An estrogenic is a substance that has estrogen-like actions in your body. Estrogen is a female sex hormone, and estrogenic supplements, herbs and medications produce similar hormonal effects. You might take an estrogenic remedy to help treat a wide variety of health conditions, but you should consult your doctor beforehand to discuss the potential dangers and drug interactions.
Description
Estrogen-replacement creams and medications often contain the estrogenic substances called dienestrol and estradiol, such as Vivelle, Valergen, Fempatch, Estra-L, Depogen and Climara, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Estrogenic chemicals also come in the forms of conjugated estrogens, estrone, diethylstilbestrol diphosphate and estropipate. Estrogenic substances called phytoestrogens are found in plants like flaxseeds, soy, black cohosh, alfalfa, red clover, licorice, wild yam, dong quai, motherwort and burdock, notes the University of Michigan Health System. Sage, Asian ginseng and kudzu may also offer estrogenic effects, adds the University of Maryland Medical Center. Other estrogenic supplements include resveratrol and chasteberry.
Uses
Estrogenic supplements, medications and herbs are most commonly used in treating menopausal symptoms, notes the University of Maryland Medical Center. The decrease of estrogen produced in the body during and after menopause can cause symptoms like mood swings, hot flashes, night sweats, depression and sexual dysfunction. Therefore, taking estrogenic treatments might reduce these symptoms by helping to restore estrogen levels in menopausal and post-menopausal women. Estrogenic supplements could also help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis in menopausal women or treat a variety of menstrual disorders, as well as act in a similar fashion as hormone replacement therapies for women who've undergone hysterectomies with the removal of their ovaries, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.
Application & Dosage
Estrogenic substances can be helpful in the form of injectable medicines, topical creams and oral remedies. You can consume 25 to 60 grams of soy proteins or take 60 to 120 mg of soy isoflavone supplements daily to experience estrogenic effects, says the University of Michigan Health System. You might take 20 mg of concentrated black cohosh extract twice daily or 80 mg of red clover isoflavones daily for estrogenic actions. Another option is taking 200 mg daily of standardized Asian ginseng extract. Ask your doctor about the correct dosage or application before you use any estrogenic herb, supplement or medication.
Medical Research
The beta-sitosterol in dong quai is a phytoestrogen that can have estrogenic effects in the body, according to a 1996 issue of the "European Journal of Herbal Medicine." A 1997 study published in the "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences" also found that resveratrol, a compound in grapes and wine, has estrogenic actions, says the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. A clinical trial discovered that ingesting large amounts of soy and flaxseed phytoestrogens improved vaginal dryness and hot flashes in post-menopausal women, according to a 1997 issue of "Menopause." Also, a 2004 study in the "Journal of the American Medical Association" discovered that soy isoflavones improved bone density, blood cholesterol and mental function in postmenopausal women, cites the University of Maryland Medical Center. A 2005 study in "Gynecological Endocrinology" found that taking 40 mg daily of black cohosh extract was just as effective as estrogen therapy in treating hot flashes due to menopause, notes the University of Michigan Health System. A 2002 double-blind study in the journal "Maturitas" discovered that taking 80 mg of red clover-derived isoflavones each day had estrogenic effects in reducing hot flashes post-menopause.
Risks
All estrogenic substances can increase your risks of hormone-related diseases like breast cancer or stimulate the growth of these cancer cells. If you have a hormone-sensitive disease like breast cancer or are at a high risk of breast cancer, you shouldn't take an estrogenic substance without the close supervision of a physician, cautions the University of Maryland Medical Center. If you're also undergoing hormone-replacement therapy, taking chasteberry could affect your pituitary gland and impact the therapy's effects, while resveratrol isn't safe to take with prescription estrogens, warns the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Talk to your doctor about these and other health risks associated with estrogenic supplements, herbs and medications before using them.
