An agent selected from A/B-cis furostane, furostene, spirostane and spirostene steroidal sapogenins and ester, ether, ketone and glycosylated forms thereof is used to induce self-regulated homeostasis of neurotrophic factors (NFs), for example BDNF and/or GDNF, NFs with limited and manageable side effects in a subject, by modulating NFs in a non-toxic manner under homeostatic control. An effective amount of at least one such agent is administered to the subject, particularly in the treatment or prevention of a range of NF-mediated disorders, particularly neurological, psychiatric, inflammatory, allergic, immune and neoplastic disorders, and in the restoration or normalisation of neuronal and other function in or in relation to any damaged or abnormal tissue, including when assisting tissue (for example, skin, bone, eye and muscle) healing and general skin, bone, eye and muscle health.