5 Natural Remedies Women Should Know About

By Natasha Ryan, ND, Regional Wellness Manager

Knowles Apothecary Wellness

. http://www.knowleswellness.com/

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5 Natural Remedies Women Should Know About

Women are special and unique in many ways. Recent studies continue to show that women may manifest illness differently than men. An example of this would be heart disease. If a woman is having a heart attack, she may not have the classic signs such as shooting pain down the left side of her arm or crushing pain in the chest. Instead, she may feel nauseous, have clammy hands or have shortness of breath. This is why it is important to be aware of the special needs associated with women's health. Schedule routine tests such as pap smears, breast exams, blood work looking at thyroid function, liver enzymes, inflammation and more.

There are natural remedies that are especially indicated for women's health. The following can be used to possibly aid in the prevention of conditions such as breast cancer, heart disease, yeast infections and urinary tract infections.

Hawthorne – According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, Hawthorne has been shown to be a treatment for respiratory and circulatory disorders, as well as high blood pressure. Hypertension, also known as the silent killer, can lead to stroke or heart attack therefore, it is important to take measures to prevent or treat this condition. Hawthorne has been used for hundreds of years as a cardiovascular tonic in Western European cultures, so take a look at this great herb.

DIM (Diindolymethane) – is a nutrient found in cruciferous vegetables including broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower and kale. It has the potential to help prevent cancer by shifting the metabolism of estrogen to a more favorable and safe form when metabolized by the body. If a women is taking hormone replacement therapy, DIM would be especially helpful in making sure that estrogen metabolism stay ideal.

Cranberry – Cranberries have a special sugar called d-mannose that has properties that reduce the symptoms associated with urinary tract infections. This sugar disallows bacteria, most commonly E. coli, to adhere to the walls of the bladder thereby helping to prevent UTI. Drink unsweetened cranberry juice or take cranberry and d-mannose as a supplement.

Probiotics – The word probiotic means “for life”. These good bacteria have many jobs in the body with one being to ensure the proper pH of the vagina in women. The main strain responsible for this job is Lactobacillus acidophilus. Having the proper amount of good bacteria present is important in the prevention of yeast infections. This is one reason that eating yogurt and other probiotic foods such as sauerkraut, kimchi, or kefir may be especially helpful for women's health.

Rhubarb extract – Menopause is often a challenging time in women's lives. There are physical symptoms such as night sweats, hot flashes, dryness and emotional symptoms like mood swings, depression and more. Soy is often a natural remedy that women gravitate toward as it is filled with plant-based estrogens called isoflavones. Although helpful, not everyone can tolerate soy, so do consider rhubarb extract. A recent clinical trial has shown that rhubarb extract was effective in reducing menopausal symptoms by 70%. This is exciting because rhubarb extract does not have the side effects that may occur when taking traditional hormone replacement therapy.