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Re: "Natural" estrogens/progestinsFrom: Douglas Krell (sfth@roadrunner.com)Sun Aug 25 19:10:49 1996
Having my undergraduate degree in botany, ethnobotany, and plant chemistry, I was very interested in these issues as an ob/gyn resident. I'll relate to the list the results of a research project I did while in training that relates to the issue of the effects of natural estrogen containing substances in biologic systems. Using 60 oopherectomized Sprague-Dawley female rats, we compared the effects of a number of different aqueous and ethanol extractions of Mexican Yam and Dong Quai with placebo and with a known concentration of beta-estradiol on the maturation indices of vaginal cytology smears in these animals. It was clear beyond a shadow of doubt, that oopherectomized rats developed atrophic vaginal cytology with a predominance of immature basal cells and inflammatory reactions. If they were given beta-estradiol, the smears reverted to mature flat epithelial cells. None of the rats given aqueous or ethanolic extracts of the Mexican Wild Yam or the Chinese Dong Quai root or those given placebo injections had any change in their vaginal cytology. Those rats continued to have atrophic vaginal epithelial linings. How this may relate to the myriad of problems faced by the estrogen deficient woman in menopause is strictly a matter of conjecture, but based on my little research project, and as much as I would like to see these natural substances work, I don't believe that the active ingredients are present in sufficient quantity (if at all) to meet the needs of the menopausal woman. Any claims to the contrary by manufacturers or by patients using these products merely raises my suspicion that the product may be doped with higher concentrations of hormone, natural or otherwise.
-- Douglas Krell Md Galisteo OB/GYN Associates Santa Fe
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