Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Tinkerbellj]

Can I take agnus castus to balance my hormones while on hrt?

[CLKD]

Why would you?  HRT should be tailored to help your symptoms.  Maybe jot down which symptom you would like to ease first and see how well your HRT is working?

[Hurdity]

In what way does Agnus castus  "balance" your hormones? It contains a phyto-oestrogen which has weak oestrogenic activity but I dimly recollect that such compounds can compete with estradiol for oestrogen receptors (don't have time to check this) - so definitely would not take along with HRT - as CLKD also suggests.

Hurdity x

[Mbrown001]

I have a good friend who was on HRT for a good few years. When she came off to see exactly where she was re periods she used sage drops to control her flushes.
She was just fine and now just uses Vagifem.

Just goes to show how different we all are. She also used to bake a Meno Cake. Now that was truly horrible 

[CLKD]

With cannabis?

[Mbrown001]

No 

What made you think of that 

[CLKD]

  

[Mbrown001]

Here you go CLKD


‘HRT Cake' Recipe

All ingredients provide a rich source of plant oestrogens, in addition the golden flaxseeds provide omega oils important to hormonal health. The fennel seeds and ginger help the digestive process and absorption of nutrients. Apricots are a source of iron and cranberries provide antioxidants important for the immune system.

Ingredients

I try to source organic produce wherever possible.

100g soya flour
300g porridge oats
250g dried apricots
Handful of dried cranberries
50g pumpkin seeds
50g sunflower seeds
100g golden flaxseed (linseeds)
50g brazil nuts chopped
50g walnuts chopped
500ml soya milk
Pinch of cinnamon to taste
1 tsp fresh grated ginger 
A few fennel seeds
Approx 1 small glass of organic apple juice (enough to give moist consistency
Preparation

Mix all dry ingredients together
Add dried fruit, apple juice and soya milk
Leave to soak for at least 1/2 an hour
Preheat oven to 190 C (Gas Mark 5)
Line a loaf tin with baking paper & spoon in mix
Cook in preheated oven for approx 1 & 1/4 hours
Slice and store in freezer
Tips

*Soak the dried fruits in the apple juice at least 1 hour beforehand, to release the flavour and nutritional properties and add moistness to texture.

*Use grated fresh ginger root for an extra ‘zing' (Ginger, especially fresh, is good for the circulatory and digestive systems and gives added great flavour)

Directions

Put your feet up and enjoy a slice with a cup of herbal tea every day!

[CLKD]

You soon typed that out  - herbal tea, I'll give that a miss ...... I saw white flax being grown recently, I have a few blue flowers and 1 red so far: not enough to use in cooking 

[Mbrown001]

I'm sure I could find a recipe for that too 

[CLKD]

 

now back to the topic - Agnus castus is what exactly?  From a plant .........

[Mbrown001]

Sort of dry and seedy 

Good for the birds maybe

[Cassie]

I used Agnus Castus when I started early meno and it ended up giving me bleeds when I should not have had them, I was terrified, went scuttling off to the gynae he said not to use as a phytoestrogen and so I stopped and went onto the gel, I would def not use with HRT.

[weathergirl]

The only supplement that I'm aware of that has helped a number of women I know is Black Cohosh.  I know a few who absolutely swear by it and it has worked wonders for them.  Would use that by itself, and not with HRT. 

[Hurdity]

Unfortunately - I used Black Cohosh for a few months and I thought it worked, but in reality as I was peri-menopausal it was my own hormones coming and going causing the flushes to disappear. Once I got deeper towards menopause the flushes and sweats returned and stayed until I started HRT! I think Black Cohosh is only supposed to be used for short term relief anyway - 6 months is what I read somewhere. There is some information on this website about it under alternative treatments (Phytooestrogens). The jar of capsules stayed on my kitchen shelf until I eventually threw them out long past their date!!!

Hurdity x