Herbal Medicine
By Trudy Norris
Female Aged 45 years
Married women with 2 grown up children
Happy and positive relationship with very supportive husband.
Full time factory work on shift system.
Medication - Hormonal Replacement Therapy (oral and pessaries)
ceased on advice of GP.
Full Blood test including thyroid function all normal.
Herbal approach suggested by GP.
Current Symptoms prioritised by patient:
- Hourly severe hot flushes worse at night to the extent
of having to change nightwear and sometimes sheets
Anxiety and sleep disturbance (as a result of sweats.)
- Past Medical History
No operations or significant illnesses
- Family Medical History
Father died of heart attack
- Dietary History
Information sheet offered and discussed re dietary and
lifestyle factors influencing osteoporosis
Advised to eliminate coffee (10 cups per day), reduce
carbonated drinks and increase water/herb teas.
- Musculoskeletal System:
Some stiffness in hands and pain in right thenar eminence
- exacerbated by working environment.
- Digestive System:
No problems currently
- Respiratory system:
Smokes 20 cigarettes per day. Discussed re osteoporosis
and general health. To review when current symptoms are
under control and client feels better.
- Circulatory system:
Blood Pressure 100/75 Pulse regular. Cold extremities.
No palpitations or other CV symptoms.
- Immune Function:
No antibiotics in last year. No recurrent infections.
- The Skin:
No problems or recent changes in skin/ hair /nails.
- Renal System:
No problems or history of renal/bladder problems. Discussed
benefits of pelvic floor exercises.
- Gynaecological History:
History of painful periods which ceased 3 years previously.
HRT for 3 years (now ceased)
- Nervous System:
No problems. Occasional headaches when undertakes extra
shifts at work and becomes over tired.
- Vision - good. Slightly hearing impaired.
- Lifestyle Factors:
Very active rambler goes walking most weekends with husband.
Enjoys camping and travelling.
Prescription:
To review after one week.
Discussed the fact that quick withdrawal of HRT, though
necessary, will have exacerbated symptoms.
Practitioner hopes for 50% improvement minimum, within
one week and suggests 6 - 8 weeks required to achieve significant
improvement and that a reduction in severity and frequency
of sweats rather than complete cessation initially is expected
since herbal approach will be supportive of the body
Therapeutic Aims:
- Reduce/eliminate sweats.
- Enhance sleep
- Tonify circulatory, endocrine, respiratory and nervous
systems.
- Support patient in reducing tobacco consumption
- Maximise dietary practices
- Establish good health and then slowly reduce herbs to
maintenance doses.
- Review as required until above achieved (probably monthly).
Prescription 1:
Leonorus cardiaca
Cimcifuga racemosa
Glycyrrhiza glabra
Turnera diffusa
Avena sativa
Valeriana officinalis
5mls 4 x daily in water Review by telephone in one week.
Although many women turn to herbs that influence the hormonal
system (understandably) during the menopause I frequently
find that a positive response is obtained by using herbs
that restore and strengthen the whole system. Many women
are exhausted due to sleep disturbances, lifestyle and spiritual
changes associated with getting older (many of these changes
are positive of course!). Addressing the exhaustion will
often eliminate symptoms such as flushes and also serve
to regulate sleep, reduce headaches etc.
One of the beauties of herbs is that they have a multi
system approach i.e. it is almost as though they have an
in built 'knowing' that if healing is required for one system
in the body (such as the immune system) other actions are
required, such as antibiotic/anti viral/ anti inflammatory
etc.
Many herbs that influence the endocrine system have wide
and varied influences i.e., Motherwort has hormonal activity
yet also is a gentle relaxant and benefits the cardiovascular
system. In this prescription Motherwort was chosen as a
nervine and as a specific to reduce the hot flushes. This
was coupled alongside Cimcifuga racemosa and Turnera diffusa.
The latter is a useful herb for people who are exhausted,
it is also a thymoleptic i.e. 'lifteths the spirits' Cimcifuga
is a well known and researched herb which can be particularly
effective where women are suffering from vaginal dryness.
It is important to ensure this symptom is not a result of
any local or internal infection. Cimcifuga rarely works
in isolation here (I have found) and thus herbalists will
frequently combine with other herbs depending upon individual
need.
Many women that are experiencing 'menopausal' symptoms
may be suffering from a hypo active thyroid gland; this
must be verified clinically and via blood tests. One way
to influence the thyroid gland is to use herbs that influence
either the adrenal glands or the pituitary gland. Liquorice
was chosen initially as an adrenal tonic.
Avena sativa is a useful herb for the nervous system and
is also a very nutritious plant. Herbalists would class
Avena as a trophorestorative for the nervous system alongside
such plants as Lavender, Turnera and Hypericum (St Johns
Wort). Avena is also a useful herb for the circulatory system.
Finally a small quantity of a more sedative herb Valeriana
was added to the prescription to enhance sleep quality and
quantity....a herb that creates a little 'slack' in the
system, aiding rest and recovery.
Telephone review: sweats reduced in intensity, still 3
hourly and severe at night. Maintained original prescription
for further week. Reassured patient as to time element.
Supplied pessaries to relieve vaginal dryness post cessation
of prescribed pessaries.
Review at 2 weeks.
Improvement maintained as to previous review. Sleeping more
heavily and more refreshed after sleep.
Prescription 2:
Replaced Turnera diffusa with Salvia officinalis. 4 weeks
medicine supplied.
Patient has reduced coffee intake and is drinking more water.
Pessaries supplied for 1 month.
Review at 6 weeks.
Sweats significantly reduced. Mild sweats x 2 per day. Advised
sweats may not completely disappear and that the body needs
more time. Patient feeling well.
Using a pessarie on alternate days. Advised to reduce further
if symptoms of vaginal dryness reduced.
4 weeks medicine supplied. Maintain previous prescription
Review at 10 weeks.
Patient has occasional 'sweat'. Feels well. Does not currently
require pessaries. Advised that after another month we may
reduce medicine to 2.5 ml three times daily depending upon
circumstances.
The patient currently remains well and is taking 7.5ml
of her prescription per day. She is trying to reduce her
number of cigarettes and has maintained her dietary improvements.
Although I suspected the patient’s thyroid may be
hypofunctioning this has not manifested either clinically
or via blood tests.
About the Author
Trudy L Norris B.A, M.N.I.M.H, P.G.C.E
Member of The National Institute of Medical Herbalists.
Trudy Norris has been a practising herbalist for 7 years.
Currently the Information Officer and Vice President of
The National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She works
in Scunthorpe and Grimsby North Lincolnshire as an herbalist
and part time teacher. She has a young family and enjoys
every bit of her busy life..
