Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => All things menopause => Topic started by: Tinkerbellj on July 13, 2017, 10:14:41 AM
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Can I take agnus castus to balance my hormones while on hrt? :-\
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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?
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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
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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 ::)
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With cannabis?
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No ;D
What made you think of that ::)
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:-X :rofl:
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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!
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You soon typed that out :D - 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 ;)
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I'm sure I could find a recipe for that too ;D
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:whist:
now back to the topic - Agnus castus is what exactly? From a plant .........
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Sort of dry and seedy ;D
Good for the birds maybe
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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.
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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.
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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
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Hurdity, i've never used black cohosh myself. But it is a very popular supplement here in the US, and many women do use it with a lot of good results. I can't speak to it from my own experience, but I know it has helped a number of women. Some of whom I know who passed through to menopause and are doing fine both without the black cohosh now anymore and not using HRT. I guess it's just very individual how everyone responds, and what works best for them. xxxx
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Didn't mean to ask a stupid question. I am just seriously at the end of my tether. Grasping at straws
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Tinkerbellj, I don't think it's a stupid question at all! I think what doesn't work for one person may work great for another. It seems like people's experiences with various modalities are all over the map, and it's a good thing to try to get as much info as possible. :)
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I agree absolutely not a stupid question - no question is stupid on here!!!!
Re personal experiences and whether they are a good guide as to what might work: in the case of conventional approved medicines that have undergone trials and which are "known" to work for a majority of people - then you know it has a good chance of working ( like paracetamol as a painkiller for a normal headache for example), so personal experiences might help with looking at the circumstances in which the treatment works or the dose etc.
Although I agree we're all different - we are all governed by the same basic biochemistry and therefore we have trials to show whether a treatment has a chance of working in principle or not - within broad parameters. Because of the complexities of our hormones ( endocrine system) then this is where the individual response come in!
If the treatments have questions marks over them ( as in some herbal remedies) ie they may have been shown to have a weak effect or are inconsistent - then you haven't got that starting point - so although individual experiences are interesting - they will say almost nothing about whether the same treatment will work for you. Do you see what I mean - because the scientific studies into these treatments may also show the same inconsistency? However there is a strong placebo effect ( in terms of self-diagnosed symptoms) so if it's cheap enough and not harmful - why not give it a try?
Having said that if you have reached menopause under the natural average age which is around 51/52 - then oestrogen is recommended over alternative treatments.
Hurdity x
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Thanks everyone x I am very reactive to a lot of medications I have no problem at all with hrt or taking it but just disappointed that it isnt the help I was told it would be. I even tried antidepressants as well. They all made sick :'(
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Maybe when your own hormones calm down a bit you will be able to try again and you may well react differently and it will work for you?
Hurdity x
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Taking phytoestrogenic herbs with HRT can weaken the HRT and cause bleeding problems etc. I think phytoestrogen foods are milder and ok as long as you dont have a lot.
Angus Castus is also one they say you mustn't take with the pill (like St. John's Wort) as it can weaken the pill and a pregnancy can sip through!
They're fine on their own if you have weaker symptoms and they shift your hormones enough.
Remember, pharmaceuticals are often based on herbs so they can be extremely potent but the pharma can be safer as properly measured and trialled.