Wild Yam
In Herbal Healing for Women, author Rosemary Glad- Vitamins • Herbs • Nutritionals
star states that wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) “is the most Hair Analysis • Natural Therapies
widely used herb in the world today,” with derivatives of
Dorothy Harrell
the herb present in thousands of prescription and over-the-
Pharmacist
counter medicines. It is used both as a breast enhancer and
540-674-0914
a sexual stimulant, and is recommended by herbalist Susun
Weed, author of Breast Cancer?Breast Health! for foster-
4620 Lee Highway
(between Dublin & Pulaski)
ing healthy breast tissue. Weed suggests adding the herb to
Dublin, Virginia 24084
creams for breast massage and notes that women using this
Hours: Monday thru Friday — 8 - 6 pm
mixture see improvements in both breast health and size.
e-mail: natpharm@usit.net Saturday: 8 - 1 pm
Duke further notes that wild yam contains less disogenin
than fenugreek, but contains other compounds that contrib-
ute to breast health and enhancement.
healthbrief
Other Herbs
Red clover (Trifolium pretense) and soy isoflavones belong to
Swine Flu Update
a class of phytoestrogens structurally similar to estrogen. In
her book, Menopause with Science and Soul, Judith Boice,
a naturopathic physician, notes the balancing effect these
T
he H1N1 virus, also known as the swine flu virus,
remains a newsmaker, but not a dire one. According to
nutrients can have and states, “This could at least in part ex-
information released in Septem-
ber by the Centers for Disease
plain why Japanese women tend to be at lower risk for breast
Control and Prevention (CDC),
and other reproductive cancers.”
the virus has not changed to be-
Research at the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston
come more deadly. That means
has spurred interest in the use of turmeric (Curcuma longa) in
that although H1N1 may affect
both preventing and treating various cancers. Their scientists
more people, most will not
observe that, “Extensive research over the last 50 years has
become severely ill.
indicated [curcumin] can both prevent and treat cancer.” Its
At this time, the CDC
anticancer potential, they believe, “stems from its ability to
recommends voluntary H1N1
suppress proliferation of a wide variety of tumor cells.” A study
vaccinations for all school chil-
published in Cancer Letters in 1999 showed the herb’s remark-
dren; people with asthma, diabetes, lung or heart disease
able ability to contain the spread of breast cancer when used
or neuromuscular/neurological conditions; and pregnant
in conjunction with other breast cancer treatments.
women (although current fast-track clinical trials do not
include them). People 64 years of age and older are at less
Herbs and Breast Health
risk for swine flu, and H1N1 vaccinations are not recom-
Dr. Andrew Weil, author, medical researcher and head of
mended for them.
integrative medicine at the University of Arizona, cites large-
To avoid contracting the virus, follow the CDC’s
scale demographic studies of cancer rates as his rationale for
common-sense advice:
recommending diets rich in estrogenic herbs and foods to
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when
women. In his online guide, Healthy Aging, Weil notes that
you cough or sneeze.
in Asian populations, where women consume up to 20 times • Wash your hands often with soap and water or
more phytoestrogens than western women, rates of breast
alcohol-based cleaners.
cancer are one-fifth of what they are in the west. These popu- • Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth.
lations also experience the lowest rate of hysterectomies.
• Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
Finally, for anyone considering breast augmentation,
Dr. Andrew Weil’s holistic suggestions include get-
wise use of these herbs could be the answer to avoiding
ting good nutrition and adequate sleep and taking a daily
painful and sometimes dangerous surgery, while improving
antioxidant, multivitamin-mineral supplement. He also
overall breast health. As Duke remarks in his book, “If my
recommends astragalus, an immune-boosting herb that can
daughter wanted her breasts enlarged, I’d certainly encour-
help ward off colds and flu, as well as mushroom-based
age her to try natural approaches first.”
immune modulator supplements.
If you do get the flu, limit contact with others. Visit
Joel Faville is the founder of Greenbush Natural (GreenBush.
your health professional if the disease progresses.
net). Greenbush began offering pure, additive-free herbs
for breast health and enhancement in 1999, based on the
For issue updates, visit cdc.gov/h1n1flu. For discussion of
recommendations of the cited experts. Its archives include
vaccine safety and informed consent, refer to the non-
thousands of unsolicited letters from women describing posi-
profit National Vaccine Information Center, an educational
tive results with the herbs.
consumer-driven organization, at nvic.org.
October 2009
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