Menopause is a season in a woman's life when her reproductive cycle begins to diminish until eventually conception is no longer possible. Women typically experience various symptoms and discomforts brought on from the physiological changes occurring in the body. Although there are many prescription drugs available to help ease menopausal symptoms, herbal medicine has been found to work more gently in the body by mimicking natural hormones more closely than synthetic medicines.
Menopausal Symptoms
As estrogen and progesterone hormone levels begin to decrease during menopause, women will experience changes in the body that cause both physical and mental symptoms. The most common symptoms include hot flashes, insomnia and fatigue, vaginal dryness, diminished libido, depression, irritability, weight gain, forgetfulness and irregular menstrual cycles--which is usually the first noticeable change.
How Herbs Help
Herbs have been used for centuries to treat and ease the discomforts of common female conditions including childbirth, menstruation and menopause. Herbs are plants that contain nutrients, minerals and isoflavones, which are plant estrogens with similar properties to natural estrogen. Using herbal medicine during menopause helps to nourish the body with those nutrients and minerals that may become depleted, therefore strengthening the immune system and female organs and aiding in the general health of the body. The estrogen and progesteronelike properties of certain herbs ease the transition from reproduction to the postreproductive stage by tricking the body into thinking the hormone levels are not decreasing while the natural progression occurs with fewer symptoms.
Common Herbs for Menopause
The most commonly used herbs for menopause include dong quai, black cohosh, St. John's wort, and ginkgo biloba. Dong quai is often referred to as the female tonic and is high in plant estrogen, which is thought to help ease symptoms such as hot flashes. Suggested dosage is a 500-mg capsule twice daily or 1/2 tsp. tincture twice daily.
Black cohosh contains isoflavones similar to natural estrogen, which helps to regulate the hormones in the body, reducing menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, irregular menstruation and decreased libido after about 4 weeks of use. Recommended dosage is a 250-mg capsule two to four times daily or 1/2 tsp. tincture twice daily.
St John's wort is commonly used to alleviate anxiety, mood swings and depression while also acting as a mild sedative that can help with insomnia. Recommended dosage is a 500-mg capsule two to three times daily or 1/4 to 1 tsp. tincture twice daily.
Ginkgo biloba improves brain function, circulation and oxygenation of all body cells which in turn is helpful for fatigue, memory lapses and depression. Recommended dosage is one 1000-mg capsule daily or 1 tsp. tincture two times daily.
For information on other herbal medicines used during menopause please see Resources.
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