• H&A formulas combine herbs targeted for conditions, but specific enough to ensure they work.
• The Difference? Within various condition-specific categories, David has developed subcategories for various ways that conditions manifest.

• Perhaps this is one of the reasons women are major consumers of herbal formulations to support their personal health, and they seem to be directly seeking herbal products for their health, indicating this is an area many health care professionals may not address effectively.
• With certain notable exceptions, the practitioners purchasing our women’s products are primarily women.

• Even treating similar issues, the choice of herbs that will best support them may be influenced by
• age,
• constitutional imbalances,
• underlying health issues, and
• lifestyle choices.
• Commercially available formulas developed by trained herbalists, designed for a relatively narrow aspect of a condition, will provide the best benefits.
• Herbs are most effective in combination, rather than the allopathic approach of addressing a condition with a single herb as one may do with a pharmaceutical drug.

• Starts with Chaste tree to balance hormone levels and reduce estrogen dominance.
• Adds herbs to build blood, specifically Processed Rehmannia and Dong Quai, with
• Raspberry Leaf to tonify the uterus.
• Ginger improves digestion, circulation, supports the body’s natural inflammatory response, and
• Motherwort relieves minor menstrual pain and stress.

• Energizing adaptogens Shatavari and Red Ginseng rejuvenate and support female libido, endocrine, immune, and nervous system function. Human clinical trials have disproved the idea that Red Ginseng is a “men’s herb” -- it improves libido and reduces menopausal symptoms and cardiovascular risk factors in post-menopausal women.
• Processed Rehmannia is a restorative yin and blood tonic
• Shatavari alleviates vaginal dryness, and
• Fragrant Rose petal is a nervine that heals the “emotional heart.”
• Damiana, the uplifting nervine has an extensive history of use for promoting both female and male libido and improving mood and mental function.

• Antispasmodics - Black Haw, Roman Chamomile, Wild Yam
• Helpful for minor spasmodic pain especially menstrual cramps - Cyperus, Corydalis, and Jamaica Dogwood
• Support for many of the secondary effects associated with menstrual cramps such as nausea, minor lower back pain and loose stools.
• Black Haw has a long history of use for menstrual pain.
• Roman Chamomile is a bitter tonic, carminative and antispasmodic.
• Wild Yam is indicated for dysmenorrhea with nausea and minor abdominal pain.
• Cyperus or Mu Xiong is very useful for treating dys­menorrhea with nausea, gastric, uterine or intestinal minor pain.

• Chaste tree, which in human studies has been found to reduce both PMS and peri-menopausal symptoms, particularly emotional ones, and
• Stress reducing nervine herbs Motherwort, Blue Vervain, Skullcap, and Pulsatilla. 
• This classic combination of Motherwort, Blue Vervain and Pulsatilla dates back to the Eclectic Physicians who first observed that these herbs in combination are far more effective than any one is by itself.

• Although Black Cohosh is often touted as the “menopause herb,” by itself it isn’t all that helpful. David says if he had to pick a single herb for hot flashes and night sweats it would be Chaste Tree, which works via the pituitary re-balancing FSH and LH levels. Combining these two herbs, however, is far superior to either alone.
• Blue Vervain is a stress reducing nervine and blends well with the trophorestorative nervine Fresh Oat to allay emotional irritation and anxiety, and to reduce sleep disruption. 
• Dong Quai and Night Blooming Cereus enhance circulation and support cardiac health.

• Fresh Milky Oat, which was used by the Eclectic Physicians (1830-1940s) to enhance sexual performance in women and men.
• Shatavari, the classic Ayurvedic female reproductive tonic, augments hormonal levels, moistens dry tissue and supports healthy sexual functioning. 
• Licorice, which is a yin tonic and contains hormone-mimetic isoflavones, and
• Dong Quai to promote pelvic circulation and cornification of vaginal tissue, and 
• White Pond Lily, an old Thomsonian/Physiomedical remedy for atonic, irritated mucous membrane tissue. 

• Yarrow’s reputation for stanching blood flow goes back to the Greek myth of Achilles; supposedly if he had Yarrow, his wounds would have been stanched. This aromatic herb can be useful for heavy menstrual bleeding.
• Fresh Shepherd’s Purse contains acetyl­choline which is a vasoconstrictor and vitamin K is necessary for normal blood clotting.
• Cinnamon bark is a styptic and was used by the Eclectic physicians. Bugleweed was also used by the Eclectic physicians. Witch Hazel is used orally as well as topically to enhance capillary and venous integrity.

• Chaste Tree works via the pituitary gland and HPA Axis lowering prolactin levels, which then affects FSH and estrogen levels. The result is to lower excess estrogen levels. 
• Dong Quai increases uterine circulation, increases liver and bowel excretion of hormones and builds the blood (xue).
• Saw Palmetto was used by the Eclectic physicians to relieve the symptoms of pelvic fullness.
• Chinese Peony nourishes the blood and is used in Chinese medicine for constrained liver Qi which affects minor uterine pain and menstruation.
• Shepherd’s Purse is astringing. Cinnamon bark increases uterine and peripheral circulation and is a styptic.
• The fragrant herb Cyperus is used in TCM for stagnant liver Qi and to relieve gynecological discomfort. It is effective for relieving uterine discomfort as well as menstrual discomfort and nausea.