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Source:
A thorny plant, which takes normally three
years for root formation A. Racemosus is believed to be indigenous
to parts of Russia, the Mediterranean region, and the British Isles.
The herb hormone acts as an aphrodisiac, strengthens and increases
muscle tone, moistens dry tissues of the sexual organs, kidneys,
stomach and lungs, increase general strength, helps with symptoms
of PMS, ammenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, menopause, and pelvic
inflammatory disease e.g. endometriosis; and is used as post-partum
tonic where it helps to increase lactation and normalize the uterus
and changing hormones.
Traditional uses:
The early Romans used A. Racemosus for
food and medicinal purposes. It was first cultivated in England
at the time of Christ and brought to America by the early colonists.
Asparagus has also been used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine.
Ayurvedic medicine is a system of healing that dates back to ancient
India Ayur means life or living, and veda translates as knowledge;
therefore Ayurveda has been defined as the "knowledge of living"
or the "science of longevity.
Physiology:
Sativari is rich in phytoestrogens a group of naturally occurring
compounds that have a chemical structure very similar to estrogen.
Estrogen is a hormone that is necessary for the normal sexual development
and growth of the breasts, uterus and ovaries. The hormone plays
a significant role in controlling a woman's menstrual cycles and
is essential for reproduction. Estrogen also helps maintain the
the cardiovascular system and prevent osteoporosis (disease in which
the bones become extremely porous, subject to fracture, tend to
heal slowly and are subject to infection).
Estrogen's access to reproductive tissue i.e. breast and endometrial
is controlled by estrogen receptors that act as gatekeepers. Only
estrogen or substances with a close structural resemblance to estrogen
are permitted to bind. This explains how the similar phytoestrogens
can bind to the estrogen receptors and displace the estrogen.
If estrogen is important to the normal growth of the reproductive
tissue then why would we want to displace it from the estrogen receptors?
Unfortunately, cancer cells also use estrogen to promote their growth.
Normal cells grow and die in a controlled fashion. Cancer occurs
when normal cells become abnormal and subsequently differentiate
and grow without control or structure. Cancer cells usually grow
at a rate significantly faster than our normal cells. Some cancer
cells have estrogen receptors that are programmed to grow when estrogen
binds to these receptor sites.
Phytoestrogens, while they displace the human
estrogen, support female hormone levels by exerting an estrogen
like effect on the reproductive organs. These phytoestrogens are
an estimated 100-500 times less potent in their estrogen effect
than human estrogen and
maintain a hormonal balance by acting
as anti-estrogen when the body's natural levels are high and they
act as human estrogen when levels are low.
Stroke is the third leading cause of death for middle-age
and older women. Compromised or blocked carotid arteries are one
of the major causes of strokes in this age group. Phytoestrogens
have shown to improve a women's lipid profile preventing strokes,
similar to Premarin without the added risk of cancer.
Clinical
Studies:
Research has shown that phytoestrogens or estrogen
that is common in certain plants and herbs can displace the human
estrogen and decrease the growth of tumor cells. Studies have revealed
a lower incidence and mortality from hormone-dependent cancers in
Asian women and men who consume traditional Asian diets that are
rich in herbs and plants that contain phytoestrogens. Asian
women who consume western diets have breast cancer rates similar
to caucasian women.
Lu LJ, Anderson KE, Grady JJ, Kohen F, Nagamani M, Decreased ovarian
hormones during a soya diet: implications for breast cancer prevention.
Cancer Res 2000 Aug 1;60(15):4112-21, Department of Preventive
Medicine, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston 77555.
Modern day uses:
Today, Sativari is used by physicians and herbal specialist to treat
the following conditions:
- Moistens dry tissues of the sexual organs, kidneys, stomach
and lungs
- Strengthens and increases muscle tone
- Increases general strength
- Improves breast milk secretion during lactation
- PMS, ammenorrhea, dysmenorrhea, leucorrhea, menopause, and pelvic
inflammatory disease like endometriosis
- Inflammatory bowel conditions
- Post-partum tonic where it helps to increase lactation and normalize
the uterus and the changing hormones
- Aphrodisiac properties
- Overall gentle herb which promotes an easier balanced life
- Secondary to the phytoestrogens found in Sativari the herb helps
prepare the womb for conception, prevents miscarriage and actions
as a post-partum tonic thus normalizing the uterus increasing
lactation, and controls changing hormones. The phytoestrogens
help to normalize estrogen levels and play an important role in
improving women’s long-term health.
Precautions
and/or adverse effects:
Individuals with preexisting medical
conditions should consult with their physician particularly if they
are taking prescription or over-the-counter-medications or supplements.
Women who are pregnant or
nursing
and children should also consult with
their physician prior to taking any new
supplements. Sativari is free of any reported significant
side effects at the time of this writing. |
General
Herbal Information
