Does anyone take this?
Has it helped?
How much and when do you take it?
(I had a mad ordering spree after reading loads of stuff last week and I can't remember half of the reasons why!)
hi jane it's me using holy basil and i really like it. It seems to lower cortisol levels which can be a side effect of too much progesterone and low oestrogen. It has lots of amazing properties and is calming provided not got additional stresses than normal menopause. I've only been taking it this week and i think the best benefits will come longer term but so far no side effects and i really like it. Smells good too lol. Also low cost. I've tried most things on this forum and much more. I want to try and share the positive as well. i use the swanson superior herbs variety as i think they do vary a lot in quality and this is low cost as well. after trial i think the best way to take it is one at the start of the night and then one if you wake up around 5 and you should go back to sleep where is i can stay awake all night w/o it. seems to work very well with the magnesium spray. I'm not sure what your issues are with menopause but mine is by far worse with the insomnia so that's why i take it. Hope it helps you anyway.
Hi Jane
thats the one not to take for long periods of time .. Need a break every now and then
the bottle will tell you how and when to take it on the label depending in the make and strength
i dont take it
jay xx
thank you both. mine is Swanson too. It says take 2 twice a day but after internet search it seems that is very subjective. If it will help me sleep I will try as you suggest rcharris.
Thanks for the warning re not taking long term Jay.
I am having awful nights I think now, due to the hot flushes but they seem to happen after I've woken rather than waking me. I am having up to 8 a night so constantly exhausted. I also have a permanent headache and pain in my hands, arms, lower legs and feet so I am trying everything!
So it's magnesium spray and pills too?
JJ recommended both but i just use spray and take multi complex with mag in too. So i guess i use both but think through spray the big diff. Works well with holy basil x
I get flushes too. I use thin bedding but with warmer stuff near by when cool down. i found mixed feedback on the long term use basil so it may be ok. just with try guess hope works or helps for you. I'm still looking at other herbs to use in combo as well to deepen sleep. Have to do lots research so they don't interact x
jane
i had my hot flushes return post meno, i also got them in early peri..
for them i took Rain forest Maca 5.1
that was fab for peri early on.. I still take it now ..
when i have a break from it i can tell as its very good and i return to it .
now i get no flushes since i have been taking Vit E capsules orally for a while.. I get none..
Vit E is a great help for flushes ...
Also Solgar Chelated magnesium .. I take that too
Menapol plus i take 2 x daily aswell
Vit B 100mg is also a must
i take all the supplements which I know help ..
if you trial any you have to trial them for over 3 months ... A week here and there isnt long enough for any trial of different supplements.
some ladies will say they tried this that and the other but dont give them time to work ..
jay xx
robin you may find this helpful..
chaleted magnesium = ( Bisglycinate ) magnesium
useful magnesium info ....
i take Solgar Chelated ( Bisglycinate) Magnesium
Magnesium bisglycinate is an essential mineral needed for more than 300 enzymatic reactions in the body.
This mineral is required for the formation of healthy bones and teeth, protein and fatty acid formation, activating B vitamins, supporting muscle activity, nerve transmission, relaxing blood vessels, clotting blood, temperature regulation and ensuring intestinal mobility also called bowel movements.
Magnesium bisglycinate is magnesium bound to the amino acid glycine. This binding makes the magnesium highly absorbable.
For example you would have to take 4 times the amount of magnesium citrate to get the equivalent amount of magnesium bisglycinate.
The bisglycinate form of magnesium does not require stomach acid for absorption as it passes into the cell via its amino acid transport which means even those with poor digestion or absorption get the benefits.
Magnesium bisglycinate is the only magnesium shown to cross the blood brain barrier which makes it an excellent choice for aiding those with depression and/or anxiety, or migraine headaches.
Stress of all types including chemical, emotional, hormonal or physical stress depletes magnesium from the body.
Since magnesium relaxes muscles and nerves, more magnesium is needed when you are under stress.
magnesium Chelate is calming and a tablet before bed can aid reatful sleep.
When we are under stress our adrenal glands produce cortisol which further increases acidity in the body thereby increasing the need for even more magnesium.
Because magnesium is required in the metabolism of estrogen in the body, low levels of magnesium increases estrogen leading to estrogen dominance.
Symptoms of too much estrogen include premenstrual breast and uterine pain, headaches, backaches, premenstrual depression and mood swings.
Women on the birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy also become deficient in magnesium as the drugs deplete magnesium.
Anyone with an estrogen dominant condition like endometriosis, PMS, fibroids, ovarian cysts, period problems or breast cysts need magnesium bisglycinate.
Interestingly, many women crave chocolate during their premenstrual and menstrual period. Chocolate is high in magnesium!
Magnesium deficiency is common due to our consumption of processed foods and the depletion of magnesium from agricultural soils and water.
Magnesium supplementation can help with many conditions from high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat or heart palpitations, to insomnia, anxiety and depression to fibromyalgia, osteoporosis and leg cramps at night or following exercise.
Always make sure when you are purchasing minerals that the label states whether or not the dosage is in its elemental value. This tells you if you are getting exactly what you are paying for.
Which Magnesium Is Best?
Magnesium oxide and citrates are *laxatives causing diarrhea and they are poorly absorbed. Avoid..
Magnesium bisglycinate is much better absorbed and it does * not cause diarrhea.
Magnesium bisglycinate is four times more effective than citrate forms of magnesium
vit E capsules
Vitamin E
This is an important vitamin to consider at the menopause.
Over many years clinical studies have shown its effect on reducing hot flushes.
Vitamin E is also helpful for vaginal dryness and one study showed that just 400iu taken daily for between 1 and 4 months helped 50 percent of the women given supplemental vitamin E.
Although most women fear breast cancer, our biggest killer is heart disease. There is now such a wealth of information on the beneficial effects of nutrition on heart disease and unfortunately HRT has been shown to increase the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
A study published in the Lancet showed that 2000 patients with arteriosclerosis (fatty deposits in the arteries) had a 75 percent reduction in their risk of heart attack when given vitamin E.
At the time, researchers claimed that vitamin E was even more effective than aspirin in reducing heart attacks.
Hi are you on HRT? I have not been on it long first 1/10 then 2/10 for last 2 months, as I inadvertently forgot to take it away on holiday and effectively went cold turkey, felt bad and dr upped my dose as she thought oestrogen took a dip (no test though). Was wondering if holy Basil affected HRT. I too am still finding insomnia and it's repercussions the hardest part in last 2 months. How do you know you when you have too much Prog and Oestrogen? HRT is not great on its own but will speak to Meno Clinic this week for further advices and whether to come off it altogether for this reason.
Hi liz as i'm having an early menopause they didn't put me on hrt as i'm too young apparently. They gave me a low dose oestrogen pill instead. It helped for 3 weeks and then it stopped working. Like many of the other things have tried too. I don't think the holy basil would go well with hrt no as it effects the hormones from the adrenals outwards. i would say so it's probably not a good mix sadly. Do you feel the hrt what is helping you? If not you could try coming off it & try holy basil with the supplements that the girls recommend on here particularly the B mix and vitamin D. i also watch my diet and take 7 and a half milligrams or half the minimum dose of mirtazapine nightly. much worse without that. i also take vitamin c, omega 3, evening primrose oil, multivitamins and minerals and vitamin D spray. In the end i found that the magnesium spray gave me hot flashes as it produces oestrogen. Sad. The others all play a part in keeping the body stable somehow. They're static now for me. Then i just been trying herbs etc. This one holds promise so far week in.
the way my body tells me i have too much progesterone is i get ibs. The way it tells me i have too low oestrogen is i get itchy hands. Also hot flashes for the latter. Hope this helps. 3.5 yrs in now x
Hi rcharris
magnesium spray gave you hot flushes as it produces oestrogen ?
magnesium helps hot flushes ..
jay x
no it causes low oestrogen. I got hot flashes when i went on it and when i came off they went away. That's what my buddy does when i got low ooestrogen i get hot flashes xx was worth shot though.
Body sorry phone auto text
Hi
well your taking oestrogen you say..
so info you give about supplments for natural peri can be misleading
as people dont take any HRT and estrogen, Pills nothing ..
so your side effects will be very different
jay x
no i'm not on any oestrogen. Ive listed above all the things that i do take. Not much different from any of the ladies on here except the holy basil.
sorry i see why you thought that now. I'm no longer on the low dose oestrogen pill. I give up things once i know that they're not helping or making it worse. I do give them a good trial before i give up though.
Hi rcharris
you did put produces oestrogen and gave you hot flushes for magnesium spray..
you are increasing your own ostrogen with the oestrogen pill..
dont know how long you have tried it for ....
people take HRT to eleviate peri symptoms .. they shouldnt need umpteen supplements like the natural route ..
B6 good for peri symptoms, post meno symptoms and assists in absortion of HRT.
i have reseached peri and supplements for many many years and had a natural peri for 10years and now post menopause ..
best to check your info correct before posting as very confusing for people
when your trial things be nice to see how long for so we get a better understanding
jay