Organ Specific Guide - Raintree Nutrition, Inc

AMAZON MENOPAUSE SUPPORT
Description: A botanical formula which combines 8 plants used in traditional herbal medicine systems in
South America for women during menopause.
Traditional uses by organ or system: Hormonal/Reproductive: For symptoms associated with
menopause.
Ingredients: A proprietary blend of maca (Lepidium meyenii), suma (Pfaffia paniculata), cumaseba
(Swartzia polyphylla), espinheira santa (Maytenus ilicifolia), black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), chuchuhuasi
(Maytenus krukovii), sarsaparilla (Smilax officinalis), muira puama (Ptychopetalum olacoides),
damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca), and passionflower (Passiflora incarnata).
Suggested Use: Take 2-3 capsules twice daily or as needed.
Contraindications:
• Not to be used during pregnancy or while breast-feeding.
• Not to be used by women with estrogen-positive cancers.
Drug Interactions: None reported, however it may potentiate hypotensive medications.
Other Practitioner Observations and Possible Precautions: None.
Synopsis of research: (Please the online Tropical Plant Database for all cited research.)
• Maca is widely touted for hormonal balancing, endocrine and thyroid function enhancement, and even
immune system enhancement. These claims are likely related to maca's amino acid and nutrient content.
The endocrine system drives many functions in the body, including the production of many types of
hormones. Although hormones are chemically diverse, they are constructed simply from amino acids and
cholesterol. If given sufficient levels of starting materials (natural amino acids), the body may use them
as needed to construct hormones which keep the body in balance.
• Suma has a long history of traditional use for menopausal symptoms. The plant is a rich source of phytosterols
including sitosterol, stigmasterol, and beta-ecdysterone which are believed to encourage hormone
production. Researchers reported in 2003 that mice fed suma for 30 days had higher levels of the sex
hormones, estradiol-17beta, progesterone and testosterone, than controls.
• Cumaseba is rich is flavonoids and isoflavones. It contains a significant amount of an isoflavone
chemical called biochanin A which has been well studied and documented (over 150 studies published
to date). Biochanin A is a phytoestrogen which is found in other plants like red clover.
• Espinheira santa has been reported with estrogenic actions. One study indicated that it interfered in
fertilization and implantation in non-pregnant rats. A study in 2002 confirmed these results, again stating
that a leaf extract had estrogenic actions, which suggested the anti-fertility effect may be the interference
of uterine receptivity to the embryo, but did not induce abortions or have any embyrotoxic effects.
• Black cohosh has shown in laboratory research that it can bind to estrogen receptors in rat uteri and
pituitary glands. Another study showed it inhibited LH secretion but did not bind to estrogen receptors;
but a chemical fraction did inhibit LH after a single acute injection; with single injections of estradiol
showing a similar activity profile.
• Chuchuhuasi is considered in Peruvian herbal medicine to be a tonic, adpatogenic, muscle relaxant,
antispasmodic, aphrodisiac, analgesic, and anti-inflammatory. It is used for menopausal symptoms,
menstrual balance and regulation, adrenal support, and as an overall tonic and immunostimulant.
• Sarsaparilla is a rich source of phytosterols. It contains the plant steroids sarsasapogenin, smilagenin,
sitosterol, stigmasterol, and pollinastanol. Some of the most recent research focuses on neuroprotective
and memory enhancement actions of several of these phytosterols.
• Muira puama is traditionally used in South America for menopausal symptoms and one study published
in 2000 with menopausal women validates this traditional use.
• Damiana has a long history of traditional use for depression, anxiety, sexual inadequacy, fatigue and
menstrual irregularities.
• Passionflower has a long history in herbal medicine for its calming and nervine properties and western
research has validated these uses in various studies over the years.