Menopause is the time in a woman's life when her ovaries stop making estrogen and progesterone, causing her menstrual periods to stop. Once you have entered menopause, your female hormones will remain at a steady, low level for the remainder of your life. In many women, symptoms that accompany menopause may cause discomfort and some health changes. Siberian ginseng is an herbal remedy that may improve these symptoms and make the transition to menopause less difficult. Talk to your doctor about Siberian ginseng to decide if it might help you.
Symptoms
Although some women have no symptoms, many experience side effects and changes caused by menopause. These include hot flashes that cause a sudden and unpleasant sensation of heat, often accompanied by heavy sweating and skin reddening. Menopause may also interrupt your sleep patterns, causing frequent waking that may lead to tiredness or fatigue during daytime hours. You may also develop vaginal dryness that might make sex uncomfortable and urinary problems that include infections, incontinence or leakage of urine when your bladder is full. Menopause may also cause mood changes such as irritability or depression. Finally, lack of estrogen at menopause may contribute to osteoporosis, or thinning of your bones, a potentially serious condition.
Siberian Ginseng
The root of Siberian ginseng has been part of herbal medicine in Asian countries for centuries. Also called eleuthero, Siberian ginseng is often recommended by practitioners as a preventive for colds and flu and to boost energy and help increase life span. In general, the herb may also help your body deal with stress caused by either physical or mental challenges. The natural compounds in Siberan ginseng that give it medicinal properties are called eleutherosides, natural chemicals that have estrogenic properties, boost the immune system and cause other metabolic changes.
Actions
Several laboratory studies have explored the effect of Siberian ginseng on conditions related to menopause. The results, summarized by Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, suggest that the herb binds to estrogen receptors, possible relieving some of the effects of low estrogen in menopause. Studies also found that the herb supports the immune system by stimulating immune cells called lymphocytes and natural killer cells, potentially increasing your resistance to vaginal and bladder infections after menopause. It may also help you avoid osteoporosis after menopause. In a clinical study published in the "Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism" in 2009, postmenopausal women who took Siberian ginseng extract for 6 months showed lowered bone turnover compared to a group who took a placebo. Although these findings are promising, larger clinical studies of the herb in menopausal women are still needed.
Recommendations
Siberian ginseng supplements are available from health food stores as liquid extracts, powders, capsules or tablets. The herb is generally considered safe, although it may cause increased blood pressure, gastric upset, headache or drowsiness in some people. Do not take Siberian ginseng if you have hypertension, sleep apnea or narcolepsy, or if you are pregnant or breast-feeding. The herb may also interact with some prescription medications. Discuss taking Siberian ginseng with your doctor before adding it to your regimen.
References
- WomensHealth.gov: Menopause
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Siberian Ginseng
- Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center: Siberian Ginseng
- "Journal of Bone and Mineral Metabolism"; The Effects of Acanthopanax Senticosus Extract on Bone Turnover...; Y. Hwang, et al.; May 2009
- Herbs For Menopause: Siberian Ginseng
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