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Founder, Oöna Health, Inc.; developer of Oöna
Q. Why Oöna and why now?
A. For most women, using prescription drug
therapies as an approach to menopause simply doesn't work.
Oöna gives them a natural choice.
Q. Isn't "natural" one of the most misleading
terms in the health field today?
A. Perhaps the most. What sets Oöna
apart is that its basic ingredient, black cohosh, has been
proven effective through extensive testing in Europe's Commission
E Monograph series. Hundreds of botanicals were examined for
efficacy and safety, and about one out of three didn't make
it. One effective botanical that consistently alleviated menopausal/menstrual
symptoms such as hot flashes, sleeplessness and irritability
was black cohosh, the main ingredient of Oöna.
Q. Black cohosh?
A. Black cohosh, a relative of the buttercup
and native to the Eastern United States, has a long history
of alleviating the symptoms of menopause. It was used by American
Indians before the arrival of Columbus. The American botanist
John Bartram planted it in his first study garden in 1729.
British physicians as far back as 1829 noted that the root
of black cohosh was medicinal, but it wasn't until the 1940s
that animal studies showed it helped relieve menopause symptoms.*
Since then it has been used safely and effectively by about
one and a half million women in Europe and Australia. More
recently, extensive testing under Europe's respected E- Commission
studies have provided further evidence. Many of these studies
are available on our website at http://www.oonausa.com.
Q. If black cohosh extract has been around
for so long and is so beneficial, how come I've never heard
of it?
A. If you lived in Europe or Australia,
you probably would have heard of it. Here in the United States,
however, natural approaches to menopause were often overlooked
in favor of prescription drug therapies. Now, as more and
more women in this country seek a natural way to help ease
their discomfort, the benefits of black cohosh are becoming
more widely known.
Q. Since the cohosh plant is native to
America, couldn't I just grow some in my backyard and grind
up the root myself?
A. That's definitely not recommended. For
one thing, many varieties of cohosh plants are harmful. Blue
cohosh, for example, contains dangerous toxins. The ingredients
in Oöna have no toxins. In fact, laboratory studies have
shown that taking even 90 times the recommended dosage results
in no toxicity. Secondly, one of the great advantages of Oöna
is its efficacy. It's precisely manufactured so that you always
get the exact same amount of key active compounds dose after
dose after dose. Finally, Oöna also contains chaste berry
extract, an ingredient that works very similarly to black
cohosh and complements its effects.
Q: What is chaste berry extract?
A: Chaste berry extract is made from the
dried fruit of the chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus). It's
been used for its medicinal properties since the time of the
ancient Greeks. Hippocrates cited it for its effects on female
reproduction. In medieval times it was thought to decrease
the sexual appetite of men, thus the "chaste" common name.
It is now known that it has no effect whatsoever on male or
female sex drive.
Q: What is its effect in Oöna?
A: Chaste berry extract has been shown in
clinical studies to decrease levels of prolactin which, in
turn, leads to increased production of progesterone during
the menstrual cycle, reducing symptoms of PMS.* In one major
study involving more than 4,000 patients, about one-third
of the women reported total relief from symptoms, while more
than 50 percent said they felt a marked improvement.*
Q. How does Oöna work? Is it a phytoestrogen,
that is, an estrogen made from plants?
A. Though Oöna has some "estrogenic"
effects, it has been shown in recent studies that it is not
a phytoestrogen. In fact, it has no effect on organs related
to menopause, including the uterus. Scientists and herbalists
widely believe that the ingredients in Oöna help the
body regulate itself so that it doesn't just soothe symptoms,
it prevents them.* If taken as directed, most women find significant
relief within 10-14 days, and an even greater sense of well-being
after 3-4 months.* Black cohosh appears to address a wide
range of menopausal symptoms, in part by selectively and significantly
reducing levels of luteinizing hormone, the hormone shown
to be the cause of hot flashes. At the same time, black cohosh
leaves levels of follicle stimulating hormones and prolactin
unchanged.*
The chaste tree berry extract works to lower
prolactin levels (a hormone in the pituitary). Elevated prolactin
levels are associated with both PMS and menopausal symptoms
such as breast tenderness and feeling bloated.*
Scientists believe that the triterpene
glycosides and flavonoids in black cohosh probably work together.
Some studies suggest that the compounds in black cohosh bind
to estrogen receptors and imitate the effect of estriol, the
weakest of the three levels of estrogen and one which is not
associated with increased risk of breast, ovarian or endometrial
cancers.*
Q. I tried another brand of black cohosh
and wasn't very impressed. Why should I expect Oöna to
be any different?
A. It's different because Oöna is
a powerful concentrated form of black cohosh. This isn't just
a capsule filled up with ground black cohosh root. It's an
extract - a concentrated form of the root that is standardized
for its active ingredients. And because Oöna is standardized
to a "marker compound" all of the constituents of the herb
are present. Therefore, Oöna is not only made from the
finest black cohosh grown, it also delivers the exact same
dosage in every tablet. Herbalists recommend that most women
start with ten 500mg tablets 3 times a day if they took the
ground up cohosh root. But our research shows that women find
this to be too difficult of a regime to maintain. So with
Oöna, the recommended dosage to start is 2 tablets 3
times a day, and research shows it¹s very effective, with
less incidence of stomach upset. And don't forget, Oöna
has the added benefit of chaste berry extract, which complements
the work of black cohosh.
Q. Is Oöna just for menopausal symptoms?
A. No, Oöna is also recommended to
relieve the unpleasant symptoms of post- and pre-menstrual
syndrome.*
Q: Can I take it just when I am having
PMS symptoms?
A: Oöna's effectiveness comes from
a regimen of taking it every day over a recommended period
of time. It can relieve symptoms of post- and pre-menstrual
syndrome, but only if taken as part of regimen.*
Q. Will Oöna interfere with any
medicines I may be taking?
A. No. This is important to know because
many women worry about safety issues, when something you take
interferes with your medicines. Oöna is safe and you
can take it with confidence. Of course, you should always
let your health care provider know if you are taking Oöna
or any other remedies. It's also very important to remember
that you must stop taking it immediately if you are or may
be pregnant. (If you should become pregnant while taking Oöna,
it will not adversely effect your pregnancy in any way, but
should be stopped as soon as you are aware that pregnancy
is possible.)
Q: Does Oöna work for everyone?
A: Consistently, clinical studies show the
ingredients in Oöna make a difference for 80% of women.*
Q. How can I get Oöna?
A. Oöna is available by calling our
toll-free number 1-888-596-5154 or through our website http://www.oonausa.com.
Oöna will be delivered directly to you. This guarantees
you fast, convenient service and the utmost in privacy.
Q. When is it available?
A. We're launching December 15th and we
couldn't be more excited! We're looking forward to changing
the way American women approach menopause.
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