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AYURVEDA PHARMACOLOGY OF FOOD & HERBS
CLASSIFICATION OF FOOD, HERBS, & LIFESTYLE
Reproductive-health - Foods & Herbs List
About Reproductive-Health Browse Recipes AYURVEDIC PERSPECTIVE ON REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTHComparing Sex HormonesEach of the main sex hormones has unique biocharacteristics that affect the entire constitution. Based on this analysis, which hormones are dominant in your constitution?Testosterone - Hot, moist, heavy
Male sex hormone but still needed in women. Anabolic muscle builder, gives umph & vigor. See also Anti-androgen for herbs that reduce testosterone. Testosterone production is stimulated by release of LH and FSH from the pituitary.
Estrogen - Heavy, Moist, Anxiolytic
Female sex hormone. Anabolic muscle builder. See also Anti estrogenic herbs. Cooler than progesterone. Estrogen deficiency (as in menopause) causes a drop in heat / metabolism.
Progesterone - Hot, Dry, Relaxing
Progesterone is a warm, muscle relaxing hormone that maintains and prepares uterine lining for implantation. Elevated during pregnancy and luteal phase of menstrual cycle. It relaxes muscles and especially the pelvic floor to prepare hips for childbirth. This relaxing quality also acts as a vasodilator that can lead to varicose veins. Progesterone raises body temperature - it is essentially metabolic/catabolic but more regulatory. It builds muscle mass. As pregnancy hormones naturally suppress fertility hormones, progesterone tempers/opposes estrogen. It is diuretic.
Oxytocin - Hot, Light, Tense
Stimulates uterine contraction (during labor, postpartum, etc), release of breast milk (let down reflex). Tribal (+bonding to infant, loyal to inner circle, hostile to outsiders / other groups / people with different opinions / cultures / beliefs). Produced by pituitary, stimulated by breastfeeding, ejaculation. Anabolic to muscle and bone, but causes weight loss (catabolic) through reducing food intake, increasing energy expenditure and inducing lipolysis.
Prolactin (galactagogue) - Cold, Heavy, Dry
Causes production of breast milk. Suppresses fertility & menstruation by decreasing estrogen and testosterone (which is why breastfeeding women do not menstruate). Suppresses fat metabolism (leading to weight gain) but also suppresses fat storage (leading to hyperglycemia) so that sugars will be available in milk. Stimulates insulin release. Causes vaginal dryness. As it suppresses reproductive hormones, prolactin is associated with depression, anxiety, and hostility. Hypothyroidism causes higher prolactin levels. See also anti-prolactin herbs.
Estrogen Effects, Dominance, & DeficiencyINGREDIENTS AFFECTING REPRODUCTIVE-HEALTH
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