Natural Remedies for Menopause Can Be Highly Effective
Posted on Jan 31, 2010 under Hot Flashes, Menopause, Night sweats, cancer | No CommentPrescription drugs aren’t always necessary to get relief from menopause symptoms. There are a number of herbal treatments that offer effective natural menopause relief for a great number of women. You can pick up many these natural treatments in pharmacies and at health stores. Just remember that some things work for some women and they may not always work for another. It’s a hit and miss situation. Accordingly, it’s a good idea to try natural remedies and keep taking them for at least three months to see if they work.
Black cohosh is one of the most effective herbal treatments for menopause relief. This herb is also recognized for its ability to lower blood pressure. It will only continue to work for about 6 months, though. Adverse reactions include nausea, vomiting and gas.
You may have heard of dong quai, a Chinese herb that has been known to minimize hot flashes and other symptoms of menopause. Dong quai has the ability to regulate unbalanced hormonal levels since it contains phytoestrogens. It hasn’t yet been determined whether the herb works since it has estrogen-like effects or if it blocks estrogens in the body.
Chasteberry also seems to provide some help with mood swings that are linked to menopause. The benefits of chasteberry derive from its actions upon the pituitary gland. Chasteberry inhibits prolactin secretion and thereby helps to stablilize hormone levels. It seems to be more effective when used as a supplement to dong quai or black cohosh.
St. John’s Wort will treat the depression caused by menopause, and when utilized with black cohosh it seems to offer much relief from all menopausal symptoms. However be cautious because taking this herb will make you sensitive to the sun and not only will you get sunburned more easily, the sun will stop the herb from working. In any case, it stops working after about 2 years.
Hot flashes have also been found to be lessened by taking vitamin E. Another natural substance that helps is soy. Soy can be ingested into the body by drinking soy milk, eating soybeans, adding edamame to salads or snacking on soy nuts.
There are other steps you can take to take the edge off the symptoms of menopause. Avoid particular substances like caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods. Keep your stress under control. Try applying ice packs when a hot flash takes place, and be mindful that those women who exercise regularly might not have as many symptoms. Avoid taking hot showers or baths right before going to bed since they can cause night sweats.
You can also talk to the staff at the local health food shop to see if they have more suggestions for natural remedies. Take note that you must take any remedy for a minimum of three months to ascertain if it’s going to work. Always talk to your doctor first to see if it is safe for you to take herbal and natural remedies, as they may interfere with particular medications.