PM Meno-Care: menstrual and post-menopausal periods support

Throw away your hot water bottle! For the relief of PMS, menstrual discomfort and menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, irritability and sleep disturbances, Meno-Care is a name you can trust. The phytoestrogenic ingredients in Meno-Care have been specially formulated to help regulate and improve menstrual cycles, while providing a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy throughout menopause and later life. So while men, hairstyles and other crazes may come and go, Meno-Care will always be there for you.

Specially formulated to improve the wellbeing of women throughout life, Meno-Care assists in the management/relief of menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes, increased perspiration, headache, vertigo, heart palpitations, tinnitus and vaginal dryness. It may also assist with associated psychological complaints such as nervousness, irritability, sleep disturbances, depressive mood and fatigue, as well as digestive disturbances such as flatulence, dyspepsia, and spasm indigestion. Meno-Care may be used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy, containing black cohosh (standardised to contain triterpene glycosides calc 27-desoxyactein).

Black cohosh, red clover and sage contain isoflavones that possess phytoestrogenic properties. Phytoestrogens act as Selective OEstrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs), meaning they may mediate pro-oestrogenic effects in some parts of the body, while possessing anti-oestrogenic properties in other areas. In the case of black cohosh, many of the beneficial oestrogenic effects which may lead to a reduction in menopausal symptoms are retained without the increased risk of problems associated with oestrogenic compounds and HRT. Phytoestrogens are further known to possess cardioprotective and antioxidant properties and may assist in maintaining and improving bone density.

Sage may additionally provide temperature regulatory benifits, reducing excessive perspiration. Dong Quai has been traditionally used to improve blood, gastrointestinal and female reproductive health. Ginger may help alleviate gastrointestinal and menstrual complaints.

BLACK COHOSH: Black cohosh has traditionally been used by early settlers and herbal doctors in North America, and in the 1840s by the eclectic physicians for many symptoms. Is currently the highest-selling herbal supplement in the United States, Europe and Australia for reducing the symptoms associated with menopause.

Today, black cohosh is the most studied of the phytoestrogenic herbs. Clinical studies conducted by German researchers have demonstrated an improvement in overall menopausal symptoms with a reduction in hot flashes and beneficial vaginal changes for more than 800 women taking black cohosh supplements. Modern clinical studies have investigated the therapeutic efficacy and safety of black cohosh extracts for indications of menopausal symptoms. These studies have used internationally recognised and validated scales as controls, including Kupperman's Menopause Index for the quantitative determination of menopausal symptoms, the Self-evaluation Depression Scale, the Profile of Mood States and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale symptoms (depression, sleep disturbances, irritability) following 4-8 weeks of treatment. Further, subjects in these studies have been able to discontinue hormone replacement therapy while taking the black cohosh extract.

Scientific studies have indicated that black cohosh influences the endocrine regulatory systems, with effects similar to one of the milder endogenous oestrogens, estriol. For a short duration, it binds weakly with oestrogen receptors and is thought to exert its effects on the vaginal lining. This provides evidence that black cohosh offers a natural alternative to oestrogen or hormone replacement therapy (ERT/HRT). Further proof of efficacy is demonstrated in that 50% of American women with postmenopausal and perimenopausal problems have elected to discontinue HRT due to its unpleasant side effects in preference for black cohosh.

RED CLOVER: Red clover extracts have a high content of isoflavone compounds, which possess weak oestrogenic activity and are associated with a myriad of benefits for female health throughout life, but particularly during menopause. A number of studies conducted on isoflavones have shown beneficial effects in reducing menopausal symptoms (hot flushes, night sweats, reduced libido, vaginal dryness) while improving cardiovascular risk factors (cholesterol levels, arterial compliance) and maintaining bone density (by reducing bone loss).

Scientists have indicated that plant oestrogens are able to mimic the effects of endogenous oestrogens because of similarities in their chemical structure. By interacting with oestrogen receptors on cellular surfaces, isoflavone compounds may deliver the beneficial effects of oestrogen without the potential adverse side effects traditionally associated with ongoing oestrogen use (such as increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer). Further, isoflavones derived from red clover differ from those extracted from soybeans in that red clover extracts are more comprehensive, containing the active constituents genistein, daidzein, biochanin, and formononetin, while soybeans contain only genistein and daidzein.

DONG QUAI: Dong quai has been used for centuries in traditional Chinese and Native American medicine to treat menstrual cramps and pain as well as to ease the symptoms of menopause. It is frequently referred to as "female ginseng" due to its balancing or adaptogenic effect on the menstrual period.

Clinical research has shown that dong quai alleviates the vaginal dryness and headaches associated with the effects of female menopause modulating endogenous oestrogen levels. The phytoestrogen content of dong quai alleviates the hot flushes associated with female menopause, while coumarins from dong quai also assist in alleviating insomnia, oedema, irritability and nervousness associated with female menopause.

GINGER: Ginger is known to prevent or alleviate nausea and motion sickness, while also providing health benefits for the digestive system. Ginger has been found to be beneficial in relieving digestive disturbances associated with menopause, as well as improving blood circulation to the reproductive organs and urogenital tract.

SAGE: Like black cohosh, sage contains phytochemicals to assist with symptoms of menopause. Sage is traditionally used to alleviate menopausal symptoms, in particular hot night flushes. This traditional use has more recently been validated by clinical studies, in which sage has been found to not only provide relief from hot flushes, but also to reduce the level of perspiration associated with menopause. Due to these properties, sage may be beneficial for the excretory system, assisting with perspiration and the excretion of toxins.