Hi, I'm not sure if there is a better place to post this info, but I just stumbled upon some cautionary words regarding some of the herbs that many of us are taking. Hopefully everyone has done enough research to know this stuff already, but this particular article had some information that I hadn't personally heard of yet so I thought I'd share.
I found it on this web page:
http://altmedicine.about.com/cs/3/a/Herbal_Breast.htm
So if you want to see the full article, that's where to find it. I copied the info on Blessed Thistle, Dong Quai, Fennel, Fenugreek, Hops, Pueraria Mirifica, Saw Palmetto, Wild Yam, and Bovine Ovary.
Here is the info I thought was relevant to us:
"**Blessed Thistle - The herb blessed thistle is approved by Germany's Commission E for the treatment of loss of appetite and indigestion. It was used historically by nursing women to increase the flow of milk.
There have been no published clinical trials on blessed thistle for natural breast enlargement, so we don't know whether it is effective or safe for regular use in large doses.
Blessed thistle is believed to stimulate the production of stomach acid, so it can cause mild irritation of the digestive tract lining. It should not be used by people with gastrointestinal reflux disease, ulcers, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, and irritable bowel syndrome.
Blessed thistle should not be used by pregnant women, as it can increase the risk of birth defects and spontaneous abortion.
People who are allergic to ragweed, chrysanthemums, or daisies may be allergic to blessed thistle, because they belong to the same plant family.
**Dong Quai - Dong quai is a Chinese herb used primarily to relieve menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, reduce menstrual cramps, and regulate menstrual cycles.
The only published study on dong quai and breast enlargement was a case report of a man who took a combination herbal pill and had temporary breast enlargement. The pill was thought to have been contaminated with synthetic estrogen. There are no other published clinical trials on dong quai for breast enhancement.
One potential risk is that dong quai has been found to stimulate the growth of breast cancer cells (estrogen receptor-positive and negative) in test tube studies.
Dong quai can increase the sensitivity of skin to the sun's rays. Sunscreen should always be used before any exposure to the sun. Dong quai should not be used by pregnant women.
Dong quai contains chemicals called coumarins, which slow blood clotting, so it should not be taken by people using the "blood-thinning" drugs such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Trental (pentoxifylline), or aspirin. For the same reason, dong quai should not be taken two weeks before or after surgery.
** Fennel Seed - Fennel has been used for centuries as both food and medicine. It was used traditionally to increase the flow of breast milk in nursing women, enhance libido, and increase menstrual flow. There are no published studies examining the use of fennel seed for breast enhancement in humans. In the 1930s, there was some interest in fennel in the development of synthetic estrogens, due to compounds called dianethole and photoanethole.
One study found that after consuming fennel seed for 10 days, the weight of breast tissue in female rats increased. Higher doses increased the weight of the uterus, which suggests that fennel in high doses may stimulate the growth of uterine tissue. Fennel may decrease the effectiveness of the antibiotic Cipro (ciprofloxacin) and possibly other drugs in the ciprofloxacin family and should not be combined.
**Fenugreek - Although there is an unsubstantiated claim that women in harems were fed fenugreek seeds to increase their breast size, no studies confirm fenugreek can result in breast enlargement.
Fenugreek contains a compound called diosgenin. In laboratories, diosgenin can be converted to estrogen and progesterone but that same conversion doesn't occur naturally in the body.
People who are allergic to peanuts or soybeans may also be allergic to fenugreek. Side effects from oral fenugreek supplements may include diarrhea and gas. Fenugreek, in large quantitites, may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It should not be combined with diabetes medication unless under a doctor's supervision.
**Hops - Used in the brewing of beer, hops contain a potent phytoestrogen called 8-prenylnaringenin which has 0.2-20% the potency of estradiol, the main human estrogen.
Hops are sedating and are used for anxiety and insomnia. They can cause excess drowsiness, so people who are driving or who otherwise need to stay alert should use it with caution. Hops should not be used by people with depression.
Hops can affect the metabolism of prescription drugs in the liver, such as drugs for allergies, fungal infections, cancer, high cholesterol or oral contraceptives.
**Pueraria mirifica - Also known as Kwao Krua, Pueraria mirifica is a plant found in Thailand and Burma and used by the indigenous hill tribe people.
The plant contains compounds called miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, which have been found to have estrogen-like effects in the body.
Like the other herbs used for natural breast enhancement, pueraria mirifica should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, people with hormone-sensitive cancers, or by people using oral contraceptives as contraception.
In one study examining pueraria mirifica in perimenopausal women, side effects included anemia.
**Saw Palmetto - Saw palmetto (Serenoa repens) is a herb best known to treat urinary symptoms resulting from benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) in men. It is thought to prevent the binding of the hormone dihydrotestosterone (DHT) to androgen receptors and to block the 5-alpha-reductase enzyme, which converts testosterone to the more potent DHT.
We don't know why saw palmetto would work as a bust-enhancer. There is no scientific evidence linking DHT or testosterone levels from saw palmetto with breast enlargement.
Saw palmetto should not be used by pregnant or nursing women or people with hormone dependent cancers.
Saw palmetto has been found slow blood clotting, so it should not be used before or after surgery, but people with bleeding disorders, and by people taking "blood-thinnig"medications, such as Coumadin (warfarin), Plavix (clopidogrel), Ticlid (ticlopidine), Trental (pentoxifylline), heparin, and aspirin. Saw palmetto may decrease the effectiveness of oral contraceptives.
**Wild Yam - Wild yam has been found to have a variety of plant-derived estrogens, such as diosgenin. It is promoted to treat menopausal symptoms and relieve premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
We don't know how wild yam could increase breast size. Diosgenin can be converted to estrogen and progesterone, but it must be done in a lab because the human body can't convert it on its own.
One recent study did find that wild yam consumption altered estrogen levels. In the study, 24 postmenopausal women replaced their staple food with 390 g of yam in 2 of 3 meals per day for 30 days. After yam ingestion, there were significant increases in concentrations of estrone (26%), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) (9.5%), and a near significant increase in estradiol (27%).
Wild yam should not be used by pregnant or nursing women, by women using oral contraceptives as contraception, or by people with hormone sensitive cancers.
**Bovine Ovary Extract - There are no published studies of the safety or effectiveness of bovine ovary extract in humans. Unlike the other herbs discussed here, websites selling the product say that bovine ovary extract stimulates the pituitary gland resulting in an increase in prolactin and growth hormone levels.
If this is true, there are potential risks. Prolactin is a hormone that rises almost ten-fold during pregnancy to stimulate breast development and milk formation. High levels of prolactin can cause infertility, irregular menstruation, reduced libido, and possibly increase the risk of stroke.
Growth hormone is needed to stimulate growth in children. High levels of growth hormone in adults who don't need it can cause the development of diabetes, abnormal growth of bones and internal organs such as the heart, kidneys, and liver, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)."
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