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FEATURES 20
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The ABC’s of SEO
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The Role of Adaptogens in Women’s Health
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Women, Platelets & Cardiovascular Risk
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Publisher’s Letter Editorial Board Bits and Bites
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publisher’s letter
T
he 2015 OAND Convention and Tradeshow, which also coincided with the Association’s 65th anniversary, was a great success this
year! See our photo coverage on page 22. IHP Magazine was be a part of the Integrative Healthcare Symposium (IHS) that took place through October 23—24 in Richmond Hill, Ontario. We were honoured to support this conference on alternative and complementary approaches to health care. This issue is focused primarily on women’s health. Covering an integrative approach to treating female health conditions, we don’t forget about IHP business section. On page 30, we will be talking about search engine optimization that will help your business rank high on Google and other search engines, attracting more patients to your clinic. Thank you very much for being our loyal readers. Please don’t forget to download your IHP App to have access to exclusive content and full-length reference material.
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feature
The Role of Adaptogens in Women’s Health By Marita Schauch (BSc, ND) Peer reviewed by Berchman Wong (BSc, ND), Brock McGregor (BSc, ND), Rochelle Fernandes, MSc., ND (Cand.)
A
drenal fatigue is just one of the examples of the
— struggling to balance a career with the role as ‘perfect’
afflictions of the stress of modern life. The stressors
wife and mother at home. As women progress through
we face on a daily basis, such family and financial
life’s stages, hormonal imbalances associated with pre-
problems, increased work load, lack of physical exercise,
menstrual, post-partum and menopause can also affect
insufficient rest, poor diet, environmental toxins, electro-
chemical vulnerability to stress, depression and anxiety. 2
magnetic radiation all contribute to more stress on the stress-adaptive organs, the adrenal glands and other stress
THE ROLE OF ADAPTOGENS
regulating systems in the body.
Adaptogenic herbs are one of the most important groups
Men and women respond differently to stress, both
of herbs to take into the 21st century. Adaptogens not only
physically and mentally. 1 They attempt to manage stress
increase the resistance to the adverse effects of long-term
in very different ways and also perceive their ability to do
stress but the majority are also tonifying, immune-stimu-
so differently. Findings suggest that while women are more
lating and increase the general sense of well-being. 4
likely to report physical symptoms associated with stress,
The term “adaptogen” was first defined by Russian
they are doing a better job connecting with others in their
pharmacologist Nikolai Lazarev in 1947. These herbs were
lives and, at times, these connections are important to their
classified as a group of substances that could improve the
stress management strategies.
body’s nonspecific resistance after being exposed to various
1
stressing factors, promoting a state of adaptation to that
STRESS ON THE RISE FOR WOMEN
exceptional situation. Israel Brekhman, his successor,
Women are socialized to be the caretakers of others. More
established that a plant should meet four requirements in
women than men have both a career outside the home and
order to be considered an adaptogen: (1) it is harmless to
continue to try to juggle traditional responsibilities after
the host; (2) it has a general, nonspecific effect; (3) it
hours. 1 In fact, over 70 per cent of married women with
increases the resistance of the recipient to a variety of
children under the age of 18 are employed outside the
physical, chemical, or biological stressors; and (4) it acts
home.
as a general stabilizer/normalizer. 3
2
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Women are often known as “multi-taskers’
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feature
Men and women respond differently to stress, both physically and mentally. They attempt to manage stress in very different ways and also perceive their ability to do so differently.
By 1984 Russian scientists had published in excess of
fatigue and preventing high-altitude sickness. 3 Rhodiola
1,500 pharmacological and clinical studies on adaptogenic
seems to help the body adapt to stress by affecting the
herbs and research continues today with little doubt that
levels and activity of serotonin, dopamine and norepineph-
adaptogens increase an organism’s adaptation to stress
rine. 3 It is believed that the changes in the above mono-
and have a normalizing influence on our physiology.
amine levels are due to inhibition of the activity of the
4
The various phases of hormonal change, such as monthly
enzymes responsible for monoamine degradation and
premenstrual time, the perimenopause transition and
facilitation of neurotransmitter transport within the brain.15
pregnancy, can challenge a woman’s stress adaptation
Rhodiola appears to offer an advantage over other
mechanisms. The ‘hallmark’ hormone of stress, cortisol,
adaptogens due to its ability to exert relaxation and anti-
is synthesized in the adrenal cortex and regulated via the
anxiety in periods of acute stress. In one randomized,
HPA axis. The effects of cortisol are felt virtually throughout
placebo-controlled trial of 60 patients with stress-related
the entire body and impact several mechanisms—especially
fatigue, rhodiola was found to have an antifatigue effect
the regulation of hormonal balance in women. For example,
that increased mental performance, particularly the ability
chronic stress suppresses gonadotropin hormones from
to concentrate; it also decreased the cortisol response to
the pituitary that act on the ovaries and testes, which can
stress of awakening from sleep.7
lead to the disruption of a normal menstrual cycle and
Rhodiola may also enhance fertility. It has been shown
eventually lead to the complete impairment of reproductive
to enhance thyroid function in animal studies as well as
function. 6
improve egg maturation. This led to a study of 40 women
There are several adaptogenic herbs that have been
with amenorrhea and infertility to be treated with 100 mg
studied extensively and proven very effective in the support
of rhodiola twice daily for two weeks. Normal menses were
of the body during times of increased demands and stress.
restored in 25 women, 11 of whom became pregnant. 8
3
Most notable are Rhodiola (Rhodiola rosea), Ashwagandha
Rhodiola has a very low level of toxicity. Some anxious
(Withania somnifera), Siberian ginseng (Eleutherococcus
individuals may be over activated and become agitated
senticosus) and Maca (Lepidium meyenii). Given the strong
with Rhodiola. Rhodiola is not recommended for individuals
connection between cortisol and its impact on hormonal
with bipolar disorder. 3
balance, there is an absolute role for adaptogens in women’s
ASHWAGANDHA (WITHANIA SOMNIFERA)
health.
Also known as Indian ginseng, Ashwagandha is considered
RHODIOLA ROSEA
an adaptogen and rejuvenating tonic in Ayurveda. It pro-
Rhodiola rosea (also known as golden root and Arctic root)
vides both adrenal and immune support, increasing resis-
has been categorized as an adaptogen by Russian research-
tance to environmental stressors, is beneficial for pain
ers due to its ability to increase resistance to a variety of
relief, has antioxidant effects, reducing inflammation and
chemical, biological and physical stressors. It has been
stimulating thyroid function, has anti-stress effects by
used in the traditional medicine systems of Eastern Europe
modulating cortisol levels as well as stimulates respiratory
and Asia for more than 3,000 years with a reputation for
and immune function. 3 In fact, in one double blind study,
stimulating the nervous system, improving depression,
chronically stressed individuals taking Ashwagandha had
enhancing work performance, improving sleep, eliminating
significant reductions in anxiety, serum cortisol, C-reactive
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protein, pulse rate, and blood pressure compared with the
fatigue and infertility, and to support hormonal balance
placebo group.9
and enhanced stamina. Research suggests that maca’s
Reductions in cortisol as well as optimal thyroid function
therapeutic actions are due to plant sterols stimulating the
may encourage balanced hormones for optimal fertility in
hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal and ovarian glands, and
those women struggling to conceive.
therefore, also affecting the thyroid and pineal gland. Maca
11
Toxicity studies in humans are limited with ashwagandha.
has been found to be useful in perimenopausal and menopausal women for hot flashes as well as helping with sleep, mood, fertility and energy.
Research on menopausal
SIBERIAN GINSENG (ELEUTHEROCOCCUS SENTICOSUS)
women indicates that maca can stimulate the body’s pro-
Siberian ginseng, also known as eleuthero, has been used
duction of estrogen and reduce levels of cortisol. In one
for centuries in Eastern countries, including China and
double-blind, randomized four month study of women in
Russia as an “adaptogen”.
Research indicates that
early postmenopause, patients were given either a placebo
Eleutherococcus increases the ability to accommodate to
or two 500-mg capsules of maca twice per day for a total
adverse physical conditions, improve mental performance,
of 2g per day. After two months, estrogen production had
and enhance the quality of work under stressful conditions. 3
increased and FSH and cortisol had decreased. The maca
Research has also shown decreases in the testosterone:
also had a small effect on increasing bone density and
cortisol ratio as well as improvements in heart rate and
alleviated numerous menopausal symptoms including hot
systolic and diastolic blood pressure in response to a par-
flashes, insomnia, depression, nervousness, and diminished
ticular stressor. In fact, Eleutherococcus accounted for a
concentration. 10
60 per cent reduction in systolic blood pressure, which
Adaptogens continue to be an important group of herbs
suggests that this herb may be helpful for stress
effective in various health conditions—especially in
adaptation. 3
women’s health and indicated not only to counteract stress
Premenstrual syndrome and perimenopause are their
and its resulting damage on hormonal balance but may
own kind of stress on the system and many women find
also be used to elicit a healthy state. Although the above
their threshold of tolerating stress decreases and fatigue
adaptogens are considered very safe, not much research
can result. Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, cortisol
has been conducted during pregnancy and lactation and
and thyroid interact with brain neurotransmitters such as
therefore, they are not recommended during those times.
serotonin, dopamine, GABA and therefore, eleuthero may
Adaptogens have an important role for prevention and
be a beneficial herb to restore vitality in women who are
should be considered as key supplements in many women’s
chronically fatigued or who have decreased mental and
health conditions.
physical performance and/or stamina. 12 Eleuthero may elevate serum digoxin levels. 14
MACA (LEPIDIUM MEYENII) Maca, the herbal root from Peru, is best known as an adap-
View the references on your tablet.
togenic plant. Its uses have shown to be beneficial for the endocrine and reproductive systems— in treating chronic NOVEMBER 2015 • IHPMAGAZINE.COM
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