Estroven® Active Medicinal Ingredients

There has been much 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.

Black Cohosh is a rich source of natural compounds that has been shown to help reduce hot flashes. It has been used for centuries throughout the world to provide support for many areas of female health. 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), black cohosh is also used to alleviate psychological menopausal symptoms (e.g., irritability).¹

A high purity, standardized Cimicifuga racemosa extract from the root and rhizomes is used in Estroven products, providing the therapeutic doses of triterpene glycosides (triterpene saponins). 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 effective for reducing menopausal symptoms, primarily hot flashes and possibly mood [changes]." The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recommends dietary Soy Isoflavones or Black Cohosh, 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 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 their therapeutic effects. One review analyzed various clinical trials according to the specific isoflavones contained in commercially available supplements and 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 closely maintain the isoflavones ratios of the whole soy beans.

Estroven® natural health products that contain Black Cohosh and Soy:

• Estroven® Maximum Strength + Energy
• Estroven® Weight Management
• Estroven® Sleep CoolTM

Occasional sleeplessness is another menopausal symptom that can dramatically impact a woman’s quality of life. Melatonin helps reduce the time it takes to fall asleep and increase the total sleep time in people suffering from difficulty sleeping. 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

Estroven® dietary supplement products that contain Melatonin:

• Estroven® Sleep CoolTM

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.1,2 The stems and leaves of the Cissus quadrangularis plant have specific beneficial attributes and phytochemical analyses indicate many physiologically important substances that can provide beneficial responses.3 Cissus quadrangularis has been clinically studied to decrease both total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol.

Estroven® dietary supplement products that contain Synetrim® CQ:

• Estroven® Weight Management

Memory lapses is a symptom that affects menopausal women. Estroven uses Ginkgo biloba extract to address memory concerns.

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

Estroven dietary supplement products that contain Gingko biloba:

• Estroven® Stress, Mood & Memory