Hot flashes, night sweats, brain fog and fatigue — these are a few of our least favorite things.
But for most women over age 45, physical and mental symptoms of perimenopause and menopause are an everyday thing. And these symptoms can stick around for years and have a serious impact on your health and quality of life.
Thankfully, you don’t have to sweat it out on your own. There are treatment options that can help with symptoms.
The gold standard for menopause care in the U.S. is hormone therapy (HT) — taking prescription estrogen, progesterone or both. But HT isn’t recommended for everyone. And not everyone wants to take hormones.
This is where alternative treatments like menopause supplements come in. Products marketed as menopause supplements may contain vitamins, minerals, amino acids, botanicals and other ingredients intended to help ease symptoms of menopause.
One supplement making waves is EstroG-100. The plant-based remedy is a patented herbal blend with peer-reviewed studies to back up its potential benefits.
Here’s what you need to know about EstroG-100 and how it compares to other menopause supplements out there.
Read: Should You Take Menopause Dietary Supplements? >>
What is EstroG-100?
EstroG-100 is an oral supplement made from the roots of three plants: giant angelica (Angelica gigas), Sok-Dan (Phlomis umbrosa) and Wilford’s cynanchum (Cynanchum wilfordii).
The patented herbal blend is rooted in Asian folk medicine, and these plants have been used to reduce and/or relieve symptoms associated with menopause for more than 400 years. In fact, the first mention of these plants dates back to the Dong-Eui-Bo-Gam (the Korean medicine book) in 1610.
What are the potential benefits of taking EstroG-100?
According to one controlled study, the blend of root extracts may help people reduce vasomotor symptoms (VMS) of menopause (hot flashes and night sweats) among other symptoms after 12 weeks of use.
EstroG-100 may also help improve:
- Sleep problems
- Fatigue
- Anxiety
- Vaginal dryness
- Mood
- Vertigo
- Tingling in limbs (paresthesia)
- Joint pain
- Skin crawling (formication)
Why is EstroG-100 unique compared to other menopause supplements?
Studies show several potential benefits to taking EstroG-100 that make it unique compared to other menopause supplements.
For one, supplements marketed for menopause symptoms can contain phytoestrogens, which are plant-derived compounds that can mildly mimic the effects of estrogen in the body.
These can include:
Taking substances that are chemically similar to estrogen may not be recommended for some people with certain conditions like estrogen-fed cancer (including some breast cancers), hypothyroidism and people at risk of heart conditions, among other things. Always ask your healthcare provider before starting any type of supplement.
EstroG-100 does not contain phytoestrogens, mimic the effects of estrogen or directly interact with estrogen receptors. But it has been found to improve symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, including hot flashes. One clinical study found participants that took two capsules a day for 12 weeks reported significantly fewer hot flashes compared to the placebo group, which didn’t take EstroG-100.
In addition to hot flashes, EstroG-100 may help up to 11 other symptoms associated with menopause, including improved mood. This is more than some other popular supplements that have been found to be effective for just a few symptoms. For example, one meta-analysis of 22 studies found the popular menopause supplement black cohosh helped reduce hot flashes and improve sleep quality but did not significantly improve anxiety or depressive symptoms. Ashwagandha has been found to improve sleep quality and reduce stress and anxiety levels but hasn’t been shown to improve other menopause-related symptoms.
EstroG-100 may also help relieve symptoms faster than other menopause supplements.
People taking EstroG-100 reported fewer mental and physical symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes, within 30 days. And studies show that taking EstroG-100 does not affect weight or liver enzymes, which may be affected by other supplements.
What does science say about EstroG-100?
Three international studies of EstroG-100 found participants reported significant improvement in symptoms of menopause compared to participants who did not take EstroG-100, based on the Kupperman Menopausal Index (rating symptoms based on how severe they are).
Overall, the studies showed a reported improvement in quality of life and of a range of symptoms, including:
- VMS
- Numbness and tingling
- Sleep disturbances
- Nervousness
- Depressed mood
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Joint pain
- Headache attack
- Heart palpitations
- Tingling
- Skin crawling (formication)
Participants also reported improvements in vaginal dryness after taking EstroG-100 for three months.
Is EstroG-100 safe?
It’s important to note that the U.S. Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not currently approve any supplement for symptoms of menopause.
That said, a number of brands have sold EstroG-100 on U.S. shelves since 2017 with no adverse events reported. And some international organizations have backed EstroG-100 for efficiency and safety, like The European Panel on Nutrition, Novel Foods and Food Allergens (NDA) and the Korean FDA.
Health Canada and the Natural Health Products Directorate (NHPD) approved the use of EstroG-100 for menopause symptoms, which means they found evidence that supports the product’s safety, efficacy and quality.
And several toxicity studies found no serious side effects or metabolic changes when taking EstroG-100.
Who shouldn’t take EstroG-100?
EstroG-100 is generally safe for most people, but people with pre-existing conditions, including heart problems or liver or kidney conditions, and people who are taking antithrombotic or anticoagulant drugs should talk to their healthcare provider (HCP) before trying EstroG-100 or taking any supplement.
Where can you buy EstroG-100?
EstroG-100 is available online in supplement brands like Arbonne, Stonehenge Health and OLLY.
What else do women need to know about EstroG-100?
Symptoms of menopause can turn your world upside down. But you have options. Talk to your HCP about treatments and what may be right for you.
This educational resource was created with support from CK Nutraceuticals.
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