His and Her Health

A new radio call-in series called "Menopause Dialogues" will be aired and taped in a few different cities in May and June.

It will provide a new forum for women to find out everything they ever wanted to know about menopause but were too afraid to ask. Karen Giblin, Founder of the Red Hot Mamas along with other doctors will be answering YOUR questions! For information about how to call in and ask your question in your area, click here:
http://www.redhotmamas.org/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=134

And always remember, you can ask any of our Red Hot Mamas highly qualified medical experts your personal question by e-mailing them: askexperts@redhotmamas.org

I read in a magazine that women in Japan take gamma oryzanol for night sweats and hot flashes I would like to know if anyone have heard anything about this. [LIST]

Personally, I have never heard of this. I passed the question along to our expert panel though. They might have some more insight. What are you currently doing to abate your hot flash symptoms?

Gamma oryzanol is a mixture of ferulic acid esters of sterols and triterpene alcohols extracted from rice bran oil and other grain oils such as corn and barley. Japanese cultures have been using it as a medicine since 1962. In relation to menopause, the proposed mechanism of action are the reduction of LH (leutinizing hormone) by the pituitary gland and promotion of endorphin release by the hypothalamus. In my opinion, more clinical studies need to be performed to determine the overall effects of gamma oryzanol. Contraindications and interactions have not been well documented and there is no information regarding side effects, safety and efficacy. I would suggest discussing the use of this with your doctor. Hope this helps.