Whether women like it or not, menopause will be a part of their lives. At some point between 40 to 50 years of age, women will start experiencing symptoms of perimenopause or the stage when the body begins producing less estrogen.
This dramatic transition that can last for a few months to years goes along with several symptoms that can affect a woman’s physical and mental health. Although hormone replacement therapy (HRT) in the form of pills, creams, and patches are readily available to ease the symptoms, 95% of women said they are willing to try other alternatives as they worry about the health risks of HRT.
That is why more women are opting to try natural remedies for menopause to gracefully embrace this change. Below are some of the most common herbal remedies that have been proven to help reduce some menopausal symptoms:
Black Cohosh
This North American native herb is probably the most popular remedy that women use to ease some symptoms of menopause. The roots of black cohosh are grounded and developed into a dietary supplement.
A 2010 study shows that taking black cohosh dietary supplements reduces the frequency of vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats.
Ginseng
In Asian countries, ginseng is popularly used as a sedative. This wonder herbal medicine, in either form of tea or capsule, can also improve a person’s quality of sleep.
Sleep disturbance is one of the symptoms women have to go through during the perimenopause stage. Through the help of ginseng, symptoms like lack of sleep as well as mood changes can better improve.
Just make sure not to overdose on ginseng or other herbs as too much of these natural remedies for menopause can lead to headaches and insomnia. Nowadays, different variants of ginseng are readily available in drugstores, supermarkets, and online stores.
Wild Yam
According to traditional medicine practitioners, this plant, also known as colic root or China root, can be an alternative source of estrogen. Wild yam is said to increase and stabilize a woman’s estrogen level, which eases the symptoms of menopause.
Wild yam comes in the forms of cream and pills. Since creams derived from wild yam contains phytoestrogen, it can be applied directly to a woman’s private area to reduce one of the menopausal symptoms such as vaginal dryness.
Dong Quai
It’s another traditional medicine wherein roots extracted become a tincture or tea. For more than 1,200 years, Dong Quai acts as an alternative medicine to treat gynecologic conditions. However, this natural remedy does not apply to women who have blood-clot problems as it may cause bleeding complications.
Soy
Soy is rich in plant-based estrogen called isoflavones, so adding soy products to your diet can help reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and night sweats. It can also lower bad cholesterol in our bodies.
However, experts warn to take extra precaution in devouring soy products as it may conflict with antidepressants and synthetic estrogen.
Vitamin E and Flaxseed Oil
This excellent combination of vitamin E and flaxseed oil can reduce vaginal problems during the perimenopause stage. It can be taken orally, while the cream can be directly applied to the vagina to ease vaginal dryness.
Mother nature is generous enough to give us various remedies for different health concerns. Just make sure to consult your doctor before taking natural remedies for menopause to be safe and avoid conflict with other medicine or preexisting health condition.
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