Menopause herbs for symptoms



Black cohosh

Alfalfa * Beth Root * Black Cohosh root * Chaste Tree * Clary Sage * Cramp Bark * Dong Quai * Epimedium * Fennel Seed * Maca root * Red Clover * Sage * Tribulus terrestris L * Wild Yam Root *

Unlike hormone replacement therapy which artificially raises a woman's estrogen levels, herbal treatments seek to address hormonal balance, whether you need to 'bring on the moon', make the transition to menopause or help regulate your menstrual periods.


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Herbal remedies for menopause make use of phytoestrogens, chemical compounds occurring naturally in plants, that have similarities to human estrogen. No herb or supplement actually contains estrogen, but these plant compounds tend to act like weak estrogens, without the high level of side effects. Herbs such as alfalfa , black cohosh and dong quai have a long history of use that supports their use in toning the female reproductive system. These estrogenic herbs are often combined with sedatives , diuretics and other hormone balancing herbs to relieve a whole range of menopausal problems including hot flashes, insomnia, moodiness, restlessness and irritability.

Hot flashes. When I was going through the change, it was the simple things that had the greatest effect, and I still employ them even now in my crone years. A quick spritz with a few drops of clary sage oil in cool water has a calming, grounding effect on my moods. A lukewarm bath in cooling herbs like eucalyptus and peppermint can reduce the heat of hot flashes, or any time you find yourself overheated. A cup of motherwort tea can bring serenity to the most hectic and stressful day and help you regain your inner balance.


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References:
books citedWorks Cited
  1. James Duke. "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook" Rodale Books, (2000) Clover's phytoestrogens relieve menopause and menstruation related problems
  2. James Duke. "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook" Rodale Books, (2000) Fo-Ti is a mild stimulant to estrogen production in women, making it appropriate for treating a variety of undesirable symptoms in menopause.
  3. Rosemary Gladstar. "Herbal Healing for Women" Fireside, (1993) Though black and blue cohosh are unrelated, they are often used together and have a synergistic, not interchangeable, relationship...While blue cohosh is primarily associated with blood flow to the pelvic area, black cohosh maintains it's effects through it's estrogen-like action. Black cohosh has a special affinity with menopausal women and is used in formulas to balance and regulate hormonal production during menopause.
  4. Marlene Ericksen. "Healing with Aromatherapy" McGraw-Hill, (2000) Geranium is often recommended for hormonal conditions such as menopause and PMS.
  5. Wild Yam regulates the female system, particularly during menstrual distress and menopause,as well as used in treating infertility.,
  6. Linda B. White, M.D.. "The Herbal Drugstore" , (2003) There is no hard evidence that wild yam arouses women sexually, but salves made from it can make intercourse more comfortable for women over 40 and are a fine substitute for estrogen creams used as vaginal lubricants.
  7. Linda B. White, M.D.. "The Herbal Drugstore" , (2003) Black cohosh root can mimic estrogen in the body. It is useful for hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and even the depression sometimes associated with menopause.
  8. James Duke. "The Green Pharmacy Herbal Handbook" Rodale Books, (2000) Alfalfa contains plant world equivalents of human estrogen, so a woman, whether she is going through menopause or breastfeeding a baby, may derive some benefit from it.
  9. Rosemary Gladstar. "Herbal Healing for Women" Fireside, (1993) Licorice has estrogenic and other steroidal properties and is used to normalize and regulate hormone production.
  10. Rosemary Gladstar. "Herbal Healing for Women" Fireside, (1993) Regular garden sage is a yang, grounding herb and many women find sage tea relieves hot flashes.
  11. Rich in steroidal saponins that serve as precursors for hormone production by the liver, black haw is an excellent herb during menopause.,
  12. . "Estrogenic activity of isolated compounds and essential oils of Pimpinella species from Turkey, evaluated using a recombinant yeast screen , Planta Med. 2004 Aug;70(8):728-35. Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Anadolu University, Iskisehir, Turkey, (2004): Several plants and plant-derived pure compounds, designated as phytoestrogens, have been reported to cause estrogenic effects. They have been used for alleviation of menopausal symptoms, prevention of osteoporosis, heart disease and cancer. ,
  13. Marlene Ericksen. "Healing with Aromatherapy" McGraw-Hill, (2000) Clary Sage oil's constituent, sclareol, has an estrogen-like structure, contributing to clary's effectiveness in treating amenorrhea, cramps, and pain with menstruation.
  14. Rosemary Gladstar. "Herbal Healing for Women" Fireside, (1993) Dong quai is an excellent herb to help ease women into menopause if difficulty arises. balances and regulates hormone production.
  15. Phyllis A. Balch. "Prescription for Herbal Healing" Avery, (2002) Alfalfa has demonstrable estrogenic activity, too. In addition to acting like estrogen in women whose own sex hormone production has declined, phytoestrogens also appear to reduce the risk of estrogen-linked cancers such as breast cancer.