17-03-2010, 11:42
More info on estrogen/progesterone herbs
January 21 2007 at 3:30 PM waxingmoon (Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below I have pasted some information I found on this website:
http://www.labrada.com/member/week186.htm
The article is written for men about the testosterone lowering effects of some of these herbs. I took the liberty of editing heavily to paste just the parts that would be of interest to us. Keep in mind, what Kalman says about herbs and breast cancer is his opinion. He does not back up what he says with studies. This does not mean he is wrong, but it also does not mean he is right either. Also, his article mentions herbal studies and refers to them, but the study he is taking his information from was not listed.
-----------------------------------------------------------
by Douglas Kalman MS, RD, FACN
Plants come alive:
It is estimated that 80% of the world's population still relies on natural phytotherapy (foods, plants, herbs, etc.) as a major source of medicine. Through the years, certain foods and herbs have been recognized for their use in treating sex hormone related conditions. For some, this may be menopause, while others it is libido enhancement. Interestingly enough, many of these phytotherapeutic agents are not detected by conventional testing methods. Fortunately, scientists have developed methods for identifying the estrogenic content and bioactivity of foods, herbs and other related agents (1-3).
The herbs tested for ER binding activity were also tested for their ability to stimulate cell proliferation in breast cancer cells. Table 1 lists the results regarding ER binding potential. Soy milk and the 11 herbs/spices listed are with the highest activity and are expressed in total estradiol binding equivalents per 200 cc (6 oz.) of soy milk or 2 grams of dried herb.
TABLE 1
Herbs and Spices Containing ER (estrogen receptor) Binding Components
Micrograms of Estradiol Equivalents/200 cc or 2 gm Dry Herb
Soy milk 8/200cc
Yucca 0.5
Licorice 4/2 gm
Tumeric 0.5
Red Clover 3
Hops 0.5
Mandrake 3
Verbenna 0.5
Bloodroot 2
Yellow Dock 0.5
Thyme 2
Sheep sorrel 0.5
It is important to understand that just because a food, herb or spice has ER binding capability, it does not mean that it inhibits estrogen formation or acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor. In fact, the total opposite is true. In short, Table 1 indicates that the 12 listed agents have estrogenic activity at low physiological doses.
The Connection to Cancer:
If breast cancer runs in your family, especially estrogenic receptor positive breast cancer (ER+BCA), that paying attention to what you eat and supplement with becomes of utmost importance. Now, you may be thinking that this doesn't directly affect you. Perhaps, but since breast cancer effects 1 in 9 females over a lifetime, chances are we all know someone who has it or will have it in our lifetime. Therefore, it is my belief that having information that may affect risk of breast cancer, it is important that we all know and share the information. Within the limited scope of this article, the information presented fits into potential supplements and foods or spices to avoid. Table 2 lists the results of the research examining the effects of the herbs on ER (+) breast cancer cells. Any herb or spice with a score above 400 has greater estrogenic activity than estradiol.
TABLE 2
Effects of ER(estrogen receptor) binding herbs on ER (+) Breast Cancer Cells
Coumestrol 2500
Licorice 1600
Jumiper 100
Bloodroot 0
Red Clover 3000
Nutmeg 200
Mistletoe 500
White Clover 500
Dong Quai 200
Yucca 2600
Thyme 2
Damiana 200
Table 2 indicates that coumestrol, red clover, mistletoe, don quai, hops, licorice, white clover, yucca and motherwort are more estrogenic than estradiol! For people at risk for breast cancer avoiding the aforementioned herbs and spices seems prudent.
Table 3 notes the progesterone-like activity of herbs and spices.
TABLE 3
Micrograms of Progesterone Equivalents/2 g Dry Herb
Bloodroot 100
Thyme 4
Ocotillo 8
Calamus Root 3
Mandrake 8
Red Clover 3
Oregano 8
Goldenseal 3
Damiana 6
Licorice 3
Pennyroyal 5
Mistletoe 3
Verbena 5
Cumin 2
Nutmeg 4
Fennel 2
Tumeric 4
Camomille 2
Yucca 4
Cloves 2
According to the researchers, none of the herbs tested are progesterone antagonists (the abortion pill and sometimes used bodybuilding drug, RU486 is a progesterone antagonist). However, red clover, licorice, goldenseal, pennyroyal and nutmeg are progestin (a progesterone-like hormone) antagonists. The herb with the greatest progesterone receptor binding activity was bloodroot. Interestingly enough, in alternative medicine, bloodroot, mandrake, pennyroyal, yucca and mistletoe are all used to bring on menses. These
About the Author: Douglas S. Kalman MS, RD is a Director at Miami Research
Associates (www.miamiresearch.com). He is also active with
www.sportsnutritionsociety.org and a consultant to NIKE Inc.
Author Reply
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Bloodroot Dangers March 5 2007, 4:14 AM
Just in case anyone was like me seeing Bloodroots high progesterone score and thinking, hmmmm, maybe I could use bloodroot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodroot
Bad news herb - toxic internally and externally. Maybe if you wanted to remove warts... but nothing else.
Stay away from bloodroot.
waxingmoon
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Anonymous
(Login Sarabell239) exactly what i was thinking. March 24 2007, 8:41 AM
thanks+
Edit Message Delete Message
Davilee
(Login Davi-lee) Caution on Pennyroyal... July 24 2007, 9:58 AM
Be careful of pennyroyal also.It can be toxic at certain levels *Internally.
It contains 85-92% Pulegone oil. i/2 teasp can produce convulsions and coma.
It was used as an abortifacient in older days.The amount that would bring those results are about the same amount that can poison you.
It was also used to promote menses.
There are two very different species.
European Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium
American Pennyroyal,Hedeoma pulegiodes
Making a tea out of it doesnt look like a problem.
It makes a great insect repellent
January 21 2007 at 3:30 PM waxingmoon (Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Below I have pasted some information I found on this website:
http://www.labrada.com/member/week186.htm
The article is written for men about the testosterone lowering effects of some of these herbs. I took the liberty of editing heavily to paste just the parts that would be of interest to us. Keep in mind, what Kalman says about herbs and breast cancer is his opinion. He does not back up what he says with studies. This does not mean he is wrong, but it also does not mean he is right either. Also, his article mentions herbal studies and refers to them, but the study he is taking his information from was not listed.
-----------------------------------------------------------
by Douglas Kalman MS, RD, FACN
Plants come alive:
It is estimated that 80% of the world's population still relies on natural phytotherapy (foods, plants, herbs, etc.) as a major source of medicine. Through the years, certain foods and herbs have been recognized for their use in treating sex hormone related conditions. For some, this may be menopause, while others it is libido enhancement. Interestingly enough, many of these phytotherapeutic agents are not detected by conventional testing methods. Fortunately, scientists have developed methods for identifying the estrogenic content and bioactivity of foods, herbs and other related agents (1-3).
The herbs tested for ER binding activity were also tested for their ability to stimulate cell proliferation in breast cancer cells. Table 1 lists the results regarding ER binding potential. Soy milk and the 11 herbs/spices listed are with the highest activity and are expressed in total estradiol binding equivalents per 200 cc (6 oz.) of soy milk or 2 grams of dried herb.
TABLE 1
Herbs and Spices Containing ER (estrogen receptor) Binding Components
Micrograms of Estradiol Equivalents/200 cc or 2 gm Dry Herb
Soy milk 8/200cc
Yucca 0.5
Licorice 4/2 gm
Tumeric 0.5
Red Clover 3
Hops 0.5
Mandrake 3
Verbenna 0.5
Bloodroot 2
Yellow Dock 0.5
Thyme 2
Sheep sorrel 0.5
It is important to understand that just because a food, herb or spice has ER binding capability, it does not mean that it inhibits estrogen formation or acts as a natural aromatase inhibitor. In fact, the total opposite is true. In short, Table 1 indicates that the 12 listed agents have estrogenic activity at low physiological doses.
The Connection to Cancer:
If breast cancer runs in your family, especially estrogenic receptor positive breast cancer (ER+BCA), that paying attention to what you eat and supplement with becomes of utmost importance. Now, you may be thinking that this doesn't directly affect you. Perhaps, but since breast cancer effects 1 in 9 females over a lifetime, chances are we all know someone who has it or will have it in our lifetime. Therefore, it is my belief that having information that may affect risk of breast cancer, it is important that we all know and share the information. Within the limited scope of this article, the information presented fits into potential supplements and foods or spices to avoid. Table 2 lists the results of the research examining the effects of the herbs on ER (+) breast cancer cells. Any herb or spice with a score above 400 has greater estrogenic activity than estradiol.
TABLE 2
Effects of ER(estrogen receptor) binding herbs on ER (+) Breast Cancer Cells
Coumestrol 2500
Licorice 1600
Jumiper 100
Bloodroot 0
Red Clover 3000
Nutmeg 200
Mistletoe 500
White Clover 500
Dong Quai 200
Yucca 2600
Thyme 2
Damiana 200
Table 2 indicates that coumestrol, red clover, mistletoe, don quai, hops, licorice, white clover, yucca and motherwort are more estrogenic than estradiol! For people at risk for breast cancer avoiding the aforementioned herbs and spices seems prudent.
Table 3 notes the progesterone-like activity of herbs and spices.
TABLE 3
Micrograms of Progesterone Equivalents/2 g Dry Herb
Bloodroot 100
Thyme 4
Ocotillo 8
Calamus Root 3
Mandrake 8
Red Clover 3
Oregano 8
Goldenseal 3
Damiana 6
Licorice 3
Pennyroyal 5
Mistletoe 3
Verbena 5
Cumin 2
Nutmeg 4
Fennel 2
Tumeric 4
Camomille 2
Yucca 4
Cloves 2
According to the researchers, none of the herbs tested are progesterone antagonists (the abortion pill and sometimes used bodybuilding drug, RU486 is a progesterone antagonist). However, red clover, licorice, goldenseal, pennyroyal and nutmeg are progestin (a progesterone-like hormone) antagonists. The herb with the greatest progesterone receptor binding activity was bloodroot. Interestingly enough, in alternative medicine, bloodroot, mandrake, pennyroyal, yucca and mistletoe are all used to bring on menses. These
About the Author: Douglas S. Kalman MS, RD is a Director at Miami Research
Associates (www.miamiresearch.com). He is also active with
www.sportsnutritionsociety.org and a consultant to NIKE Inc.
Author Reply
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Bloodroot Dangers March 5 2007, 4:14 AM
Just in case anyone was like me seeing Bloodroots high progesterone score and thinking, hmmmm, maybe I could use bloodroot.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bloodroot
Bad news herb - toxic internally and externally. Maybe if you wanted to remove warts... but nothing else.
Stay away from bloodroot.
waxingmoon
Edit Message Delete Message
Anonymous
(Login Sarabell239) exactly what i was thinking. March 24 2007, 8:41 AM
thanks+
Edit Message Delete Message
Davilee
(Login Davi-lee) Caution on Pennyroyal... July 24 2007, 9:58 AM
Be careful of pennyroyal also.It can be toxic at certain levels *Internally.
It contains 85-92% Pulegone oil. i/2 teasp can produce convulsions and coma.
It was used as an abortifacient in older days.The amount that would bring those results are about the same amount that can poison you.
It was also used to promote menses.
There are two very different species.
European Pennyroyal, Mentha pulegium
American Pennyroyal,Hedeoma pulegiodes
Making a tea out of it doesnt look like a problem.
It makes a great insect repellent