Recent Discovery of a Powerful Natural Estrogen
Hops has been used for thousands of years as a medical herb. But the effective use of Hops for hot flashes is a recent discovery.
Benefits of Hops for Menopause Symptoms
Hops has the most powerful phytoestrogens discovered to date, called 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN).
Two extracts from hops got the attention of researchers:
- One is the estrogen-like compound
- The other is a potentially strong anti-cancer substance.
Both substances are currently the subject of much research but the first compound is of much interest for herbal remedies for hot flashes.
Studies with hops extract have shown marked improvement for hot flash symptoms. Make sure that you use hops extract with 8-PN for your menopause symptoms.
| The Life Extension’s Natural Female Support contains 120 mg of standardized Hops Extract (144 mcg of 8-PN) plus an additional lingan (a different class of phytoestrogen) from the Norway Spruce tree. The combination of these two ingredients complement each other for maximum benefit. |
Doses
No recommendations have been established for hops for hot flashes but120 mg / day of hops extract (100mcg of 8-PN) appears to be an effective dose.
Do not exceed the recommeded amount or it might loose its effectiveness.
In a randomized study, some participants that received an higher amount of hops (300mg) reported a return of their symptoms.
This would fit with the way researchers believe that phytoestrogens work on estrogen receptors. Plant estrogen competes with the estrogen in your body. If there is too little, it acts like estrogen, if there is too much it has a weakening effect.
You need to take just enough to get the maximum benefit. It you take too much, it appears that the phytoestrogen in hops interferes with the recidual estrogen hormone in the body. About the last thing menopausal women want!
Other Benefits of Hops
Hops has a long history of medicinal uses mostly as a mild sedative. The recent disovery of the anti-cancer activity opened more uses for people with:
- Ovarian cancer
- Breat cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Prostate cancer
Other benefits for women in menopause include:
- Preventing osteoporosis
- Cariovascular benefits by lowering Cholesterol and increasing HDL
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Intestinal cramps
Side Effects and Drug Interactions
Hops is a very safe herb. However, you need to be aware of potential side effects and interactions.
- For women with depression hops is not recommended.
- Because of the mild sedative effect, it might increase the effects of prescription anti-anxiety drugs and sedatives. DO NOT COMBINE THE TWO!
- Do not take hops if are taking sleeping pills – either prescription or over the counter.
- If you are scheduled for surgery, let your anethesiologist know that you are talking hops.
- Avoid if you are pregnant
As with all natural remedies, talk with your health care provider to ensure that it is safe for you to use hops for hot flashes or any other symptoms.