Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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 Considered a phytoestrogen.
Contraindications: Its sedative activity has increased the sleeping time induced by the drug pentobarbital. 404
Horehound -
Marrubium vulgaris in the Lamiaceae or Mint family.
Part used: Flowering herb.
Taste/Smell: Bitter, aromatic.
Tendencies: Drying, stimulating and relaxing.
Dosage: Infusion: 1-2 teaspoons per cup of water; or 1:1 fresh + dry liquid extract: 10-30 drops 1-4 times per day in a little water. |
| Use: (a) Diuretic, (b) Anti-inflammatory, (c) Nutritive, (d) phytoestrogen.
Alfalfa contains a high mineral and vitamin content, rich in protein, carotene, calcium, trace minerals and vitamins E and K as well as many water soluble vitamins.328 It has been shown to stimulate lactation and increase the quality of breast milk. It is used as a general tonic and in a variety of chronic degenerative diseases. Alfalfa has been shown to decrease cholesterol and cause regression of atherosclerosis.328
It contains both coumestans as well as isoflavones. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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 Among the isoflavones, genistein has the highest binding affinity for estrogen receptors, as well as some estrogenic activity, and thus it is considered a phytoestrogen. Genistein is the ingredient thought to give soy foods their ability to minimize the irritating symptoms of menopause. It also is being investigated for its ability to retard osteoporosis. Its use as an inhibitor of hormone-dependent cancers is controversial because of its mild estrogenic activity. |
Stephen T., M.D. Sinatra
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 Women in HRT, whether using phytoestrogen or pharmaceutical estrogens, should take additional B vitamins, as HRT can negatively affect nutritional status. Weight gain has also been a frequent complaint of women on estrogen therapy, as are headaches, abdominal cramps, diarrhea, and nausea similar to morning sickness. Calcium needs should also be monitored during HRT. Iron levels in menopausal women are in general higher than in menstruating women, so iron supplementation may not prove an additional necessity. |
Sharol Tilgner, N.D.
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| It appears to act as a phytoestrogen. Black cohosh has been shown to suppress luteinizing hormone surges associated with hot flashes in menopausal woman. Constituents of black cohosh compete in vitro with 17-beta-estradiol for estrogen receptor binding sites.37 Research with rats shows a reduction of serum levels of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized rats with a methanol extract of black cohosh and substances in the extract were shown to bind with estrogen receptors in the rat uteri. |
| Use: (a) Mild expectorant, (b) Antispasmodic, thought to act on beta 2 receptors which effect vasodilation, intestinal relaxation, uterus relaxation, bronchodilation and bladder relaxation, (c) Antiinflammatory, (d) Galactagogue, (e) phytoestrogen, 63 (f) Carminative, (g) Flavoring.
The root is useful as a diuretic when used in crude form or liquid extract but does not have a diuretic effect as a tea. 342 In animal research, the seed was shown to have diuretic, analgesic, antipyretic and antimicrobial activities.271 It is beneficial for indigestion, gas and coughs. |
| Phyto-hormonal
It appears to act as a phytoestrogen. Black cohosh has been shown to suppress luteinizing hormone surges associated with hot flashes in menopausal woman. Constituents of Black cohosh compete in vitro with 17-beta-estradiol for estrogen receptor binding sites.37 Research with rats shows a reduction of serum levels of luteinizing hormone in ovariectomized rats with a methanol extract of Black cohosh and substances in the extract were shown to bind with estrogen receptors in the rat uteri.327
Wild yam contains no known progesterone. |
| The sterol, beta-sitosterol has phytoestrogen activity as well as anti-inflammatory activity and antipyretic activity.228229 It can be found in Anemone pratensis, Angelica sinensis, Calendula officinalis, Glycyrrhiza glabra, Hypericum perforatum, Larrea spp., Panax spp., Piscidia erythrina, Plantago psyllium, Serenoa repens, Symphytum spp., Taraxacum officinale, Trifolium pratense, Turnera spp., Tussilago farfara, Valeriana officinalis, Viburnum prunifolium. 289-29°
A fat soluble extract of Humulus lupus was found to contain small amounts of estradiol. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 This herb contains up to 4 percent betaine, a phytoestrogen and emmenagogue that is also found in beets, carrots, chard, chicory, oats, oranges and yarrow.
You might try marsh mallow and yarrow tea. For a tasty vegetable dish that delivers a good dose of betaine, try steamed carrots and chard with beets.
V Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Traditional Chinese and Indian physicians recommend turmeric to treat amenorrhea. I have no reason to doubt its safety, but I cannot vouch for its efficacy. It's probably worth a try. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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| The seeds are actually tiny whole fruits, which actually contain estrone (a phytoestrogen). Preparing a pomegranate can be tricky. The yellow-white membrane that separates the fruit into clusters is bitter, which makes juicing the pomegranate in the conventional fashion impractical. The seeds need to be removed from the casing before they can be juiced or eaten. They are somewhat troublesome to eat, but when you get a good pomegranate, it is worth the trouble. Pomegranate juice is used to produce grenadine syrup. |
Robyn Landis
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 Genistein is the isoflavone getting the most attention currently, and appears to fight cancer in several ways. As a phytoestrogen (plant estrogen), genistein can plug up receptors for the real thing—putting the brakes on some cancers, including breast cancer, that are stimulated by estrogen. One study showed that a soy-based diet increases the menstrual cycle by about two days, and a longer menstrual cycle means less exposure to estrogen. This may be one reason (though there are undoubtedly others) that Japanese women have one-fifth the breast-cancer rate of American women. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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 Researchers have not determined whether these effects are due to possible phytoestrogen content (compounds that have effects on hormonal function), suppression of parathyroid hormones, or direct prevention of bone turnover.6 However, this research may or may not apply to Cimicifuga racemosa, the species used in Western medicine.
Specific Studies
Menopause Symptoms: Clinical Study (1985)
Standardized black cohosh extract was just as effective as synthetic estrogen (Premarin) in reducing the physical symptoms of menopause in a randomized, open trial. |
Michael T. Murray, N.D., Joseph E. Pizzorno, N.D.
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 Herbal Recommendations for PMS
Although a wide variety of herbs have been used in folk medicine for the many disorders of menstruation, and many have been evaluated for their phytoestrogen effects, few have been specifically evaluated for their efficacy in relieving premenstrual symptoms. The herbs that are most likely to be useful are probably those which exhibit a tonic effect on the female glandular system. |
D. Lindsey Berkson
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 Ginseng contains a phytoestrogen that binds to estrogen and progesterone receptor sites and has hormonelike effects on reproductive tissue. In the American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, there was a report of a menopausal woman using a face cream from China that contained ginseng. She had normalization of fsh levels and proliferative endometrium noticeable on biopsy due to the cream. American ginseng has been shown to stimulate estrogen-dependent cells to grow (which may be due in part to spraying with pesticides). |
Gale Maleskey
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 When levels are low, as they are during menopause, the phytoestrogen attaches to little cell receptors that would normally be occupied by the body's estrogen. The cell reacts as if it were receiving estrogen, and problems like hot flashes and mood swings are minimized.
"During menopause, your hormones can fluctuate dramatically," says Dr. Moore. Hot flashes and night sweats, for example, occur when estrogen levels go down and then come back up. These big swings cause your blood vessels to dilate, which in turn makes your body flush and sometimes even sweat profusely. |
Textbook of Natural Medicine 2nd Edition Volume 1Michael T. Murray, ND
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| The typical Western diet contains about 80 mg/day, while the traditional Japanese diet contains approximately 400 mg/day26-27
Coumestans
The phytoestrogen, coumesterol, and other coumestan isoflavonoids have been found by some researchers in significant quantities in soy foods of all types, including:28
• soybeans
• soy flour
• soy flakes
• isolated soy protein
• tofu
• soy drinks
• soy sprouts.
On the other hand, Adlercreutz & Mazur3 reports its presence only in soy sprouts. The most abundant source is mung bean sprouts. |
Laurie Deutsch Mozian, M.S., R.D.
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| Flaxseeds
Another edible source of phytoestrogen is flaxseed. Flaxseed contains lignans, which can help the body produce its own estrogenlike substance that may help to decrease the bone loss that occurs after menopause when estrogen levels decrease. Twenty-five grams a day have been used to reverse other negative side effects of menopause.
Calcium-Rich Vegetables
Broccoli, kale, and collard greens all are fair sources of calcium in addition to being rich in many anticancer compounds. |
D. Lindsey Berkson
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| The flavonoid/vitamin C combination works partially because the hesperidin (derived from citrus fruits) is structurally similar to estradiol and is a phytoestrogen.
Dr. Robert Atkins has reported that large doses of folic acid (10 mg/day) relieve menopausal symptoms in some cases. Studies also suggest that folic acid protects the cervical lining against precancerous changes.
When taken in dosages higher than can be obtained by diet alone, pantothenic acid (pa) has been shown to support activities of adrenal function. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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 Isoflavones, a specific kind of phytoestrogen, are found mostly in soy-based foods like soybeans, tofu, miso, and soy nuts. Asian women eat about one type of soy food every day and report very few hot flashes and mood swings during menopause. This could mean they're getting some estrogen from their diet. (New research claims that soy may accelerate brain aging. For more information, see the Memory loss chapter.)
Calcium. More than ever, your body needs calcium during menopause to keep your bones strong and to avoid osteoporosis. |
Robert S. McCaleb, Evelyn Leigh, and Krista Morien
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| Martin PM, Horwitz KB, Ryan DS, et al. phytoestrogen interaction with estrogen receptors in human breast cancer cells. Endocrinology 1978; 103(5):1860-1867.
10. Hoult JRS, Paya M. Pharmacological and biochemical actions of simple coumarins: natural products with therapeutic potential. General Pharmacology 1996; 27(4): 713-722.
11. Beckham N. Phyto-oestrogens and compounds that affect oestrogen metabolism— part II. Australian Journal of Medical Herbalism 1995; 7(2): 27-33.
12. McGuffin M, Hobbs C, Upton R, et al., eds. American Herbal Products Associations Botanical Safety Handbook. |
the Editors of FC&A Medical Publishing
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| Grape skins contain resveratrol, a type of plant estrogen, also called a phytoestrogen. In your body resveratrol fights inflammation and prevents blood clots.
Grape skins also contain the powerful flavonoid quercetin. It works as an antioxidant to prevent the low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad") cholesterol from building up in your artery walls and blocking blood flow to your heart and brain. It also stops your blood from turning sticky and clumping together. Blood moves through your arteries more easily, taking some of the pressure off your heart and reducing your risk of stroke. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 A rich source of phytoestrogen, ginseng is used by many women to counteract the symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes. There are several different types of ginseng: Panax ginseng is from Korea, American ginseng is grown here, and Siberian ginseng is actually a botanical cousin of Panax ginseng. The biologically active ingredients in American and Asian ginseng are ginsenosides. In Siberian ginseng, the biologically active ingredients are called eleutherosides. |
Gale Maleskey
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| The herb also acts as a phytoestrogen, meaning that some of its chemicals have qualities similar to the female hormone estrogen.
All of these properties are helpful to women who have problems with their reproductive systems: excessive bleeding, irregular periods, delayed menstruation, severe menstrual cramps, and the hot flashes of menopause. Black cohosh works as a regulator or normalizer of the female reproductive system by helping to restore hormone balance, says Stanley W. Beyrle, N.D., a naturopathic doctor at the Kansas Clinic of Traditional Medicine in Wichita. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler and David Rorvik
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 Bearing a structural resemblance to diethylstil-bestrol, trans-resveratrol is a phytoestrogen found to have variable degrees of estrogen-receptor agonisms in different test systems.
The clinical data that would confirm or refute the relevance of these findings are largely lacking. In one small, short-term study, 24 healthy human subjects aged 26-45 consumed red wine, white wine, commercial grape juice and the same grape juice fortified with resveratrol over periods of 4 weeks. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 The herb contains an abundance of diosgenin, which is a weak phytoestrogen (plant estrogen). But it also has other compounds that help reduce inflammation. That's why I sometimes recommend wild yam as a natural pain reliever.
I recently heard from one woman, a registered nurse, who took my recommendation to heart. Here's an excerpt from her letter.
"After attending your lecture at the University of Iowa on herbal approaches to health, I decided to try wild yam. You had indicated that it has natural steroid properties, and can help G-iO with pain caused by inflammation. |
| They contain high levels of diosgenin, which is a weak phytoestrogen.
I should point out that medicinal wild yams are different from the yams that you find in supermarkets next to the sweet potatoes. Supermarket yams are tasty and very nutritious, packed with lots of antioxidant carotenoids. But they don't contain the diosgenin found in medicinal wild yarns.
If you opt for a yam cream, look for the words "wild yam" or the Latin name Dioscorea on the label. Apply the cream according to package directions. |
| Many studies have shown that vitamin B6
Early research suggested that black cohosh contains the phytoestrogen (plant estrogen) formononetin, though that finding has recently been challenged. Still, Commission E, the expert panel that evaluates the safety and effectiveness of herbs for the German government, endorses black cohosh as a treatment for menstrual cramps. If you'd like to try it, buy a tincture and follow the label directions.
Premenstrual Syndrome: Stop the Monthly Madness
For years, some doctors doubted that PMS was real. Women knew that it was, and I believed them. |
| Diet alone wasn't enough, so I resorted to the concentrated isoflavones in Nature's Herbs phytoestrogen Power capsules (three or four a day) rather than going with synthetic estrogen plus progesterone. I'm now using wild yam cream, applied topically. I continue to eat soy burgers once a day, plus dates, broccoli, and other vegetables daily.
"All this has been enough to manage my menopausal symptoms. Thanks for your counsel in these matters."
This last benefit is especially important for people with angina. Clotting factors play a key role in triggering heart attacks. |
Nicola Reavley
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 Phytochemical: a plant compound that has health-promoting properties. Phytoestrogen: a plant compound with estrogen-like activity.
Pica: the eating of non-food items such as ice or clay.
Placebo: an inactive substance used in medical experiments to provide a basis of comparison with the effects of an experimental drug.
Plaque: a deposit of a substance on body tissues, such as a patch of atherosclerosis or a deposit in the brain of an Alzheimer's disease sufferer.
Platelets: blood cell fragments that play a role in blood clotting. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| Almost all edible beans contain genistein, a compound that's best known as a phytoestrogen (plant estrogen). It's also a 5-alpha-reductase inhibitor, so it can help control BPH symptoms.
I'm quite fond of beans, and I eat lots of them—in soups, salads, and other dishes. But I must admit that I've made a point of staying off the soybean bandwagon. In recent years, soy has gotten a lot of attention because of its many health benefits, most notably its ability to lower cholesterol and minimize menopausal hot flashes. It owes its reputation, at least in part, to the genistein that it contains. |
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