This is an animal study which goes into a little bit of detail about some biochemistry behind how Menoprogen might work.   Other lab studies  and  human clinic trials have shown  that the product IS able to  reduce hot flushes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, mood swing, amnesia, anxiety etc.  Specifically it seems to work by increasing the body’s own estrogen production and does not act directly on estrogen receptors.  This last point is important for those worried about cancer effects.  However, if one’s own estrogen increases,  this may still affect the risk of cancer or cancer recurrence because that internal estrogen can certainly bind to estrogen receptors.  So, based on this,  the jury is out on whether or not there is decreased, equal or increased cancer risk.  More human safety trials are needed, especially in women who have had cancer. Having said that, based on this study, the natural herbal ingredients themselves should not affect cancer risk by any direct effect on estrogen receptors.

Estrogenic effects of the herbal formula, menoprogen, in ovariectomized rats.

Biol Pharm Bull. 2010;33(3):455-60

Authors: Ma H, Chung MH, Lu Y, Nishihara T, Hattori M

Despite the health risks for postmenopausal women, the indications and ideal candidates for hormone replacement therapy remain unclear. The present study used ovariectomized rats to examine the safety and effects of the Chinese herbal formula Menoprogen (MPG), which is prescribed for menopausal syndrome. Daily oral MPG (1000 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks significantly recovered uterine and adrenal gland atrophy and restored serum estradiol, estrone and progesterone levels that were decreased in rats by bilateral ovariectomy. However, yeast two-hybrid and nuclear receptor cofactor assays showed that MPG did not bind estrogen receptors alpha (ERalpha) and beta, and immunohistochemical staining revealed that unlike 17beta-estradiol, MPG did not stimulate the protein expression of ERalpha, progesterone receptor, c-jun and c-fos in the uterus. No side effects of MPG were confirmed in vivo. These findings suggest that MPG would be useful for treating women with premenopausal and postmenopausal syndromes.

PMID: 20190409 [PubMed - in process]

Tagged as: alternative cures, chinese herbs, menopause, Menoprogen, natural cures