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Herbal Supplement Guide

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For most women the stage of menopause is accompanied by hot flashes, night sweats, panic attacks, headaches, and mood swings the combined effect of which can affect their whole outlook on life.

Fortunately, there are a number of options available to women who prefer to experience menopause naturally rather than use HRT.

With Black Cohosh, herbal medicine has a winner. The herb has most certainly been shown to relieve most of the unpleasant menopause symptoms and research is continuing. There are few direct side effects from Black Cohosh, except for occasional gastric discomfort, and rare hepatic dysfunction.

Supplements using Black Cohosh, either on its own or in combination with other herbs, are well worth a try. It is the main, if not the only, herbal ingredient of the products featured here with one exception. Other herbal ingredients of these menopause supplements include Pasque Flower, Wild Yam, Damiana leaf and Licorice root.

 

 

The ginsengs are known to be effective, when taken regularly, in regulating the menstrual cycle. Panax ginseng has been used to tone the uterus in preparation for implantation of the foetus after conception Ginseng may also help the body deal with physically and mentally stressful exposures such as heat, cold, physical exhaustion, viruses, bacteria, chemicals, extreme working conditions, noise, and pollution. In  Chinese medicine, ginseng was frequently used for general preventive purposes.  This article cites a study published in the April issue of American Journal of Epidemiology where ginseng has been linked to better breast cancer survival.

Ginseng has antioxidant properties, as has green tea The health benefits of green tea, in fact have been the subject of much recent debate. Its antioxidants have been clearly demonstrated to be highly beneficial to the heart by helping prevent the oxidation of LDL cholesterol. A recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed a significant inverse relationship between the consumption of green tea and cardio vascular disease

Herbs commonly used for the relief of menopause symptoms

commonly used herbs for menopause : black cohosh dong quai wild yam pasque flower, damiana,
occasionally used herbs for menopause red clover, licorice, kava motherwort scullcap dandelion nettle leaf ginger rosemary licorice root fennel lemon balm

Some recommended products
(Please note that ingredients listed for each product are the herbal ingredients only)





Other herbs which are of particular benefit to women are chasteberry and the ginsengs.

Chasteberry has been used in traditional medicine for  centuries in Europe for hormonal imbalances in women.Chasteberry has been used to restore a normal estrogens to progesterone balance. It has been shown to not only ease, but also in time, actually cure premenstrual syndrome, which has been linked to abnormally high levels of estrogens, especially if symptoms tend to disappear when menstruation begins.

 

Ginkgo has been used in traditional medicine to treat circulatory disorders and enhance memory. Ginkgo Biloba is perhaps the most widely used herbal treatment aimed at augmenting cognitive functions--that is, improving memory, learning, alertness and mood. Germany recently approved the extract for treating dementia.

Studies in Scandinavia and the former Soviet Union have shown Rhodiola Root has been used in traditional medicine to combat fatigue, depression, anaemia, impotence and infections.Rhodiola Root also to be effective in improving cognitive function. It is also used by herbalists to boost the immune system, enhance athletic performance, promote weight loss, and relieve stress.

Kava is used to relieve stress, anxiety, and tension, sleeplessness and menopausal symptoms. The most common effects of the herb, which, I stress, should be taken under supervision and with considerable caution because it has been linked to liver damage in some patients, are relaxation, mild euphoria, and feelings of peace and contentment.

Other herbs included in supplements targeting women are barley and wheat grass and spirulina. Kava has been traditionally used on Pacific Islands for centuries as a relaxant and intoxicant if taken if consumed in large quantities.Between them they contain a wide array of minerals, vitamins, proteins, antioxidants and nutrients. The details of these are to be found in the relevant herb pages. The 'World's Healthiest Food' rich in beta carotene and phytonutrientsSpirulina, in particular is regarded as a “superfood” . It contains vegetable protein, all the essential amino acids, the antioxidant beta-carotene and is rich in iron, magnesium and trace minerals.

Supplement manufacturers experiment with combinations of all of those herbs and others to improve women's health and well-being.

The supplements reviewed above represent a small sample of those available and I have selected them because, firstly, their herbal ingredients are openly advertised (this is not always the case) and, secondly, the known properties of their ingredients are relevant to the health issues they claim to address.

Recent Articles on Herbs for Menopause

Natural Remedies For Menopause - Black Cohosh by Rebecca Prescott
Menopause Relief is Possible with Herbal and Other Natural Remedies Patsy Hamilton
Two Types of Herbs for Menopause Symptoms By Jeanette Pollock
Herbs for Menopause By Danna Schneider
Herbs for Undeniable Menopause Symptoms www.konsepherba.com
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Please be aware that the study of the therapeutic ramifications of taking any medication, including herbal supplements, is far from an exact science. Some sources, presumably in an effort to present an impression of providing responsible, guarded and cautionary advice, present a mountainous list of “possible” side effects, interactions and contraindications for which they neither quote, nor can we find, supporting evidence. Others simply steer clear of the subject..

Hopefully we have steered a middle course. Where there are well-established precautions to be observed we have pointed those out. Where sources make statements for which there is no supporting evidence we have not included such statements.

We value our reputation as a provider of reliable, high quality and non-sensational and non-alarmist information on the therapeutic value of herbs. That includes advice on adverse side effects and interactions with other medications where they is evidence to support such advice.

We strongly suggest that you seek professional advice on the use of herbal supplements if they are to be used to treat a specific condition, rather than as a dietary supplement taken to improve one's general feeling of wellbeing. If you do seek advice, please do so from someone who is qualified to advise on the therapeutic ramifications, good and bad, of using herbs for medicinal purposes. That would have to be a qualified herbalist or, ideally, an ND, a Doctor of Naturopathy, if you can locate one ( this link might help).

Furthermore, we point out that statements regarding any products mentioned on this page have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration of the USA or the equivalent statutory authority of any other country. The products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. The information on this Web site is designed for educational purposes only. It is not intended to be a substitute for informed medical advice or care. Again we emphasise that you should not use this information to diagnose or treat any health problems or illnesses without consulting your health care professional