American Fitness Professionals & Associates

By Diane Wakat, Ph.D.

Throughout most of history, women have been the guardians of the family or community’s health, using nature’s gifts of plants, seeds, roots and berries to soothe, energize or heal the ailments of their families and neighbors. The knowledge about these herbal remedies which were their only medicinals was then carefully passed down to the children, at least until 2-3 generations ago when Western medicine - and its emphasis on pharmaceutical drugs and surgery - became the norm. So much information was lost or forgotten in our rush to ‘modern’ medicine.

This is less true in some of the European countries, such as Germany, where herbals are frequently prescribed. They even have a government commission (Commission E) which evaluates the effectiveness and safety of herbs from around the world. There is currently a groundswell of interest in the US and other countries to bring herbals back into our lives, particularly when they can maintain and even improve a person’s health and vitality.

Although the use of herbal remedies has not been recognized by the traditional Western medical community, their advice is not as revered, given the scientific research that is now substantiating the benefits of many herbal remedies. Unfortunately, many of the plants which were part of some old herbal remedies may not even be available anymore.

However, just because they’re natural, don’t assume that all herbs and botanicals are safe. They are not!!! Ever heard of the Hemlock Society?? Even those herbs that are safe for one age group may not be safe for a different age group - or for women during their reproductive years. So let’s focus on those herbal remedies that have been shown to be both effective and safe for women. They really can provide benefits that are most helpful to women.

To say it very succinctly, herbal remedies are sought by most women for 2M’s and 2P’s. ‘M’ stands for Migraines and Menopause. ‘P’ stands for Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Pregnancy. For instance, women seek herbs and herbal formulations to avoid the multitude of unpleasant changes that occur right before menstruation when hormones create such havoc - leading to sugar and carbohydrate cravings, bloating, breast tenderness, uterine cramping, headaches, irritability, mood swings, fatigue, depression and sleeplessness. That’s a lot to ask from a plant! But there are some very effective herbal remedies for women.

Here are examples of herbs that are very effective in women, their benefits, and how they act in the body:

Cramp Bark - prevents or reduces uterine cramping and discomfort, especially helpful for PMS

Dandelion Root - acts as a mild diuretic and a tonic to relieve the fatigue a woman often experiences when her hormone levels are high

Red Raspberry - uterine tonic, helping to nourish yet relax uterine smooth muscle and reduce or eliminate painful menstruation

Valerian Root - helps to reduce anxiety and provides a mild sedative effect for better, sounder sleep (especially helpful in PMS and menopause)

Chaste Berry (Vitex) - reduces prolactin levels and allows the hormones to return to normal, balanced levels; very valuable for PMS and menopause

Kava Kava - a Pacific island plant that offers anti-anxiety, analgesic (pain relief), muscle-relaxing, and diuretic benefits

Feverfew (parthenolide) - exceptional for preventing migraines, and ameliorating them if they occur; to be effective there must be 250 micrograms of parthenolide, the active ingredient in feverfew

There are many other herbs and botanicals that are beneficial to everyone, including women - such as echinaceae, ginseng, garcinia cambogia, gymnema sylvestre, ginger, butcher ¹s broom and chamomile. But be careful! There are many herbs that are referred to as ‘women’s herbs’ found in over-the-counter preparations that are dangerous and should not be used. It might be wise to read the article entitled “Herbs Women Shouldn’t Use.” Plus, only use herbal remedies and preparations when you know the credentials of the expert who designed them.