Estriol is considered the “forgotten” estrogen. Is has been labeled historically in the US as a weak or ineffective estrogen, while in Europe Estriol has been recognized for its benefits and has been used for years. With recent articles and studies stating that women using traditional estrogen therapy for five or more years have a 30 to 40% increased risk of cancer, the need to use a safer form of estrogen seems crucial. Estriol is the best choice. It has never been associated with cancer activity in the female body, but has been shown to prevent or even reverse Breast Cancer.
Category Archives: Hormones
Menopause: Pros and Cons of Hormone Therapy
Menopause means the cessation of menses, but often brings in its wake a flood of other symptoms including hot flashes, sweating, thinning of the skin, thinning of the bones-osteoporosis, changes in mood, lowered energy level, vaginal dryness, and decreased sexual desire. Many women feel that they have lost control of their own bodies.
Black Cohosh Effective for Menopause
Researchers at Columbia University and George Washington University have found a safe and effective alternative to synthetic drugs. The researchers examined the results of 29 independent studies on alternative treatments for hot flashes and found excellent support for the effectiveness of the herb Black cohosh.
Natural Hormone Alternatives
There are safe and effective natural alternatives. In my practice, I recommend natural Hormone Augmentation. For mild symptoms of menopause, I use an herbal hormone balancing formula known as ESPROGEN that includes Agelica sinensis (Dong Quai) (standardized to 0.8% lingustillide), Dioscorea villosa (Wild Yam) (standardized for 10% Diosgenin), Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice) DGL, Tunera diffusa (Damiana) (5:1) and Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh).
For moderate or severe symptoms of menopause, I recommend Hormone Augmentation with a combination of bio-identical Estriol and Progesterone enhancing herbs, known as OstaB3 or PhytoB respectively. The Estriol is extracted from Soybeans and the Progesterone is extracted from the Wild Yam. Osta B3 and PhytoB contain Barbasco (Wild Yam) extract, Dioscorea extrat, Hawthorn extract, Alfalfa extract, Soybean extract, Licorice extract, Sarsaparilla extract, Wild Oats, and Cherry bark extract.
