Herbal Solutions for Women

Updated: 3/25/98

The liver is very important to control proper hormone levels, especially estrogen. Many female problems begin here. Herbs and combinations such as Liv-Guard, burdock, cascara sagrada, chaparral, BP-X, BP-C, alfalfa, black walnut, yellow dock, barberry, Oregon grape and nearly all bitter herbs are the liver's best friends. Dangerous chemicals escaping the liver's scrutiny can migrate to reproductive organs and disrupt their normal functions. Reproductive Organ Infections The ovaries benefit from the use of blue cohosh, burdock, cramp bark and wild yam. Meanwhile, strengthen the immune system with herbs like echinacea, garlic, and golden seal. For uterine infections use cramp bark, false unicorn, nettle, red raspberry, and wild yam. Red clover, pau d'arco, and blue cohosh can also help vaginal infections. Ovarian Cysts Ovarian cysts may be overcome by giving the body a chance to expel them naturally. A regimen of 400 I.U. of vitamin E (2/day), dong quai (2/day), and chaparral (2/day). You may see results within four weeks. Take kelp to help prevent tumors or cysts and horsetail, which contains silicon, to prevent these problems while helping your skin, hair, and nails at the same time. Tumors Licorice root has anti-tumor properties along with pau d'arco, and burdock root. These troubled areas or lumps may be purposefully walled off by the body to keep them from endangering the rest of the system, which allows the body enough time to safely diffuse them. This is why surgical intervention is dangerous. Eat vegetables of the cabbage family along with vegetables containing a lot of beta carotene and vitamin C. Hysterectomy Fibroid tumors are benign growths within the muscular wall of the uterus that sometimes cause severe menstrual pain or heavy bleeding. A fibroid tumor or a prolapsed uterus are reasons given by doctors to remove reproductive organs. But often the fibroids shrink along with the uterus after menopause. Use natural supplements and exercise the muscles of the pelvic area to see how successful these methods are in helping retain the organs. To strengthen prolapsed areas, remember vitamin C and bioflavonoid to prevent tissue tearing, etc. Use white oak bark and red raspberry to tighten tissue. If you need surgery, mullein and lobelia will help you recover. (use low amounts of lobelia to avoid nausea) Use FCSII and C-X to normalize your hormone balance. Fertility Vitamin E improves the quality of the male sperm. Gentian root helps circulation to reproductive organs and digestion of important nutrients for fertility. High amounts of vitamin C and other anti-oxidants increase the life of all cells, including the egg and sperm. X-A is good for both males and females to increase fertility. Endometriosis Endometriosis may occur when estrogen is not broken down correctly in the liver. This means too much estrogen, which causes swelling and proliferation of endometrial tissue. Cleanse and rebuild the liver with B-complex, vitamin C, barberry, LIV-C, LIV-A, LIV-J, burdock root, dandelion root, and blessed thistle. You might avoid estrogen in food like soy, whole grains, nuts and seeds, yeast, peanuts, chocolate, and alfalfa temporarily. Vitamin E is also needed to neutralize excess estrogen. A lack of oxygen may also be a factor in endometriosis. Therefore, all anti-oxidant herbs and vitamins are useful including garlic. Siberian and American ginseng, suma, and vitamins A, C, and E with selenium may also be beneficial. Try this program: Vitamin A, 100,000 I.U. for one month, 75,000 I.U. the second month, and 50,000 I.U. the third month. During each month of the program, increase the amount of vitamin A to 100,000 I.U. again one week before the menstrual flow begins. Then decrease the amount back to 75,000 or 50,000 I.U. when the flow ends, depending on which month of the program you are currently in. In addition, take 6 capsules of FC w/Dong Quai per day consistently. Women using IUDs and tampons have a higher incidence of endometriosis. There is also a link between endometriosis and high levels of the brain chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. This may be the reason for the high incidence of manic depression related to endometriosis. Try cutting down on fats and dairy products, which may encourage serotonin production. Cervical Dysplasia and Cervical Carcinoma Otherwise known as Condyloma Acuminata (Genital Warts) and HPV (Human Papilloma Virus). Common symptoms include sexually transmitted disease, resulting in a class 4 Pap smear; heavy painful periods; bleeding between periods; pain during intercourse; genital warts or herpes; chronic gonorrhea or any unusual vaginal discharge; fever and the need to urinate more frequently; infertility. Usually pre-cancerous, abnormal tissue lesions of the cervix, both are a growing, serious problem in America. Both conditions seem to be the result of risky lifestyle habits and reduced immunity from poor nutrition. Early age of first intercourse, multiple sexual partners increasing sexually transmitted diseases, such as herpes simplex type 2 and papilloma viruses, lower socioeconomic class with its traditionally nutrient-poor diet, smoking, and oral contraceptives, are all considered to be high risk factors for this type of disease. Natural treatments deal with the causes of genital warts and require strong commitment and significant lifestyle changes, with positive outlook and good body/mind connection for immune support. Food Therapy Follow a cancer-preventing macrobiotic diet. Increase fresh fruits, vegetables (especially cruciferous, green, and orange vegetables), and complex carbo-hydrates as protective factors. Avoid red meat and poultry foods. These may have been contaminated with estrogen or other hormone treatments. Reduce dairy fat, again especially from animal foods. Reduce caffeine, hard liquor and processed foods. Add vegetable juices and/or green drinks for immune support and supplementing vitamin deficiencies. Add 2 tbsp. chopped sea vegetables as a viable source of marine carotene. Add fish for omega 3 oils. Vitamins/Minerals Take Daily: Marine carotene or beta-carotene-200,000 I.U., Folic acid-800 mcg 2x during treatment, then 1x daily. Ascorbate vitamin C-3,000 mg. Vitamin B6-up to 200 mg. Vitamin B12. Increase Immune Support: Sun Chlorella or Green Foods Green Magma-2 packets daily, Zinc picolinate-30 mg. daily, Vitamin E-400 I.U. w/selenium-200 mg 2x daily, Quercitin with bromelain-2 daily with pycnogenol-2x daily. Herbal Therapy Anti-Viral extract and/or tea, detoxification capsules for 1 month as a blood cleanser, followed by Anti-Viral or Echinacea extract and a course of vaginal packs. Burdock tea-2 cups daily, Highest potency royal jelly-2 tsp. daily, Evening primrose oil-6 daily, Golden seal/chaparral suppositories (powders mixed with cocoa butter). Herbal calcium caps or extract to prevent pre-cancerous lesions from becoming cancerous. Body Work Eliminate smoking, the use of oral contraceptives, and multiple sexual partners. Surgery may be avoided by using botanical vaginal packs, such as Crystal Star DIRECT, grapefruit seed extract, Body Essential Silica Gel, or Chlorella, placed against the cervix to draw out toxic wastes and slough abnormal cells. Abstain from sexual intercourse during vaginal pack treatment. Use a barrier contraceptive to prevent new contact with HPV or herpes viruses. Alternating hot and cold hydrotherapy or sitz baths will promote immune activity to the pelvic area. Menopause "The change of life" is perhaps the most dreaded time of a woman's life. Child-bearing ability ceases, and with that many women feel they have lost their feminine sex appeal, and the beginning of the dreaded old age, with loss of attractiveness to the opposite sex. Traditionally, the menopausal years have been associated with emotional instability and irritability, hot flashes, irrational behavior, diminished interest in sex (or excessive interest, in some cases), disturbances in calcium and zinc metabolism, backache, pyorrhea, osteoporosis, and "menopausal arthritis". Menopause is a perfectly normal, natural state, and should not be looked upon as some sort of disorder or ailment. It is a condition designed by nature whereby a female, past the age when a safe and healthy pregnancy and delivery can be assured, is deprived of further possibility of impregnation. The ovaries stop ovulation and become less active in producing sex hormones. So menstruation stops, and, with it, the blood level of estrogen, and other female hormones, goes down. Most menopausal problems are due to this lowering of hormones in the body. Holistic Approach Under conditions of optimum health and a health-conducive lifestyle, it should be a painless and distress-free change in a woman's life. Healthy women in other cultures known for a more natural lifestyle do not take estrogen pills or injections, and yet do not experience any distressing symptoms of menopause. Furthermore, when a woman enjoys good health, her normally functioning adrenal glands produce a number of sex hormones which replace those from inactivated ovaries. Consequently, a woman can go through this normal conclusion of the reproductive cycle without any physical discomforts if she is mentally, physically, nutritionally, and psychologically prepared to accept this phase of life as a natural biological process. She must not attempt to compete with young girls, but go through a normal process of gradual, graceful aging, thanking the Creator for the blessings, wisdom, and experience attained during a productive life. Happiness is, among other things, accepting each phase of our life cycle as we approach it, without looking back with regrets, remorse, or jealousy, but looking forward with expectations for the new adventures and increased knowledge and wisdom which each new phase will grant us. Vitamins/Minerals Vitamins, and minerals which should be taken daily if you are approaching menopausal age, are in menopause right now, or post-menopause: E-up to 1200 I.U., B6-up to 100 mg, PABA-up to 100 mg, Folic acid-up to 5 mg, B12-50 mcg, Pantothenic acid-up to 100 mg, A-25,000 units, C-up to 3,000 mg, B-complex, Kelp-up to 5 tablets, Calcium-magnesium-at least 1,000 mg, Zinc-up to 30 mg, D-up to 1,000 units, Betaine Hydrochloride-1 tablet after each meal, trace-element formula, Whey powder-up to 2 tbsp. Herbs Herbs helpful in postponing and/or alleviating the symptoms are wild yam, lady's slipper, liferoot and passion flower. Black cohosh, sarsaparilla, false unicorn, elder, and licorice all contain estrogen and can be used to supplement the body's diminished hormone production during menopause or after a hysterectomy. To combat the distressing symptoms of menopause: blessed thistle, squaw vine, red raspberry, golden seal, lobelia, gravelroot, ginger, cayenne, parsley, and marshmallow. Another for hormonal imbalances includes sarsaparilla, licorice, and blue vervain. The best herbs for hot flashes are black cohosh, licorice, sarsaparilla, blessed thistle, false unicorn, red raspberry, elder, and squaw vine. Motherwort is used mostly for palpitations of the heart. This herb increases menstrual flow, so it shouldn't be used by those who suffer from excessive flow. For questions relating to any issue of the Joyful Living Services newsletter, please contact Brenda.