RE: Taking Hormones? These Herbs Are for You

[Guest guest]

thanks for all the great information. I'll put it to use. I do have one

question that maybe you can answer. When I had my hysterectomy (6 years

ago), my ovaries were also removed. I started out taking Estratest,

(estrogen and testosterone), until 2 years ago I read that the patch is

easier on the liver, so I switched to that. If I go for longer than a few

days without changing my patch (weekly), the hot flashes come back. I eat

lots of soy, fruit, cheerios, and beans EVERYDAY. Is there any way I could

ever get off the patch? I'm concerned about the long term effects, as I'm 41

now, and hope to live for a long time. I read whatever I come across

concerning menopause, but no one ever talks about what if the ovaries are

gone too.

Maria

>

>

>Taking Hormones? These Herbs Are for You

>cSusun S. Weed

>

>

>More and more American women are using herbal remedies to help them

>with menopausal problems. Those who do take ERT (estrogen

>replacement) or HRT (hormone replacement) may be surprised to

>discover that herbal medicine has a lot to offer them as well.

>

>

>Herbs for women on ERT/HRT include those that alleviate side-effects

>as well as those that counter problems caused by the hormones.

>

>

>Herbal Helpers Counter Side-Effects

>

>Water Retention is the symptom most often cited for dissatisfaction

>with hormone replacement. Herbal tinctures and tea, such as dandelion

>or cleavers, and ordinary foods can not only relieve the distress,

>they will go to the root of the problem and help prevent recurrences.

>

>

>² Dandelion root tincture (Taraxacum officinale) strengthens

>the liver and helps it process out the excess hormones you are

>taking. When the liver works well, the kidneys work better, and

>tissues no longer bloat. A dose is 10-20 drops in several ounces of

>water or juice 2-3 three times a day. If you have any digestion

>problems, take your dandelion before meals; otherwise, anytime is

>fine. You can safely take dandelion daily for months or years if you

>need or want to.

>

>² Cleavers herb tincture (Galium molluga) tells the lymphatic

>tissues to get moving. Relief from edema is usually rapid when 20-30

>drops are taken in several ounces of water or juice. Repeat up to six

>times at hourly intervals if needed. Cleavers is especially helpful

>for easing swollen, sore breasts.

>

>² Foods that relieve water retention include (in order of

>effectiveness): asparagus, nettles, corn (and corn silk tea), grapes,

>cucumbers, watermelon (and watermelon seed tea), parsley, celery,

>black tea, and green tea.

>

>

>

>Headaches are the second most common side-effect of hormone use.

>Unfortunately, they are common among menopausal women not taking

>hormones, too. Herbs that help relieve headache without a drug-like

>action - such as dandelion, yellow dock, milk thistle, burdock,

>garden sage, skullcap, and St. John's/Joan's wort - are generally

>considered safe to take with hormones.

>

>

>

>² Chinese herbalists say headaches are caused by liver stress.

>My favorite liver-strengthening herbs are dandelion, yellow dock,

>milk thistle seed, and burdock. I use one at a time, a 15-25 drops of

>the tincture several times a day, for two weeks. If symptoms

>continue, I switch to a different herb.

>

>² A strong tea of garden sage leaves (Salvia officinalis)

>offers immediate relief from headaches and helps prevent future ones.

>It also reduces night sweats.

>

>² Tinctures of skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) and St.

>Joan's/John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) ease pain and relieve

>muscle spasms. Use 5-20 drops of skullcap and a dropperful of St.J's

>at the very first sign - no, the very first thought - of a headache.

>Repeat the doses every five minutes until pain free. Skullcap can be

>quite sedative, especially in large doses.

>

>

>

>Herbal Allies That Prevent Problems Caused by Taking Hormones

>

>

>Breast Cancer risk is increased 20% in women who use ERT for five or

>more years. Use of HRT for five or more years increases breast cancer

>risk by 40%. Each five years of continued use increases the risk. In

>addition, women who take ERT are far more likely to get uterine or

>endometrial cancers. All women on hormones increase their risks of

>lung and ovarian cancer, too. Nourishing herbs such as red clover,

>and foods such as beans and yogurt, offer easy ways to stay cancer-

>free.

>

>

>

>² Red clover blossoms (Trifolium pratense), when dried and

>brewed into a strong infusion (one ounce herb steeped in a quart of

>boiling water for at least four hours) prevent cancer by providing

>phytoestrogens that counter the cancer-promoting effects of oral

>hormones. Usual dose is 2-4 cups a day. The infusion tastes like

>black tea and can be flavored with mint if you like.

>

>² Beans, especially lentils, but also yellow split peas, black

>turtle beans, baby limas, Anasazi beans, and red kidney beans are

>also rich sources of anti-cancer phytoestrogens. Since uncooked beans

>and unfermented soy contain anti-nutritional factors that may promote

>bone loss and dementia, soy " milk " and tofu are not recommended. Miso

>and tamari definitely help to prevent breast cancer but soy

>isoflavones may promote it.

>

>² Yogurt helps build powerful immunity. Women who eat a quart

>of yogurt a week have 700% less cancer than women who eat no yogurt.

>

>

>

>Dry Eyes afflict more than 9% of women using ERT and over 7% of those

>on HRT. Risk increases by 70% for every year of continued use. And

>the longer a woman uses hormones, the greater her risk. Herbs such as

>oatstraw, chamomile, and chickweed can help relieve and prevent this

>problem.

>

>

>

>² Oatstraw infusion (Avena sativa) cools and moistens your eyes

>from the inside out, builds strong bones too. Use one ounce of dried

>herb in a quart jar; fill to the top with boiling water and cap

>tightly. Let steep four or more hours. Dose is 2-4 cups a day.

>Refrigerate after straining.

>

>² Cucumber slices ease dry eyes; so do chamomile tea bags.

>

>² The ultimate ally for women with dry eyes is fresh chickweed

>(Stellaria media), applied as a poultice to the closed eyes. Leave on

>for five minutes, or until the plant material feels warm (it will

>heat up). Repeat as needed.

>

>

>

>Stroke and Heart Attack are actually increased by use of ERT/HRT,

>though modern medicine has long proclaimed the opposite. Every major

>double-blind study done to date has created a larger and larger gap

>between ERT/HRT's supposed ability to help cardiovascular health and

>its actual results. Protect you heart with nourishing and tonifying

>herbs and foods such as motherwort, hawthorn, and cherries.

>

>

>

>² Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) tincture helps the heart. The

>Japanese claim it is their secret of longevity. A dose is 5-15 drops,

>twice a day. Motherwort also relieves hot flashes, calms

>tachycardiia, and eases anxiety. It's an all-in-one remedy for

>menopausal women.

>

>² Hawthorn (Crataegus oxycantha) flowers, leaves, and fruits

>are all used to maintain heart health and control fluid build-up in

>heart tissues. A dose is 20-30 drops of tincture 2-4 times a day, or

>a cup of tea with meals. This widespread shrub is considered one of

>the finest heart tonics in the world.

>

>² Cherries are even better than apples at keeping the doctor

>away. Dried cherries and cherry juice, even tincture of cherries.

>

>

>

>More than three-quarters of the women in America over the age of

>fifty have refused ERT/HRT. If you want to join them, taper off your

>dosage slowly, while continuing to use nourishing and tonifying herbs

>such as dandelion, motherwort, red clover, oatstraw, and seaweed. And

>pick up a copy of New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way,

>Alternative Approaches for Women 30-90. Meanwhile, these Wise Woman

>hints can help you stay healthy and counter the detrimental effects

>of hormone replacement.

>

>

>

>Susun Weed

>PO Box 64

>Woodstock, NY 12498

>Fax: 1-845-246-8081

>

>

>Visit Susun Weed at: www.susunweed.com and www.ash-tree-publishing.com

>

>For permission to reprint this article, contact us at:

>susunweed

>

>

>Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an

>international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures, teachings,

>and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges conventional

>medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast encyclopedic

>knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman, her animated and

>enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often profoundly provocative.

>

>Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal medicine

>and natural approaches to women's health. Her four best-selling books

>are recommended by expert herbalists and well-known physicians and

>are used and cherished by millions of women around the world. Learn

>more at www.susunweed.com

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Maria, Michelle here. I hope you don't mind me chiming in.

 

When both ovaries are removed, regardless of your age, you're

considered in menopause and your concerns and remedies are pretty

much the same as any menopausal woman. The ovaries are not the only

place where estrogen is produced, but without them, you'll need to

help your body's production with supplements, herbs and diet.

 

You will definitely want to use phytoestrogens. They will help

tremendously in easing hot flashes, which are caused by too little

estrogen.

 

I would highly recommend increasing your Vitamin E to 800 IU a day

which has an estrogenic affect.

 

Also, take plenty of essential fatty acids every day. That's your

Omega 3, 6 and 9 which can be found in flaxseed oil. It's tough to

get what you need in food alone. I like TOTAL EFA by Health From The

Sun because it has extra Borage and Primrose Oils. These GLA's (Omega

6) really help to balance the hormones big time.

 

The DHA in Omega 3 (fish oil) is an excellent help for hormonal

balance.

 

There are many things you can do to create balance, but it does take

time and effort. There is no reason to believe that you need to

continue using the patch forever.

 

Hope this helps you a bit,

Michelle

http://www.holisticmenopause.com

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 03/05/2005 10:37:13 AM US Mountain Standard Time, michelle writes:

 

 

There are many things you can do to create balance, but it does take

time and effort. There is no reason to believe that you need to

continue using the patch forever.

 

*******My Homeopathic MD, tests me monthly and I take two drops under my tongue daily of a remedy mixed according to my hormone readings.

 

******You can swab with a Q-tip under the tongue and mail to him and he will test it and mail back your remedy. The cost is $65 and this includes testing and the drops. He does about 30 of my online friends now. If you want his name and address, let me know and I will send it to you privately.

 

Angel Huggzz

Linda or angel

 

PS.....I have used this method since 1985, after a complete hysterectomy. There are (5) different hormones in each bottle at different homeopathic readings. I think Dr Sara is on this lists and she can speak to my doctors validity.

[Guest guest]

Today I spoke to a naturopath at the health food

store bc I was going to buy the total EFAs.

 

But after discussing my diet, she remained

insistent that I should stay with the triple fish

oil, high in Omega 3s. She thinks the Total EFA

formula would be indicated for someone who

DOESN'T eat nuts, seeds, etc or doesn't use other

healthy oils and therefore misses Omega 6 as

well...but she thinks I need more omega 3 to

balance excess of omega 6.

 

Now I'm confused.

What think you?

Suzan

--- Michelle <michelle

wrote:

>

>

> Hi Maria, Michelle here. I hope you don't mind

> me chiming in.

>

> When both ovaries are removed, regardless of

> your age, you're

> considered in menopause and your concerns and

> remedies are pretty

> much the same as any menopausal woman. The

> ovaries are not the only

> place where estrogen is produced, but without

> them, you'll need to

> help your body's production with supplements,

> herbs and diet.

>

> You will definitely want to use phytoestrogens.

> They will help

> tremendously in easing hot flashes, which are

> caused by too little

> estrogen.

>

> I would highly recommend increasing your

> Vitamin E to 800 IU a day

> which has an estrogenic affect.

>

> Also, take plenty of essential fatty acids

> every day. That's your

> Omega 3, 6 and 9 which can be found in flaxseed

> oil. It's tough to

> get what you need in food alone. I like TOTAL

> EFA by Health From The

> Sun because it has extra Borage and Primrose

> Oils. These GLA's (Omega

> 6) really help to balance the hormones big

> time.

>

> The DHA in Omega 3 (fish oil) is an excellent

> help for hormonal

> balance.

>

> There are many things you can do to create

> balance, but it does take

> time and effort. There is no reason to believe

> that you need to

> continue using the patch forever.

>

> Hope this helps you a bit,

> Michelle

> http://www.holisticmenopause.com

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

>

 

 

 

 

 

[Guest guest]

Hi Angel Linda, yes, I would like to find out about this. Does he have a

website? I've found homeopathic remedies to be very effective for myself and

my pets. Maria

 

 

 

>Angls4Hope

>

>

>Re: Re: Taking Hormones? These Herbs Are for

>You

>Sat, 5 Mar 2005 14:22:30 EST

>

>In a message dated 03/05/2005 10:37:13 AM US Mountain Standard Time,

>michelle writes:

>

>

> > There are many things you can do to create balance, but it does take

> > time and effort. There is no reason to believe that you need to

> > continue using the patch forever.

>

>*******My Homeopathic MD, tests me monthly and I take two drops under my

>tongue daily of a remedy mixed according to my hormone readings.

>

>******You can swab with a Q-tip under the tongue and mail to him and he

>will

>test it and mail back your remedy. The cost is $65 and this includes

>testing

>and the drops. He does about 30 of my online friends now. If you want his

>name and address, let me know and I will send it to you privately.

>

>Angel Huggzz

>Linda or angel

>

>PS.....I have used this method since 1985, after a complete hysterectomy.

>There are (5) different hormones in each bottle at different homeopathic

>readings. I think Dr Sara is on this lists and she can speak to my doctors

>validity.

 

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[Guest guest]

Hi Suzan and all,

 

Well, I'm not one to disagree with a good naturopath! However, I also

can't disagree with by body. I have an excellent diet, but when it

comes to the symptoms of perimenopause, if I don't take my GLA's

(Omega 6) for just a couple of days, I really feel a HUGE difference.

 

Many natural products for hormonal balance use GLA's, because they

really work! DHA in Omega 3 is excellent and I use that too.

 

I think it's important to listen to your intuition and to remember

that we're all very unique.

 

Michelle

[Guest guest]

Hello mariabee63,

 

In reference to your comment:

 

è Hi Angel Linda, yes, I would like to find out about this.

è Does he have a website? I've found homeopathic

è remedies to be very effective for myself and my pets.

è Maria

 

*******Hi Maria......No, he doesn't have a website and he doesn't treat pets....I sent you his information privately.