Herbal Relief from Female Hormone
Imbalance
By Taryn Forrelli, ND
From the time a woman starts menstruating until the
time she reaches menopause, she will experience mental, physical, and
emotional changes on a monthly basis (except during pregnancy) which can
all be attributed to fluctuations in the levels of the dominant female
hormones, estrogen and progesterone.
Hormones are powerful chemical messengers in the body.
For some women, the changes they trigger are dramatic and discomforting,
while others barely notice them. Like most things in life, the key is
balance. A healthy balance of estrogen and progesterone is important not
only for regular, symptom-free menstrual cycles and an easy transition
into menopause, but for the long-term health of breast, uterine, heart,
and bone tissue. So how do you achieve hormone balance if you are one of
the of the 75% of women who experience premenstrual syndrome or one of
the 85% of women who experience hot flashes and other symptoms
associated with menopause? Read on…
Black Cohosh:
 Many
women are looking for natural alternatives to address menopause.
Black Cohosh is one of the most extensively used herbs in North
America for treating a wide range of female conditions. Numerous
clinical studies have shown that this herb provides effective relief for
symptomatic menopause.
Although it was long assumed that Black Cohosh’s
effects were a result of weakly acting plant estrogens, or “phytoestrogens”,
contained within the herb, researchers from the University of Illinois
at Chicago recently showed that Black Cohosh is not estrogenic
whatsoever and most likely works by targeting receptors in the brain
responsible for regulation of body temperature. This is good news
for women who are concerned about their breast health and are trying to
minimize exposure to estrogens. In fact, laboratory studies indicate
that Black Cohosh actually encourages growth of healthy breast tissue.
Chaste Tree:
 Chaste
Tree (vitex) is another herb that has long been used to promote
hormone balance, especially when manifesting as irregular cycles or PMS
symptoms, including mood disturbances, bloating, breast tenderness,
water retention, and skin and digestive disturbances.
The berries of the chaste tree act on the body’s
master hormone controllers, the hypothalamus and pituitary gland, to
increase production of the luteinizing hormone (LH) while inhibiting the
follicle stimulating hormone (FSH). This shifts the ratio of estrogen to
progesterone in favor of progesterone which is significant for PMS
sufferers as well as women who are perimenopausal, since the majority of
symptoms are caused by a deficiency of progesterone relative to estrogen
during the second half of the menstrual cycle.
Just how effective is Chaste Tree? A European study
involving 1,634 women suffering from PMS found that 93% reported a
decrease in the number of symptoms or even a cessation of PMS complaints
after 3 months of taking chaste tree.
Other Herbal Allies for Women:
Other herbal allies for women’s health are Schizandra,
Ginger, Rosemary, and Evening Primrose.
Schizandra is a superb stress-balancing and
detoxifying herb. Since both stress and impaired liver detoxification
can affect hormone balance, it is well indicated for female conditions.
Of note is that schizandra is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine to
correct fluid imbalances which may manifest as vaginal dryness.
Ginger and Rosemary both contain rich sources
of plant compounds which safely promote a healthy inflammation response
which is important for maintaining normal cell growth, cardiovascular
health, healthy cognitive function, and strong bones.
Finally, the oil from Evening Primrose contains the
essential omega 6 fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which has been
shown to ease both physical and psychological symptoms associated with
PMS in up to 60% of women.
Estrotone – Herbal Hormone Balance:
 Estrotone
by New Chapter is a dietary supplement that combines all of these
time-tested and scientifically researched herbal ingredients in one
formula. It was designed by company founder and master herbalist, Paul
Schulick, to help women of all ages safely achieve optimum hormone
balance and find relief from female conditions such as PMS and
symptomatic menopause. Since hormone balance does not happen overnight,
it is best to use
Estrotone for at least three months for optimum results.
Estrotone features a full-spectrum Black Cohosh extract, Chaste Tree
berry extract (vitex), Schizandra berry extract, Evening Primrose Oil,
and supercritical extracts of Rosemary and Ginger, which contain many of
nature’s most studied and respected anti-aging constituents that
inactivate free radicals.
Resources:
Articles:
Additional Hormone Support:
The statements contained in this article have not been
evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. The information contained
here is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
Suggestions and ideas presented in this document are for information
only and should not be interpreted as medical advice, meant for
diagnosing illness, or for prescriptive purposes. Readers are encouraged
to consult their health care provider before beginning any cleanse,
diet, detoxification program, or any supplement regimen. The information
in this document is not to be used to replace the services or
instructions of a physician or qualified health care practitioner. |
