HRT - Hormone Replacement Therapy - Hormone Treatment

Aditi Miscall asked:


Black Cohosh is a herb native to North America and it has long been used to relieve “women’s problems”.

It is a member of the buttercup family and is sometimes known as bugbane, squawroot, rattle root or black snakeroot. It grows up to 2.5 metres high and has tall stalks of fluffy white flowers. The gnarled black root is the part of the plant that’s used. It’s dried, ground to a powder and sold in capsule form.

It all seems too good to be true, but it’s been used for centuries and it’s one of the main ingredients in Lydia Pinkham’s Vegetable Compound, popular as a women’s tonic in the USA in the early 20th century, which is still available today.

If you have a medical condition, then speak to your doctor before using Black Cohosh or any supplements. Do not use Black Cohosh whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. Be aware it could interfere with hormonal medicines, particularly the contraceptive pill. If you’re taking medication for blood pressure, then, once again consult your doctor before using it, it can reduce blood pressure and it may cause yours to drop too low.

Having taken all that into account, if you’re looking for some help to see you through menopause symptoms without resorting to chemical HRT, then Black Cohosh is known to help with hot flushes, sweating and vaginal dryness. It works by reducing the hormone that is produced in the pituitary gland that is thought to be the cause of hot flushes.

Black Cohosh has an anti-spasmodic effect, which means it can help with menstrual cramps. It works by increasing the blood flow to the uterus and reducing the intensity of the contractions. Likewise it may help during labor and after childbirth.

Black Cohosh has anti-inflammatory effects and it can treat nerve related pain such as sciatica or neuralgia.

For menopausal or Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms, take 40 mg twice a day. For PMS, begin treatment 7 to 10 days before you menstruate. For cramps, take 40 mg 3 or 4 times a day as needed. Consult your doctor regarding the time to take it for labor pains. It can be taken any time of the day, but it may cause stomach upsets, so it’s best to take it with food. Allow four to eight weeks to see a benefit for menopausal symptoms. It’s safe to take for long periods.

There are no known toxic effects. A very high dose can cause nausea, vomiting, reduced pulse rate and headaches. Stick to the recommended dosages. Find a supplement that contains 2.5% of triterpenes, which is the active ingredient.

Black Cohosh is also used as a compress for sore muscles and aching joints. Boil the root in water for 20 minutes, let it cool and apply to the affected area and cover with a clean cloth for about 20 minutes.

Black Cohosh is a marvel of nature. If you’re female, there’s some point in your life when it’s going to be of use.



Carol

alot.ofhelp asked:


developing affects that are close to puberty-such as breast enlargment more body hair and to that effect. Is this what you have heard to? Any thought s on this matter would be greatly appreciated.

Natalie

Renee B asked:


I am in perimenopause, and the BRCA is in my family so I can’t take hormones of any kind. What else can I do to relieve hot flashes and other symptoms

Jean

lovemykids asked:


Takes synthroid, Blood pressure meds

Cole

Jean Morgan asked:


Some 40 years ago, the subject of the menopausal life stage of women became a popular topic of women’s health. In those days, several segments of society and medicine popularized the idea that menopause was a tragic condition that women were obliged to suffer through, from which they should be rescued.

At that time, HRT or hormonal replacement therapy for treatment of menopause symptoms came into vogue. With this treatment, synthetic estrogen hormones were administered to women, effectively increasing their estrogen hormone levels without any method of counterbalance. Once introduced, this treatment was widely used without sufficient study of its effects and the possible health risks it may include.

By the mid-1970’s it was discovered and well-documented that HRT using synthetic estrogen was indeed hazardous with increasingly deadly consequences for women. The women who had used HRT were alarmingly more likely to develop endometrial cancer.

More recently, HRT has been employed using a combination of synthetic progesterone (progestin) and estrogen. However, in 1995 the New England Journal of Medicine published the results of a study conducted on over 120,000 women regarding the use of HRT.

The published study warned of the significant increased risk of breast cancer related to HRT. It determined that women using HRT longer than five years had an increased risk of breast cancer by as much as 30 - 40 percent. For women aged 60 - 64 years who used the treatment for more than five years, the risk jumped to an even more alarming 70 percent. Last, the study determined that women who used HRT were 45 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than those who had not used HRT, or had only used it for less than a five year period.

As a result of these and other findings, attention was turned to the use and benefits of natural progesterone as an alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapy. In the 1980’s, Dr. John Lee began to research the use of synthetic hormones in HRT. Some 10 years ago, he first published his findings demonstrating that not only did synthetic hormones not perform as they were thought to, but they actually posed a threat to women’s health.

Natural progesterone is now being used by women worldwide as an alternative to HRT with positive results. Relief from menopausal symptoms as well as symptoms associated with conditions of estrogen dominance or low progesterone are widely reported. In addition, there are benefits to other systems of the body (not only reproductive) that progesterone affects .

While there needs to be ongoing study of natural progesterone use for a full understanding of its impact and potential in hormonal treatments, it’s quite evident that it is a viable alternative for women seeking help with issues related to hormonal health.



Kaylee

fariba v asked:


I was on HRT(estrogel) for 10 years and I stopped it a year ago. now I have lots or symptoms , is it safe to start again?

Randy

lifeisagift asked:


I am 3 years post-hysterectomy and have been on Estrace since that time. I suspect it is causing me to gain weight, lose muscle tone and look older! I have noticed a big decline since the surgery, and lately have heart fluttering and palpitations occasionally. Yesterday I did not take the Estrace and had no palpitations all day. I want to stop taking it. Is it safe to do that?

Francisco