Feminine Forever? More Herbs for Menopause

Menopause is the ideal audience for marketers of all types of medical devices. Overwhelmed by the symptoms do not like and just understand, menopausal women are desperate for relief and exceptionally sensitive to complaints from manufacturers of products that supposedly "cured" of their illnesses and menopause avoid the aging process. Now, do not get me wrong. The traditional doctors are as guilty when writing prescriptions for synthetic estrogen and progestin for menopausal and tell their patients the drug will be those of getting heart disease and osteoporosis. What I have done myself. I think, what woman does not want to hear the answer to all their problems is packed in a small pill? If menopause is a state of estrogen and progesterone deficiency, why not just replace what is missing and things back the way it was?

I wish that were so easy. Medicines and, yes, even natural herbs risks and benefits. None offers the perfect answer, especially when it comes to menopause. Two natural products promoted as potentially useful for menopausal symptoms are dong quai and wild yam extract. According to the see-before-you-leap philosophy of this site, I think it would be worthwhile to look more closely at each of these before rushing to buy.

First, let's look at wild yam. Just to get this straight, did not eat for Thanksgiving last year. Wild yam comes mainly from Mexico and is unrelated to the type we eat. In the years 1940, it was discovered that the wild yam contains diosgenin, a chemical precursor of progesterone found naturally in humans. Nothing much came to the conclusion, commercially speaking, because shortly thereafter, pharmaceutical companies have found a way to manufacture a synthetic progesterone-like chemical that was, quite frankly, an easier way to make money. Such synthetic progesterone found in birth control pills and in most forms medically prescribed hormone replacement therapy for menopause. Recently, however, natural progesterone has made a return, especially in a topical cream applied in which the progesterone (derived from wild yam) is absorbed through the skin. Available nonprescription, does not have to imitate the body of natural progesterone, is actually the same chemical that we have in our bodies.

Is this type of product? Probably. The saliva tests to show predictable progesterone increases several hours after progesterone cream is applied to the skin. Moreover, studies have shown improvement, especially in premenopausal symptoms such as fluid retention, heavy or irregular menstrual cycles, depression and mood swings that actually precede the cessation of menstruation for several years. In women with hot flashes and night sweats, there is some evidence that wild yam cream alone provide relief without the simultaneous use of estrogen, a necessary condition "ingredient" of medically-prescribed therapy. This is good news for those who are concerned about the Estrogens related risks such as breast or uterine cancer and blood clots. The risk of osteoporosis, too, is probably reduced by the use of wild yam cream.

So what is the disadvantage? Wild yam cream is not entirely natural. Remember I said that contain wild yam "diosgenin" and not actually progesterone. His body can not make the chemical change itself so that the wild yam has to go through a laboratory for chemical conversion before it can be effective. That is not a bad thing as far as I'm concerned, but beware of someone trying to sell land of fresh wild yam field of menopause therapy.

The product you buy should have already been converted to progesterone (although the label does not necessarily say that) and should be able to provide a concentration of progesterone so that the amount to be applied between 15 and 20 milligrams per day. A concentration of about 400 milligrams per ounce is a good idea. Again, not really "natural" but the end result is a chemical that is identical to progesterone.

Dong quai, also known as angelic china, is a traditional remedy herbal found in many "support for menopause" formulas available at the pharmacy or health food store. Chinese herbalists cree that has the ability to "balance" the female hormone system and is known to improve uterine cramps.

Although dong quai is backed by centuries of use in herbal medicine china, modern studies do not support its effectiveness for menopausal symptoms. A 1997 study showed no benefit from dong quai over placebo in postmenopausal women with hot flashes. In addition, it carries significant risks if used incorrectly. The root contains a photosensitizing chemical that can cause severe burns or rashes and sensitive women, in others there is the possibility of bleeding complications.

Therefore, the take-home message is this: I can not say that I am particularly excited with dong quai, but if it works for you and you are aware of the risks, by all means use it.

Wild yam cream, on the other hand, has potential. I think if a woman does his homework and buys a product containing adequate amounts of progesterone reputation, it is a good opportunity to get some relief from their symptoms of menopause. Bringing to menopause women who suffer from irregular menstrual cycles heavy cream May actually find this useful as it can provide a respite highly appreciated the often unpredictable cycles of these women have.