Re: Dong quai?can I take this?
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Sun, 21 Apr 2002 16:14:17 -0500 (CDT)
At Sun, 21 Apr 2002, Belle wrote:
>I had been toldto work up slowly.even when i was at a 1/4 of a pill,i had the same problems.
I've been nauseated and vomiting when i get my period.I have had
diarrhea since i started and gaining weight.I'm hardly eating and not
overweight.The diarrhea is orange.Idon't see my doctor until he comes
back from vacation in three more weeks.
The mensral pains are very bad.I don't take blood thinners.
what is a flabby uterus?
Some women at work take dong quai for period cramps and they swear it
works for them.
i guess i should have asked it it will help with period cramps and if it
is alright to take with glucophage.
I still don't understand what i have read on estrogen.I read threw your
friday post and i am sorry but i don't understand.
I just really want to know if dong quai is estrogen and if it may cause
me problems with pcos.
please reply because i can't stand the cramping.I have taken tyleonol
and advil without any relief.
This is the second period since beginning glucophage and it has lasted
past ten days both times.
thanx very much
>Did you SLOWLY work up to the 1000mg over a matter of weeks? With far
>more regularity than is necessary, we find that women have been told to
>take X amount but not told that they are required to work up to the
>recommended dosage. You should take no more than 500mg to start with.
>Increase by 1/2 of a pill a week until you are at your recommended
>dosage. If this much bothers you, you can take 1/4 of a pill.
>
>Don Quai (Angelica sinesis) is an herb which manufacturers claim will
>"tone your uterus" and "fix all problems related to the female". I
>guess if you feel that your uterus is flabby and out of shape, it would
>be a good herb for you. Appearently, it is not very effective when
>taken in small doses. If you weigh more than about 120 lbs, you would
>need to take 1000mg 3x/day. Higher dosages can cause problems with sun
>light exposure if they are not from a steam distilled oil. Studies have
>shown that it can cause cancer in animals but I am unable to locate the
>actual study and see what amount they were given. Even though it has
>been tested, there has not been good evidence that it will help with
>menapause or PMS. I am not aware of a study for women with PCOS. You
>should not take this herb if you are on blood thinners. It may work for
>you, it may not.
>
>Women with PCOS typically do not have too little estrogen. Usually we
>have normal or high estrogen. The excess testosterone that we make can
>be converted into estrogen. Usually we have too little progesterone
>(which is why many women with PCOS do not have regualar periods.)
>
>Androgens (group of male hormones, testosterone is included) and
>estrogens are both steroids and are very similar in composition and
>therefore it is easy for your body to transform one form into another.
>
>A couple of days ago (Friday?) I wrote something about testosterone and
>progesterone that may be of help with regards to the estrogen /
>testosterone question that you have.
>
>At Sat, 20 Apr 2002, anonymous wrote:
>>
>>I take 1000 mg of
>>glucophage a day with terrible side effects.
>>
>>Is this a good herb to take for women with PCOs?
>>I'm confused with the testosterone and estrogen.
>>Isn't dong quai an estrogen?
>>I thought we had too little estrogen.
>>Could someone make clarification to what happens to the excess
>>testosterone that we produce?
>
>--
>Hope this helps,
>
>Belle
>