Bill Sardi
See book keywords and concepts |
 Menopause 9: 145-50, 2002]
RED CLOVER
Red clover extract, widely marketed in the United States as Promensil or Rimostil, has been shown to reduce hot flushes among menopausal women. [Maturitas 42: 187-93,2002]
However, a recent study of Rimostil (57 mg plant estrogens) and Promensil (82 mg plant estrogens) did not provide evidence that it relieved hot flushes among postmenopausal women experiencing 35 or more hot flushes per week. [J American Medical Assn 290: 207-14, 2003]
Red clover does not seem to have a protective effect upon uterine tissue. |
Mark Sircus
See book keywords and concepts |
 A group of menopausal women were given magnesium hydroxide to assess the effects of magnesium on bone density. At the end of the 2-year study, magnesium therapy appears to have prevented fractures and resulted in a significant increase in bone density.27 The relationship between calcium and magnesium is dealt with extensively in the chapter on Calcium and Magnesium.
Magnesium and Hot Flashes
Many menopausal women suffer from heart palpitations associated with hot flashes. This can be helped by increasing your intake of magnesium. |
Hyla Cass, M.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Boron
3 mg
Needed for proper enzyme function
Copper Iron
2 mg
2 mg for premenopausal women; men and menopausal women don't need extra iron, unless prescribed by a physician and cellular energy production; boron is also important for bone building.
Manganese
5 mg
Potassium
99 mg
Chromium
200 meg
Helps balance blood sugar especially good for diabetics.
Iodine
150 meg
Required for proper function of the thyroid gland.
Selenium
200 meg
Works with vitamin E to protect against oxidation.
Molybdenum
300 meg
Needed by many of the body's enzymes. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
See book keywords and concepts |
 In one study, 25 menopausal women classified as "bad sleepers" (based on questionnaires about their sleep patterns) were placed on a program of hormone replacement therapy with an estradiol transdermal gel. After three months, 18 of those women were rated as "good sleepers," a 72% response rate.6 A randomized, double-blind study involving 63 postmenopausal women over a seven-month period found that hormone therapy "improved sleep quality, facilitated falling asleep, and decreased nocturnal awakenings and restlessness. |
Hyla Cass
See book keywords and concepts |
| Boron
3 mg
Needed for proper enzyme function
Copper Iron
2 mg
2 mg for premenopausal women; men and menopausal women don't need extra iron, unless prescribed by a physician and cellular energy production; boron is also important for bone building.
Manganese
5 mg
Potassium
99 mg
Chromium
200 meg
Helps balance blood sugar especially good for diabetics.
Iodine
150 meg
Required for proper function of the thyroid gland.
Selenium
200 meg
Works with vitamin E to protect against oxidation.
Molybdenum
300 meg
Needed by many of the body's enzymes. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 If bio-identical hormones are your choice as an alternative to OCs, then the following prescription, called bi-est (for bi-estrogen), would be considered a higher-than-average hormone replacement dose for menopausal women: estriol 2 mg/estradiol 0.5mg/progesterone 100 mg; one pill twice daily, for three weeks on and one week off. Beginning medication on the first of every month establishes an easily remembered routine. Some practitioners use a tri-estrogen formulation instead of the bi-estrogen formulation. In this case, the formula would be estriol 2 mg/estradiol 0.250 mg/estrone 0. |
| In one study, 67 menopausal women were given either a placebo or a 100 meg or 250 meg standardized hop extract for 12 weeks.138 At 6 weeks, the 100 meg dose was significantly superior to the placebo, but not after 12 weeks. Even so, there was a more rapid decrease in menopause symptoms for both doses of hop extract, especially the hot flash score. The higher dose was not any better than the lower dose.
Valerian has been used for centuries by many different cultures and has been used in modern times, mostly for anxiety and insomnia. |
Ray D. Strand
See book keywords and concepts |
 In response to this national crisis, the health-care community is treating menopausal women with Hormonal Replacement Therapy (HRT) in an effort to curb any onset of osteoporosis.
Although many believe that HRT can slow the progression of osteoporosis, it may do more harm than good. In 1997 the New England Journal of Medicine reviewed several studies involving women who took estrogen replacement for more than five to ten years. The results shocked reviewers, revealing more than a 40 percent increase in breast cancer. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
See book keywords and concepts |
| However, her new doctor preferred to see levels closer to 40 to 60 for menopausal women. With a low level of 14, Margaret had no sex drive.
Her doctor also checked her DHEA level, which was 90. For a woman of Margaret's age to be optimally healthy and have a low risk of degenerative disease, that number should be above 400 and preferably 500 to 600. Low DHEA levels are often correlated with extreme exhaustion and flulike symptoms that have no apparent medical basis. Estrogen-deficient women are also often low in pregnenolone, an hormone that's a precursor to progesterone. |
Kaayla T. Daniel, PhD, CCN
See book keywords and concepts |
 POTENT DRUGS
Meanwhile, evidence is mounting that isoflavone supplements present a potential hazard to menopausal women. In 2004, Italian researchers called the supplements "potent drugs" after finding that they caused "significant increases in the occurrence of endometrial hyperplasia" (a thickening of the uterine lining) in menopausal women. Endometrial proliferation is a precursor of cancer, and was the first problem identified with synthetic estrogen replacement therapy (ERT). |
Michael Friedman, ND
See book keywords and concepts |
 Symptom Group 2
Estrogen deficiency: This hormone imbalance is most common in menopausal women; especially if you are petite and/or slim. You may need to make some special changes to your diet; take some women's herbs; and some women may even need a little bit of natural estrogen (about one-tenth the dose prescribed by most doctors).
3. Symptom Group 3
Excess estrogen: In women, this is most often solved by getting off of the conventional synthetic hormones most often prescribed by doctors for menopausal women.
4. |
Joerg Gruenwald, Ph.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 Duker EM, Kopanski L, Jarry H, Wuttke W, (1991) Effects of extracts from cimicifuga racemosa on gonadotropin release in menopausal women and ovariectomized rats. Planta Med 57:420-424.
Einer-Jensen N, Zhao J, Andersen KP, Kristoffersen K, Cimicifuga and Melbrosia lack oestrogenic effects in mice and rats. In: Maturitas 25(1995): 149-153. 1996.
Foldes J, Die Wirkungen eines Extraktes aus Cimicifuga racemosa. In: Arztl Forsch 13:623-624. 1959.
Genazzani, E et al., (1962) Nature 194:544. |
Bill Sardi
See book keywords and concepts |
| Like estrogen replacement therapy that was prescribed to menopausal women for decades without adequate scientific study, and later found to increase the risk for certain cancers, no randomized controlled studies have been conducted to support the widespread use of testosterone in men for"andropause" (the male version of menopause).
There is currently a heated debate about the theoretical association between TRT and the initiation, progression, and aggressiveness of prostate cancer. |
| In March of 2003, the FDA approved a lower dose of Prempro, the most popular hormone fountain of youth' for menopausal women, now seems to increase the risk of breast cancer even when taken for only oneyear." [Jerusalem Post June 25, 2003; J Am Med Assoc 289: 3243-53, 3254-63, 2003]
Due to the negative scientific studies, the use of estrogen therapy in Canada dropped an astonishing 32% from 2001 to 2002. [J Am Med Assoc 289: 3241-42, 2003] In the United States, hormone replacement therapy declined by about 30%. |
Tori Hudson, N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Hormone replacement therapy, whether bio-identical hormones or conventional hormone replacement, could potentially be used in the usual doses for normal-aged menopausal women. However, these doses are considerably lower than the body's normal level in a young reproductive-aged woman and considerably lower than the dose of hormones in oral contraceptives. As these lower doses may not be adequate for bone protection at this young age, my recommendation is to use a 20 to 30 meg oral contraceptive pill for women in their 20s and 30s who have hypothalamic amenorrhea or premature ovarian failure. |
Bill Sardi
See book keywords and concepts |
| For years doctors prescribed estrogen replacement for menopausal women, before research found that it slightly increased the risk for cancer. Conventional medicine now prescribes anti-estrogens, like tamoxifen, or the newer aromatase inhibitors, to block breast cancer growth. But they often lump the weaker plant estrogens (called phytoestrogens) in with the stronger estrogen molecules. Phytoestrogens, by being 1/1000th the activity of estrogen, weaken the effect of naturally produced estrogen in the body. |
Herbert Ross, DC with Keri Brenner, L.Ac.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Those with longer cycles should apply it from days 10 to 28. For menopausal women, Dr. Lee indicates that there can be more flexibility in applying the cream. He recommends using it for 14 to 21 days of each month. The cream can be applied to the palms, face, neck, upper chest, breasts, insides of the arms, and behind the knees. Alternating applications among these sites will increase absorption.39
Various creams are available in health food stores and by mail order. |
Gerald E. Markle and Frances B. McCrea
See book keywords and concepts |
 For two examples since the millennium, hormone replacement is no longer routinely recommended for menopausal women, nor are bone marrow transplants seen as efficacious treatment for breast cancer.
A week later we were still discussing the boundary issue.
I had been wondering how to handle the placebo effect and the whole panoply of mind-body medicine, all of which interested me greatly.
"Most of what we know about placebos comes from clinical trials," Fran pointed out. "If clinical trials disappear, then so does our knowledge, and our understanding, of placebos."
"Sure, that's true. |
Andreas Moritz
See book keywords and concepts |
 In addition, one study by the American Cancer Society involving 200,000 menopausal women found that those who stay on HRT for more than 10 years show a 70 percent increase in ovarian cancer over those who use HRT for a shorter period of time.
According to another study by Smith JS, Green J, "Cervical Cancer and Use of Hormonal Contraceptives: A Systematic Review," The Lancet, 2003 Apr 5, cervical cancer is closely linked to oral contraceptives. |
| Influenced by medical authorities and media reports, many menopausal women feel that they are suffering from a serious hormone deficiency, which may endanger their health. Consequently, they become convinced that Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help them lead a more comfortable and carefree life during and after menopause.
Yet it turns out that HRT is everything but preventive medicine, and the risks involved are serious. Taking extra hormones can even endanger a woman's life. According to research conducted at the Boston University Medical Center, U.S. |
| In the United States, five million menopausal women are presently using hormone replacements. Numerous studies show that the longer a woman takes HRT, the greater is her risk of cancer. Specifically, breast cancer risk increases by three times and the risk of endometrial cancer by four times. An analysis of 16 studies on women who had been taking HRT for 15 years, revealed that taking estrogen alone increased the risk of uterine and cervical cancers by 20 times and the combined HRT (estrogen and progestogen) increased the risk by up to 30 times. |
Thomson Healthcare, Inc.
See book keywords and concepts |
| Cardioprotection
Systemic arterial compliance, a relationship between volumetric blood flow into the aorta and carotid artery pressure as measured by ultrasound, increased by 23% compared with placebo in 13 menopausal women after 5 weeks of oral treatment with a Red Clover proprietary product. Each standardized tablet contained 40 milligrams (mg) total isoflavones, including genistein, daidzein, biochanin and formononetin. The women took two placebo tablets for 5 weeks, followed by one placebo and one 40 mg tablet for 5 weeks, and finally two 40 mg tablets for 5 weeks. |
| A placebo-controlled, open study was conducted to determine the effects of commercially available Cimicifuga racemosa extract (Remifemin) on LH and FSH secretion in 110 menopausal women. After 2 months of therapy with 8 mg daily of the drug, FSH levels in the Remifemin treatment group and placebo group were similar. LH secretion was significantly reduced in the Remifemin treatment group, which points to the estrogenic effect of Cimicifuga racemosa preparations (Duker, 1991). |
| Effects of extracts from cimicifuga racemosa on gonadotropin release in menopausal women and ovariectomized rats. Planta Med; 57:420-424. 1991
Einer-Jensen N, Zhao J, Andersen KP, Kristoffersen K. Cimicifuga and Melbrosia lack oestrogenic effects in mice and rats. In: Maturitas; 25:149-153. 1996. 1995
Frei-Kleiner S, Schaffner W, Rahlfs VW, et al. Cimicifuga racemosa dried ethanolic extract in menopausal disorders. Maturitas; 51(4): 397-404. 2005.
Freudenstein J, Dasenbrock C & Niblein T. |
| Forty menopausal women (either physiological or surgical) for 1 to 12 years were assigned to one of 4 treatment groups: combination estrogen and progestin (HRT) with Kava extract (55% kavain) 100 mg daily (n=13); HRT plus a matching placebo (n=9); estrogen alone plus Kava extract 100 mg daily (n=ll); or estrogen plus placebo (n=7) for 6 months. Significant reductions HAM-A scores from baseline were demonstrated at 3- and 6-month follow-up in all groups (p<0.05). Significant differences were also observed between the Kava-supplemented groups and those given placebo (p<0.05). |
| Cardioprotective Effects: Isoflavones derived from Red Clover significantly improved arterial compliance in 17 menopausal women. Biological variables that affect arterial compliance, including plasma lipoprotein levels, mean body mass index, and arterial pressures remained unchanged. An isoflavone-induced positive effect on endothelium related arterial relaxation is postulated (Nestel et al, 1999).
Chemoprotective Effects: Biochanin A, a major active compound isolated from Red Clover extract, inhibited carcinogen benzo(a)pyrene activation in cell cultures. |
| A case control study of 18 post menopausal women with breast cancer and 20 healthy women showed that breast cancer subjects had lower urinary Soy isoflavones in a 24-hour urine collection. Significant differences in urinary daidzein levels existed between the two treatment groups. Breast cancer subjects excreted 31 nanomoles/day (nmol/d) and controls excreted 427 nmol/d. Breast cancer patients also showed lower urinary genistein levels (25 nmol/d) compared to control patients (155 nmol/d). |
Alan R. Gaby, M.D., Jonathan V. Wright, M.D., Forrest Batz, Pharm.D. Rick Chester, RPh., N.D., DipLAc. George Constantine, R.Ph., Ph.D. Linnea D. Thompson, Pharm.D., N.D.
See book keywords and concepts |
 A clinical trial compared the effects of 40 mg versus 130 mg of black cohosh in menopausal women with complaints of hot flashes.12 While hot flashes were reduced equally at both amounts, there was no evidence of any estrogenic effect in any of the women. Although further trials are needed, this trial suggests that black cohosh is best reserved only for the symptomatic treatment of hot flashes associated with menopause and is not thought to be a substitute for hormone replacement therapy in menopausal and postmenopausal women. |
Bill Sardi
See book keywords and concepts |
| A recent report states that "evidence from in vitro, animal and clinical studies all suggest that black cohosh is a safe, herbal therapy for menopausal women if taken for a limited period." [Expert Opinion Drug Safety 3:615-23, 2004]
CHASTEBERRY (Vitex)
This fruit extract from a shrub native to west Asia and southwestern Europe has been traditionally used for thousands of years to quell symptoms involving menstrual difficulties. In a study of 1,634 patients, a remarkable 93% reported a decrease in the number of premenstrual symptoms, with no serious side effects. |
Bottom Line Health
See book keywords and concepts |
| Soy seems to be most effective for women who experience five or more hot flashes a day—it can reduce hot-flash frequency by up to 40%. Some menopausal women who eat soy also notice an improvement in vaginal dryness.
•Diabetic renal disease. One of the most serious complications of diabetes is kidney disease, which can lead to kidney failure. Substituting soy for animal protein lowers the glomerular filtration rate, a measure of kidney stress, and may slow kidney damage.
STUDIES NEEDED
Soy may be helpful for the following conditions, but research so far is inconclusive...
•Osteoporosis. |
Email this page to a friend
