A: New research has shown that if infertility or menstrual irregularity is due to a short luteal phase, corpus luteal insufficiency or low progesterone Chaste Tree can be used to help regulate cycles and is useful in the first trimester to maintain the pregnancy and reduce chance of miscarriage. While many herbs can be very useful to treat symptoms in pregnancy, they are usually reserved for the second half (20 weeks and beyond) when all of the organ systems are formed and the fetus is simply getting bigger. Bilberry for hemorrhoids, Echinacea Premium for immune support and Withania tincture for anxiety are all safe and effective tools for treating the pregnant woman.

A: When you break it down, the causes of aging are simple: decreased microcirculation and increased oxidation are at the root of most of the diseases associated with aging. Providing your patients with the tools to increase circulation and cognition, like Ginkgo, and to reduce reactive oxygen species, like the antioxidant powerhouses in Vitanox (turmeric, resveratol, rosemary and green tea) can give them a daily way to slow the aging process. Doses as low as 1-2 tablets per day can provide an incredible advantage over the ravages of time, with research showing enhanced memory, reduced tissue oxidation and better cardiovascular health.

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A:Chewing a tablet generates more surface area and contact with the sublingual capillaries which will allow for the kavalactones to enter the body. Peak absorption is usually achieved in 10-15 minutes compared to oral ingestion. Oral route has several factors that effect the absorption time - the liver's efficiency, gastric emptying (usually the slowest of steps), presence of food type (fatty = slower).

The most important part is that the patient has to hold the kava (powdered, see below) in ones mouth for at least 60 seconds before absorption can be initiated. kava will cause the mouth to feel prickly, slightly numb - a sensation that some patients will not enjoy. Be sure to check first. I would recommend buying a grinder as an alternative to chewing a tablet. Chewing tablets can create pits within the molars.

If you use Kava liquid instead , be certain that Kava liquid is not mixed with ethanol. Kava + ethanol can increase liver enzymes and it can also increase the likeliness that hepatotoxicity will occur. This is the reason MediHerb produces their Kava through hot-water extraction, and then quickly presses it into a tablet. This preserves the maximum effect of the kavalactones without the danger of hepatotoxicity.

Comparing the tincture to the tablet - use this as a rule of thumb: Do not take more than 2-3 tablets in an hour (every 20 minutes) and not more than 5 tablets in a day. The key to help most patients with anxiety is to give Kava at regular intervals each day over a period of 4 weeks. Significant reduction of anxiety and even depression can be measured using such a test as the Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale. The difference can be seen even after 1 week.

A: No, I haven't observed this, but it is possible. Are you using the SJW in a patient with Major Depressive Disorder or a patient with General Anxiety Disorder? This reaction is observed with SSRI and SNRI medications that are used to treat anxiety. This is why allopaths will prescribe a short course benzodiazepine to take the edge off while the other agents have their window to ramp up and be effective.