It’s not often a mix in my newsletters with my products, but today I am going to do just that. There a vast amount of learning here, especially for us Boomers and it’s time for an update!
Time was (about 10 years ago) when I had the #1 slot on Google for Puereria mirifica. Those days are gone, not because I am no longer one of the world’s leading experts on Pueraria, but because crafty little snots who know how to push themselves to the top of Google, even though they know ZERO medicine, call the shots.
Pueraria mirifica, is a herbal remedy from Thailand. In fact I jokingly call is HRT (Herbal Remedy From Thailand, get it?)
Pueraria mirifica (also related to Kwao Krua and Butea Superba), is a plant found only in Thailand and parts of Burma; 99% is grown in Thailand. Don’t let Chinese growers or online pushers of breast-enlargement creams kid you otherwise!
The region where this plant is grown is remarkable for its low rate of breast cancer and impressive longevity, which alerted scientists to something good going on. The lucky women get to use this local plant and the benefits are enormous and the science is building all the time.
Thai menopausal women, have been using Pueraria Mirifica for 700 years.
Men should use it too, especially as they age, since men are increasingly exposed to old-age estrogens (“male estrogen”).
The active ingredients seem to be miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol. These have been shown to be 3,000 more potent as estrogens than soy isoflavones, which led to my friend Dr. Garry Gordon MD, wisecracking a few years ago, that Pueraria mirifica “Makes Black Cohosh and Red Clover look like placebos”! (Garry was never one for understatement!)
Mirifica means “miracle” and it does seem as if we have a miracle herb on our hands. It counters all the negative effects of estrogen—a big problem in today’s world.
There is no increase in estrogen levels ever found, yet it reverses atrophic vaginitis and in fact, Dr. Christiane Northrup has reported that vaginal tissues become years younger and painful intercourse disappears.
The Problem
What Problem? Well, it is an estrogen mimic and ought to make estrogen dominance worse. But the fact it is doesn’t. It works by attaching to estrogen receptors, so that real estrogen is rendered ineffective, but it does so without stimulating the receptors in a dangerous way.
This is sometimes called estrogen inhibition.
It actually works by the same mechanism as the drug Tamoxifen, to reduce risk of breast cancer cells proliferating. There is much more to research on this incredible story, which it appears should be in the diet of every women from adolescence on, so that we bring breast cancer rates down to those in Northern Thailand, which is proven to be the lowest in the world.
Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs)
Pueraria in one of a group of emergent compounds, which includes the drug Tamoxifen, called selective estrogen receptor modulators or SERMs.
SERMs are called “selective” because they bind to particular estrogen receptors. SERMs do not prevent the production of estrogen, but they help to slow or stop the growth of estrogen-sensitive cancer cells by starving them of a full dose of natural estrogen.
There are other beneficial side effects, such as lowering cholesterol and protecting bone health for post-menopausal women, keeping the skeleton and joints strong and preventing breaks and fractures.
The latest remarkable discovery is that SERMs can protect your telomeres and that is a number one result for anti-aging (more of that in a moment).
Men Too!
Men can benefit too. We know that male estrogen increases through time, while testosterone falls, due to aging, body fat, hormonal replacement, pesticides, nutritional deficiencies, prescription medications and excessive alcohol intake. It’s equivalent to estrogen dominance.
In fact, studies have shown that the estrogen levels of the average 54-year-old man is higher than those of the average 59-year-old women! The end result is that these high levels of estrogen can cause reduced levels of testosterone, fatigue, loss of muscle tone, increased body fat, loss of libido and sexual function, an enlarged prostate and man-boobs.
So Pueraria has potential benefits for men too. It does not produce male breasts and may actually reduce this sign of aging plumpness.
But don’t suppose PM will take the place of good diet, exercise, cutting down on alcohol and losing plenty of weight.
Reversing Aging
This is the bit we are interested in here.
Harvard scientists have taken prematurely aged mice and reversed the toll of time – increasing the size of their shrunken brains, restoring their diminished sense of smell, and turning their graying fur to a healthy sheen.
They did this by using the SERM properties.
The mice were at the very end of their lives and scientists expected no more than to slow or perhaps stabilize the aging process. Instead, they saw a dramatic reversal in the symptoms of aging!
Guess which mouse got the SERM! [these mice are from the same litter!]
The mice were specially developed to be telomere-deficient and aged fast. Just mid-way through the normal lifespan of a mouse, their organs had atrophied, their brains had shrunk, their coats turned gray and shabby and they had lost the ability to detect noxious odors.
But when scientists used a Tamoxifen-clone enzyme to switch the gene back on for a month, many hallmarks of aging seemed to reverse. The fertility of the mice increased, their sense of smell was restored, and their organs were rejuvenated. They literally went into aging reverse. See photo. The mouse on the left once looked like the old crock on the right! But now it looks YEARS younger (in human terms)
Well, the complex enzyme used for this trial is not available commercially and I could not recommend Tamoxifen as a good idea, even if you could get your doctor to prescribe it.
But you can take Pueraria and expect at least some of this beneficial aging effect. In several senses, Pueraria mirifica is a “fountain of youth”.
Dosage and Sources
Menstruating Women
Daily doses of 100 mg to 600 mgs/day, following our current recommended schedule of the 8th day from the start of the monthly menstrual cycle to the 21st day.
Post-Menopausal Women
Daily dosing, with no cycle.
Men
Daily dosing, around 100 mg, with no cycle.
Sum Up Properties Of Pueraria Mirifica
- slowing the aging process: anti-wrinkle agent; hair darkener, strengthener, and hair growth promoter
- breast firming
- counter-acting memory loss
- alleviating cataract and other vision problems
- increasing energy, vigor, flexibility
- increasing blood circulation
- increasing appetite
- alleviating sleep disorders
- preventing and aiding rehabilitation from strokes
- alleviating the effects of menopause
- restoring vaginal health and elasticity
- countering osteoporosis
- slowing and preventing prostate enlargement in men
- preventing/mitigating dementia
Truly, a “miracle” herb and deserves its name.
Want Some?
Well, the good news is that it is back in stock at Dr. Keith’s Own, at last.This is the Real Deal Pueraria, not the fake Chinese stuff that’s all over Amazon.
My suppliers farm the herb responsibly and don’t go tramping all over the jungle ripping up anything that even looks look a tuber!
In other words it’s a sustainable product.
Just go here to buy:
Just a change for this week. But I thought you’d appreciate the news!
To your good health,
Prof. Keith Scott-Mumby
The Official Alternative Doctor
