Robyn Landis
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 Murray writes that he feels the four most successful herbs for increasing estrogen activity are donq quai, licorice root, chasteberry, and black cohosh.13
Essential fatty acids are important for maintaining production of helpful prostaglandins, balanced brain chemistry, and healthy cell membranes. Good sources for EFAs are flaxseed, borage, evening primrose, and/or black currant oils. Flaxseed oil also contains lignans, antioxidant phytochemical compounds that are believed to be hotmone precursors (discussed on page 115). |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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 One double-blind study found that a product featuring white willow (though also containing black cohosh [p. 397], guaiac [Guaiacum officinale], sarsaparilla [p. 457], and aspen bark) effectively reduced osteoarthritis pain compared to placebo.69 White willow products providing approximately 100 mg salicin per day are generally recommended by doctors of natural medicine.
Capsaicin, the "burning" substance in cayenne (p. 408) creams, has been used topically to relieve pain from osteoarthritis. The benefit from cayenne creams, generally containing 0.025-0. |
Ruth Winter
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 Related to black cohosh and echinacea (see both).
SERUM ALBUMIN • The major protein component of blood plasma derived from bovines. Used as a moisturizing ingredient.
SERUM PROTEINS • See Serum Albumin.
SERV SIZE • Abbreviation on labels for serving size.
SERVINGS • Label listing for servings per container.
SESAME • Seeds and Oils. The edible seeds of an East Indian herb, Sesamum indicum. which has a rosy or white flower. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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 Chinese licorice root; 1 gram of black cohosh; and 0.5 gram of ginger. In one study, this formula boosted sperm concentrations and motility considerably after three months.
A similar formula called ninjin-to contains three grams each of cangzhu, ginger, ginseng and Chinese licorice.
If you'd like to try either of these formulas, I'd advise against attempting to mix them up yourself. Instead, consult a Chinese herbalist.
VV Herbal formula for women. For women, Maine herbalist Deb Soule, founder of Avena Botanicals and author of The Roots of Healing, offers several fertility formulas. |
| It turns out that black cohosh has potent estrogen-like activity, and blue cohosh stimulates uterine contractions.
Carrot (Daucus carota). Many Pennsylvania Dutch have used wild carrot (Queen Anne's lace) seed, which is apparently effective as both an em-menagogue and a morning-after contraceptive. Indian researchers have confirmed that carrot seed has anti-implantation activity in laboratory animals.
Chasteberry
An extract of these berries helps restore the menstrual cycle to normal.
V Celery (Apium graveolens). |
Andrew Chevallier
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 Emmenagogues, e.g., black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa, p. 78) encourage or regulate menstruation
Urinary System
Antiseptics, e.g., buchu (Barosma betulina, p. 67) disinfect the urinary tubules. Astringents, e.g., horsetail (Equisetum arvense, p. 202) tighten and protect the Cornsilk urinary tubules. Diuretics, e.g., cornsilk (Zea (Zea mays) mays, p. 152) stimulate the flow of urine
Musculoskeletal System
Analgesics, e.g., yellow jasmine (Gelsemium sempervirens, p. 214) relieve joint and nerve pain. Anti-inflammatories, e.g., white willow (Salix alba, p. |
Dr. Gary Null
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 In the final stages of pregnancy, it can be combined with black cohosh, squaw vine, and peppermint to relax the pelvis, speed up delivery, and make delivery less bloody.
Ginger is one of the best natural remedies for nausea, especially when accompanied by small, frequent, meals, fresh air, and plenty of rest. Ginger can be taken as a capsule or tea.
A washcloth soaked in ginger or comfrey tea and applied to the area promotes healing of an episiotomy.
Rosemary added to bath water relieves tension and back pain. |
| Clinical evidence suggests that black cohosh relieves the pain and distress of pregnancy, contributes to easy, quick, and uncomplicated deliveries, and promotes uterine involution and recovery.
D. B. Mowrey, The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine (New Canaan, Conn.: Keats Publishing, 1986): 108. |
John Robbins
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 Acupuncture, vitamin E, hypnosis, yoga, meditation, homeopathic remedies, ginseng, and other herbs, including black cohosh and chaste tree, have all been clinically shown to be effective in relieving hot flashes, sleep disturbances, and irritability associated with menopause.32
• In a double-blind placebo-controlled study, one group of women suffering from hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms were given two herbal capsules three times a day (made up of equal parts licorice root, burdock root, wild yam root, dong quai root, and motherwort) for three months. |
James A. Duke, Ph.D.
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| In another study, women with vaginal dryness due to menopause experienced similar relief whether taking black cohosh or pharmaceutical estrogen.
W Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra). Licorice contains natural estrogenic compounds. Like the isoflavones in soy, glycyrrhizin, the active ingredient in licorice, appears to reduce estrogen levels in women when they're too high and increase the levels when they're too low.
Could licorice candy help women with menopausal discomforts? Possibly, but read the label. |
Mark Blumenthal
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 BPH). However the clinician is often concerned about which brand of product to recommend, since there appears to be so much confusion about quality control among the many products that are available. One physician has proposed the following guidelines: In the absence of a clinical trial on a particular product, products manufactured or distributed by reputable herbal products manufacturers or major pharmaceutical firms, which have experience with and can ensure a high level of quality control, may be more safely recommended. |
Sheldon Saul Hendler
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 A few claim that consumption of black cohosh root produces a mild relaxant effect. Ingestion of large amounts could produce nausea, vomiting, perspiration and dizziness. Large doses during pregnancy have been suspected of causing premature birth.
Blessed Thistle
(The Monks' Tonic)
Blessed thistle {Cnicus benedictus) is also known commonly as St. Benedict thistle, holy thistle and spotted thistle. The plant is native to southern Europe and western Asia. The common names of the herb are derived from its popular use during the Middle Ages as a tonic by monks in the monasteries. |
Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
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 Asparagus, butcher's broom, tumeric, wild yams, yucca, Devil's claw, curry, angelica, barberry, black cohosh, juniper, licorice, and propolis (found in honey)—All contain steroidal-type compounds that may reduce inflammation caused by arthritis. Many of these herbs are included in preparations used to treat arthritis.
Siberian ginseng—Ginseng has been the subject of thousands of scientific studies and is known as the world's best antistress tonic. Stress affects every part of the body, and may play a role in worsening the severity of arthritis. |
Bill Gottlieb
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 Tyler says you can find black cohosh in most health food stores, where it's usuady sold as an extract. He says to fodow the dosage recommendations on the label and, because there are no studies of the herb's effects when it's taken for years at a time, to not take the herb continuously for more than six months. Instead, he suggests taking it for six months, stopping for about a month and then resuming treatment again, staying on this regimen for as long as your menopausd symptoms persist.
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Homeopathy
In his book The Family Guide to Homeopathy, Andrew Lockie, M.D. |
John Heinerman
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 Recommended dosage is about 2 capsules twice daily. black cohosh is available from health food stores under the Nature's Way label and blue cohosh by mail-order from Indiana Botanic Gardens in Hammond (see Appendix).
BLACK (WHITE) PEPPER (Piper nigrum)
Brief Description
Black pepper is the dried full-grown but unripe fruit, while the white kind is the dried ripe fruit with the outer part of the pericarp removed by soaking in water and then rubbing it off. It's less aromatic than black, but has a more delicate flavor. |
Ronald L. Hoffman, M.D.
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 Some women report having relief from hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms when using black cohosh, a medicinal plant known to Native Americans for years and containing large amounts of phytoestrogens, in conjunction with estrogen cream.12 A herb called Vitex agnus castii, or chasteberry, is sometimes helpful for the same symptoms. These can both be found in health food stores in various forms, sometimes as teas or capsules or tinctures.
A study by the U.S. |
Ruth Winter
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| There is reported use of the chemical, it has not yet been assigned for toxicology literature. See black cohosh and Echinacea. SOAP • Sodium Oleate and Sodium Palmitate. Any salt of a fatty acid usually made by saponification of a vegetable oil with caustic soda. The oldest cleanser, usually a mixture of sodium salts of various fatty acids. In liquid soaps, potassium instead of sodium salts are used. Bar soaps vary in contents from brand to brand, depending on the fats or oils used. Sodium hydroxide makes a strong soap; fatty acids, a mild soap. |
| In 1992, the FDA proposed a ban on black cohosh in oral menstrual drug products because it had not been shown to be safe and effective as claimed. BLACK CURRANT EXTRACT • The extract of the fruit of Ribes nigrum, a European plant that produces hanging yellow flowers and black aromatic fruit. BLACK CUTCH EXTRACT • See Catechu Extract.
BLACK PEPPER OIL • From steam distillation of dried fruit of Piper nigrum. An odorless to greenish liquid with the odor and taste of pepper. A flavoring agent used in meat, salads, soups, and vegetables. A moderate skin irritant. |
Schuyler W. Lininger, Jr. DC
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| A review of eight trials concluded black cohosh to be both safe and effective.26 Many doctors of natural medicine recommend 20 mg of a highly concentrated extract taken twice per day; 2-4 ml of tincture 3 times per day may also be used.
Sage (p. 456) may be of some benefit for women who are sweating excessively due to menopausal hot flashes during the day or at night.27 It is believed this is because sage directly decreases production of sweat. This is based on traditional herbal prescribing and has not been evaluated in clinical studies. |
| Blue cohosh, which is generally taken as a tincture, should be limited to no more than 1 to 2 ml taken 3 times per day. The average single dose of the whole herb is 300 to 1,000 mg. Blue cohosh is generally used in combination with other herbs. Women of child-bearing age using this herb should cease using it as soon as they become pregnant—the herb was shown to cause heart problems in an infant born following maternal use of blue cohosh.18
False unicorn (p. 423) was used in the Native American tradition for a large number of women's health conditions, including painful menstruation. |
Linda B. White, M.D.
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 St.-John's-wort tincture
\ teaspoon California poppy tincture
Tincture of stevia or licorice root to sweeten (optional)
Blend the tinctures together. Take 1 teaspoon morning and evening, at least 30 minutes before or 30 minutes after meals. Take for at least four months.
PREGNANT? FLIP A COIN. Heads, you don't have morning sickness, tails, you do.
The odds are 50-50 that you'll experience nausea or vomiting early in your pregnancy. And despite the name, you can have morning sickness at any time of the day or night. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| Cimicifuga racemosa, p. 78); buchu (Barosma betulina, p. 67); Chinese angelica (Angelica sinensis, p. 60); Chinese rhubarb (Rheum palmatum, p. 124); dan shen (Salvia miltiorrhiza, p. 129); devil's claw (Harpagophytttm procumbens, p. 101); elecampane (Inula helenium, p. 105); feverfew (Tanacctum parthenittm.
Infusions make effective remedies; some are also relaxing or refreshing drinks p. 139); ginseng (Panaxginseng, p. 116); juniper (Juniperus communis, p. 223); licorice (Glycyrrhizaglabra, p. 99); motherwort (Leouurus cardiaca, p. 225); myrrh (Commiphora molmol, p. |
James Green
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 Thyme (Thymus vulgaris)
Wdd plants to encourage in your garden and around the house
• Blackberry (Rubus fmcticosus) (Keep an eye on this one and maintain control! |
Mark Stengler, N.D.
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 Petho A, Menopausal complaints: Changeover of a hormone treatment to a herbal gynecological remedy practicable? Arzliche Praxis 1987; 38(47):1551—1553.
BOSWELLIA
• "... One review of 11 German clinical studies looked at 260 people who did not respond well to conventional treatments." Etzel R, Special extract of Boswellia serrata (H15) in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. Phytomedicine 1996; 3(l):91-94.
• "... Boswellia does not cause this cartilage degradation but actually reduces the breakdown of cartilage building blocks known as glycosaminoglycans. |
Andrew Chevallier
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| Cimicifuga racemosa, p. 78) Remedy Take one of the above herbs, either in tablet form or take 1 tsp of tincture with water at night.
Herb White peony (Paeonia lactiflora, p. 115) Remedy Make a decoction with 20 g root to 750 ml of water. Sip throughout the day.
Pregnancy
Although in many cultures herbs have traditionally been taken throughout pregnancy, it is wise to take herbs medicinally only when essential. Some herbs such as German chamomile (Chamomilla recutita, p. 76), linden (Tilia spp., p. 275), and cornsilk (Zea mays, p. |
Paul Pitchford
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 The resulting formula is composed of herbs traditionally used in the West for arthritic and rheumatic disorders. |
Berkeley Holistic Health Center and Shepherd Bliss
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| Vi oz. cayenne.
To prepare, take one pint boiling water, steep the powdered herbs in it for Vz hour, strain, and add one pint apple cider vinegar; bottle for use.
Dose: 8 to 15 drops in half a glass of hot water every hour or so, or as needed. This is an excellent all-purpose first-aid remedy for a variety of emergencies, including shock, cramps, epilepsy, hysteria, lockjaw, poisonous bites, and stings. It is also good as a gargle to clear the voice, to cut mucus, for pyorrhea, and sores in the mouth, or applied externally for strains, pains, and muscular spasm.
Composition Powder
1 oz. |
National Women's Health Network
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 There have been no clinical studies on vitex for menopausal symptoms, although many herbalists believe that it "balances" hormone levels, especially in women with unpredictable or heavy bleeding before menopause.
Scientists don't know what effect this herb has on postmenopausal women. The herb is called chaste-tree berry and monk's pepper because it is reputed to lower libido in both women and men.
The usual dose is 0.5 to 1.0 grams of the fruit three times a day or aqueous-alcohol extracts corresponding to 30 to 40 mg of the crushed fruits. |
Paul Pitchford
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| The resulting formula is composed of herbs traditionally used in the West for arthritic and rheumatic disorders. |
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