Hair Waxing for Tweens: How Young Is Too Young?

Hair Waxing for Tweens: How Young Is Too Young?
by Monique El-Faizy
Aug 24th 2010
http://www.parentdish.com/2010/08/24/hair-waxing-for-tweens/?icid=main%7Chtmlws-main-w%7Cdl3%7Csec3_lnk1%7C166062

Girls can be in such a hurry grow up fast -- they want to wear makeup, carry purses and get waxed. Wait ... waxed?

Yep, teen and tweendom comes with more and more of the trappings of womanhood these days, and salon owners say they now see girls as young as 8 coming in to get unwanted body hair removed.

The youngest waxers tend to want to get rid of the dark fuzz on their upper lips or shape up unibrows, and are often the children of clients, Diane Fisher, owner of Eclips Kids Salon in Ashburn, Va., tells ParentDish.

"Where we live, there's a lot of Middle Easterners," she says. "Lots of the girls have dark hair for their age. They're self-conscious."

Wanda Stawczyk, owner of Wanda's European Skin Care Center in New York, says girls who start waxing young, even before they have dark hair, will always have lighter, thinner hair.

"It's a very big result," she tells ParentDish. "The hair is diminished almost 100 percent."

She advocates for it even more strongly on her website.

"I call it the 'Virgin' -- waxing for children 8 years old and up who have never shaved before," the website reads. "Virgin hair can be waxed so successfully that growth can be permanently stopped in just 2 to 6 sessions. Save your child a lifetime of waxing ... and put the money in the bank for her college education instead!"

Stawczyk says the number of young girls she sees has increased by about 50 percent in the past year.

Many of her littlest clients start coming to her when they are 8 or 9 years old and get a range of services from lip waxes to lower leg waxes, Stawczyk says.

"Everything but bikini," she tells ParentDish. "We don't want to introduce them to that kind of service yet."

Regular bikini waxing starts at 14 or 15 for her clients, Stawczyk says.

And the ouch factor?

"The children, they don't feel the pain," Stawczyk insists. "They have weaker hair. All of them, when they come the first time, they're afraid, but it doesn't hurt them. I would say it hurts less than a Band-Aid."

Helps With Their Self Esteem

But is all this OK, or is it harmful for girls to get waxed at such a tender age? For the most part, there isn't a problem, says Rebekah Williams, assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and adolescent medicine at Indiana University.

"For some young women, it actually helps with their self esteem," she says of girls who are embarrassed about visible dark growth.

But Williams does issue one caveat.

"It's fine to wax any body hair," she tells ParentDish. "It's the pubic hair that's most concerning to me."

Waxing pubic hair if a girl is too young can make it difficult for doctors to tell if a girl is maturing as she should, Williams says.

"We use development of a certain type of hair and distribution of hair as a marker of normal puberty," she says.

Doctors look primarily at breast and hair development to determine if puberty is progressing at a healthy rate. Facial hair and underarm hair are a part of that, but pubic hair is a key indicator -- and not only the presence of it, but its location, as well. One indication of the final stage of puberty is the pubic hair hitting the leg, Williams says. If that hair is waxed too soon, doctors lose an important marker.

After puberty, though -- which can come very early for some girls -- Williams has no issues with waxing of any sort.

"After puberty is complete and we know that it's progressed normally, there's nothing concerning about bikini waxing," she tells ParentDish.

Others, however, think the message waxing sends girls is an unhealthy one.

How to Give Yourself a Black Lace Manicure

America's Most Stylish Blogger Trang Huyen shows off her lace nails. Photo: Trang HuyenI was inspired by the lace nails as seen on the spring runway at Reem Acra and, most recently, the Fall 2010 runway at Tracy Reese.

How to Give Yourself a Black Lace Manicure

by Trang Huyen

http://www.stylelist.com/2010/03/15/black-lace-manicure-lace-nails/

Here's how to give yourself fashionable fingertips in a matter of minutes!

Supplies you will need: Top coat (I used Sally Hansen), scissors, toothpick, and black lace! The top coat is designed to dry hard and protect your nails from scratches and chips. To ensure the lace adheres to the nails, make sure you use the top coat instead of clear polish.

Step 1: Measure and trim the lace to fit each finger nail.

Step 2: Polish a single layer of top coat.

Step 3: Apply the trimmed lace on top of the wet polish.

Step 4: Firmly press the outer corners of the lace with a toothpick.

Step 5: Let the polish and lace dry for a few minutes.

Step 6: Finish with two more applications of top coat. You're all set.

To complete the look, I styled the uber-fun nails with a Ralph Lauren lace top with wing details and a reconstructed vintage lace skirt.

How To Get Christina Aguilera's Lush Lashes

How To Get Christina Aguilera's Lush Lashes
by Grace Gold
http://www.stylelist.com/2010/05/21/how-to-get-christina-aguileras-lashes/

Christina Aguilera's much discussed soft look at the 2010 Golden Globe Awards was due in part to feathery false eye lashes. Photo: Getty ImagesHollywood is a town filled with smoke and mirrors, and often even the most natural of celebrity beauty looks is in reality enhanced with secret tricks.

While Christina Aguilera has never shied away from a bold red lip or dramatic look, it's false lashes that she turns to in order to pull off gentler looks with the same amount of red carpet glamour.

And we hear that not only does Aguilera apply strip lashes to her top lash line, but she also enhances her bottom rim with individual lashes for a feminine, feathery look. Kre-At Beauty's Sweet Individuals, to be exact.

New York makeup artist Andrew Sotomayor says the key to pulling off a look that makes people think, 'Is she, or isn't she?' is to go for lashes that have differing lengths and wispy ends that mimic the look of long, thick lashes that naturally grow at different rates. "Strips can look fake when all the lashes are the same length and thickness," says Sotomayor.Whether you're applying lashes to the top or bottom lash line, Sotomayor recommends you squeeze a drop of lash glue on to the back of the box and use a toothpick or brush handle tip to evenly spread the glue along the band. Give it a moment to get tacky, and repeat for extra adhesion. Then work from the outter corner inwards, either pushing down a strip at the band or applying individual sprigs."For the most natural and blended look, first apply eyeliner, curl your own lashes and apply mascara. Apply false lashes, curl and add another coat of mascara. A coat of liquid or gel liner hides the band and dresses up your look," advises Sotomayor.And when it comes time to remove, resist the urge to just peel the lashes off -- or else risk taking some of your own off with them. Instead, hold a cotton ball soaked with eye makeup remover over a closed eye for a moment, and then gently peel off the lashes after the glue has dissipated.

If you handle lashes carefully and allow them to dry out after each use, you can often sneak up to three to five uses out of a single pair.Because while we may be able to get Christina Aguilera's lashes, we sure don't get her paycheck.

How to Wear Neon Nail Polish

How to Wear Neon Nail Polish
by Dana Oliver
Jun 25th 2010
http://www.stylelist.com/2010/06/25/how-to-wear-neon-nail-polish/

Neon nails are the it nail polish look for summer.

Eye-dilating digits ruled on the Spring/Summer 2010 runways of Zac Posen, Rag & Bone, Jean Paul Gaultier, and L.A.M.B. And hot young stars like Rihanna, Kristen Stewart, and Miley Cyrus have all gone neon with nails painted in brightly colored shades of pink, yellow, and blue. "The greatest thing about neon nails is that they don't have to be matchy-matchy!" says celebrity manicurist Kimmie Kyees, who lacquers up the nails of celebs including RiRi, Katy Perry, and Britney Spears.

"They make a statement all on their own."The boldness behind this nail trend is a huge part of its popularity. "I personally like it when an outfit is void of other bright hues, like Katy's dress on the red carpet of the MTV Movie Awards," says Kyees. "It was silver and the nails were bright yellow. She went a step further and had blue hair which looked rad with the nails!

"If you're keeping it cool in all white, you can add a pop of color to your ensemble with neon nail polish. And the vibrant shade is an instant conversation starter when paired with no makeup-makeup and sleek strands.

Read on for Kyees' simple beauty tips on how to wear neon nails.

Go "Squoval"

When wearing brightly colored polish, it's best to keep your nails short or in a "squoval" -- a little square, a little oval. But the shape is best determined by looking at the length of the nail bed, nail plate, and overall condition advises Kyees.

"The pointy nail has become super popular. It's growing on me," she says, "and looks great in the neon shades as well!"

White Out

If there's one thing the beauty team at StyleList knows about nails, we know that a perfectly polished manicure begins with a base coat. After providing your digits with a good foundation for the polish to adhere to, Kyees recommends smoothing on a coat of white polish. "I like Orly White Out, OPI Alpine Snow or China Glaze White on White. This will make your neon shade look more vibrant than ever before. I won't use a neon without a white coat of polish!"

Embrace The Rainbow

Before you make a mad dash to your nearest drug or beauty supply store to stock up on neon nail polish, take into consideration your complexion. For lighter skin tones, Kyees suggests green and purple shades. And for darker skin tones, orange and pink. "You have to be careful if you have more red or yellow tones in your skin as some shades don't look as good."

So what neon nail brands should you look out for? Kyees recommends China Glaze's latest neon line, Poolside, Orly's Plastix collection for its shine twist on matte, and Zoya Sparkle for girls who like glitter with its headache-free removal.

Are you ahead of the class when it comes to the latest nail trends?

Test your knowledge on the top 10 nail polish names of 2010!

Do Drinkable Beauty Potions Work?

Do Drinkable Beauty Potions Work?
by Courtney Dunlop
http://www.stylelist.com/2010/01/07/do-drinkable-beauty-potions-work/

Glisodin is part of a new class of drinkable potions that promise better skin. Courtesy Photo

Earlier this week StyleList reported about the collagen-enhanced beauty beverages flying off the shelves in Japan and the scores of women hoping to plump and de-age their skin from the inside out.While beauty supplements -- in the form of pills, powders and infused beverages -- only make up a tiny share of the beauty market in the US it's a business that's rapidly growing.A recent report from market research firm Mintel, as reported by the New York Times: "Global food and drink product launches with a 'beauty enhancing' claim increased by a staggering 306 percent from 2005 to 2008."The past few years have seen a boom of launches here in the US. -- from companies such as Glowelle, Glisodin, Borba and many more -- and women looking to preserve the bloom of youth are gulping them down.

(We at StyleList have been known to chug a few ourselves!)But the problem with beauty supplements is that it's really difficult, if not impossible, to prove if they work and most of the evidence is purely anecdotal. That's not to say they don't work, it just means it's hard to figure out which ones will really do something and which ones are worthless.And as Manhattan dermatologist Francesca Fusco explained to the New York Times about a beauty drink with goji berry that supposedly helps beautify the skin, "You can also get all of the benefits of this through a healthy diet and a good multivitamin."Yes, you can adopt a mantra of "If it doesn't hurt me than what's the harm" and maybe you will prevent a wrinkle or two in the process, but it's an expensive gamble (60 Borba Replenishing packets will set you back $100).

Most medical and health experts would agree that the true fountain of youth, as boring as it sounds, is still a well balanced diet with lots of vegetables, exercise, sleep and sunscreen.We'll drink to that!

Alternative Treatments for Sinus Problems

Alternative Treatments for Sinus Pain
By Cary Barbor
http://www.aolhealth.com/condition-center/sinuses/alternative-sinus-pain-treatment?icid=mainhtmlws-main-wdl3link3http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aolhealth.com%2Fcondition-center%2Fsinuses%2Falternative-sinus-pain-treatment

Sinus pain can be excruciating, and if you suffer from it, you've probably tried every remedy in the drugstore to get some relief. AOL Health talked to the experts to find some pain management tactics you may not have considered.

Horseradish

You love it on your pastrami sandwich -- now try it for sinus pain. The strong-flavored herb actually acts as an expectorant. In addition, it may have antibiotic properties, which can help if you have a sinus infection. To try it, get some fresh horseradish root -- not the type in the jar. You can find it at Whole Foods or other specialty stores. Grate up ¼ teaspoon of it. Place it on your tongue and hold it in your mouth until the flavor fades. (Beware: It's hotter than the jarred kind.) You should start to feel mucus draining down the back of your throat and the pressure alleviating. Spit the mucus out along with the horseradish.

Fenugreek Tea

Fenugreek is another herb that, like horseradish, acts as an expectorant. It may also help reduce inflammation, and it works well as a tea. You can find the leaves in Indian grocery stores or online. Boil 1 teaspoon of fenugreek leaves in 1 cup of water. Drink while it's still warm, like a tea. It may cause you to sweat. Don't use fenugreek if you're pregnant or allergic to peanuts. Fruit EnzymesMurray Grossan, an otolaryngologist in Los Angeles and author of "Free Yourself From Sinus and Allergy Problems Permanently" recommends papaya and pineapple enzymes, both of which are available at health food stores. The papain in papaya and bromelain in pineapple help thin mucus and reduce inflammation, thereby clearing sinuses and airways.

Reflexology

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that reflexology can clear sinuses. The points to focus on are on the underside of the four smaller toes, near the outermost joint, toward the lateral side of the toe. Work the area for about two minutes. Proceed gently though -- if you have inflamed sinuses, this area will be tender.

Contrast Therapy

Holistic physician Jade Teta recommends a very simple contrast therapy. Hold a washcloth dipped in hot water to the sinuses for three minutes, then a cloth dipped in cold water for 1 minute. Alternate between the two several times. Because hot opens blood vessels and cold shrinks them, the contrast creates a pumping action that brings blood to the area, helping to relieve congestion and speed healing.

Humming

And if all else fails, says Teta, try humming. It increases vibration in the sinuses and therefore increases oxygen and blood flow to the area. "Headache," by Weezer, perhaps?

More on Sinus Pain:

Illustration copyright 2000 by Nucleus Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. http://www.nucleusinc.com/

Sinus headache: Areas of pain

http://www.aolhealth.com/tools/sinus-headache-areas-of-pain

A sinus headache can be caused by an infection (bacterial or viral) or from allergies. Signs that you have a sinus infection include:

~ A fever.
~ Green or gray discharge from your nose that lasts more than 7 to 10 days.
~ A runny or stuffy nose.
~ A feeling of fullness in the ears, or plugged ears.
~ Swelling or puffiness in the face.

Credits
Primary Medical Reviewer
William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer
H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
Last Updated
July 9, 2008

Menopause and Treatment

Soy

Soy is the first natural ingredient that strikes most women when talking about menopause symptoms, says Moores. The reason soy can help reduce symptoms, such as hot flashes, is because of the high level of phytoestrogens, or plant-based estrogens. But soy supplements have become controversial. Some experts believe it can increase your breast cancer risk. "Soy is complicated," says Dr. Marcie Richardson, Director of the Harvard Vanguard Menopause Consultation Service and a member of the North American Menopause Society. Perimenopause might be the time to use soy, because the phtyoestrogens can have a modulating effect. But this hasn't really been proven, she says.
Exercise

"Exercise is absolutely critical," says Susan Moores MSRD, registered dietitian and spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association. Exercise can be a powerful sleep aid, combating the sleep disturbances many women complain about. It has been shown to improve the whole gamut of menopause symptoms from hot flashes to mood swings. She says not to just focus on aerobic exercise, but also try strength training and relaxation techniques, such as yoga.
Flaxseed

"Flaxseed falls in the same camp as soy for the phytoestrogens," says Moores. One study by the Mayo Clinic found the incidence of hot flashes was reduced as much as 50 percent by consuming flaxseed. It is also thought to be very promising because, along with phytoestrogens, it also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which can aid in mood stabilization. According to A.D.A.M., an online health content provider, when compared to hormone replacement therapy, 40 grams of flaxseed was reported to be equally as effective in reducing hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood disturbances.
Black Cohosh

Two German studies have shown black cohosh to be effective in reducing hot flashes, according to A.D.A.M. One study in particular showed 80 percent of women saw a decrease in hot flashes while using black cohosh. However, no long-term studies have been done and there have been reports of side-effects including upset stomach and low blood pressure, caution the experts at Harvard Medical School.

Natural Progesterone

This over-the-counter cure uses progesterone or progesterone-like compounds as the active ingredient. "Natural progesterone is a hormone and it works," says Dr. Richardson. "Skin creams that contain extracts of Mexican wild yams have been widely promoted for natural menopause relief for years," says Harvard Medical School. However, because of variation among products and the individual nature of skin's responsiveness, this method is not recommended by the North American Menopause Society, says Harvard. There's no safety data on this hormone, Dr. Richardson cautions. Learn more about the risks and benefits here.

Red Clover

Red clover is often used to reduce vaginal dryness and decrease hot flashes. The effectiveness of red clover is thought to be due to a plant-chemical, isoflavones, which has an estrogen-like effect in the body. However, according to Harvard Medical School, research results have been disappointing. Two studies published in the journal 'Menopause' found that women fared no better with red clover than a placebo for both hot flashes and vaginal dryness. Learn more about red clover here.

Omega-3 Fatty Acids

Fish isn't just delicious; it contains a valuable ingredient that may help stabilize your mood swings too -- omega-3 fatty acids. There have been some good studies to attest that omega-3 can help improve mood, says Dr. Richardson. There's also growing research that omega-3 fatty acids help fight heart disease. The best way to add this key ingredient to your diet is by eating fatty fish like salmon, tuna and trout.

Acupuncture

You wouldn't necessarily think that sticking needles in your body would be a helpful way to cure menopause symptoms, but when combined with other treatments, it can be helpful. Some controlled studies have shown some effectiveness in some woman for hot flashes, says Dr. Richardson. According to A.D.A.M., "both the World Health Organization and the National Institutes of Health recognize that acupuncture can be a helpful part of a treatment plan" for many illnesses, including menopausal symptoms.

Vitamin E

There has been a study, which showed a slight effect in decreasing hot flashes for women using vitamin E, says Dr. Richardson. Along with reducing hot flashes vitamin E may carry with it extra benefits, such as fending off macular degeneration, lowering blood pressure, and slowing the aging of cells and tissues according to A.D.A.M.

Cutting down on alcohol.

Who hasn't felt the negative effects of drinking too much alcohol, such as trouble sleeping or feeling flushed? This goes double for women during menopause. The thing about alcohol is: women metabolize it worse than men and we metabolize it worse as we age, says Dr. Richardson. According to Harvard Medical School, alcohol can act as a trigger for hot flashes. And if that wasn't enough to ward you off the bottle, studies show that consuming alcohol regularly ups your risk for other conditions like breast cancer and stroke.

Treatment options for menopause symptoms

Hot flashes. Meditative breathing exercises (paced respiration) have been shown to reduce hot flashes.9 Medicines that can improve hot flashes include short-term, low-dose hormone therapy, antidepressants, the high blood pressure medicine clonidine, and the antiseizure medicine gabapentin (Neurontin).

Heavy periods. The hormone progestin can help relieve heavy menstrual bleeding caused by very low or very high progesterone levels (after you have an exam to rule out other possible causes). Other options include nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the levonorgestrel (LNg) IUD, or birth control pills. For severe blood loss, some women choose permanent surgical treatment. These options include removing the uterus (hysterectomy) or using heat energy to damage and scar the wall of the uterus (endometrial ablation). For more information, see the topic Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding.

Vaginal dryness and irritation. A vaginal lubricant can help with dryness. Low-dose vaginal estrogen can help if your symptoms are thin skin, dryness, and/or irritation. Less estrogen is absorbed into your system with vaginal use, so the risks associated with ERT are less likely.

Multiple or severe symptoms. Hormone therapy can relieve multiple or difficult menopause symptoms. For symptom relief before menopause, low-dose estrogen-progestin birth control pills or low-dose HRT (estrogen-progestin) can reduce heavy menstrual bleeding and other symptoms. After menopause, low-dose HRT is an option. Also, for severe symptoms that don't improve with estrogen-progestin, there is an estrogen-testosterone therapy. But testosterone is not FDA-approved for women, because it is not yet well studied. Talk to your doctor about short-term HRT along with checkups every 6 months.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) is an alternative to HRT. But it has not been well studied. The hormones are made in a laboratory from wild yams or soy. BHRT is thought to be more similar to human-produced hormones than synthetic HRT is. (Well-designed studies have not yet proved this theory.) But bioidentical HRT may carry the same heart, stroke, blood clot, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and dementia risks that are linked to traditional HRT. Any form of hormone therapy, including BHRT, is best taken for as short a period as possible after menopause.

Should I use hormone replacement therapy (HRT)?
Testosterone is sometimes used to increase sexual desire in postmenopausal women who have low testosterone. But the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved testosterone treatment for this purpose. There is no testosterone product that comes in doses that are right for women. Studies of testosterone in women have not lasted longer than 6 months.13 FDA experts want to know more about long-term risks before they approve testosterone for use by females.

If you have a problem with low sexual desire, consider that most sexual problems in women relate to such things as relationship troubles, depression, or medicine side effects. For more information, see the topic Sexual Problems in Women.

Other treatment options
Women may also try alternative medicine to relieve menopause symptoms. These alternatives may include black cohosh (Remifemin) or dietary soy.
Many doctors now suggest trying nonhormonal treatment for bothersome menopause symptoms before considering hormone therapy (birth control pills, estrogen alone [ERT], or estrogen-progestin [HRT]). There are several nonhormonal prescription treatments that can relieve or reduce hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. You can also try using black cohosh or dietary soy.

Medication Choices
Prescription medication without hormones

Antidepressant medicines can lower the number and severity of hot flashes. Some women have side effects.10 The safety of very long-term use has yet to be studied.

Clonidine, a high blood pressure medicine, can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes. Some women have side effects related to low blood pressure.

Gabapentin (Neurontin), an antiseizure medicine, can reduce the number and severity of hot flashes. Possible side effects include sleepiness, dizziness, and swelling.

Prescription medication with hormones

Birth control pills (estrogen and progestin) regulate menstrual bleeding and can relieve symptoms until menopause. Birth control pills are not used after menopause. You should not use birth control pills if you smoke or have diabetes, untreated high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, or a history of breast cancer. Low-dose formulations are recommended for women older than 35. Some women have side effects.

Progestin pills or the levonorgestrel IUD, which releases a form of progesterone into the uterus, reduce heavy, irregular menstrual periods during perimenopause. Some women have side effects.

Low-dose vaginal estrogen (cream, tablet, or ring) reduces vaginal and urethral dryness and weakening without introducing high levels of estrogen into the body.

Hormone replacement therapy (estrogen and progestin), in pill, patch, vaginal ring, gel, or cream form, can be used to treat menopause symptoms. Because studies have found that HRT increases some health risks for some women, doctors have changed the way HRT is used. For menopause symptom relief, experts now recommend that HRT only be used at the lowest effective dose for the shortest possible period of time.

Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is made from plants and is thought to be more similar to human-produced hormones than synthetic HRT. But bioidentical HRT is not well researched and may carry the same health risks that traditional HRT does.9 Any form of hormone therapy is best taken for as short a period as possible.

Because of concern about hormone replacement therapy (HRT) health risks, many women have turned to alternative medicine for menopause symptom relief. As part of a stepwise treatment approach, you can consider using one or more of the following options for preventing or treating symptoms before trying prescription medicines or hormones.

The meditative breathing exercise called paced respiration may reduce hot flashes and emotional symptoms. This approach has no known side effects, risks, or costs and can be safely combined with additional treatment, if needed.

Black cohosh (Remifemin, 20 mg) may prevent or relieve menopause symptoms. But the research on black cohosh has had mixed results. Some studies have shown that black cohosh can relieve hot flashes. But other studies have shown that black cohosh does not relieve hot flashes. Also, the long-term safety is not yet known. (Risks similar to estrogen risks are a possibility.) Have regular checkups if you are using black cohosh, and make sure your doctor knows what you are taking.

Soy phytoestrogens (isoflavones) are in more complete form when you eat them as food, rather than in a pill or powder. A high-soy diet has been linked to stronger bones, especially in the first 10 years after menopause, when estrogen levels drop and rapid bone loss happens. Regularly eating and drinking soy may also help even out menopause symptoms. But studies have shown mixed results. They have not always shown that soy is effective for treating hot flashes.

Yoga (which often includes meditative breathing) and/or biofeedback give you tools you can use to reduce stress. High stress is likely to make your symptoms worse.

Alternative treatments to avoid
Based on the latest research, some therapies are not recommended for menopause symptoms, either because they are not effective or because they can cause dangerous effects. These include:
Kava, evening primrose, dong quai, valerian, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), and angelica. Wild yam or natural progesterone creams.

Using alternative treatments
These types of medicinals are not required to have the same testing or purity standards as prescription and other nonprescription medicines. The amount of a drug in herbal preparations varies widely. It is also possible for nonregulated products to be contaminated with metals or other dangerous substances. Before trying any treatment, look for scientific studies that support its beneficial claims as well as information on risks. When buying herbs or supplements:

Find a reputable brand or supplier.
Look for the U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP)-verified mark on product labels. This is one way of finding a product that has been tested for safety and quality. For more information, see www.usp.org/USPVerified/dietarySupplements.
If you are using an alternative medicine or herbal remedy, make sure your doctor knows. Tell him or her the type and amount you are taking, how long you have been taking it, and why.

Organizations for help ..

North American Menopause Society (NAMS)
P.O. Box 94527
Cleveland, OH 44101-4527
Phone:
(440) 442-7550
Fax:
(440) 442-2660
E-mail:
info@menopause.org
Web Address:
www.menopause.org

The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) is a nonprofit organization that promotes the understanding of menopause and thereby improves the health of women as they approach menopause and beyond. NAMS members include experts from medicine, nursing, sociology, psychology, nutrition, anthropology, epidemiology, pharmacy, and education. The NAMS Web site has information on perimenopause, early menopause, menopause symptoms and long-term health effects of estrogen loss, and a variety of therapies.

American Botanical Council (ABC)
P.O. Box 144345
Austin, TX 78714
Phone:
1-800-373-7105
Fax:
(512) 926-2345
E-mail:
abc@herbalgram.org
Web Address:
www.herbalgram.org

The American Botanical Council's goals are to educate the public about beneficial herbs and plants and to promote the safe and effective use of medicinal plants.