Herbs for Hormones
Tame PMS, hot flashes, and even hormonerelated depression with herbs and supplements.
By Catherine Guthrie
3/2008
3/2008
Tired of riding the hormone
express? From painful
periods at puberty through
the hot flashes of menopause, our
bodies and moods are dragged
across peaks and valleys. To level
out the ride, more women are
turning to natural, drug-free
remedies. (A study published last
summer in Menopause found that
more than half of women ages 45
to 65 use them.)
Whether your next obstacle is
premenstrual syndrome, perimenopause,
menopause, or the hormonerelated
blues, there's an herb or
supplement that can help.
St. john's wort for mild depression
The bond between hormonal fluctuations and depression is inextricable. Estrogen is a feel-good drug, and when levels lag (either at the end of the cycle or during perimenopause), the dark clouds roll in. Lucky for us, St. John's wort has a long history of combating mild to moderate depression, and the perks likely extend to estrogen-related blues. In one small trial, St. John's wort reduced PMS symptoms by 50 percent. Look for: Gaia Herbs, New Chapter, Puritan's Pride, or any brand containing 0.3 percent hypericin. A typical dose is three 300 milligram capsules daily. St. John's wort is considered safe to take, but it does collide with several drugs. If you're on prescription medication, get the OK from your doctor first. Black cohosh for hot flashes
Once used by Native American women to smooth hormonal hiccups, black cohosh's roots are renowned for extinguishing hot flashes. A 2002 review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that it eased hot flashes in three out of four trials. In one study, women saw their hot flashes plummet from an average of 4.9 a day to fewer than one. The herb doesn't stimulate growth in estrogen-sensitive tissues where dormant cancer cells may lurk, so it's safe for women who have had breast or ovarian cancer. Look for: Remifemin, a German brand of black cohosh known for its purity. A typical dose is a 20 mg tablet twice a day. Take it for six months, then taper off to evaluate its effectiveness, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine, author of A Woman's Guide to Menopause and Perimenopause (Yale University Press, 2005), and consultant for Remifemin.
The bond between hormonal fluctuations and depression is inextricable. Estrogen is a feel-good drug, and when levels lag (either at the end of the cycle or during perimenopause), the dark clouds roll in. Lucky for us, St. John's wort has a long history of combating mild to moderate depression, and the perks likely extend to estrogen-related blues. In one small trial, St. John's wort reduced PMS symptoms by 50 percent. Look for: Gaia Herbs, New Chapter, Puritan's Pride, or any brand containing 0.3 percent hypericin. A typical dose is three 300 milligram capsules daily. St. John's wort is considered safe to take, but it does collide with several drugs. If you're on prescription medication, get the OK from your doctor first. Black cohosh for hot flashes
Once used by Native American women to smooth hormonal hiccups, black cohosh's roots are renowned for extinguishing hot flashes. A 2002 review published in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that it eased hot flashes in three out of four trials. In one study, women saw their hot flashes plummet from an average of 4.9 a day to fewer than one. The herb doesn't stimulate growth in estrogen-sensitive tissues where dormant cancer cells may lurk, so it's safe for women who have had breast or ovarian cancer. Look for: Remifemin, a German brand of black cohosh known for its purity. A typical dose is a 20 mg tablet twice a day. Take it for six months, then taper off to evaluate its effectiveness, says Mary Jane Minkin, M.D., clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Yale University School of Medicine, author of A Woman's Guide to Menopause and Perimenopause (Yale University Press, 2005), and consultant for Remifemin.
1
|
2
