Women's Health

Can Cranberry Juice cure cystitis?

Cranberry juice is often used as an alternative remedy for cystitis (bladder inflammation) but does it work? According to the theory, certain sugars and flavanol compounds in cranberries prevent bacteria sticking to cells lining the walls of the urinary tract. But when researchers recently trawled through the evidence (in a systematic review published in The Cochrane Library) they concluded that cranberries were only likely to have a small benefit and only for women with recurrent urinary tract infections. That said - in most studies it was unclear how much cranberry was being consumed leading the scientists to conclude that maybe the levels were too low to have an effect. Either way, it would seem cranberry juice can't harm even if it only helps a little.

Does Red Ginseng help menopausal symptoms?

Ginseng is a herbal remedy widely used in East Asian countries to treat a range of illnesses including menopausal symptoms. Like most studies on herbal remedies, findings tend to be mixed, but a recent study from Korea (published in the journal ?Menopause') does suggest that Red Ginseng (also called Asian ginseng) improves menopausal symptoms and also lowers cholesterol thereby reducing cardiovascular risk in post-menopausal women. The thought is that red ginseng contains properties that work similarly to the female sex hormone Oestrogen (which decreases during the menopause).