Pueraria Mirifica And Its Side Effects
A relatively new plant that has recently garnered a lot of popularity is Pueraria Mirifica. It is often compared to the Orchid, but unlike the Orchid, it has neither flowers nor roots and blooms only when the plant is cut. When the plant grows up, the flower will begin to develop. Pueraria Mirifica is a relative of the Orchid, and shares many of its properties, including having a very deep root system and great tolerance to humidity.
Pueraria Mirifica was initially developed in China for people suffering from high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, angina and other conditions. Through the use of an ingredient called Hu Li, the Chinese developed pueraria mirifica. The Chinese called this plant “ornithine.” In later years, scientists found that the chemical structure of the molecule in pueraria mirifica, or “ornithine,” is very similar to the chemical structure of the antioxidant compound, coenzyme Q10. This discovery lead scientists to conclude that pueraria mirifica may have the ability to prevent heart disease. Thus, it was used by the Chinese as a heart disease treatment.
There have been some positive effects of pueraria mirifica on women who are nursing. In one study, nursing mothers were given a daily supplement. Women who took the supplement had fewer fainting spells, heart attacks and strokes than did those who did not take the supplement. Even more remarkable, these beneficial effects appeared even in women who already had high blood pressure or coronary artery disease.
Some caution should be taken before you start taking this traditional Chinese herb. Because it contains phytoestrogens, which are estrogen mimickers, pueraria mirifica should be taken with food. That is why you should ask your doctor before taking it. It may contain allergens and other compounds that are harmful to your health. So talk with your doctor about using this or any other herbal supplement to boost your estrogen level.
As with any supplement, pueraria mirifica can cause side effects. Some of these side effects can be severe. One such side effect appears to be breast tenderness. It has been reported that as much as one half to three percent of the users of this herb experience this side effect. However, because this appears to be a symptom of some other underlying problem, it should not alarm you. If you notice that your breast swelling or tenderness does not go away after a few weeks, contact your doctor immediately.
Another common side effects reported with pueraria mirifica is decreased blood flow to the heart. This is not really a symptom of the product at all, but instead a symptom of a complication of high cholesterol. When women who use this product have their cholesterol checked, they are often instructed to increase the amount of garlic they eat. This allows them to counter the effect of cholesterol on their body. Although it is rare, some patients do experience an allergic reaction to garlic.