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PMS Support

Description

An herbal combination of natural plant substances high in supportive female herbals and phytoestrogens makes this an ideal choice for support of the female system.

Female problems including: - PMS - Perimenopause and menopausal support - Irregular menstruation - Ovarian or uterine support

Vitex is a fruit that does not contain hormones, but has a direct effect on the pituitary gland, specifically on the production of luteinizing hormone. This effect increases progesterone production and helps regulate a women’s cycle. In a multi-center open study without a control group, 1634 PMS patients were treated for 3 cycles with a Vitex extract. Evaluation was based on the four areas of PMS symptoms – depression, anxiety, cravings, and hyperhydration. Ninety-three percent (93%) of patients experienced a significant decrease in symptoms. Only 1.2% had adverse side effects, which were not considered serious by the physicians. The risk/benefit ratio was considered very good (Loch EG, et al, Treatment of premenstrual syndrome with a phytopharmaceutical formulation containing Vitex agnus castus. J Womens Health Gend Based Med 2000 Apr;9(3):315-20). In another randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group comparison study, 170 women suffering with PMS were treated with a dry extract of Vitex for three consecutive menstrual cycles. Evaluations by patients and physicians concerning effect on mood, headache, breast fullness, and other symptoms indicated that Vitex is an effective and well-tolerated intervention for PMS (Schellenberg R, Treatment for the premenstrual syndrome with agnus castus fruit extract: prospective, randomized, placebo controlled study. BMJ 2001 Jan 20;322(7279):134-7).

Although dong quai is thought of mostly as a “female” herb that is good for female disorders, the Handbook of Medicinal Herbs describes dong quai root as having a wide variety of characteristics, including being an analgesic, emmenagogue (promoting menstruation), hematinic (medicinal compound of iron which increases the hemoglobin content in the blood), tonic and sedative (Duke JA. Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. CRC Press. Boca Raton, Fla.1985). In tradtional Chinese medicine, dong quai is often included in prescriptions for supressed menstrual flow, uterine bleeding, abnormal menstruation or difficult/ painful menstruation. Dong quai has been traditionally used for hot flashes associated with perimenopause symptoms.

Called an adaptogen because it balances the body’s hormonal functions, wild yam is applicable for most female conditions, including hyperestrogen states and/or hypoestrogen states (PMS and menopause), and muscle spasm (i.e. menstrual pain; labor). Based on animal studies, researchers have concluded that dioxin is implicated as a possible cause for endometriosis in women (people are exposed to dioxin from pesticides and various types of waste incineration) (Gibbons A. Dioxin tied to endometriosis. Science 1973;262:1373), and it looks as though the natural progesterone from wild yam may be employed to support treatment for endometriosis (Good Medicine Spring 1994:11-13). The progesterone precursors in wild yam may facilitate the production of the natural hormone progesterone within the body. Progesterone is an important hormone, which can lessen the undesirable effects of too much cortisol, and can also balance estrogen. Progesterone is sometimes forgotten when estrogen takes the spotlight, but the hormonal balance between the two can be the key to many female conditions. “In their capacity as neurotransmitters, estrogen and progesterone clearly affect mood. Estrogen, if unapposed by progesterone, tends to irritate the nervous system. Progesterone, on the other hand, is associated with tranquility” (Christiane Northrup, MD. Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. Judy Piatkus Publ. London, England. 1995). Estrogen unbalanced by progesterone can cause weight gain and bloating, irritability and depression (Wright C. Menopause the natural way. Positive Health. April/May 1996;(11):12-15). Estrogen can relieve hot flashes and dryness, but so can natural progesterone, which also rejuvenates the skin, increases metabolism, increases libido, and beneficially influences osteoporosis. Even though estrogen has a positive effect on osteoporosis by inhibiting bone osteoclasts (which break down bone), only progesterone has a positive effect on bone osteoblasts, which are responsible for laying down new bone materials (Lee J., M.D., Natural Progesterone: The multiple roles of a remarkable hormone. BLL Publ. Sebastopol, CA. 1993). Progesterone is a precursor for estrogen, so that the body can make more estrogen from it if needed. However, it does not overload the system with estrogen, it is only converted if there is a need, hence its reputation as an adaptogen, to create hormonal balance whether hyper or hypo hormonal states exist.

Ashwaganda, also known as Indian ginseng, has been used in ayurvedic medicine as far back as 3000-4000 years ago. It is classed among the “rasayanas” (rejuvenative tonics), the most highly regarded of all medicinal substances in ayurveda. Ashwaganda is considered an adaptogen that nourishes and strengthens the body. Ashwaganda has been shown to have a sedating effect on the body and helps to rebuild the digestive and nervous system. Ashwaganda is an excellent herbal for people who “are burning the candle at both ends” and need nutrients to repair and rebuild. Compounds known as withanolides are believed to be the active ingredient in ashwaganda. These molecules are steroidal in nature and resemble active constituents of Asian ginseng, known as ginsenosides. This gives ashwaganda anti-inflammatory and anti-arthritic properties.

Kava kava, otherwise known as Piper methysticum, is a large perennial shrub cultivated in Oceania (the island communities which include Micronesia, Melanesia, Polynesia and Fiji). The islanders were known to make a drink out of kava kava that was used for its ability to promote sociability. The people from these regions are described as among the happiest and friendliest in the world. Captain James Cook is said to have labeled this plant the “intoxicating pepper” in the journals of his South Seas travels in the late 1760’s due to the relaxing effect this herb had when concocted into a drink by the native Polynesians. Today’s research finds Kava to be an effective remedy for nervousness and sleeplessness, bringing about relaxation. Kava-lactones (the active ingredient in Kava) are responsible for the sedative and relaxing response.

Licorice is valued as a base ingredient in herbal remedies, because of its ability to help focus the purpose and direction of other herbs, as well as attenuate the harsh properties of other herbs (Landis R. Herbal Defense. 1997. Warner Books. NY, NY). Adrenal insufficiency is treated well with licorice because of the constituents that resemble the adrenal corticoid hormones.

Phytoestrogens is the word for a group of plant-based hormones with weak estrogenic activity. These particular "phytochemicals," or chemicals from plants, are found in some 300 foods (especially soy products, cabbage and fennel), and in some herbs, such as dong quai, red raspberry, and licorice root. Since the hormones have weak estrogenic activity, they are able to eliminate some of the symptoms of menopause and decrease the risk for osteoporosis that is associated with a lack of estrogen. Since phytoestrogens also have the power to bind to regular estrogen receptors, they can also eliminate the ill effects attributed to too much circulating estrogen, such as premenstrual tension and increased risk for breast cancer. The Japanese are commonly cited for their unique statistics of women who escape menopausal symptoms and related post-menopausal disease - this is attributed by many to their increased consumption of soy-based products which are high in the phytoestrogens. In fact, the breast cancer rates increase in Japanese women if they adopt a soy-free diet (Wash. Post, April 3, 1994).

Contraindicated during pregnancy. In larger quantities (>400 mg), licorice root is contraindicated in hypertension.

Copyright: Copyright HealthQuest, Inc. All rights reserved. Information used with permission from the HealthQuest Nutritional Database Version 4.0
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