http://www.healthworks2000.com/Medicine for Menopause.htm
http://www.ashi-research.com/Download/DangGui.pdf
Healthy Alternative for the Uncomfortable Symptoms of Menopause
The article Learn About Menopause & Hot Flashes by Kathleen Fackelmann is not new information. For thousands of years Asian women have used herbs to ease their transition into menopause. Menopause is an issue all women must face, but you have a choice as to how you deal with it. With the recent cardiovascular and breast cancer issues associated with synthetic hormone replacement therapy or HRT, it is comforting to know there are some valid alternative treatments. There are herbs with natural estrogen-like activities that do not cause the dangerous cardiac problems, or the uncomfortable symptoms of bloating, nausea, and weight gain that HRT poses. These herbs stimulate your body to function naturally. Acupuncture is another modality that helps by working with your body’s energetic system to stimulate the release of endorphins and seretonin to regulate hormone function.
The herbs dang gui (Angelica sinensis) and gan cao (Glycyrrhiza uralensis/licorice root) are Chinese herbs that have been used to combat the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause including: hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, emotional instability, and vaginal dryness.
There are many studies being conducted on Chinese herbs to further prove their efficacy and safety. Just recently published in FEBS Letters, a high-impact international journal in biomedical research, is a study conducted on a very popular Chinese herbal formula: dang gui bu xue tang. This herbal formula has been used for many years in China to counter menopausal symptoms. It has been proven in the recent study (Gao et al., 2007) that dang gui bu xue tang acts on estrogen receptors to boost their functioning without causing the dangerous cell proliferation that HRT presents. This is important because cell proliferation spreads breast cancer cells.
It is reassuring to discover that women going through menopause have a safe alternative to HRT. The use of these herbs can ensure quality of life in the golden years. Chinese herbs have created a lot of attention in recent years. From their use in products like the popular Airborne cold remedy to the antioxidant effects of gogi berries, also known as the Chinese wolfberry, it is clear that herbal medicine is a valid choice for many health concerns. Before using any herbs you should speak to a trained herbalist, especially if you take prescription medications. I am so proud to be a traditional Chinese medical practitioner in such exciting times!