When the kindness of friends is bad for you

Wednesday, a regular customer came into Tri-Valley Health Foods and complained to me of having heavier than normal menstrual bleeding. After talking with her for a few minutes and explaining what was happening inside her uterus, she told me a friend had suggested she take Wild Yam capsules because it was helping the friend feel better.

This customer is premenopausal and had not complained about any hot flashes, night sweats or other menopausal symptoms. She told me that her heavy periods started after she began taking the Wild Yam. She seemed to recognize what was going on but continued to take the Wild Yam.

Let me explain what this customer did to herself. She ingested a herb that has a high isoflavone content. Isoflavones are chemically similar to estradiol and can act like estradiol. So in effect, this customer causes herself to become estrogen dominant. This caused the uterus to develop a thicker than normal lining because the isoflavones interrupted the normal estrogen/progresterone cycle in her body.

My suggestions for her were these: 1) stop taking the Wild Yam capsules. 2) take a Dong Quai supplement for two months which will normalize her estrogen/progesterone cycle. 3) Do not listen to her friend about health concerns.

She is one of many customers that I have had in my store over the years who listened to a friend about some health concern only to end up more problems than they started with. Your friends are trying to help you out of concern. Your friends are there to play with, go out to eat with and cry on their shoulder. Please do not take advice about supplements or any other medical advice from your friends. Please talk to someone who knows supplement and can advise you on the proper way to use them.

Thanks for spending a part of your day here with me,

James