All about Women's Formulas
Women from many traditional cultures have a long history of using herbs and passing this knowledge down. These herbalists developed formulas with local herbs for a specific person, not just their symptoms. Today we have access to a global variety of herbs but not everyone is or has access to a trained herbalist. So, with all the different options in the marketplace, how do you select the one that will help you most?
Clinical herbalist, author, and educator David Winston RH(AHG) resisted the idea of selling pre-made formulas for years but changed his mind after finding himself using similar combinations of herbs over time with good results.
- H&A formulas combine herbs targeted for conditions, but specific enough to ensure they work.
- The Difference? Within various condition-specific categories, David has developed subcategories for various ways that conditions manifest.
Many women have become more skeptical about using pharmaceuticals to deal with normal life changes such as menstrual symptoms or menopause.
- Perhaps this is one of the reasons women are major consumers of herbal formulations to support their personal health, and they seem to be directly seeking herbal products for their health, indicating this is an area many health care professionals may not address effectively.
- With certain notable exceptions, the practitioners purchasing our women’s products are primarily women.
Women’s health concerns change throughout life’s stages as their bodies evolve.
- Even treating similar issues, the choice of herbs that will best support them may be influenced by
- age,
- constitutional imbalances,
- underlying health issues, and
- lifestyle choices.
- Commercially available formulas developed by trained herbalists, designed for a relatively narrow aspect of a condition, will provide the best benefits.
- Herbs are most effective in combination, rather than the allopathic approach of addressing a condition with a single herb as one may do with a pharmaceutical drug.
Formulas designed specifically for women addressing the different stages of life a women goes through
David’s formula for general reproductive cycle health. This tonic formula is helpful for menstruating women from the onset of menses through perimenopause.
This formula synergistically blends nurturing and supportive herbs. Chaste tree balances hormone levels and reduces estrogen dominance. Adding herbs to build blood, specifically Processed Rehmannia and Dong Quai, with Raspberry Leaf to tonify the uterus. Ginger improves digestion, circulation, supports the body’s natural inflammatory response, and Motherwort relieves minor menstrual discomfort and stress.
This award-winning formula combines adaptogenic herbs with nutritive tonics. For women of all ages, it was designed to help lift the spirits and re-balance women who are fatigued, stressed-out, and experiencing dryness, brain fog and hormonal imbalances. In short…women who just want to have more fun.
The formula includes energizing adaptogens Shatavari and Red Ginseng to rejuvenate and support female libido, endocrine, immune, and nervous system function. Human clinical trials have disproved the idea that Red Ginseng is a “men’s herb” -- it improves libido and reduces menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in post-menopausal women. Processed Rehmannia is a restorative yin and blood tonic, Shatavari alleviates vaginal dryness, and Fragrant Rose petal is a nervine that heals the “emotional heart.” Damiana, the uplifting nervine has an extensive history of use for promoting both female and male libido and improving mood and mental function.
Is for those needing additional support to get through menstruation. This compound is a supportive antispasmodic formula primarily useful for menstrual cramps. It can also be effective for minor muscle or bladder spasms, minor back discomfort, and minor uterine discomfort. This formula combined with Carminative Compound™ can also be used to relieve the nausea caused by menstrual cramps.
This formula combines herbs that are antispasmodics - Black Haw, Chamomile, Wild Yam plus helpful for minor spasmodic discomfort especially menstrual cramps - Cyperus, Corydalis, and Jamaica Dogwood. Support for many of the secondary effects associated with menstrual cramps such as nausea, minor lower back discomfort and loose stools are Black Haw which has a long history of use for menstrual discomfort, Chamomile is a bitter tonic, carminative and antispasmodic, Wild Yam is indicated for dysmenorrhea with nausea and minor abdominal discomfort and Cyperus or Mu Xiong is very useful for treating dys¬menorrhea with nausea, gastric, uterine or intestinal minor discomfort.
Not everyone realizes that herbs can be very helpful for emotional conditions. This calming formula is designed to help women “chill out” and restore emotional and hormonal balance, especially PMS irritability or peri-menopausal stress.
This formula contains Chaste tree, which in human studies has been found to reduce both PMS and peri-menopausal symptoms, particularly emotional ones, and stress reducing nervine herbs Motherwort, Blue Vervain, Skullcap, and Pulsatilla. This classic combination of Motherwort, Blue Vervain and Pulsatilla dates back to the Eclectic Physicians who first observed that these herbs in combination are far more effective than any one is by itself.
Women transitioning through menopause and changes in their “body chemistry” experience hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, and decreased libido. Through the ages they have looked to herbs for relief.
Although Black Cohosh is often touted as the “menopause herb,” by itself it isn’t all that helpful. David says if he had to pick a single herb for hot flashes and night sweats it would be Chaste Tree, which works via the pituitary re-balancing FSH and LH levels. Combining these two herbs, however, is far superior to either alone. Blue Vervain is a stress reducing nervine and blends well with the trophorestorative nervine Fresh Oat to allay emotional irritation and anxiety, and to reduce sleep disruption. Dong Quai and Night Blooming Cereus enhance circulation and support cardiac health. Violet.
Is a combination of nutritive and moistening herbs that correct vaginal dryness linked to the hormonal changes of menopause. This combination of herbs gently supports the health and normal lubrication of vaginal mucous membranes.
This formula is a combination of fresh Milky Oat, which was used by the Eclectic Physicians (1830-1940s) to enhance sexual performance in women and men. Shatavari, the classic Ayurvedic female reproductive tonic, augments hormonal levels, moistens dry tissue and supports healthy sexual functioning. Licorice, which is a yin tonic and contains hormone-mimetic isoflavones, and Dong Quai to promotes pelvic circulation and cornification of vaginal tissue, and White Pond Lily, an old Thomsonian/Physiomedical remedy for atonic, irritated mucous membrane tissue.
Female Reproductive Dysfunction
Capillary or passive bleeding, including menorrhagia, polymenorrhagia, hemoptysis, blood in the urine, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, fibroids and cysts should be discussed with a practitioner. The formulas discussed below may be helpful with promoting healthy reproductive functions and addressing discomfort.
Can help support capillary tonicity. The herbs are astringing and balancing.
A compound of Yarrow, whose reputation for stanching blood flow goes back to the Greek myth of Achilles; supposedly if he had Yarrow, his wounds would have been stanched. This aromatic herb can be useful for heavy menstrual bleeding. Fresh Shepherd’s Purse contains acetyl¬choline which is a vasoconstrictor and vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting. Cinnamon bark is a styptic and was used by the Eclectic physicians. Bugleweed was also used by the Eclectic physicians. Witch Hazel is used orally as well as topically to enhance capillary and venous integrity.
Combines traditional Chinese herbs with Western herbs to enhance pelvic circulation. It is effective for relieving uterine discomfort, as well as menstrual discomfort and nausea.
Chaste Tree works via the pituitary gland and HPA Axis lowering prolactin levels, which then affects FSH and estrogen levels. The result is to lower excess estrogen levels. Dong Quai increases uterine circulation, increases liver and bowel excretion of hormones and builds the blood (xue). Saw Palmetto was used by the Eclectic physicians to relieve the symptoms of pelvic fullness. Chinese Peony nourishes the blood and is used in Chinese medicine for constrained liver Qi which affects minor uterine discomfort and menstruation. Shepherd’s Purse is astringing. Cinnamon bark increases uterine and peripheral circulation and is a styptic. The fragrant herb Cyperus is used in TCM for stagnant liver Qi and to relieve gynecological discomfort. It is effective for relieving uterine discomfort as well as menstrual discomfort and nausea.