The Health Benefits of Pueraria Mirifica

Pueraria mirifica is a wonderful medicinal herb with the ability to help bring hormones back into balance. It has a characteristic known as an adaptogen. It’s been known to rejuvenate and revitalize the body, for both men and women, through menopause and at other times in life.

 
Richard Passwater, PhD, is an accomplished research biochemist who has done extensive research on Pueraria mirifica in relation to both menopause and overall health. He was so interested in what he uncovered about this once unknown herb, that he dedicated a whole book to the topic: Amazing Health Benefits of the Wonder Herb Pueraria Mirifica: Eliminating menopausal symptoms and improving bone, brain, and prostate health…and much more.

This summarizes Dr. Passwater’s findings and why they are so important and relevant today.

What is Pueraria mirifica?

Pueraria mirificais a rare herb that grows in the mountains of Thailand. It is a perennial vine in the kudzu family that trails up into the rainforest canopy. The magical part of the plant, however, lives underground in the root.

The root of Pueraria mirifica has been used for thousands of years as a fermented beverage and medical plant. This plant has been called amazing, wonderful and miraculous, hence the name mirifica (miracle making)

Why is Pueraria mirifica so miraculous?
It has everything to do with the potent phytoestrogens (plant estrogens), miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol, found in the root. These phytoestrogens have nearly 3,000 times more estrogenic activity in the body when compared to soy isoflavones. In addition, these phytoestrogens are nearly bioidentical to estradiol (E2), the form of estrogen naturally produced by the ovaries.

Interestingly, the ability of the plant to produce miroestrol and deoxymiroestrol is dependent upon the high-altitude, natural growing environment in Thailand. If transplanted and cultivated elsewhere, the medicinal properties decrease.

When used as food or medicine, these potent plant estrogens activate the estrogen receptors in the body, known as selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs). This simply means that when miroestrol and other phytoestrogens bind to the receptor, they have a modulating effect; they can either help halt detrimental estrogen activity when levels are too high or initiate beneficial estrogen activity during times of low estrogen.

SERMs are found in the bones, brain, blood vessels, skin, sex organs and other areas in the body, allowing for Pueraria mirifica to have benefits throughout the body!

Benefits of Pueraria mirifica

Because of its ability to modulate the effects of estrogen, Pueraria mirifica is most well known in relation to hormonal symptoms. Pueraria mirifica may decrease symptoms of PMS or estrogen dominance. In perimenopause and menopause, Pueraria mirifica may be recommended for:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Mood swings
• Heart palpitations

Pueraria mirifica offers an alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) for menopausal women by promoting symptom reduction without side effects. Pueraria mirifica goes further by providing important health benefits and prevention, something synthetic hormones can’t do.

Studies suggest Pueraria mirifica can improve the following:

• Bone strength
• Risk for breast and prostate cancer
  
• Mental clarity and focus
• Cardiovascular health
• Signs of aging, including skin and hair
• Cholesterol and lipid balance
• Vaginal structure and lubrication
• Prostate function

As we can see, Pueraria mirifica certainly lives up to its miraculous name! People around the world now have access to the life-changing and rejuvenating benefits, with the same revitalizing power Thai people have benefited from for millennium.