What Do the Experts Say About Dong Quai?
Sure, you’ve heard about other women using Dong quai to relieve their menopausal symptoms, but you’re not convinced. Who’s to say it works better than prescribed medications, or better yet, simple lifestyle changes? Unfortunately, the experts on the matter -medical professionals- have been largely mute on the subject.
Precious few studies have been conducted into the effectiveness of Dong quai. But with a little study, you can piece together a picture of the supplement and its effectiveness. Keep reading to find out more.
Dong Quai: A History
Dong quai’s claim to fame comes from its age-old use in traditional Chinese, Japanese and Korean medicine. All three traditions used the herb in the treatment of women’s health conditions like painful menstruation, pelvic pain, childbirth recovery, and, you guessed it, menopause. It was until the 1800′s that Dong quai left Asia for Europe as a female health supplement. And it wasn’t until recent years that the herb grew in popularity in the treatment of menopause symptoms.
What is Dong Quai Thought to Do?
Dong quai is thought to correct hormone imbalances in women during menopause. How does it do this? Some speculate that Dong quai contains phytoestrogens, a plant compound that is thought to mimic estrogen in the body. If this is, in fact, true, this would mean that Dong quai would relieve menopause symptoms, since declines in estrogen are responsible for most of the condition’s symptoms.
What Does Dong Quai Actually Do?
While many women have reported experiencing relief from symptoms of menopause after consume Ginseng, the few studies conducted on the supplement were either poorly designed or didn’t use a research pool wide enough to provide verifiable evidence.
So… Should You Take It?
That’s entirely up to you. The U.S. FDA does not strictly oversee herbal supplements, so there is a bit of a “take at your own risk” element to the industry. That said, no serious side effects of Dong quai have been reported beyond headaches and nausea after a slight overdose. As always, if your menopause symptoms have become too much to handle, it is best to speak with your doctor about your options.
Click the following link to learn more about menopause herbs.
