Herbs for women

Females have a different range of diseases and health complaints to deal with, as compared to their male counterparts. There are many herbs being used by women all over the world to ease and treat female-related complaints such as menopause, menstrual pain, pregnancy and sexual virility. Besides, there are herbs taken as part of their beauty regiment ranging from facial, body, hair and legs

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

A valuable herb of the native American Indians women in North America, Black cohosh (C. racemosa) is used to treat painful menstruation and menopausal
symptoms especially hot flush (or flash). Its status has been elevated from the ranks of traditional knowledge and practice since its induction by the German E Commission (a body that evaluates herbal medicines in Germany) into the herbal medicine's 'hall of effectiveness and safety'. Black cohosh is safe to be used for menopause and has been passed for commercialization as a herbal drug in German. A word of caution though, it comes with a contraindication. Black cohosh-based menopausal drug must not be taken by those who are having heart disease. Yes, there are some side effects, though they can be rare. For example are diarrhoea, decreased heart beat and nausea।

Kacip fatimah (Labisia pumila)

Akin to the female partner of Long Jack/Tongkat Ali (Eurycoma longifolia), the herb Kacip fatimah, as it it popularly known in Malay language, is utilized widely in Malay traditional medicine for promoting fertility and as part of post-pregnancy treatment. Also, it is used for regulating menstruation. Currently, clinical evidences of its effectiveness, mechanism, product safety and quality of this particular herb are lacking. A few animal studies have been carried out by Malaysian universities and
research bodies to determine the claims that the herb can be used to treat conditions of menstruation, as tonic for female reproductive system and relieve menopausal complaints. Even though the benefits of kacip fatimah has been noted from folk traditions, this herb needs more reliable studies. Clinical evidence is the ticket to gain its status as one of the herb for ladies।

Dong quai (Angelica sinensis)

Being tagged as the 'female ginseng', traditional Chinese medicine has been using this warm herb as a blood tonic2 to treat female related ailments such as pre-menstrual pain, irregular menstrual cycle, menopause, pelvic pain and post-natal complaints1. Its clinical effectiveness would have to be verified further since human trials are few.

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus)

In India, they call it the herb for women fertility, hence the name shatavari which means 'a women who has a hundred husbands'. Also called Indian asparagus and Asparagus root, it is regarded as the herb for women in Ayurveda. This plant has been used traditionally among the Indians for promoting lactation, revitalizing and balancing female hormones. It contains triterpene saponins, which are phytoestrogens (plant female hormone that mimics women's hormone estrogen).
The roots of Shatavari are used in regulating menstrual cycle, easing menstrual pains and treating infertility. Meanwhile, its rhizome is a tonic for female reproductive system. Also, Ayurveda practitioners use this herb to balance the bodily constituents of pitta and dosha.