DONG QUAI ROOT

One of the most important of the Chinese tonic herbs, Dong Quai is used as a nourishing blood tonic and to regulate the menstrual cycle. Dong Quai has been used for centuries by Asian healers to balance female hormones and to prevent the troublesome symptoms of menopause and PMS. Clinical research indicates that Dong Quai also contains antispasmodic compounds that help to relax muscle tissue, explaining its effectiveness for treating menstrual cramps.

Benefits of Dong Quai is thought to provide a number of benefits to menopausal women. In particular, Dong Quai dilates the blood vessels, thereby increasing blood flow. This helps to relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Additionally, this herb help to regulate the levels of estrogen in the body, which also help to relieve menopause symptoms. Moreover, Dong Quai is a mild sedative that will help reduce mood swings and stress related to menopause.

In clinical studies, women taking Dong Quai reported a 25% decrease in the severity of their symptoms. Dong Quai is also thought to help prevent a variety of illnesses associated with menopause, including heart disease. (TOP)

BLACK COHOSH ROOT EXTRACT

Black Cohosh is a flowering plant that grows naturally in Eastern North America. It contains phytoestrogens, specifically isoflavones, that bind to the estrogen receptors in the body and help relieve menopausal symptoms.

These plant estrogens work very much like natural estrogen, helping to produce lubrication in the vagina, working to regulate body temperature, and helping to strengthen bones. Black Cohosh may work directly on the hypothalamus, which is located at the base of the brain. The hypothalamus regulates body temperature and hormone production, and may be the cause of many of the symptoms that accompany menopause.

Black Cohosh is touted as a great reliever of many menopause symptoms, including night sweats, anxiety, and depression. Black Cohosh reduces those horrible hot flashes that affect so many women. It does this by reducing the luteinizing hormone, which is associated with extreme temperature fluctuations. Black Cohosh is so effective that in a recent study, 80% of women who were taking a Black Cohosh supplement experienced less hot flashes, sweating, and heart palpitations. (TOP)

DAMIANA LEAF

Damiana is a small shrub that grows 1–2 meters high and bears aromatic, serrate leaves that are 10–25 centimeters long. Small yellow flowers that bloom from early to late summer are followed by small fruits that have a sweet smell and fig-like flavor. The medicinal part of the plant is the leaves, which are harvested during the flowering season. Damiana is found throughout Mexico, Central America, and the West Indies, as well as in parts of South America. The species Turnera diffusa and Turnera aphrodisiaca are generally regarded as the same plant in herbal commerce. A closely related species, Turnera ulmifolia, is similar in appearance, but has different traditional medicinal uses.

The botanical name Turnera aphrodisiaca describes its ancient use as an aphrodisiac. The ancient Mayan civilization used it as an aphrodisiac as well as for "giddiness and loss of balance." A Spanish missionary first reported that the early natives of Mexico made a drink from the damiana leaves, added sugar, and drank it for its purported power to enhance lovemaking. (TOP)

MEXICAN WILD YAM ROOT

Mexican Wild Yam Root relaxes muscle spasms, reduces inflammation, and increases perspiration. It has effects similar to the hormone progesterone. It is useful for gallbladder disorders, hypoglycemia, kidney stones, menopause-related symptoms, and premenstrual syndrome.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) was used by herbalists to treat menstrual cramps and problems related to childbirth. The subsequent discovery of a substance contained in wild yams revolutionized the pharmaceutical industry. The tubers, or fleshy, root-like parts, of wild yams (not to be confused with the sweet potato yam) contain diosgenin, a steroid-like substance that is involved in production of the hormone progesterone. Diosgenin has served a key role in making hormones and developing the birth control pill, two of the major advances in plant drug medicine in the 20th century. Wild yam continues to be used to treat menstrual cramps, nausea, and morning sickness associated with pregnancy, inflammation, osteoporosis, menopausal symptoms, and other health conditions. (TOP)