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.....Women have unique health-care needs. While there are some supplements that may work well for both sexes, some are better for women. Some of my male patients ask why there are more supplements aimed at women. I tell them that is true because women tend to take charge of their health more than men. There are almost as many supplements available for men, but women tend to purchase most these for their significant other anyways. This month, I will discuss some of the health issues and supplements that I feel are the most helpful for women.
.....One health concern expressed by women is various veins. Varicose veins are twisted, enlarged veins (blood vessels) close to the skin's surface. For many people the problem is simply cosmetic, but for others these veins can cause an aching pain and discomfort. The condition referred to as “spider veins” is actually a mild form of varicose veins. To help prevent varicose veins and reduce the discomfort from existing varicose veins: protect your skin from the sun, get regular exercise, control your weight, avoid prolonged sitting and standing, don't cross your legs while sitting and wear elastic support hose. The most effective supplement to help with varicose veins is a standardized form of horse chestnut. Studies that have shown the effectiveness of horse chestnut have used 300 mg of an |
extract containing 50mg of aescin taken twice daily. The most common side effect seen was stomach upset. People who are taking blood thinning medication should talk to their Doctor before taking horse chestnut products. This kind of chestnut is not to be confused with other forms of chestnuts,
 either the eating or ornamental kinds. Many of the ornamental kinds of chestnut can be toxic.
.....Menopause is another health concern that greatly affects women. There are both natural and pharmaceutical treatments available and sometimes no treatment is required. There are myths regarding some of the botanical treatments for menopause. The first one being that wild yam products are converted to progesterone in the human body. It is true that yams contain progesterone-like chemicals, but the body is unable to convert them into true progesterone. Also, Dong quai
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does have a historical use in the treatment of many female health symptoms, but not menopause. This herbal is widely used in Traditional Chinese Medicine and it should be noted that Dong quai is rarely used alone.
.....One popular herbal product used to help with menopause is black cohosh. This herb has been shown to reduce the symptoms of menopause such as, hot flashes, sweating, and headaches. It is not clear how black cohosh works. However, it is believed that it does not act like estrogen in the body. This product may take up to 4 to 6 weeks to be effective. Side effects are rare, with only the occasional stomach upset reported. Due to a lack of long-term safety studies, therapy is recommended to be no longer than six months at a time. Black cohosh has had over 60 years of safe clinical use in Germany. Black cohosh is not known to interact with any drugs. The most common dosage for black cohosh is one or two tablets, taken twice a day, of a standardized extract containing 1 mg of 27-deoxyacteine per tablet.
.....It is not known what causes the symptoms associated with PMS; which include cramps, irritability and weight gain. Fluctuating hormone levels are thought to be behind the majority of these symptoms. Fortunately, there are a few herbal products that can help. The most effective, and most popular, |
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