Read The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies Online
Authors: Martha Schindler Connors
The Everything Guide to Herbal Remedies (7 page)
Stress affects everyone, but it can be especially tough on women (and trigger PMS and other problems). The American Psychological Association reports that mothers in the “sandwich generation” (ages thirty-five to fifty-four) feel more stress than any other group. And while two out of every five Americans say they feel overextended, more women than men report extreme stress.
Treatment of PMS generally includes OTC medicines like Midol, which contain an NSAID or other pain reliever, plus a diuretic to fight bloating. Women with PMDD are often given antidepressants as well.
Serious menstrual cramps, also known as dysmenorrhea, can strike at any age, although teenagers are more likely to have painful periods than older women. Postmenopausal cramps warrant a doctor’s visit, as they can be caused by endometriosis, a painful condition in which tissue similar to that in the endometrium is found elsewhere in the body.
Many women treat the cramps and other symptoms of dysmenorrhea with OTC pain medications. In severe cases, doctors may prescribe oral contraceptives. Herbal remedies for premenstrual and menstrual problems include the following:
| • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | Dandelion is a traditional remedy for the water retention of PMS. It’s an herbal diuretic (it increases urine volume and sodium excretion to relieve bloating). Juniper (Juniperus communis) is another bloat-relieving option. |
| • Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) | Ginkgo, better known for its memory-boosting benefits, can also relieve the moodiness and breast tenderness of PMS. |
| • Maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) | Extracts of the bark from this French pine tree have been shown to relieve the pain of menstrual cramps and endometriosis. |
| • Saint John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum) | This mood-lifter has been shown to improve symptoms of PMS by as much as 50 percent; it’s also effective against PMDD. |
| • Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) | Clinical trials show that vitex can reduce the psychological symptoms of both PMS and PMDD (its effects are comparable to the drug Prozac). It’s also effective at relieving physical symptoms like headaches, water retention, and acne. |
Because of their anatomy, women are prone to a few infections that seldom, if ever, strike men. Women also can blame their susceptibility to certain infections on their hormones.
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are about fifty times more common in women than in men, mostly because a woman has a shorter urethra (the tube that carries urine from the body), meaning bacteria have a shorter distance to travel in order to establish themselves in the bladder. Sexual activity—especially if you’re using a diaphragm or spermicide—as well as douching, taking long baths, or holding urine for long periods of time all can increase your risk of UTIs.
If you think you’ve got a UTI, schedule a visit to the doctor right away. Conventional treatment almost always includes antibiotics, such as trime-thoprim-sulfamethoxazole (Bactrim, Septra) or ciprofloxacin (Cipro).
The most common type of UTI is
cystitis,
which affects the lower urinary tract. Symptoms include increased urinary frequency, urgency (the desire to urinate), and painful urination. Infections of the upper urinary tract, called pyelonephritis, are much more serious because they involve the kidney. Symptoms can include chills, fever, nausea, and internal pain.
Bacterial vaginosis is characterized by watery vaginal discharge with an unpleasant odor, sometimes accompanied by burning, itching, or redness. It’s caused by an overgrowth of bacteria, which can be aided by wearing tight, nonbreathable clothing, douching, and using “feminine deodorant” sprays. Conventional treatment typically involves antibiotics like metronidazole (Flagyl).
A vaginal yeast infection, also known as
candidiasis,
is caused by an overgrowth of an organism called
Candida albicans. Candida
infections show up in other parts of the body, as well: Thrush (which affects the mouth and throat), jock itch, and athlete’s foot are examples. Most of the time,
Candida
yeasts live in body without any problem but can trigger symptoms if their numbers get out of control.
Yeast infections are characterized by sticky white or yellowish discharge, burning, and itching. They’re fairly common—nearly 75 percent of adult women will have at least one episode in her lifetime—but occur more frequently and more severely in people with weakened immune systems.
Overuse of broad-spectrum antibiotics, which kill off the so-called “good” bacteria that keep yeast under control, has been implicated in candidiasis, as have corticosteroid drugs and high-sugar diets.
Conventional medicine treats candidiasis with antifungal drugs, including suppositories and topical creams like miconazole (Monistat) and singledose oral medications such as fluconazole (Diflucan).
UTIs can be treated with the following herbs:
| • Cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) | Cranberry juice is rich in antioxidants and one of the best-known natural remedies for urinary tract infections. Lab tests show that it prevents bacteria from adhering to the tissues in the urinary tract. Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) juice and extract contain similar chemicals. |
| • Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) | Research shows that a combination of dandelion and uva ursi (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Arbutus uva-ursi) can reduce the incidence of UTIs. |
| • Juniper (Juniperus communis) | Juniper extracts are antibacterial and stimulate the flow of urine. Juniper berries were a standard treatment for UTIs for several Native American tribes. |
Herbal remedies for bacterial vaginosis and candidiasis include:
| • Echinacea (Echinacea purpurea) | This classic immune-boosting herb can help pharmaceuticals do their job even better. Recent research has shown that echinacea extracts can boost the effectiveness of antifungal drugs in treating candidiasis. |
| • Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis) | This herb is a powerful antibacterial and antifungal and can be taken orally or used topically to fight bacterial vaginitis or candidiasis. Goldenseal’s infection-fighting powers have been attributed in large part to the chemical berberine, which is also plentiful in barberry (Berberis vulgaris). |
| • Tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia) | Known for its antibacterial and antifungal properties, this Australian import has been shown in several studies to eradicate both the bacteria and the yeast cells responsible for vaginal infections when applied topically or used as a douche. |
The ready availability of OTC antifungal remedies has made it much easier for women to treat vaginal candidiasis themselves, but these medications are often misused. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as many as two-thirds of the OTC drugs sold to treat vaginal candidiasis were used by women who didn’t actually have a
Candida
infection, a habit that can lead to the development of drug-resistant infections.
Being sexually healthy—having an interest in sex, being able to function sexually, and being able to get pregnant (if she so chooses)—is a key part of a woman’s overall well being.
A woman’s sexual desire, or libido, can go up and down naturally, for many different reasons (and usually for a short time). However, sex drive that’s perpetually stuck in neutral deserves attention. Some medications, notably antidepressants, can cause a drop in libido, as can shifts in hormone levels and changes in sleep patterns and stress levels.
Most women can expect to be fertile—capable of getting pregnant—for the full extent of their reproductive years (the time between the first menses and the onset of menopause). A woman is considered “infertile” if she and her partner have been trying for a year to get pregnant (and her partner’s fertility has been verified by a doctor).
Can herbs work as contraceptives?
Several herbs traditionally used to prevent pregnancy are now being seriously studied for more widespread use. For example, the Indian herb neem
(Azadirachta indica)
works as a safe and reversible contraceptive. In one study, rats given an intrauterine shot of neem were infertile for up to 180 days, then had healthy litters with no apparent problems.
Female infertility can be caused by a physical problem (such as ovarian cysts or a blocked fallopian tube), a hormonal imbalance, or various other factors (such as age, stress, or poor nutrition). In most cases, it’s a temporary condition.
Conventional medicine typically addresses women’s sexual irregularities with things like counseling and stress reduction. Fertility treatments typically include drugs that stimulate ovulation, such as follicle-stimulating hormone, or FSH (Follistim), which can cause pulmonary and vascular problems and other side effects. Other options include
in vitro
fertilization. Here are some herbs that can help:
| • Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera) | Ashwagandha is considered a sexual stimulant for both men and women in Ayurvedic tradition, as is the herb schisandra (Schisandra chinensis). Both appear to increase sensitivity in the genitals (and thus stimulate the libido). |
| • Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea) | Rhodiola seems to restore fertility to women who have minor hormonal imbalances or are suffering the effects of stress. |
| • Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) | Shatavari, which means—no kidding—“she who has hundreds of husbands” in Sanskrit, is used in Ayurvedic medicine to increase sexual vitality and fertility. |
| • Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus) | Research has shown that vitex can increase a woman’s chance of getting pregnant. |
| • Yohimbe (Pausinystalia yohimbe) | Yohimbe is an African herb used as an aphrodisiac and sexual function treatment for both men and women. In women, it seems to work by dilating vaginal blood vessels to increase circulation. |