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| Some forms of breast cancer are affected by elevated levels of prolactin. I use sage primarily in breast and prostate cancers. Thujone, which is contained in the volatile oil of sage, is a strong antiseptic and carminative and is believed to be the active compound. Sage, like rosemary, contains rosemarinic acid, a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. It reduces excess sweating, which makes it an excellent herb for the hot flashes that often occur during menopause. |
| Saw Palmetto (Serenoa serrulata) |
| Saw palmetto has recently gained popularity as a ''male'' herb because of its beneficial effects on prostate health. It's true that it helps to reduce an enlarged prostate (a condition referred to as benign prostatic hyperplasiaor BPH), but to the surprise of many, I also recommend saw palmetto for female health. It is a great herb for women who have an excess of androgenic hormones. Some of the indications for saw palmetto include hirsutism (excess facial hair), infertility, acne, amnenorrhea, polycystic ovaries, debility, and deficiency. It helps to stimulate breast growth and to bring on menstruation. |
| Saw palmetto has demonstrated anabolic, antiandrogenic, and estrogenic activity. It is also an immune stimulator. It is the estrogenic and antiandrogenic properties that make this plant useful in prostate cancer therapies. Its healing effects are believed to include the ability to inhibit conversion of testosterone to dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and to help break down and excrete testosterone. High levels of DHT are believed to cause benign prostatic hyperplasia as well as the aggressive hormone-promoter of prostate cancer. 106 |
| By itself, it is much less effective than when combined with other herbs, such as sage, nettle root, cotton root, andrographis, red clover, cleavers, pygeum, chaste berry, licorice, Chinese skullcap, thuja, and green tea. Saw palmetto's key constituents include volatile oils, fixed oil, saponins, polysaccharides, and tannins. I consider saw palmetto a wonderful tonic herb with a wide range of indications. |
| Siberian Ginseng (Eleutherococcus senticosus) |
| Siberian ginseng is really not a ginseng at all (it contains no ginsenosides) but was given its name because of its adaptogenic capabilities, which are similar to panax ginseng. Like panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng improves the body's capacity to |
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