Estroven® Difference

There has been much safety research done on Black Cohosh Root. It is important to note that the kind of black cohosh used in Estroven® products is Cimicifuga racemosa , the North American herb, known for having high levels of purity and effectiveness to relieve menopause symptoms.

Black Cohosh is a rich source of natural compounds that has been shown to help reduce hot flashes. Renowned for its long tradition as a beneficial herbal remedy for the relief of moderate to severe menopausal symptoms related to the autonomic nervous system (e.g., hot flashes, insomnia, nocturnal sweating, dizziness, headaches), black cohosh is used to alleviate psychological menopausal symptoms (e.g., irritability, anxiety).*¹

A high purity, standardized Cimicifuga racemosa extract from the root and rhizomes is used in Estroven® products. These naturally-sourced standardized extracts have been studied extensively as demonstrated by the abundance of scientific literature, with over 1,500 patients experiencing a good to very good therapeutic response.*²

Some of the leading medical journals have supported the use of American grown black cohosh to reduce menopause symptoms, including the Journal of Women’s Health, which states, "The evidence to date suggests that black cohosh is safe and effective for reducing menopausal symptoms, primarily hot flashes and possibly mood [changes]."* The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recommends dietary Soy Isoflavones, Black Cohosh, or vitamin E for women who need mild relief from hot flashes and night sweats.*

Germany's Kommission E, a governmental regulatory body similar to the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), has approved the use of Black Cohosh for menopausal symptoms.* This scientific panel, which has done its own investigation and review of the safety and efficacy of North American Cimicifuga Racemosa, has concluded that it is useful and warranted in helping these menopause symptoms.*

Soybeans (and other plants in the legume family like peanuts, chick peas, fava beans, alfalfa and kudzu) are very rich sources of the phytonutrient isoflavones. Isoflavones are vegetable substances, which can act on some of the same receptors as estrogen in the body.*

There has long been an association of a reduction in menopausal symptoms with the consumption of these biologically active molecules called isoflavones.* Of the three main types of isoflavones (genistein, daidzein, and glycitein), genistein and daidzein have protective functions that have been shown to be the most effective in helping to reduce hot flashes and night sweats.*

The soybean has been consumed by many women as a natural solution for treating menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.* Soybeans have the highest amounts of genistein and daidzein, which are said to be responsible for its therapeutic effects. One review that analyzed various trials according to the specific isoflavones contained in commercially available supplements found that supplements containing high amounts of genistein significantly reduce hot flash symptoms.*³ Because high amounts of genistein are important, the soy isoflavones concentrates used in the Estroven® products maintain closely the isoflavones ratios of the whole soybeans.

There is no known evidence that the consumption of large amounts of isoflavones is harmful in humans as soy has been a dietary staple in many countries for more than 5,000 years. In studies of purified isoflavones, it has been shown that even large amounts of isoflavones, those exceeding normal dietary intakes, had minimal clinical toxicity in healthy postmenopausal women and the data further indicates that chronic dosing would not lead to an accumulation of isoflavones in the body.⁴

In addition to hot flashes and night sweats, irritability is a complaint of some women going through perimenopause/menopause. To help with irritability, Estroven® adds Magnolia bark extract, a safe and naturally-sourced ingredient used for thousands of years in traditional Chinese medicine, to improve overall mental well-being.*

Magnolia bark, specifically, is noted as being effective at reducing the stress and anxiety that result in irritability.* Extracts of Magnolia officinalis (magnolia bark), are rich in the phytochemicals honokiol and magnolol, which have the ability to alleviate stress while producing a calming effect.* In recent human clinical studies in menopausal women, researchers demonstrated magnolia bark’s anxiolytic effects to reduce irritability.*⁵ To date, no significant toxicity or adverse effects have been reported in the clinical studies.

Occasional sleeplessness is another menopausal symptom that can dramatically impact a woman’s quality of life. Melatonin promotes natural sleep and supports the regulation of circadian rhythms.* Melatonin has a clock-shifting effect and can help to regulate sleep-wake cycles in humans by advancing or delaying the sleep phase depending on the time of administration.*⁶ In human studies, acute toxicity of melatonin has been demonstrated to be extremely low.⁷

Standardized Ginkgo extract, contains flavonoid glycosides and terpenoids and is commonly used as a memory and concentration enhancer. Ginkgo biloba has been studied in several clinical trials and was found in varying degrees to enhance cognitive performance, memory, and attention.*^{1, 8, 9} General clinical trials involving ginkgo extracts produced few adverse effects, which were typically the same as the placebo.¹

Synetrim® CQ is the brand name for a proprietary standardized extract of Cissus quadrangularis, a plant native to West Africa, Southeast Asia, and India. It has been used extensively in traditional medical practices for centuries to treat a range of maladies.^{10, 11, 12} The stems and leaves of the Cissus quadrangularis plant have specific beneficial attributes and phytochemical analyses indicates many physiologically important substances that can provide beneficial responses.¹¹ Cissus quadrangularis has been clinically studied and has safely demonstrated support of weight management.*

Rhapontic Rhubarb extract (ERr 731®) is a patented botanical ingredient that has been used in Germany since the 1950’s for relief from menopausal symptoms and is now available in the US.

Unlike common Rhubarb, the standardized, patented extract ERr 731® contains the important compounds rhaponticin and desoxyrhaponticin shown to alleviate menopause symptoms.There are several clinical trials supporting the safety and efficacy of ERr 731®. In addition, there are laboratory and preclinical studies supporting the mechanism of action as well as a post-marketing analysis that further supports the safety and efficacy of the ingredient.