of phytoestrogens daily. While the average Asian diet provides about 40 to 80mg of phytoestrogens daily, most likely due to a larger consumption of soy products, such as tofu, tempeh, and soy milk. This is thought to be one of the reasons why Asian women, who eat a traditional soy rich diet, experience fewer menopausal side effects, like hot flashes. Increasing the amount of soy in one’s diet has been shown to help reduce the symptoms of menopause and reduce the risk of heart disease. Black Cohosh and soy products may not be for everyone, check with your Peoples Pharmacist.
 .....The most common health concerns for men are heart disease, cancer, strokes, and prostate concerns. Most of these topics could be entire articles in themselves so lets just discuss the prostate. There are several supplements that can be helpful in relieving the symptoms of an enlarged prostate or benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). BPH is a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that usually occurs in older men, resulting in the various symptoms associated with the interruption of normal urinary flow. |
 The most useful supplement is Saw Palmetto. The usual dose is 160mg twice a day of an extract that contains at least 90% fatty acids. It may take several weeks before you notice the effects of this herbal product, but it can be very helpful. One study found that this herbal product worked as well as the drug finasteride, for helping to relieve symptoms of BPH. Those who use Saw Palmetto rarely experience side effects. One important thing to know is that Saw Palmetto will not interfere with a PSA Test. PSA, also called Prostate-Specific Antigen, is a test to determine if one has prostate cancer. Ask your Peoples Pharmacist if Saw Palmetto is the right product for you.
.....Seniors may have health concerns for which some supplements might be helpful. By far the most prevalent concern is memory problems, I even have problems remembering things from time to time. Ginkgo biloba is a popular choice to help improve memory and cognitive function. I have one small caveat; when you take a product to improve your memory, you might not notice great improvements. In studies, ginkgo (when taken with ginseng) has been shown to improve memory by about 8%. It may be difficult to tell if |
you are 8% smarter than last month. What I notice is that when I regularly take ginkgo I stutter less. This is not a big change, but it is noticeable. The most common dosage of ginkgo is between 40-60mg three times a day, with a maximum dose of 240mg/day. Most products on the market are standardized to contain 24% flavone glycosides and 6% terpene lactones. I don’t recommend the non-standardized preparations, such as teas or tinctures, because their potency may be significantly lower. Ginkgo can enhance the effects of blood thinning medications. This is very important. If you are taking medications to thin the blood, like warfarin or higher doses of aspirin, this herbal may make your blood too thin and put you at risk of bleeding complications. This is one of the reasons why it is important to tell your Doctor or Pharmacist if you are taking herbal supplements or vitamins.
.....Well, that was a long article. There are many supplements on the shelves at your local Peoples Pharmacy. Ask your Peoples Pharmacist if they have any suggestions to help manage your medical conditions. Many of our Pharmacists have had special training in various areas of health care and may be able to suggest lifestyle or dietary changes, and possibly supplements, to help manage you health.
Written By Ian Lloyd, Pharmacist & Chartered Herbalist
Peoples Pharmacy, Victoria |
