Mass-marketed breast cream yanked...

A few days ago, Vital Dynamics agreed to stop selling Isis, an "all natural herbal breast enhancement compound" after an FTC investigation determined the product didn't do what the advertisements were touting. Surprise, surprise, surprise...

While I'm not one to make generalizations, I have significant reservations about these mass-marketed products, offering to do everything from regrow hair, increase the size of various body parts, or really get you in the mood for love. I see this as a gross misrepresentation of the way herbs should be used, and a slight to my chosen profession that makes some people equate herbalists with the snake-oil salesmen of a hundred years ago.

So let's tear apart Isis and see what was in it and whether or not it should work. I wish I could include quantities of the various substances, but the words "proprietary blend" keep that information under lock and key. I'll show them in the order that they appear on the label, which may or may not be indicative of the various ratios:

• Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus) - Like many bitter tasting herbs, Cnicus is classified as a galactagogue, a substance that stimulates milk flow... when your breasts should be lactating.
  
• Hops (Humulus lupus) - Does have some milk-stimulating properties.
  
• Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) - Dioscorea is the raw materials used to make modern birth control pills. This plant has "hormone precursors" that are chemically similar to estrogen. It's a big leap to assume these precursors will be converted into human hormones without laboratory intervention.
  
• Fenugreek (Trigonella foenumgraecum) - Also used to manufacture contraceptives, Trigonella contains "steroidal saponins" which can stimulate the production of breast tissue while stimulating milk flow. Historically, Fenugreek was used to cleanse the breast, chest and lungs.
  
• Saw Palmetto (Serenoa repens) - Most familiar as an herb for enlarged prostate glands in men over 50, Serenoa encourages normal cell growth to this tissue. It's thought that both the prostrate and the female breast tissues have the same embryonic origin, so it's likely effects from this plant would have an affinity to both areas. But we're talking about normalizing cell growth, not stimulating it!
  
• Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) - Vitex balances the estrogen cycle quite well. It can, will, and has countered the effects of contraceptives and should not be taken unless you can't or want to get pregnant, or plan on using some form of male-selected contraceptive device. Will that hormone balance cause your breast size to increase? I suppose it's possible if your breasts are small due to a hormonal imbalance...
  
• Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) - I know Fennel as a carminitive (helps dispel gas), but it also has oestrogenic properties. Oestrogenic means "estrogen-mimicking", often in a bad way in the form of pollutants. In this case, it helps the body deal with excessive or insufficient amounts of estrogen to normalize their levels in the body.
  
• Black Cohosh (Actaea racemosa) - Another phytoestrogen, Black Cohosh has a particular affinity to breast tissue and has been used in breast cancers and mastitis (painful inflammation of the breast). Again, it could conceivably stimulate cellular production if there were a hormone imbalance causing the tissue to atrophy.
  
• Damiana (Turnera aphrodisiaca) - Boy, do I like Damiana! A tonic for both the male and female reproductive system, Damiana also increases ones sense of well being. Often used when you've "over done it" in the bedroom and need a boost.
  
• Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) - Dong Quai is the female herb in Traditional Chinese Medicine, regulating the menses and balancing out the estrogen levels. Also can calm and relax the whole body.
  
• MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) - Huh? That doesn't sound like an herb to me. A quick google search leads me to Quackwatch (no, I don't endorse this site). This stuff has some pretty wild claims. And no, it isn't an herb.
  
• Wolfberry (Lycium chinensis) - Lycii berries taste great and have a long history of use in tonic combinations in Traditional Chinese Medicine.
  
• Royal Jelly - Has been known to increase sex drive and vitality.
  
• Skullcap (Scutillaria laterifolia) - A great herb to "mellow out" when over stressed. Can excessive stress lead to small breasts?
  
• Pumpkin seed - Similar to Fennel.

Please don't think the actions I've given above are the "end all" for these herbs. The beauty of herbs (often to the bane of physicians) is their multifaceted actions. I've just commented on the actions that might be beneficial in a breast enhancing compound.

While the herbs listed above might be beneficial to overall breast health, I would caution against using them in the hops of going from an A to a D. Good luck!

Posted by Evo Terra at January 02, 2003 09:47 AM | TrackBack (0)