New Treatment Helps Women Redefine Menopause

It seems that not a month goes by without another study revealing some terrible side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). Topping the list of concerns is breast cancer, which has been definitively linked to HRT. Still, millions of women use HRT to mitigate menopause symptoms that include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, weight gain, decreased libido and more.

Why do so many women treat a non-life threatening condition (menopause) with a drug that can result in a potentially fatal illness?

"If your symptoms are bad you'll do most anything to ease them," says Carol Nicholson, a registered nurse who has been on HRT for several years. "I have a history of breast cancer in my family, so for me, HRT was the last resort. But I just felt helpless."

She says that seeing a large number of natural menopausal relief products in stores and on the Internet can be deceiving, because virtually all of them are based on the same herbal ingredients, like soy, black cohosh and red clover. Even though she settled for HRT, Kriegel continued searching for a viable, safer alternative.

Her wish suddenly came true when she read a news report about a product called Amberen, which was described as a natural compound that restores hormonal balance by stimulating organs of the neuro-endocrine system. Nicholson admits she was skeptical, but she decided to give it a try anyway. To her amazement, she was able to get off HRT in less than 3 weeks. "I'm now adding another holiday to my calendar. Oct. 19, the 'Menopause Liberation Day,' " she says.

Nicholson's story mirrors those of thousands of other women who had tried Amberen since its limited release on the market about a year ago, according to Lunada Biomedical, the company that manufactures Amberen. The company believes that Amberen will quickly gain significant market share in the United States based on its effectiveness, high quality of clinical data, and its unique mode of action.

"In our studies, we have successfully achieved an HRT-like effect by administering natural mitochondrial metabolites that essentially mimic the effects of hormones. We clearly demonstrated that a natural, non-hormonal compound based on balance of salts succinates, can, in effect, lead to temporary hormonal renaissance," says Dr. Eugene Maevsky, who led the Amberen study.

In a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical study, 4-week Amberen treatment sharply increased estradiol concentrations in the blood of menopausal women. Estradiol is the most potent naturally occurring estrogen and is often referred to as the "hormone of youth" because of its critical role in reproductive and sexual functioning. Estradiol also was shown to improve the strength and elasticity of bones and joints while also improving the skin. Amberen can relieve symptoms such as headache, increased irritability, insomnia, and hot flashes.


Amberen offers a free trial for 90 days. Just pay $7.99 for shipping and handling. Visit www.myamberen.com to sign up for this offer. Copyright © 2008, ARAnet, Inc.