10 best herbs for women

7/25/2019 10 Best Herbs for Women

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10 best herbs for women

Tired of your doctor oering you the Pill for every female problem? Fortunately, there are other options. Herbalmedicine is eective female hormone balance.

1) Bupleurum (Bupleurum falcatum)

Best for: PT

Bupleurum is the most commonly used herb in !hinese medicine, primarily because it has a soothing andprotective action on the liver. The herb is anti"viral, anti"spasmodic and anti"in#ammatory. $t also relieves pain,normalises bo%el function, and has a slight tran&uilising eect. 'o %onder that Bupleurum is the most eectiveherb for premenstrual tension(

)hen it comes to PT, Bupleurum has a number of direct hormonal eects. $t contains a uni&ue activeingredient called sai*osaponin, %hich increases cortisol, and helps the body to deal more eectively %ith stress.!ortisol also reduces muscle pain and headaches, and is necessary for the production of progesterone, the+calming female hormone. -ai*osaponin has also been sho%n to directly mimic the eect of progesterone.

Bupleurum has another benet for PT. By improving oestrogen clearance through the liver and bo%el, this herbcan be used to correct oestrogen dominance, a common condition for %omen in their late thirties or earlyforties. /estrogen dominance, or oestrogen e0cess, occurs %hen there is too much oestrogen compared to

progesterone. This causes mood s%ings, as %ell as physical symptoms, such as enlarged breasts and #uidretention. )hen combined %ith other herbs, such as Peony, Bupleurum has been sho%n to signicantly decreasethe amount of circulating oestrogen, and to correct oestrogen dominance.

1se this herb is your PT is characterised %ith an0iety, breast tenderness and #uid retention. These symptomsindicate an oestrogen"dominant type PT. $f your PT is the oestrogen decient type %ith depression andfatigue, you need another approach.

Ho% to ta*e: For PT, Bupleurum is usually combined %ith Peony and 2ong &uai. The most famous formula forPT is the !hinese patent Hsiao yao, %hich means the 3-edative pill to invigorate the liver3.

Tip: Bupleurum is meant to be ta*en throughout the month to prevent PT, but it %or*s fairly &uic*ly if you needit in a pinch. Ta*e 455mg of solid e0tract per day.

Precautions: Bupleurum increases bo%el motility, so there is some danger of diarrhoea and #atulence. The

addition of mint and licorice to most Bupleurum formulas %ill prevent this problem. Bupleurum should not beused during pregnancy.

2) Dong quai (Angelica sinensis).

Best for: Painful periods

2ong &uai is a female tonic. 6ccording to Traditional !hinese edicine, it is a %arming blood tonic. This meansthat it promotes the healthy production of red blood cells, and increases circulation. The result is easier blood#o% to the uterus, and fe%er painful spasms during the period.

$n %estern medicine, period pain is understood to be caused by in#ammatory compounds called prostaglandins.!onventional drugs for period pain bloc* prostaglandin synthesis. This %or*s for periods, but %ith long term use,they also damage +good prostaglandins, causing problems %ith the heart and the *idneys.

2ong &uai is dierent. $t regulates prostaglandins, but it does not bloc* them completely, so it %or*s for periods

%ithout causing side eects. Furthermore, because 2ong &uai is benecial for +good and +bad prostaglandins,the herb can be used for more than 7ust pain. -tudies have sho%n that it benets other prostaglandin"relatedconditions, such as allergies and in#ammatory bo%el disease.

1se 2ong 8uai if you need your bleeding to be easier, %ith smoother #o% and less pain. The herb may even beeective as part of a treatment for endometriosis, %hich is an in#ammatory condition causing painful periods. $fyou are prone to fatigue during your period, 2ong &uai %ill help. $t is slightly oestrogenic and may promotefertility.

Ho% to ta*e: 2ong &uai is a popular ingredient in most 3female3 herbal mi0es. To prevent menstrual cramps, itcombines %ell %ith peony and cinnamon. This %arming combination is best suited for 3cold3 period pain, %hichmeans pain that feels better %ith a hot %ater bottle. To %or*, it must be ta*en throughout the month, not 7ustduring the period itself.


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Tip: $f you need this herb, then you are 3blood decient3 according to Traditional !hinese edicine. $t is veryli*ely that you also need an iron supplement.

Precautions: 2o not ta*e during pregnancy, as it may produce un%anted contractions. $t should also be avoidedif you ta*e a blood"thinning drug, such as %arfarin, and before surgery.

3) Black cohosh (imicifuga racemosa).

Best for: hot #ushes.

$n 9urope, Blac* cohosh has been prescribed by doctors for menopausal symptoms since the ;


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Tip: For daily prevention of breast cancer, consider using turmeric regularly as a spice and condiment. $t addsyello% colour and a pungent #avour to meals, and there is no hassle of ta*ing a tablet. =emember that turmericis more than 7ust curries. $t is a prime ingredient in )orcestershire sauce, chutneys, and mustards. Turmericpo%der can be used instead of saron or dry mustard in some recipes.

Precautions: 2o not ta*e turmeric if you are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. There is some evidence thatit causes 2'6 damage, and theoretically could damage the foetus. There is no actual record of this occurring,and millions of pregnant %omen do eat curry, ho%ever, a concentrated tablet may be a dierent story. Theeect on 2'6 is largely neutralised by vitamin 9, and it is recommended that turmeric tablets should al%ays beta*en together %ith a A55iu vitamin 9 capsule.

#) $icorice (%l&c&rrhi'a glabra)Best for:P!/-Testosterone e0cess@

>i&uorice root e0tract is best *no%n as the #avour in blac* licorice candy. The active ingredient glycerrhiin ispopular as a condiment because it is iccorice really %or*s for testosterone. $n some studies, the herb has been sho%n to reduce blood testosteronelevels in %omen by


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1se this herb for thyroid if you have autoimmune thyroid disease, or if you are noticeably fatigued, and sensitiveto stress.

Ho% to ta*e: )ithania can be ta*en as a #uid e0tract or a tablet. Because the herb is so gentle, a relatively largedose must be used to see an eect on thyroid function. !onsult your 'aturopath. )ithania is safe to be ta*entogether %ith conventional thyroid medication.

Tip: 6lthough autoimmunity is the most common reason for thyroid underactivity, iodine deciency must also beaddressed. 6ustralian soil simply does not contain as much iodine as the thyroid needs. $f you do not eat sh orsea%eed every day, you should use an iodised sea salt, or ta*e *elp.

Precautions: )ithania has no *no%n side eect, ho%ever because it is mildly sedative, it can interact %ithbarbiturate drugs.

*) +ite, (+ite, agnus-castus)

Best for: $rregular periods

6s far bac* as the st century, ite0 berries %ere used to promote menstruation. $t %as also used to suppressthe se0 drive of male mon*s, hence the name !haste berry.@

The main action of ite0 is to suppress prolactin, %hich is a pituitary hormone best *no%n for its involvement inlactation. )hen prolactin is too high, it causes the periods to become irregular, or to stop altogether. The mostcommon causes of prolactin"related period problems include stress, e0cessive e0ercise and the birth control pill.

ite0 lo%ers prolactin because it mimics dopamine, %hich is an important neurotransmitter involved in mood

and libido. -tudies have sho%n that ite0 can re"establish regular periods %ithin three months. )ith continueduse, ite0 promotes cycles that have a stronger ovulation and an increased production of progesterone.

Because it promotes ovulation and the healthy response of the ovaries, ite0 has the eect of lo%ering F-H. Thismeans that it can be used to enhance fertility %hen age and rising F-H is a factor.

1se ite0 if your periods are absent or irregular. Because it %or*s on the communication bet%een the pituitaryand the ovaries, ite0 should not be used by girls under I years old. This is a time %hen the pituitary"ovariana0is is still developing and can be disrupted.

Ho% to ta*e: ite0 needs to be ta*en in the morning because this is %hen the body has a natural surge inhormones. $t should be started early in the menstrual cycle, before ovulation, and stopped for ve days %henthe period begins.

Tip: !ycles %ill become regular %ithin t%o to three months, and the benet should continue even once the herbis discontinued. ost 'aturopaths recommend that the herb be ta*en for three to nine months, and then

stopped. $f necessary, a second course can be ta*en after a three month brea*.

Precautions: ite0 should not be ta*en together %ith conventional hormonal treatment. Because it inducesovulation, it %ill interfere %ith the contraceptive eect of the Pill. $t %ill also interfere %ith the stimulation cyclesof $F, and may result in ovarian overstimulation, a dangerous complication of $F.That said, ite0 is an important fertility herb, and there is no reason %hy it cannot be used be used bet%eencollection cycles in order to revitalise the ovaries and to lo%er F-H.

) oleus (oleus forskohlii)Best for: for%eight loss

!oleus is generating e0citement for its promise as a %eight loss treatment. $n one study in $ndia, %omen lost anaverage of AG of total body %eight, %hile lean body mass %as preserved.

!oleus is a desirable %eight loss herb because it has minimal side eects. !onventional %eight loss herbs such

as 9phedra %or* by increasing adrenalin, and this causes problems such as an0iety and high blood pressure.!oleus is dierent. $t stimulates something called cyclic 6P, %hich is a chemical that communicates bet%eenadrenalin in the blood stream and the actual machinery of metabolism, %hich is located inside the cell. !yclic6P essentially amplies the message of anabolic hormones to fat and muscle cells, %ithout causing anymeasurable change in the hormones themselves.

!oleus has other benets for %eight loss. $t directly activates a fat"burning enyme hormone sensitive lipase@,%hich releases fatty acids from storage. $t also stimulates thyroid hormone and may improve insulin sensitivity.

1se this herb if you have sluggish metabolism. Because it increases stomach acid and increases bo%el activity,!oleus %as traditionally eaten as a pic*le to accompany a meal,

Ho% to ta*e: 6 !oleus e0tract containing


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Tip: Because !oleus %or*s on the cells inner machinery, it combines %ell %ith other supplements that fuel themitochondria. $n particular, it can be combined %ith carnitine, an amino acid, and coenyme 85, an importantnutrient for the cells metabolism.

Precautions: !oleus lo%ers blood pressure, so it should not be used by anyone at ris* for lo% blood pressure, orbefore surgery. The other concern is increased stomach acid. This can be a positive eect for someone %ithsluggish digestion and bloating, but those %ho suer from gastric re#u0 should steer clear.

/) hataari (Asparagus racemosus)

Best for: >ibido

-hatavari is an 6yurvedic herb, %hose name in -ans*rit means 3having one hundred roots3 or 3having onehundred husbands3. $t has long been regarded as a se0ual tonic, or an aphrodisiac that is specic for %omen.

6 cousin of the vegetable asparagus, this herb is described in the 6yurvedic literature as nourishing, soothing,cooling, and lubricating. $t has been used traditionally to increase breast mil*, sooth heartburn and thrush, andto enhance female fertility. The root is the part that is used medicinally.

The active ingredients in -hatavari are saponins, %hich are a type of steroid molecule. -hatavari contains t%omain saponins, shatavarin"$, %hich is uni&ue to -hatavari, and Protodioscin, %hich is also found in the malelibido"enhancer Tribulus. These saponins are hormonally active, and have been demonstrated to increasefollicle"stimulating hormone in %omen. This, in turn, causes an increased production of oestrogen, %hichstimulates the libido centre in the brain, and also softens and lubricates the pelvic organs. -hatavari may alsobe a mild testosterone"enhancing eect in %omen, %hich can stimulate libido.

1se this herb if you are run"do%n and depleted of oestrogen. $t may also be helpful during menopause.Ho%ever, %omen %ith oestrogen dominant symptoms such as broids may nd natural progesterone orprogesterone"enhancing herbs a better choice for their libido.

Ho% to ta*e: $n 6ustralia, -hatavari is usually given as part of a mi0 of herbs that are e0tracted %ith alcohol.There is some concern that saponins may not transfer %ell in an alcohol base, so a tablet or %ater e0tract maybe preferable. The traditional 6yurvedic tradition prescribes 4"J grams of po%der in %ater or mil*.

Tip: For libido, -hatavari combines %ell %ith the amino acid tyrosine. Tyrosine assists female libido because itconverts to dopamine, a brain neurotransmitter important for mood and se0ual arousal. 2opamine alsoincreases oestrogen production.

Precautions: -hatavari has been used in 6yurvedic medicine for thousands of years, and it is believed to be verysafe, even during pregnancy. -tudies in mice have sho%n no to0icity even %ith a massive dose.

10) chisanra (chisanra chinensis)

Best for: 6nti"aging

This herb is actually a berry. -chisandra berries have gained a reputation as an anti"aging herb because they areparticularly high in anti"o0idant compounds and other phytonutrients.

$n its traditional use in !hina, -chisandra %as an herb for royalty. $t %as believed to contain all three primary lifeenergies: King, 8i and -hen, and %as used to restore vitality and e0tend life. $t %as often included in other herbalformulas in order to smooth and strengthen the eect of the accompanying herbs.

-chisandra is not a simple medicine. $t contains multiple active ingredients, including -chiandrin B, %hichenhances glutathione production from the liver. Dlutathione is critical to protect the body from chemicals andto0ins in our modern environment. -chisandra contains lignans to restore the nervous system, and even a mildphytoestrogen that protects the heart in post"menopausal %omen.

-chisandra is reno%ned for its beauty eects, both %ith internal and e0ternal use. $n particular, it has beensho%n to maintain collagen production in the s*in, and to maintain moisture content.

These vital berries also improve memory, prevent deterioration of eyesight, and have a mildly calming eect.)hat more could you %ant from an anti"aging herb?

1se -chisandra if you have been e0posed to things that accelerate the aging process such as stress, smo*ingand environmental pollutants.

Ho% to ta*e: Traditional use of -chisandra %as to che% dried berries daily for 55 days. =ecommended dose is4"5 grams of dried fruit daily. The dried berries are also commonly prepared as a tea or in an alcohol e0tract.For s*in health, a %ine formulation is recommended. For optimal glutathione production, -chisandra should beta*en together %ith


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Tip: -chisandra is a godsend for those %ho rely on long"term use of pain"*illers or other pharmaceuticals.Because it protects liver cells, -chisandra can be used to prevent the mild liver damage that occurs %ith chronicuse of drugs such as paracetamol. 6t the same time, it is so gentle, that it %ill not interfere %ith the action of thedrug itself.

Precautions: $t is an edible fruit, so -chisandra is almost more of a food than a medicinal herb, and it isconsidered to be very safe. Those %ith *idney disease need to be cautious, ho%ever, as it can act as a diuretic.$t is also %ise to choose herbs from reputable companies. $f the source is not *no%n, there is some danger that!hinese herbs may have been sprayed %ith pesticides. Being a fruit, -chisandra is particularly vulnerable to thissort of contamination.

10 best herbs for women

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