Article for 08-2001
Female Hormone Therapy - Nature Has an Answer
(This article is an extension
of July's 2001 article on HRT's.) A majority of the calls I get from women are
about hormones. Do you need hormone replacement? If so, why? Why isn't your
body making its own hormones or enough of them?
Menopause is a natural transition
for the female body. You shouldn't need to worry about hormones during menopause.
If you are eating healthy, exercising and drinking enough water, hormone replacement
shouldn't enter the picture. And even if it does, is there a way you can help
your body to make its own hormones in the correct amounts?
First, let's take a look
at modern medicine's answer to hormone imbalance. There are several hormone
replacement drugs on the market. The most widely used drug is Permarin/Provera
(medroxyprogesterone acetate) and Plegine (Phendimetrazine tartrate). It can
be hard to keep up with the names of certain drugs, especially when the pharmaceutical
industry will find a new use for a drug, change its name and put it on the market.
Do Your Homework I encourage
everyone to invest in a copy of a PDR (Physician's Desk Reference) and Merck
Manual of Medical Information. Then when your physician prescribes medication,
you can look it up and read ALL the information (including manufacturer warnings)
on the drug before you begin to take it.
For instance, if you were
to look up Plegine in the PDR you will find all the chemistry, how to administer,
warnings, side effects, contraindications etc., etc.. There is a lot of information
there. Keep reading, because when you get to the risks on page 2588 you will
get the skinny on what this drug can do to you. Just in case you don't have
a PDR handy (after you read this, go out to your local bookstore and get one)
here is what my copy says about estrogen replacement drugs, and I quote:
Estrogen Product Warning
"Estrogens have been reported to increase the risk of endometrial carcinoma.
Three independent, case-controlled studies have reported an increased risk of
endometrial cancer in post menopausal women exposed to exogenous estrogens for
more than one year. This risk was independent of the other known risk factors
for endometrial cancer. These studies are further supported by the finding that
incidence rates of endometrial cancer have increased sharply since 1969 in eight
different areas of the U.S. with population-based cancer reporting systems,
an increase which may be related to the rapidly expanding use of estrogens during
the last decade. The three case-controlled studies reported that the risk of
endometrial cancer in estrogen users was about 4.5 to 13.9 times greater than
in nonusers. The risk appears to depend on both duration and treatment and on
estrogen dose. In view of these findings, when estrogens are used for the treatment
of menopausal symptoms, the lowest dose that will control symptoms should be
utilized and medication should be discontinued as soon as possible."
Estrogen Drug Overdose Symptoms
"Acute overdose of phendimetrazine tartrate (Plegine) may manifest itself
by the following signs and symptoms:
unusual restlessness confusion
belligerence hallucinations panic states (attacks) fatigue depression cardiovascular
problems (arrhythmias, high or low blood pressure, circulatory collapse) gastrointestonal
problems (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps) poisoning (convulsions,
coma, and death)."
If you are diagnosed as
overdosed on estrogen (and you're not in a coma) you will be treated as symptomatic,
which includes sedation with a barbiturate.
Natural Options Let's take
a look at a few natural alternatives to the hormonal drug Permarin/Provera (medroxyprogesterone
acetate) and Plegine (phendimetrazine tartrate). Always do your homework on
any drug or herb before you use it. Make an educated decision before you begin
any therapy.
Wild Yam You've probably
heard about Wild Yam for hormones. It looks like potatoes, but has no relation
to sweet potatoes or yams found in your grocery store. It has been used through
the centuries as a contraceptive. The American Indians used it for menstrual
and child birthing problems. Your body makes a wide variety of compounds out
of the nutrition in wild yam. It tends to be high in cobalt, manganese, sodium,
and zinc. Since it was discovered to contain steroidal compounds (hormonal precursors),
it has been harvested and made into pharmaceutical steroids, but in its natural
state is not a hormone drug. The FDA considers wild yam to be nontoxic but recommends
that anyone with breast cancer avoid wild yam. Pregnant women should avoid wild
yam or use it sparingly.
Hops You know hops is an
ingredient to preserve beer. It tends to be high in manganese, niacin, phosphorus,
potassium, riboflavin, selenium, tin, and vitamin C. It has been used to improve
digestion, as an antibiotic, antispasmodic, expectorant, diuretic, and as a
calmative (nervine) sedative. Studies have shown that hops can fight bacteria
including Staphylococcus aureus and fungi. This explains why hops is so effective
with lung congestion and conditions like pneumonia, tuberculosis and other infections.
Herbalist recommend hops for women to help their endocrine system balance hormones.
Hops helps the body to relax, and when you are relaxed your body functions better.
The FDA includes hops on its food list as safe and advises women with estrogen-dependent
breast cancer to avoid hops. Pregnant women and depressed individuals are also
advised to avoid the nervine qualities in hops.
Licorice Licorice has a
long history. In the Roman and Greek empires, licorice was praised for its many
qualities including the ability to alleviate thirst. Licorice was used in a
variety of ways to combat colds, coughs, sore throats, ulcers, diabetes, constipation
etc.. It is high in ash, chromium, cobalt, iron, magnesium, niacin, silicon,
sodium, and tin. Herbalist in the U.S. recommend licorice for menstrual problems.
It encourages the production of hormone chemicals. Licorice also fights staphylococci
(staph), streptococci (strep), herpes simplex, and candida (yeast). The FDA
recommends that pregnant and nursing women avoid large amounts of licorice.
Those with high blood pressure, glaucoma, diabetes, kindney or liver disease
or using hormonal therapy drugs need to use caution using licorice products.
Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry)
Once a berry only found in Europe and Asia, vitex is now found in southern North
America. Europeans have used vitex berries for centuries for its help with reproductive
disorders, especially menstrual cycles. According to The American Pharmaceutical
Association, vitex berries have a positive influence on the menstrual and menopausal
disorders in women. The nutrition in these berries increases the pituitary glands
ability to produce the hormone prolactin. In light of this, vitex berries should
not be used in addition to pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapies. Vitex
is also an herb that fights candida (yeast). Pregnant women should not utilize
vitex berries.
Damiana Leaf Damiana is
mainly used to purify the blood, relieve anxiety, boost energy, menstrual disorders
and as a laxative. It is said by herbalists to improve the production of vaginal
fluids. It is high in aluminum, calcium, chromium, cobalt, fat, iron, niacin,
vitamin A & C, and zinc. FDA approves of damiana for food use.
Dong Quai Root This is a
Chinese herb, one of the few Chinese herbs I recommend and use. I prefer to
use this herb than Black cohosh. (Don't use these two together, they tend to
be counterbalance each other.) It has a long history of use for female reproductive
disorders. It is said to increase blood flow to the reproductive organs and
reduces cramping. The Merck Company introduced Dong Qui root to America in 1899
as a tablet called Eumenol. It was touted as a cure for menstrual disorders.
Dong Quai tends to stimulate the smooth muscles of the uterus, intestines, and
bladder. It is high in aluminum, cobalt, iron, magnesium, niacin, and phosphorus,
and vitamin E. It is reported that Dong Quai protects the liver from harmful
chemicals, is an antibiotic and acts like a sedative.
Using These Herbs These
are the herbs you can look into using as a natural alternative to the hormone
replacement drugs. They will help feed your body the nutrition your endocrine
system needs to manufacture the correct amount of hormones you need. You can
use them altogether. Your dose, duration of treatment, and time of application
will dictate if you are using these herbs for menopause, menstrual cycle, or
fertility purposes. A trained herbalist or naturopath can show you how. If you
are already taking hormonal therapy drugs, you will need to consult a licensed
medical physician about how you can switch from the drugs to the herbs. (See
July's 2001 news archive article on HRT's for information on how you can go
about implementing the switch.)
Where to Get These Herbs
You can find these six herbs blended for your specific need in our Apothecary
Herbs Herbal Shop. (For those who are forwarding this information to friends
and family, go to http://www.apothecaryherbs.com or call toll free 866-229-3663).
Look under the "for women only" section or use the search feature
by key word. Look for Female Maturity Formula (for menopause), Female Cycle
Balancer (for PMS), and Female Fertility (for infertility). These are clinically
tested formulas and they work! I've used the Female Cycle Balancer for many
years and have never felt more centered and in control. Each formula comes with
an information sheet. Follow the instructions to the letter for best results.
In most instances, during the first month of use you will notice a slight improvement.
The second month, more improvement and by the third month, significant improvement.
Women who use the Female Maturity Formula notice improvement almost immediately.
All products come with a money-back guarantee. Feel better! Wendy Wilson Cheslak,
Herbalist
Sources:
Pedersen, M., Nutritional Herbology (Wendell Whitman Co.) IN. 1995.
Peirce, A., Practical Guide to Natural Medicines (William Morrow & Co.)
NY.1999.
Merck Research Laboratories, The Merck Manual (Merck & Co., Inc.) NJ. 1997.
Physicians Desk Reference (Medical Economics Data Production Co.) NJ. 1994,
48th Edition.
The information contained herein is not intended to diagnosis, treat, prevent or cure any disease. Please seek medical advice from a licensed medical physician before using any herbal products or natural therapies. The information contained herein is copyrighted by Apothecary Herbs, Inc.
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