Menopause is an inescapable phase in a woman’s life. It usually happens between the ages of 40 and 50, but each woman is different. The most common symptoms of menopause include fatigue, mood swings, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, anxiety. While “the change” is a completely natural progression, it can sometimes cause several serious upsets in a woman’s life.
Diagnosing menopause rarely requires lab testing or imaging from a gynecologist. Instead, it is often diagnosed by the absence of a regular period for a year or more combined with the symptoms listed above. Due to a steep decrease in the production of reproductive hormones such as progesterone and estrogen, women can typically self-diagnose themselves as being menopausal if they pay close attention to their bodies. In addition, most women can also self-treat with herbal remedies right at home.
Alternative, Clinical Menopause Treatments
Those who prefer not to use herbal remedies must deal with the potentially dangerous side effects of the treatments available. Such treatments usually include things like hormone replacement therapies, antidepressants, and oral contraceptives. Each of those clinical treatments can be damaging to a woman’s body for several reasons.
Additionally, the development of frequent urinary tract infections, pain during intercourse, and weight gain may require women to require other medications such as diet pills, pain management medicines, and antibiotics. Choosing to use natural, herbal remedies can mitigate the side effects experienced by clinical treatments.
Treating Menopause Naturally
Fortunately, menopausal symptoms can be easily managed with safe and healthy remedies that require little to no clinical treatments. Aside from eating a well-balanced diet that is rich in calcium and protein, women can also maintain a high level of physical activity to counteract their symptoms and regulate their body’s natural rhythm. Furthermore, a menopausal or premenopausal body reacts rather positively to certain herbs, including but not limited to the following:
- Chaste Berry
This herbal remedy for menopause comes directly from the vitex shrub which is most commonly used as a landscaping plant. The shrub has beautiful purple flowers throughout the summer and grows juicy berries. Those berries, which feature a variety of potent natural chemicals, can be used in teas, tinctures, and capsules when they’re harvested, dried out, and cleaned properly.
- Black Cohosh
This herbal remedy is often seen as a menopause miracle. It’s derived from the root of the cimicifuga rascemosa plant that grows wildly in the Appalachian mountain region of the United States. With pungent smelling roots and a noticeably effective chemical make-up, black cohosh usually takes a few weeks to start affecting a woman’s body. It can be turned into teas and tinctures just like chaste berry but requires time to build up in the system.
- Ginseng
As a popular and often delicious tasting herb, ginseng is a great remedy for treating menopausal symptoms naturally. It can be consumed via food, drinks, or herbal supplements. Known as an adaptogen, it affects the body the several positive ways. Adaptogens are naturally occurring substances that assist the body’s adrenal system to help regulate hormones and reduce stress. Therefore, ginseng is a safe and organic menopausal symptoms remedy that is both inexpensive and easy to find.
- Saw Palmetto
Did you know that saw palmetto is so effective at balancing hormones that it’s commonly used by men to reduce the symptoms of prostate gland malfunctions? According to recent studies, this herb can also help menopausal and premenopausal women regulate their hormones and subsequent symptoms as well. With very few negative side effects when used properly, saw palmetto reduces hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings almost immediately.
- Hawthorn
This herbal remedy works in a unique way. It strengthens the body’s veins and arteries, thereby improving blood flow to important areas. Like crab apples, hawthorn berries are derived from a tree that grows in various parts of the world. While hawthorn berries aren’t the tastiest herb on the planet, they can be incorporated nicely into foods and beverages of all kinds to successfully manage menopause symptoms in a safe and natural way.
- Pennyroyal
With extremely high amounts of pugelone, pennyroyal is an effective remedy for menopausal hormone balancing. However, it can cause intrauterine contractions and should therefore not be used by pregnant women. Because of this, it’s usually not recommended for premenopausal women due to the chance of a late pregnancy. Before using pennyroyal to combat your symptoms, be sure to take a pregnancy test just to be safe.
Using soy, clary sage, and yarrow can also have a positive impact on your menopausal symptoms. As always, use each of the herbs mentioned here with care and caution. Reduce the amount of caffeine you consume as well, since this may further reduce the presence of hot flashes and mood swings.
An Important Note for Safety:
While diagnosing yourself as menopausal or premenopausal is possible, it’s always a good idea to consult with a doctor before starting to treat your symptoms with herbal remedies. Because menopausal symptoms are similar to other, more serious medical conditions, it’s important to be thorough. Always talk to a licensed herbalist before beginning an herbal remedy regimen.
Comments
Loading…