Herbs and Women's Health Throughout history, women have handed down information from mother to daughter on how herbs can remedy some of the common maladies of life. Women, like the moon, change in cycles. Plants are sometimes referred to as being phytoestrogenic or phytoprogesteronic. They can occupy the receptor sites in the body that would normally be taken up by these hormones.
Plants can therefore, in some cases, both increase or decrease hormonal levels in the body.
The root or rhizome is used medicinally and works as both a smooth muscle and nerve relaxant. Black cohosh is a phytoestrogen, which means it has mild, estrogen-like properties. Black cohosh soothes irritated and congested uterine, cervix, and vaginal tissues. It helps relieve hot flashes, headaches, and edema, and helps prevent organ prolapse the falling of an organ from its true position. It is the liver that helps the body break down excess hormones, and for this reason dandelion can help a wide range of menstrual and menopausal concerns, and even breast tenderness.