Natural Health Researchers Urge Women to Use Non-Drug Alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy After Release of Study by Drug Company

SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- (INTERNET WIRE) -- 02/13/2002 -- A coalition of natural health researchers and providers announced today that they are extremely concerned over the results of the Wyeth Ayerst funded HERS study on hormone replacement therapy released last week. They are urging women to use natural and safe alternatives to the conventional HRT. "Many women don't know that there are safe alternatives to hormone replacement therapy," said naturopathic physician, Alyssa DiRienzo, Los Angeles, California. "I consider the results of the HERS study to have considerably weakened the case for standard HRT in favor of natural non-drug alternatives."

The study from Stanford University School of Medicine involved nearly 2,800 women with heart disease who were checked on for three years. Participants in the study were randomly assigned to receive the estrogen-progestin supplement Prempro for three years or a placebo. Prempro manufacturer Wyeth-Ayerst funded the study. The study demonstrated there was no measurable protective effect against heart attacks or mortality due to heart disease or overall positive changes to quality of life. Hormone replacement therapy was once seen as a wonder treatment for women aged 50 and over suffering from menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness, lowered libido and trouble sleeping.

"We are not surprised at these findings," said Betty Kamen, Ph.D., author of the book, Hormone Replacement Therapy, Yes or No? "We have been advocating alternatives to conventional HRT for many years, favoring treatments based on natural progesterone or its vegetable-derived precursors. Among other problems with the standard regimen, is that the progestin component of the estrogen/progestin mix used in the HERS study is not the same as natural progesterone. Progesterone is the key hormone to replace and this can be accomplished through natural metabolic pathways that remain viable in most women well past menopause. What is needed is the right mix of precursors, and these can be obtained from certain plants."

"We are very concerned with the results of the study. The HRT group had significantly higher rates of bile duct surgery and urinary incontinence, and slightly higher overall mortality (92 deaths for HRT versus 76 for placebo)," said Robert Rudelic, independent researcher and president of Impax Therapy. "The researchers' statistical analysis indicate that the chances of the increased overall mortality (being purely random) are only about one in five. After studying these results, I believe that an important question needs to be asked - Does HRT hasten death?"

Impax Therapy advocates using a non-drug alternative to HRT in the form of PrimeTime Rx, a low dose transdermal natural progesterone cream with female specific herbs that support a women's natural hormone balance without the negative side effects associated with conventional HRT.

Impax Therapy (www.impaxsupply.com) is a natural supplement company and a subsidiary of Impax Supply, Inc., San Francisco, CA. Impax Therapy provides the highest quality nutritional supplements and natural products that combine nature's solutions with modern science to improve health and prevent disease. Commitment to quality from initial research and development through final production insures that all products contain the purest most potent ingredients.

Contact: Sheryl Grace Phone: 415-703-0220 Email: impaxusa@pacbell.net

From Healthy.net