Menopause Natural Remedies
Menopause Natural Remedies: 5 Top Herbs and vitamins For Menopause Relief
For many women, the menopause can be both a psychological and emotional time of their lives. As the menopause approaches, the ovaries begin to fail and there is a sudden decline in the female hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which causes a women’s periods to stop.
Around three-quarters of all women have some menopausal symptoms, all of which can be treated or helped in some way. However, many women today, are looking for a way to get through the menopause without the use of hormone replacement therapy. HRT has been linked to an increase in the risk of certain cancers and other complaints. For some women, taking HRT may not be possible for medical reasons.
The decline of oestrogen can have some very significant effects on a woman’s body, such as dry skin, hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, weight gain even forgetfulness to name a few. But with the use of certain herbs and vitamins, some relief for the menopause can be found in a natural way. Here I have identified 5 top herbs and vitamins for Menopause Relief.
Firstly, one of the less recognised symptoms of the menopause is forgetfulness. Ginkgo Bilboa extract is useful for menopausal and postmenopausal women because of it’s effects on the vascular system. It is especially good at relieving both cold hands and feet and forgetfulness that often occurs with the menopause.
It has been shown to improve blood flow to the brain and enhance energy production within the brain, increasing the uptake of glucose by brain cells and actually improving the transmission of nerve cells.
Secondly, many women suffer varying degrees of discomfort from hot flashes and night sweats at the menopause. One herb that has been used with beneficial results on some women is black cohosh. Black cohosh is an American herb that has been used traditionally to treat conditions related to either excessive or deficient levels of oestrogen.
Chemicals from this plant can bind to cells in the body that are effected by oestrogen. These have a weak oestrogen like effect on the body, which may help compensate for the declining levels of natural hormone. Black cohosh can be taken as a capsule, tablet or tea form.
Thirdly, vitamin E , often termed the menopausal vitamin has been shown to benefit women going through the menopause. As with black cohosh, vitamin E may contain chemical activities similar to oestrogen and has been used with some success as an oestrogen substitute. Not only is it useful in the treatment of hot flashes, but during the menopause, women can suffer from very dry skin and vaginal dryness.
Vitamin E may go some way to relieving the distressing effects of vaginal dryness when applied as an oil, as well as taken in the diet. Vitamin E also acts as an antioxidant, which means that it helps to keep your cells healthy and disease free. It also offers some wonderful anti-ageing benefits.
Fourthly, mood swings are common during the menopause as is the feeling of stress and anxiety. This is also due to the decline in levels of hormones. Vitamin B is an excellent vitamin in the treatment of stress related symptoms associated with the menopause.
This particular vitamin helps the body perform proper metabolic functions. In turn the feelings of irritability and fatigue levels are greatly reduced. All vitamin B vitamins work in harmony. It is therefore recommended you take a vitamin B complex supplement.
And finally, sage has long been used for it’s medicinal properties, including relief of menopausal symptoms. Sage is a small shrub in the mint family. It’s seeming ability to alleviate any ailment led to sage being hailed as an almost wonder shrub.
Symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings and anxiety can be at least in part relieved through continued use of sage, especially when combined with a healthy diet and exercise.
Sage works well sipped in cold tea form for the relief of menopause symptoms. Two teaspoons of fresh or one teaspoon of dried leaves added to a cup of boiled (not boiling) water and steep for 10 minutes. It can also be taken as a capsule.
Many women these days lead busy and often stressful lives. The symptoms of the menopause can effect a woman’s life significantly, both physically and emotionally. There are now a wide range of natural remedies available for Menopause Relief, the above are just a few. As with any treatment or medication you take it is always advisable to consult a health care professional before you start to discuss the best and safest remedy to suit you.
