It is estimated that a majority of women will suffer from symptoms triggered by menopausal changes in the hormones. The most frequent symptoms include hot flushes nights sweats, insomnia issues, mood shifts, anxiety, problems with concentration, diminished libido and dryness of the vagina. These signs, which typically affect daily life in a significant way may begin for several months or even years before menstrual periods cease and be present for a long time after.
Many women find that HRT (hormone therapy replacement) is either not feasible or isn’t a desirable alternative. Many women prefer the potential with natural solutions to maintain their conditions under manage. The most popular options are black cohosh, soy isoflavones evening primrose, and red clover oil. Another plant which is getting a lot of attention is the sage. A lot of women swear by this plant, but what is the science tell us?
Sage for the Menopause
While it is mostly utilized in cooking however, sage has been investigated to determine its function in menopausal alleviation of symptoms.
The first study conducted in this area was carried out in Switzerland and was published in the year the year 2011. It enrolled the 71 women suffering from at least five hot flushes per day. The study gave them daily doses of tablets to treat sage for 8 weeks. Prior to taking the tablets and following the 8-week study period they completed an assessment called the Menopause Rating Scale to note their symptoms. They also recorded the amount of hot flushes that they experienced every day.
It was discovered that Sage tablets resulted in significant decreases in the frequency of hot flushes each week starting at the beginning of the study to the final day. The women also noticed notable improvements when they took their Menopause Rating Scale, showing that sage can be beneficial in a variety of conditions other than hot flushes as well.
Because this was an open label study, women were aware that the supplement was a supplement with sage and there was not a control group for comparison to. Due to this, the results could be scrutinized but the study nonetheless sparked curiosity and encouraged thorough investigation.
The study that followed was released in 2023 revealed positive findings. 30 women who were menopausal were enrolled and randomly assigned to an sage or placebo group. Prior to and following 4 weeks of supplementation, women recorded their symptoms to ensure researchers could evaluate the outcomes. After just four weeks, they found that those taking supplements with sage noticed significant reductions in anxiety, night sweats and fatigue, as well as experiencing improvements in concentration. There were no significant changes in other indicators such as heart rate, mood, tension and libido.
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There has been research that has demonstrated that sage may alleviate symptoms, such as mood and libido, but only for a short time. The most recent study of sage, an uncontrolled, double blind placebo controlled trial discovered that taking 300 mg of sage extract every day for three months resulted in notable improvements to sweaty nights, hot flushes and palpitations, sleep disturbances and joint pain. It also helped with anxiousness, depression sexual desire, and satisfaction with sex.
It is possible that these results were better than the previous study due to two main reasons. The first is that this latest study included a greater amount of participants which improves the ability of the study to detect significant modifications. Another factor is the length of this study. The latest study was three months, whereas the earlier study looked at only lasted for four weeks. It is possible that four weeks of supplementation with sage leads in some improvements, but more is required to realize the full range of advantages.
While sage has been utilized by women for many years to treat their ailments However, the research that established the validity of this practice is quite new. This is because scientists aren’t completely certain what the effects of sage are on the body. There have been some theories which have been identified. The primary reason the benefits of sage for women who are menopausal is due to its phytoestrogens. Plant compounds called phytoestrogens are very similar in appearance and shape as human the hormone oestrogen. Due to their similarity they are believed to have an effect on hormone receptors in the body, however in a lesser degree than oestrogen in itself. It is nevertheless enough to bring about improvements in symptoms due to a deficiency of natural Oestrogen.
Other Health Benefits
While it is often thought of as a benefit for women going through menopausal changes however, sage has been proven to be beneficial to other people as well.
In the first instance, focusing on younger women Sage extract capsules have been found to be beneficial for women who suffer from premenstrual disorder (PMS). symptoms like fatigue, mood swings and bloating, breast tenderness as well as skin irritations, headaches and changes in appetite and sexual drive are common among those suffering from it. A study of 90 college students who suffer from PMS revealed that 500 mg in sage leaf extract every day significantly reduced a range of psychological and physical symptoms, compared to the participants who were treated with a placebo.
Sage may also improve metabolism and lower the chance to develop heart diseases, given the numerous studies that have proven its capacity to improve cholesterol levels. A study of 67 individuals who had high triglycerides and cholesterol levels showed that sage leaf extract dramatically decreased total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL as well as VLDL cholesterol. A high level of these indicators are a sign of unhealthy health.
It is interesting to note that the group taking the sage extract saw increases in HDL cholesterol. The high HDL cholesterol has been proven to lower the risk of developing heart disease since it transports excessive cholesterol into the liver, where it can be eliminated by the human body. This is why it’s often referred to as good cholesterol. There was no adverse events recorded and this indicates that it is both safe and efficient.
Another study has proven how sage leaves could help those suffering from type 2 diabetes, as well. This placebo-controlled, randomised study demonstrated that, in 100 volunteers the sage extract reduced blood sugar levels during fasting, enhanced performance in the orally glucose tolerance test, and reduced the amount of glycated hemoglobin.
Also called HbA1c The glycated haemoglobin measure the amount of glucose connected to the red blood cells. When your body is processing sugar, it binds to haemoglobin. This provides an accurate indication of the amount of sugar within the system of an individual. Since red blood cells are active for a period of about a month This gives doctors an average of their readings over the duration of the time instead of a quick snapshot of blood sugar. As a result, HbA1c has been regarded as the most reliable measure of diabetes management, and keeping it under control is of prime importance. Since sage has the ability to dramatically reduce HbA1c levels and has been proven to be safe with Metformin and other diabetes medications It is definitely an alternative for the 8% of the population who suffer from type 2 diabetes.
How Much Sage Should I Take?
Before you begin any supplement, it is essential to discuss the issue with your doctor and ensure that you’re taking a dose that is effective and safe. It’s generally known the safety of sage but since different research teams around the world have employed different dosing strategies and different varieties of sage it’s difficult to pinpoint the ideal dosage to take. However there are a few published research studies have employed 500 mg of sage leaf extracts derived from the genus Salvia officinalis and this is the best way to supplement based on the latest evidence.
Summary
I hope this article has helped you know why there is an interest in sage tablets as well as capsules and also that research actually supports the traditional usage. Most of the research has been focused on menopausal symptoms, but there is some good research that addresses those with Type 2 Diabetes and high cholesterol, too. With the increasing prevalence of these diseases which suggests that sage is a component which can be beneficial to the majority of people. Since it’s an easily tolerated and a cost-effective natural ingredient there’s no reason to not consider it for adding it to your diet routine.