Posts Tagged "hot flash"

That Old Black Magic

Posted by Liz on Aug 17, 2008 in herbal medicine, hot flash, nightsweats | 0 comments

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_KNmHYYARI]

Remember black cohosh? That wonderful herb in the buttercup family of plants that is commonly used  to address hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats and other vasomotor symptoms? Black cohosh has been used in traditional folk medicine for centuries and was introduced to the settlers by Native American Indians, who incorporated the herb into their traditional medicines for women’s ailments.

I’ve discussed the utility of black cohosh for sleep and other disturbances in a previous post.

Personally, I’ve been using a standardized black cohosh formulation in combination with some Chinese herbs, (as recommended by acupuncturist and Chinese medicine specialist Elaine Stern)  with great success for many months now. Hence, I am a huge fan. And in my book it is that ‘old black magic.” Still, I believe that it’s important to address warnings that link black cohosh to liver damage. Here’s what you need to know:

Based on recent statements that have been recently issued in Australia and the United Kingdom, The U.S. Pharmacopeia’s Council of Experts extensively analyzed data from 30 case reports, side effects reports and other sources to evaluate the association between black cohosh and liver damage.  They concluded that there was enough evidence from case reports to suggest a possible link and proposed that a cautionary statement be included on manufacturer labeling.

So, what’s the bottom line? Overall, there are been few reports of liver damage but they have provoked enough concern to raise a red flag amongst several regulatory agencies worldwide. Here, the U.S, the National Institutes of Health Office of Dietary Supplements says that millions of people have safely used black cohosh without any apparent negative health effects.

As always, if you choose to go the herbal route, speak to an health professional who is well-versed in herbal medicine first. Try to select standardized formulation (it usually says it right on the label), which can help to insure that optimal and safe manufacturing processes have been followed and that you’re getting a pure form of the herb. Finally, be aware of potential side effects. In addition to liver damage, black cohosh has been linked with headache, dizziness, visual disturbance, constipation and intestinal discomfort, mostly at higher than recommended doses. Finally, remember that herbal medicine is medicine, and like Western preparations, requires vigilence, common sense, and can result in adverse effects if not used correctly.

Wednesday Bubble

Posted by Liz on Aug 6, 2008 in herbal medicine, hot flash, nightsweats | 0 comments

I’m starting a new feature on Flashfree called the Wednesday Bubble. Every Wednesday, I plan to shed light on a popular misconception about a menopausal treatment or symptom, discuss research that proves or disproves a theory or simply highlight an important thought for hump day.

Onto today’s bubble!

In a recent post, I posted evidence debunking the beneficial effects of HRT with regard to pain during intercourse. Now, a Chinese herbal preparation has been shown to be ineffective.

Researchers from the Chinese University of Hong Kong have confirmed that the Chinese medicine herbal preparation, Dang Gui Buxue Tang (which contains the herbs Dang Gui and Huang Qi), has little effect on menopausal vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Chinese herbal medicines containing Dang Gui and Huang Qi are commonly used in China for menopausal symptoms.  Neither preparation has undergone rigorous Western testing for efficacy or safety.

Over a 6-month period, 100 women with acute menopausal symptoms took either Dang Gui Buxue Tang or placebo.  The researchers found no difference in the frequency of mild, moderate or severe hot flashes between the study groups. In fact, Dang Gui Buxue Tang was found to be superior to placebo only for mild hot flashes. The researchers concluded that while Dang Gui Buxue Tang may be perceived as being beneficial for treating vasomotor symptoms, it is actually no better than placebo.

The placebo effect has been studied far and wide. Recently, it was attributed to the brain’s expectation of a future reward, meaning that if you think it, it will be. The findings of this particular study were interesting because the researchers actually expected these results. Keep in mind, however, that there are plenty of Chinese herbal medicine preparations that proving to be useful for menopausal symptoms. The most important consideration is that if you are considering using Chinese herbal medicine, consider the source. This means that you should consult a licensed practitioner and be sure any preparation you use is targeted for you and not simply purchased off the shelf or online without some sort of directive.

I want to hear from you. Let me know how you feel about the Wednesday Bubble. And if you have an idea for one, be sure to email me and let me know!

Take Control

Posted by Liz on Jul 28, 2008 in hot flash | 1 comment

I’ve posted several times about the pending Life Quality Technologies’ device to stop hot flashes in their tracks. I strongly believe that this “alternative alternative” to HRT and even herbal medicines could revolutionize the way that women address menopausal vasomotor symptoms. But folks with the wallets may need some convincing.

If you are experiencing hot flashes and are interested in seeing this type of product on the market, I would like to ask you to take a brief survey. No email addresses or other information will be collected and the survey should take any longer than a minute or so of your time.

Here’s the link.

Don’t you think it’s time to start taking control of our bodies and our health?

Hot hot hot!

Posted by Liz on Jul 26, 2008 in hot flash | 0 comments

[youtube=http://youtube.com/watch?v=owT5LDNoStE]

Yes, it’s been too darn hot in Maryland and DC of late. But looks like things are really starting to heat up for women in menopause who suffer hot flashes.

Researchers say that vasomotor symptoms like hot flashes tend to last for at least four years after a woman’s final menstrual period. FOUR YEARS!

Evidently, a review of 10 studies evaluating over 35,000 women shows that overall, symptoms increase in the two years before menopause, peak approximately one year after the final period, and then return to normal levels in about either years after the final menstrual period. However, at least half of the women who participated in these studies reported a peak in symptoms around four years after their final period.

Life Quality Technologies’ new device to address this problem can’t come soon enough. Curious what I’m talking about? Check out this previous post.

Tropical Vacation

Posted by Liz on Jul 11, 2008 in hot flash | 2 comments

My friend Sissy sent me this awesome tea towel a few months ago.

This weekend I’m leaving town. Thought I’d bring along litte umbrellas for my drinks just in case I end up in tropical paradise.

p.s. Wendy got me this towel (see comments). I guess that my memory is starting to go. Sorry Wen!!!!