Menopause
is not a disease...but it is big business. The cover of a
1960's
Life Magazine shows an elderly hand next to a very young one.
In
the cover article, a well-known physician states "estrogen replacement
therapy will prevent our women from becoming dried up old sexless
hags." Not only are we told that estrogen protects our bones
and
heart, but that it will keep us young forever. In this way estrogen
became the magic drug for keeping women sexy and allegedly
healthy. Is it any wonder that as more than 400,000 women
approach menopause, estrogen is the most prescribed drug in America
today? That is, until the National Institute of Health's
Women's
Health Initiative study sponsored by the National Institute of Health
exposed the unspoken dangers of these hormone replacement drugs. The
nation's largest trial of hormone replacement therapy was abruptly and
prematurely halted when the study showed a significant increased the
rate of heart attacks, breast cancer and stroke is healthy
postmenopausal women. (1)
In the natural cycle of life, hormone production decreases with
age. Women do continue to produce some estrogen.
Progesterone,
the controlling sex hormone, should remain adequate to keep estrogen
and androgens in balance. However, progesterone levels have become
harder to maintain in our society full of
xenoestrogens. It is impossible to
maintain hormone
balance without an adequate amount of progesterone in our systems.
Off gassing of plastics, car exhaust and many pesticides,
including
those used on fruits and vegetables, are environmental or
xenoestrogens. They behave like synthetic estrogen when
absorbed
by the body. Another major synthetic estrogens can be found
in
the meat supply of the United States in the form of growth
hormones. These hormones are feed to beef and chicken to
assist
in rapid growth, to get them fatter faster. This not only affects the
meat of the animal but it is also present in eggs, milk, cheese and
butter. In farming communities with high exposure to
pesticides
in the air, food and water, there is an alarming increase in
infertility, breast development in young boys, early menstruation, and
abnormal sexual development in fish, frogs, turtles and other aquatic
life. (2)
We cannot completely avoid the toxic side effects of these numerous
chemicals with which this planet and our bodies are increasingly
bombarded. We can limit our dietary intake to avoid these hormones, but
even then the natural cycles of a woman's body have become
uncomfortable and big business. Menopause symptoms, PMS,
infertility, and breast disease are on the rise and have been linked to
synthetic hormones in our environment. In the past,
menstruation was a natural life cycle. Today, from beginning
to
end, women are challenged by symptoms that were rare in our
grandmother's day. Chemical overload has created imbalances,
not
only in females; our male population is exhibiting side effects of
estrogen overload like prostate cancer, breast growth in boys and early
onset puberty. (3)
In large numbers, women are turning to natural remedies like
progesterone, wild yam, black cohosh and vitex to ease the symptoms of
menopause which include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, irritability,
insomnia, depression, weight gain, and bloating. Rather than
taking the prescription drugs that doctors have routinely prescribed
for the last 45 years, women want alternatives. The unpleasant and
sometimes deadly side effects of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were
uncovered during the Women's Health Initiative, a nationwide study on
the effects of HRT. The results revealed a significant
increase
risk for breast cancer, heart attacks and stroke. (4)
Plants with the saponin diosgenin, like wild yam and soy, are the base
material for large amounts of progesterone production.
Diosgenin
is extracted, a hormone is added and progesterone is
produced.
This hormone is nearly identical to the progesterone our body
produces. Pharmaceutical companies produce much of the
progesterone used by natural companies. In order to patent,
these
drug companies add an additional molecule, making it an "unnatural"
substance called a progestin. This hormone is not natural to
the
human body and therefore produces the unpleasant and often deadly side
effects mentioned above.
Often called Mexican wild yam, Dioscorea villosa is the herb widely by
herbalists to create helpful formulas for women. Though they
do
not have actual progesterone in the formulas, topical application of
these creams so something to assist the body in achieving hormone
balance. Women desiring more natural relief for their
symptoms
have made these herbal formulas and progesterone creams very
popular. These creams can provide the balance women need to
resume a comfortable life, free of symptoms. By increasing progesterone
levels, the ratio of estrogen to progesterone can be balanced, because,
as mentioned before, progesterone is the controlling hormone of our sex
hormones. One protocol does not fit all. Some women need
additional supplementation. It is important to work with a
health
professional when making these important decisions.
Particularly
when discontinuing an HRT prescription drug.
The most natural remedy is an herbal wild yam cream. Other
herbs
may be added like vitex. The dried herbs are put into an oil
base
and warmed; properties of these herbs are infused into the oil (similar
to making a cup of tea). Then this oil is blended into a
cream or
salve. Herbal formula wild yam creams do not
provide the
actual hormone, nor do they convert directly into
progesterone.
They do, however, when applied to soft tissue areas of the body, are
absorbed into the bloodstream giving the body phyto-estrogens and
phyto-progesterones which assist the body in bringing hormones into
balance. MoonMaid
Botanicals ProMeno Wild Yam Cream and VitalVulva Wild Yam Salve
are examples of effective herbal wild yam formulas.
It is unfortunate that misleading labeling and marketing practices have
found their way into the marketing of natural products. There
is
much confusion about the types of wild yam products
available.
Inadequate amounts of progesterone, misleading labels and false
advertising claims make product choice even more difficult. Educate
yourself; ask questions, use references...take charge of your
health! Make an informed decision about what is right for you.
(1) Daniella Lamas, staff writer/Miami-Herald, "Dual-drug
hormone
therapy too risky," July 10, 2002/front page
(2) (3) Animals - monthly periodical - September/October 1994
(4)
American Medical Journal - July 9, 2002/Report on the Women's Health
Initiative by the National Institute of Health initiated in 2000 as a
five-year study. Abruptly halted in 2002.
