Topics of Interest  >  Menopause TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE FOR MENOPAUSE Chinese herbs have been used for centuries for menopausal symptoms and to protect the bones. The basic goal of treatment is to tonify the Kidney Jing., Yin and Yang. The traditional Chinese herbal formulas, which have been used in some cases for centuries, have many subtle, but powerfully strengthening effects upon the whole endocrine system. At the present time, Western science has discovered much about how our hormones work. Scientists can synthesize more and more powerful drugs. However, the subtleties of how the body works are still a mystery. I am sure that, with time and more research, we will come to understand more about the genius and elegance of Chinese herbal therapy for regulating hormones. HRT is given in doses several hundred times that used in Chinese herbal therapy! (The amount used today is significantly smaller than 10 to 20 years ago.) According to Subhuti Dharmananda, in his paper, "The Endocrine Effect of Chinese Medicine": "Chinese herbs act by stimulating the production of hormones, altering the condition of hormone receptors or changing the rate of catabolism of hormones, rather than by providing the hormones or hormone analogs that function the same as hormones." Many of the ingredients in formulas may have little or no hormonal effects, although the effect of the whole formula will substantially increase hormone levels. Chinese herbs have little or no hormonal effects, although the effect of the whole formula will substantially increase hormone levels. Chinese herbs work by improving the function of aging organs and glands. It is remarkable to observe that the use of herbs which are appropriate to a person's condition will usually have a balancing effect on their hormones as well. Japanese studies show that herbal formulas work differently, depending upon the pre-existing condition of the patients using herbs. For example, Cinnamon and Hoelen Formula, when used in the study with women for uterine fibroids, showed no significant hormonal changes in the women. But using the same formula with a group of anovulatory women, (infertility due to luteal dysfunction), resulted in an increase in FSH and estradiol, and effectively re-established ovulation. This attests to the subtlety, effectiveness and safety of Chinese Herbal Therapy. The Chinese Journal of Traditional and Western Medicine, 1991, reported a study of 2 months administration of Rehmannia 6 Formula to relieve menopausal symptoms in early post-menopausal women. The study showed an increase of 20% in estrogen, a 50% decrease in FSH, and a decrease in LH to pre-menopausal levels; the number of estrogen receptors in leukocytes more than doubled. The Chinese Journal of China Materia Medica, 1993, reported a study of aged rats, in which Rehmannia 8 Formula increased estradiol in females and testosterone in males. The Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 1992, reported a study of 58 patients with osteoporosis, using Chinese herbs for 10 to 12 weeks. Bone density improved an average from 4.0 to 0.9 (0=normal). A three month course treatment for osteoporosis can be successful in increasing bone density back to near normal levels, and as long as the patient is following a good diet, exercises daily, and avoids harmful practices (smoking, etc.), they probably will not need further treatment, unless they become sedentary from illness or injury. If that occurs, then he or she might need a follow-up course of treatment. In many cases the patients are instructed to continue herbal therapy at a much lower dose in pill form for long term tonification, (for example, Rehmannia 6 or 8 formula). It is significant that high levels of herbs are being prescribed in these studies, equivalent to 25 to 75 grams of raw herbs or 18 to 27 grams of freeze-dried herbs per day. It is more common for American patients to have difficulty digesting large amounts of herbs. Sometimes it is necessary to work on improving the digestion first, and to start off with a lower dose of herbs and work up to a higher dose. Diet is an extremely important factor in having a healthy menopause. The list of foods and herbs that contain hormone precursors is very long. These substances reduce the impact on the body of lowered estrogen and progesterone production by the ovaries. However, when we highly process our food (adding salt and losing potassium content), and when we eat a diet rich in animal protein and fat, it reduces our body's supply of sex hormones. Other factors to be aware of in order to optimize our health and the strength of our bones include the following: avoid cigarettes, avoid losing too much body fat, reduce alcohol, caffeine, red meat and soft drinks, increase intake of leafy green vegetables, low fat yogurt, whole grains, vegetables, fruits and legumes, avoid the use of cortisone, diuretics, anti-convulsant drugs and anti-acids, engage in weight-bearing exercises, at least 30 minutes 4 times per week, and supplement your diet with a calcium/magnesium/boron complex, a multi-vitamin/mineral complex, Vitamins E,B,C,A and Evening Primrose, flax seed or fish oil for their essential fatty acids.

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