Today, women, more so than men, are taking greater personal responsibility for their own, and in many cases, their partner's, health outcomes.
For example, it is clear that more women are becoming disenchanted with Hormone Replacement Therapy to relieve the symptoms of menopause There is a growing awareness also that the wretched mood swings related to menstruation can be handled effectively with natural remedies. The management of uncontrollable periodic mood swings related to hormonal changes peculiar to women no longer have to be, and no longer are, the province of synthetic drugs.
Leading the category of herbs for women is the herb of choice for menopausal symptoms which undoubtedly is
Black Cohosh. Its track record leaves no doubt about its efficacy and we have found no herbal supplements for the relief of menopausal symptoms that do not include it. The benefits of Black Cohosh can be complemented with
Wild Yam and
Pasque Flower, and
Chasteberry is another herb with a reputation for maintaining hormone balance during menopause. Mood swings, and feelings of depression and anxiety are problem
areas where
Ginkgo Biloba,
Kava and
Pasque Flower can be helpful.
As well as lightening emotional downs
Ginkgo Biloba is well known to enhance cognitive function; the
Ginsengs all have a reputation for supporting sexual function and fertility,
Damiana is used as an aphrodisiac as is
Avena Sativa (unfortunately named Wild Oats) and
Epimedium Grandiflorum (even more unfortunately carrying the common name of Horny Goat Weed)
Other herbal ingredients include
green tea for its antioxidant properties,
rhodiola for energy, the "superfood"
spirulina, the mineral and vitamin laden
barley grass and
wheat grass, and the versatile
licorice root
Of course most of those herbs have multiple therapeutic effects and you can learn more of
those details by following the links to our herb database. These are all herbs that are used
in the products described on this page, selected as typical examples of the many herbal
supplements available on the market today that address women's concerns |
Herbs commonly used for Women's Health commonly used herbs : black cohosh, damiana pasque flower green tea panax ginseng, siberian ginseng, ginkgo biloba, wild yam occasionally used herbs rhodiola, avena sativa, horny goat weed, chasteberry, spirulina, barley grass wheat grass kava licorice gentiana lutea saw palmetto Some recommended products. | ||
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| Additional comments: other herbs which are of particular benefit to women are chasteberry and the ginsengs.
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
Studies in Scandinavia and the former Soviet Union have shown 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. 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. |
