphatase induction assay. Based on these data, hops and red clover could be attractive for development as herbal dietary supplements to alleviate menopause-associated symptoms.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...s14948.pdf

-HOPS (8-PIN) stimulates IGF-1...growth hormone stimulates IGF-1 (insulin growth factor). This action stimulates new growth.  Exercise & sleep, whey (denatured), cayenne pepper stimulates IGF-1 and circulation (inhibits androgens in the prostate). Vitamin D stimulates IGF-1

Mammary gland development requires both systemic hormones and local growth factor-mediated tissue interactions. Classical hormone ablation/replacement experiments, and more-recent genetic analyses in mice, have shown that post-pubertal gland development requires systemic hormones from ovary [estrogen (E) and progesterone (P)], pituitary [growth hormone (GH) and prolactin (PRL)] and adrenal gland (glucocorticoids) (Topper and Freeman, 1980). Loss of ovarian or pituitary function leads to failure of hormone-dependent ductal elongation after puberty, with E and GH participating primarily in ductal elongation and P and PRL participating primarily in alveolar development. Glucocorticoids enhance (but are not essential for) ductal elongation and are required for alveolar function in lactation.
http://dev.biologists.org/content/136/9/1423.full

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The high doses of E(2) and 8-PN caused secretion in the mammary gland, whereas proliferation and progesterone receptor expression were stimulated by both E(2) doses and the high 8-PN dose. E(2) and 8-PN share many effects in the three studied organs, but some differences in the mechanism of action appear to exist.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication...rated_rats


Nanotechnology-based Drug Delivery Systems as Potential for Skin Application: A Review
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32867631/

The 500 Dalton rule for the skin penetration of chemical compounds and drugs
Authors
* Jan D. Bos, Marcus M. H. M. Meinardi
* First published: June 2000Full publication history
* DOI: 10.1034/j.1600-0625.2000.009003165.xView/save citation
* Cited by: 370 articles

Jan D. Bos, Department of Dermatology A0-235, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, P.O. Box 22700, 1100 DE Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Tel.: +31 20 566 2587. Fax: +31 20 696 0076
e-mail: j.d.bos@amc.uva.nl
Abstract
Abstract: Human skin has unique properties of which functioning as a physicochemical barrier is one of the most apparent. The human integument is able to resist the penetration of many molecules. However, especially smaller molecules can surpass transcutaneously. They are able to go by the corneal layer, which is thought to form the main deterrent. We argue that the molecular weight (MW) of a compound must be under 500 Dalton to allow skin absorption. Larger molecules cannot pass the corneal layer. Arguments for this “500 Dalton rule” are; 1) virtually all common contact allergens are under 500 Dalton, larger molecules are not known as contact sensitizers. They cannot penetrate and thus cannot act as allergens in man; 2) the most commonly used pharmacological agents applied in topical dermatotherapy are all under 500 Dalton; 3) all known topical drugs used in transdermal drug-delivery systems are under 500 Dalton. In addition, clinical experience with topical agents such as cyclosporine, tacrolimus and ascomycins gives further arguments for the reality of the 500 Dalton rule. For pharmaceutical development purposes, it seems logical to restrict the development of new innovative compounds to a MW of under 500 Dalton, when topical dermatological therapy or percutaneous systemic therapy or vaccination is the objective.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.10...x/abstract

Molecular Weights: (g/mol)

Aloe Vera- 270.24

Palmitic- 270.46

Stearic - 298.52

Oleic - 282.46

Linoleic - 298.48

Almond oil - 106.12

Estradiol - 272.4

Soybean oil -292.2

http://biodiesel.org/docs/ffs-performace...f?sfvrsn=4