Women: Stay Healthy!

Women’s health is in fact an issue that surrounds all aspects of women’s life; it ranges from pre pubertal to post menopausal conditions. These issues include onset of puberty, contraception, pregnancy, child birth, breast and female genital health and menopause. ^[1] Ability to cope with these conditions efficiently necessitates proper nutrition support, so these changes don’t produce hazards for her in daily routine.

Menarche refers to first menstrual period or first menstrual bleeding in the female child. It is the foremost event of female puberty and also fertility. ^[2] When menarche occurs, it confirms that the girl has had a gradual growth of the uterus, cervix and vagina. ^[2] Average age for menarche ranges from 12 to 18 years. ^[3] This age depends upon inheritance, nutrition and general health. Social influences also take part in onset of puberty. ^[2] This is the time of occurrence of physical, structural and psychological changes in female’s body. It is evident that time of onset of menarche depends on quality of diet e.g. lack of protein lead to late menarche. Similarly, deficiency of calcium also lead to various other problems like cramps during menses heavy bleeding etc. ^[3] Acne and adult body odor are the most common symptom of menarche that are experienced with other visible structural changes and are due to increase sebum production. ^[3]

Every one among females suffers from a collection of simultaneous physical, psychological and emotional changes during each menstrual cycle. ^[4] About 80 % of reproductive female experience these changes and sometimes symptoms are so severe that they impede with routine activities of women’s life. They arise prior to menses and mostly vanish before or after the initiation of menstrual flow. These problems include abdominal bloating, cramps, breast swelling, stress, sleep problems, fatigue, acne, mood swings etc. ^{[4, 5]} Deficiency of vitamins and minerals (zinc, iron, manganese), erratic levels of beta-endorphins may be the cause of this menstrual discomfort. ^{[5, 6]} Diet participates significantly to relieve the symptom of menstrual discomfort and use of vitamin B 6, calcium and magnesium are good for menstrual problems. ^[6]

Pregnancy is the physiological condition that the majority of women experience during their reproductive life. Pregnancy is the carrying of one or more offspring, inside the uterus of a female. A balanced, nutritious diet is an important aspect of a healthy pregnancy. Balanced diet with additional use of vitamin D, folic acid (also called folate or Vitamin B9) and micronutrients (calcium) are important to ensure health of fetus as well as expected women. ^[7] Almost all pregnancy related discomforts are associated as a result of hormonal and structural changes inside the women’s body. Some profound nutritional deficiencies are also contributed to these problems because of extreme nutritious need of fetus can only be fulfill by mother. ^[5]

The Menopause is the permanent cessation of menstruation and also the ability to reproduce. The typical age range for the occurrence of menopause is between the ages of 45 and 55. Menopause is a great transition period in women’s life that produces various critical effects on women’s health. It occurs with lots of observable symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, hardening of blood vessels , structural changes in vagina, urinary frequency, urinary incontinence, increased susceptibility for infection, bone and joint problems, back pain, breast cell degeneration, skin thinning and dryness, mood disturbances, fatigue, memory loss, depression, sleep disturbances, decreased libido and more. ^[8]

Ginseng acts as a sexual rejuvenator and enhances the ovarian health. ^{[5, 11]} As a valuable herb ginseng improves fertility and virility in women. ^{[9, 11]} It also shows its favorable effects during pregnancy and nursing. ^[10]

Black cohosh is a premier botanical remedy hot flashes, ^{[6, 11]} depression, ^[6] menstrual irregularities, ^{[6, 9, 11, 12]} sleep problems, ^{[6, 12]} vaginal dryness, ^[6] mood swing ^[12] during menopause ^{[5, 9, 11, 12]} Black cohosh also gives its favorable effects in period of pregnancy as well as at the time of labor or childbirth. ^{[6, 5]}

Dong Quai also shows its nutritious effects during problems associated with menstrual and menopausal period of life. ^{[5, 6, 9, 11]} It is also good during pregnancy and labor. ^[12]

Raspberry leaf (Rubus ideaus) shows its favorable effects during pregnancy, ^{[5, 9]} sterility, ^{[5, 9]} menopause, ^{[5, 9]} menstrual problems ^{[5, 9, 14]} and labor. ^[13]

Vitex berry shows premenstrual syndrome,^{[5, 6, 9]} menopause,^{[5, 6, 9, 11]} labor,^{[5, 9]} breast tenderness, ^{[5, 6, 9]}menstrual cycle abnormalities, ^{[5, 6, 9, 11, 12]}

Saw Palmetto is also good for breast health ^{[9, 12]} and sexual desire in women. ^[9]

Red clover shows its favorable effects on female health. ^{[6, 9, 12]}

Motherwort is preeminent option among herbs for female reproductive health. It gives favorable effects during menopausal problems, ^[5] menstrual problems ^[9] and at the time of childbirth. ^[5]

Chamomile also gives its wholesome effects on female health. ^{[5, 13, 15, 16]}

Women's Health Store

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women%27s_health
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menarche
3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Puberty
4. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premenstrual_syndrome
5. Phyllis A. Balch, CNC & James F. Balch, M.D. (2000). Prescription for Nutritional Healing. (3rd edition) Page No. 90, 93, 95, 98, 104, 107, 575, 587 and 588. Penguin Putnam INC. New York: Avery.
6. Marcia Zimmerman, CN & Jayson Kroner, CSN. (2006). 7-Syndrome Healing. Page No. 223, 224, 225, 232, 233 and 236. Chico, California: Nutrition Solution Publications.
7. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pregnancy
8. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menopause
9. James A. Duke (1997). The Green Pharmacy. Page No. 13, 42, 43, 89, 279, 282, 287, 290, 323, 324, 325, 326, 327, 331, 333, 361, 364, 365 and 366. Pennsylvania: Rodale Press Emmaus.
10. Mike Fillon. (2003) Real RDAs for Real People. Page no. 237. USA: Woodland.
11. Michael T. Murray, N.D. (1995) The Healing Power of Herbs. (Revised and Expanded 2nd Edition) Page No. 44, 271, 275, 353, 357 and 376. New York: Gramercy Books.
12. DR. Richard Firshein (1998) The Nutraceutical Revolution. Page No.290, 291, 292, 321 and 329. London: Vermilion
13. Daniel B. Mowrey, Ph.D. The Scientific Validation of herbal Medicine. Page No. 107, 109, 110 and 186. New Canaan, Connecticut: Keats Publishing, Inc.
14. Norman Grainger Bisset (Ed.) (1994) Max Wichtl Herbal Drugs and Phytopharmaceuticals. Page No. 435. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers
15. Stephen Holt, M.D. (2003). Sleep Naturally. Page No.101. USA: Wellness Publishing.
16. PJ Pierson and Mary Shipley. (2004). Aromatherapy for Everyone. Page No. 40. Ridgefield, CT: Vital Health Publishing.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent any disease.