Meno Feminine

Humulus lupulus (hops)

Now, that phytoestrogen may finally be at hand. It’s been identified as an extract of the female flower of the hops plant (Humulus lupulus L.). Yes, that’s right, hops, the very same plant used since the Middle Ages to help process and flavor beer, has been found to contain a constituent that is, without question, the most potent phytoestrogen ever tested.4 So effective is this hops extract—now known as 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN)—that controlled clinical research has shown that most menopausal women who take it experience a rapid and significant reduction in hot flashes and other discomforts.5 And this may just be the beginning of its health benefits. It may also be helpful against osteoporosis and heart disease—with no sign of HRT-like risks.

 

Moreover, a compelling theory suggests that 8-PN’s anti-hot flash action, as well as its other health benefits, may be magnified when it is combined with another type of common phytoestrogen from a lignan, that is, 7-hydroxymatairesinol (HMR), extracted from Norway spruce trees.9,10 For women approaching menopause or for those already distressed by its symptoms, the combined actions of 8-PN and HMR may be the best news in centuries.

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The Estrogenic Effects of Hops

Although the main use of hops has always been in brewing beer, it has been believed since ancient times to have certain medicinal properties, particularly as a sedative and hypnotic (sleep-inducing agent). Research by German investigators beginning in the 1950s found that crude hops extracts possessed estrogenic activity. In fact, this activity, as tested in animal studies, was many times stronger than that found in any other phytoestrogenic plants.4 In common phytoestrogenic plants, like soy beans, clover, and legumes, the estrogenic activity has long been linked to the presence of high concentrations of chemicals known as isoflavones, especially daidzein and genistein. In nuts and oilseeds (e.g., flaxseed), as well as some cereals, fruits, and vegetables known to have estrogenic properties, a different class of chemicals, known as lignans, was deemed responsible.

 

Modern scientists from Japan,12,13 Belgium,4 and the UK14 found that the most estrogenically potent compound in the hops cone- and consequently, the most potent phytoestrogen ever isolated—was 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN), a member of a previously unknown class of nonsteroidal phytoestrogens known as prenylflavonoids. Lab studies indicated that the estrogenic actions of 8- PN are several times more potent than daidzein and genistein, but still significantly less estrogenic than estradiol14—in other words, the near ideal blend of power and safety that menopausal women have been craving. (information source) 

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Cypripedium Parviflorum

Nerve root has a high reputation for its sedative and relaxing effect on the nervous system. The root is a pungent bitter-sweet herb with an unpleasant odour. It was much used by the North American Indians who used it as a sedative and antispasmodic to ease menstrual and labour pains and to counter insomnia and nervous tension. The root is antispasmodic, diaphoretic, hypnotic, nervine, sedative, tonic. It is taken internally in the treatment of anxiety, nervous tension, insomnia, depression and tension headaches. The plant is said to be the equivalent of Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) in its effect as a nervine and sedative, though it is less powerful. Another report says that its restorative effect appears to be more positive than that of valerian.

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Scutelaria Barbata Ext.

We screened natural resources for estrogen receptor (ER)-activating and bone metabolism-promoting activities with the aim of finding potential treatments for osteoporosis. A screen of 1531 extracts from Ryukyu Arc plants using a luciferase reporter assay identified an 80% MeOH extract of Scutellaria rubropunctata var. rubropunctata (SRE) with dosedependent ER transcription-promoting activity. Importantly, SRE had no proliferative effect on human breast cancer cells. SRE enhanced the ALP activity of pre-osteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells after 72 h in culture and slightly enhanced mineralization at 14 and 21 d. SRE did not significantly affect the TRAP activity of RAW264.7 cells. Gene expression analysis in MC3T3-E1 cells by quantitative realtime PCR revealed that SRE upregulated the mRNA levels of Runx2, Osterix (Osx), Osteopontin (Opn), Osteocalcin (Ocn), Smad1, Smad4, and Smad5 at 72 h, and those of Runx2, Osx, Smad1, Smad4, and Smad5 at 21 d of osteogenic induction. Analysis of the expression levels of osteogenic markers suggested that SRE may promote osteogenic differentiation by acting at the early stage of differentiation rather than at the late stage of differentiation. These results indicate that SRE activates ER and induces osteoblast differentiation by activating Runx2 and Osx through the BMP/Smad pathway, suggesting that SRE may be useful for the prevention and treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. 

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Estrogen secretion rapidly declines in women in their late 40s and decreases even further after menopause as ovarian function declines [1]. This decline can cause hot flashes, mood swings, urogenital atrophy, and other unpleasant symptoms. Estrogen-decline-related onset of postmenopausal osteoporosis due to bone loss causes chronic pain, bone deformity, and increased susceptibility to severe fractures, and is considered one of the most significant causes of reduced quality of life and mobility in postmenopausal women.

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According to the WHO diagnostic classification, osteoporosis causes decreased bone mass and bone mineral density and deterioration of the bone structure, leading to an increased risk of fracture. Bone is maintained via bone formation by osteoblasts and bone resorption by osteoclasts. Estrogen regulates bone resorption through estrogen receptors α (ERα) and β (ERβ) by acting directly and indirectly on osteoclasts, is involved in the proliferation of osteoblast precursor cells and mesenchymal stem cells, and helps maintain bone tissue and matrix balance by inducing the expression of TGF-β. Estrogen depletion can be treated with hormone replacement therapy (HRT), which alleviates symptoms in menopausal women and reduces osteoporosis. However, long-term HRT is known to increase the risk of breast cancer and other cancers. Therefore, selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) with tissue-selective estrogen action have recently attracted attention for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis, as they have minimal effect on reproductive organs.

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Some plants and natural bioactive compounds exhibit SERM-like effects, such as phytoestrogens. For example, isoflavones, such as daidzein and genistein, phytoestrogens in soybeans, and puerarin in the root of Pueraria lobata, have been used as supplements and in health foods for their estrogenic effects to promote bone mass maintenance and relieve menopausal symptoms, including osteoporosis, in postmenopausal women. Therefore, natural resources that activate ER and affect bone metabolism may be useful for the treatment of postmenopausal osteoporosis. The genus Scutellaria, in the family Lamiaceae, comprises 17 species native to Japan. S. rubropunctatavar. rubropunctata (SR) is a plant that grows naturally only in the region known as the Ryukyu Arc, which includes the Amami Oshima and Okinawa Islands. However, there have been no reports on its constituents and their bioactivity.

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In this study, we screened a library of 1531 extracts of Ryukyu Arc plants (10 µg/mL) and detected ER transcription activity in an 80% MeOH extract of the whole plant of SR (SRE). We then examined its effects on bone metabolism in vitro using osteoblasts and osteoclasts.

(information source)​

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L- THEANIN

Stressed out, anxious, can’t sleep? There is a powerful amino acid that may help. LTheanine, an amino acid found almost exclusively in green and black tea, provides a variety of health benefits primarily by acting on the nervous system. Among its benefits, l-theanine is neuroprotective; improves cognitive function; has antistress, antianxiety, and antidepressant effects; and it can improve sleep. Notably, l-theanine’s nerve-soothing activity helps counteract the jittery effects of caffeine in tea, allowing tea drinkers to experience a milder energy lift compared to coffee, but without the unpleasant caffeine jitters.

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How L-Theanine works: L-theanine’s structure is similar to that of glutamate, one of the most potent brain-activating neurotransmitters. In the brain, l-theanine binds to glutamate receptors but rather than activating them as glutamate would, it simply occupies the receptors and prevents glutamate from binding. By reducing glutamate activity, this competitive binding function of l-theanine has a quieting effect on the brain.

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Additionally, excess glutamate activity, as occurs when you are stressed, anxious, or sleep-deprived, can cause overexcitation and early death of brain cells. So, by preventing the harmful effects of excess glutamate, l-theanine may exert a protective effect on the brain. L-theanine’s structural similarity to glutamate may also account for its ability to be quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and to cross the blood-brain barrier, a highly selective filtering system designed to prevent foreign or potentially harmful substances from reaching the brain. Unlike many nutrients and nutraceutical compounds, l-theanine has nearly 100% bioavailability, which means that virtually all of the ltheanine you consume is efficiently utilized to benefit your health.

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Calming but not sedating

The brain produces a range of energy frequencies, from slow to fast, depending on its predominant activity at any given moment. L-theanine has been found to benefit sleep by stimulating stressreducing alpha brainwave activity. Alpha waves fall in the middle of the range and occur when the brain is awake and calmbut not highly focused or concentrating. Higher levels of alpha wave activity occur during activities such as meditation and restfulness and are associated with states of creativity.

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Higher levels of alpha waves also lead to decreased production of stress hormones such as cortisol and increased production of calming neurotransmitters such as GABA ( Gamma- Aminobutyric Acid). And when your brain experiences less stress and anxiety during the day it is easier for you to fall asleep at night.

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Helps you fall asleep faster

In a clinical trial of healthy adults with mild sleep, emotional, and cognitive disturbances l-theanine supplementation reduced symptoms and improved quality of life in all three areas. Symptoms related to sleep latency – the time it takes to fall asleep, and daytime fatigue improved significantly. And due to its rapid absorption and high bioavailability, the calming effects of l-theanine have been noted to occur within 30 minutes of consuming l-theanine.

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Improves menopause-related insomnia

Menopause brings sleep problems for many women, with symptoms such as frequently waking up during the night or awakening too early in the morning. L-theanine has been found to improve sleep for women in menopause in these two important ways:

 

• Promotes calming parasympathetic (“rest and digest”) activity in the first half of the night, which helps menopausal women fall asleep.

• Suppresses sympathetic (“fight or flight”) activity during the second half of the night, thereby allowing menopausal women to get adequate amounts of restful, restorative sleep.

(information source)

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MAGNESIUM L- THREONATE

For nearly 30 years, scientists have been convinced that increasing magnesium levels in the brain can potentially prevent or reverse some age-related changes that contribute to cognitive decline and dementia.1 But it’s been difficult to put this knowledge into practice, because taking more magnesium orally does not significantly raise brain levels. A unique form of magnesium developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is changing that. Magnesium L-threonate has been shown to boost brain magnesium levels in animals when taken orally. This effect is due to its unique ability to cross the blood-brain barrier. Another rodent study showed that oral use of magnesium Lthreonate raised brain fluid levels of magnesium by 54%.3 Brain benefits have also been shown in humans. In a clinical study of adults with cognitive impairment, magnesium Lthreonate reversed measures of brain aging by 9 years.

 

Magnesium is an essential mineral found in varying amounts in a range of plant- and animal-based foods. Throughout the body, it works as a cofactor, or “helper molecule,” required for the normal function of hundreds of enzyme systems. In fact, magnesium is essential for about 80% of the body’s metabolic functions.5 Magnesium plays an especially critical role in the brain, where it protects the functioning of synapses, the communication connection points between brain cells. For people to learn and form memories, synapses must have a property known as plasticity, the ability to adapt and change in response to stimuli. Declining synaptic plasticity is a major contributor to loss of cognitive function in older age. And magnesium can help stop this decline.

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How it Works

Brain cells release a “messenger” from most synapses, known as neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters bind to a receptor for the neurotransmitter on the other brain cell, thereby stimulating it. In areas of the brain where learning and forming memories take place, the most important receptor is NMDA.6 The NMDA receptor requires an additional step to become fully activated—one that involves magnesium. Magnesium acts as a secondary activator of the NMDA receptor and is vital to the synapses’ plasticity. Without magnesium, the NMDA receptor and the whole synapse fail to function normally. In animal studies, researchers have demonstrated that increasing levels of magnesium in the brain increases synaptic plasticity and leads to greater synaptic density. That means it helps existing synapses work better and also increases the overall number ofsynapses. These effects translate into improvements in cognitive function, including better learning and memory.

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CRATAEGUS-HAWTHORN EXT.

Clinical studies have shown that post-menopausal women and ovariectomized patients are at a higher risk for cardiovascular diseases due to estrogen-deficiency– induced oxidative stress. Higher levels of total cholesterol, LDL-C and VLDL levels have been observed and studies have shown that post-menopausal women are at risk for metabolic disorders like hypertension, dyslipidemia, vascular inflammation, type 2 diabetes and endothelial dysfunction . In a study, the effects of C. pinnatifida fruit extracts on ovariectomized rat’s lipid profiles were studied as a mimic model for menopause. From the data collected, we can conclude that C. pinnatifida has a vast array of effects on factors contributing to the formation of metabolic syndrome. It can be beneficial in diabetes, obesity, hyperlipidemia and atherosclerosis. Active components in leaves, fruits and seeds are responsible for its pharmacological effects. The inhibition of ACAT and HMGR enzymes, reduction of platelet aggregation and reducing lipid inclusions in the liver have been noticed as main mechanisms that are involved in beneficial properties of C. pinnatifida. With further clinical and safety studies, C. pinnatifida could show the potential of becoming a new and safe medicine in the market for the treatment of metabolic syndrome.

(information source)

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