Chasteberry, Monk's Hood, Vitex agnus-castus

With the recent uproar about untruths proffered by drug companies who produce synthetic HRT and cancelled Hormone Replacement Therapy studies, she could be right. Ms. Weed spent three years talking with more than 10,000 women about menopause, dispelling many myths perpetuated by the medical and pharmaceutical community. She found: 1) most post-menopausal women easily increased bone mass through diet and exercise; 2) many women began noticing menopause-related changes as early as their 30’s; 3) more than half of those she talked with reported a strong sex drive after menopause. A substantial number of menopausal women feel a strong need for time alone and for marking their change with ritual.

Just as there are beneficial herbs and aromatherapy during the rituals of passage in child-bearing years, the same holds true for the years of passage onto the age of the Crone. A recent examination into and ongoing anthology surrounding the essential oil of Vitex agnus-castus (often used as an herb or herbal tincture for promoting hormonal balancing) is proving quite promising.

While Vitex agnus-castus is not the only herb that has proven useful as an aid to reduce the unwanted symptoms of menopause, recent discovery that we can obtain the essential oil through steam distillation has opened the door to look at another plant extract. As an aromatic, this substance brings new ways of introducing it for wellness, via the olfactory system. Other useful flowers, roots and herbs that produce a safe to use essential oil are ginger, cinnamon, orange peel ,dong quai (Angelica sinensis), sage, peppermint valerian root and chamomile. Oftentimes herbal recipes call for sassafras, and an essential oil can be obtained. While it is safe as an herb in teas, the essential oil is not safe for use in aromatherapy.

Please refer to the class calendar for exciting workshops geared to easing the female transitions learning better coping skills for the problems associated with these transitions.

Ingredients from Samara Botane to Help With Women’s Health:

Rose petals, chamomile flowers, Lavender buds and Neroli flowers for a relaxing bath or herbal tea
 

Infused Aromatic Body Vinegars, Hydrosols and Rose Geranium lotion for hot flashes
 

Most of the Herbs and essential oils mentioned in this article
 

Color Baths for psychological uplifting, grounding and ritual
 

Samara Botane Saturated Herbal Extracts of Lavender Blessed Thistle, Melissa and Nettle
 

Bulk herbs and blended teas specific to women of all ages

Menopausal Toolbox Ideas:

Some of the same symptoms experienced with difficult menstruation are also present during menopause.

Back Pain from Menopausal Tension: When experiencing back pain, use valerian tincture twice a day to help relax muscles and relieve tension. Topically, use a backrub oil made with any good vegetal and a 2% dilution of a combination of equal parts of roman chamomile, valerian and ginger essential oils.

Bloating and Water Retention can be addressed with a mild diuretic tea consisting of 1 part chickweed, 2 parts nettle, 1 part oat straw, 1 part pipsissewa and/or uva ursi and 2 parts cornsilk. Three cups daily of a mild infusion is recommended. A combination of the same saturated extracts can be used. To help your tea or herbal extract work better, make sure that you exercise regularly to the point of breaking a sweat. Alternating hot and cold baths (or in the shower) improve circulation overall, including the adrenals. A good sauna or Jacuzzi, followed by a cold shower is excellent. Drink at least two quarts of water daily, and throw away the salt shaker. Maintain calcium/magnesium levels and sodium/potassium balance with a good supplement, if necessary.

Endrocrine Tonics: The adrenals take on the role of producing estrogen after the ovaries cease to and often need a boost during this transitional time. While we do not have a long-term database for the efficacy of aromatherapy, in order for herbs to be effective they need to be used consistently. We can pretty much ascertain the same for essential oils for this purpose. The following herbs and/or essential oils can be used in a variety of blends to insure long-lasting results for adrenal support and an endocrine tonic effect for hormonal balancing.

Angelica (dong quai or dang gui) sinensis is not as easily obtained in an essential as its counterpart Angelica archangelica , however the latter has long been used for women’s health in N. America and is quite proliferate here as an herb and available as an essential oil. It is a delightful, majestic plant in the garden, and fun to harvest and or distill at home. From the Umbelliferae family, this plant yields useful medicine from its roots, stems, seeds and leaves.

Licorice Glycyrrhiza globra, has been added to herbal teas and tonics for centuries as a sweetener and is of special importance to women in a hormone balancing formula, especially for its ability to help retain sodium and potassium. For this reason, if you suffer high blood pressure, you should monitor your blood pressure and choose an alternative should you see an increase in pressure. It is an excellent herb, however, to normalize and regulate hormone production.

Vitex agnus-castus has a stimulating effect on the pituitary gland, which governs the production of luteinizing hormones and enhances the progesterone cycle. At the same time, it appears to inhibit the release of FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) which subsequently normalizes the estrogen cycle. This excellent herb for women’s health is now available as an essential oil and being studied closely by aromatherapists to better understand its use for menopause. (See Class schedule for more information about a workshop with the aromatherapist heading up the collection of data.)

Wild Yam, Dioscorea villosa, D. paniculata, D. mexicana and spp., is valued in both the herbal and scientific communities for hormonal balancing. Though primarily regarded as a progesterone-producing herb, it is a balancing or tonic herb and has been effectively used for PMS, infertility and endometriosis. As a primary liver tonic, wild yam has no known side effects.

Ginger, Zingiber officinale, root is not only deliciously hot and spicy, it warms the whole body system and is especially helpful when there is congestion in the reproductive system. It directs blood to the pelvic area and promotes the relaxing of smooth muscles, thereby relieving cramps and discomfort.

Other women’s herbs such as dandelion, Black and Blue Cohosh, Black Haw, Blessed Thistle, Comfrey, Cramp Bark, False Unicorn, Hops, Lady’s Mantle, Lavender, Motherwort, Mugwort, Stinging Nettle, Pennyroyal, Raspberry leaf, Shepherd’s purse, Squaw vine, and Yarrow will be covered in depth in upcoming classes for 2002-2003 at Samara Botane.

The following herbs and/or essential oils can be used for other related uncomfortable symptoms such as irritability, restlessness, insomnia, and general aches and pains caused by menstrual or menopausal tension.

Roman chamomile, Chamaemellum nobile, is considered one of the safest essential oils and medicinal plants. The ‘soft powers’ of chamomile can assist the nervous and digestive systems and provide well-known anti-inflammatory action. If you suffer from allergies from pollen-bearing plants, you would be wise to explore this oil cautiously.

Valerian, Valeriana officinalis, is one of the most potent herbs for the nervous system, yet it is both safe and effective. Having tonic effects on the heart, it is often recommended with Hawthorne berries for high blood pressure or irregular heartbeat. Valerian is a antispasmodic herb and has a special affinity for women, as do many of the root herbs and essential oils. Valerian is not a favorite scent (often referred to as ’old socks’, however, one learns to love it when its effects are experienced.

We at Samara Botane welcome the opportunity to assist you with women’s issues using herbs and aromatherapy and we will be focusing on several workshops in this regard.

Be sure to come in and check out the lovely new items for your holiday gifts: Lovely hand-blown amphora necklaces with silver bales, Bathing Rituals sugar silk for luxurious skin care, New 7th Star Comforting Body Wraps & Samara Botane Eye Pillows

Essential Oils and Herbs That Are Helpful for Winter Blues:

Citrus—

Sweet & Bitter Orange, Lime, Grapefruit, Mandarin—Essential Oils for diffusion and dried peel for baths

Conifer—

Black & White Spruce, Silver Fir, Pine, Larch, Cedarwood, Cypress—Essential Oils for diffusion and botanicals for potpourri

Spices—

Cardamom, Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Clove—Essential Oils for diffusion and herbs for teas

Roots—

Ginger, Valerian, Vetiver—Essential Oils for grounding, warming & restful sleep

Floral—

Rose, Neroli, Lavender, Geranium—Essential Oils for pampering; blossoms for the tub

Those who suffer from S.A.D. (Seasonal Affective Disorder) can be plagued with the following: