Natural Remedies for Perimenopause
and Menopause Symptoms

By Lynn Donn

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and potential serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots. Though the link has not been proven, this issue is the subject of serious debate among women's health experts. Also, many women experience unpleasant side effects from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. And many others simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources pose no risks of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. But this is simply not true.

Whatever type of medication you choose, it is essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and potential hazards and side effects. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individualized advice. Information you research online and in women's health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor's advice, and it is wise read as widely as you can to obtain an overall understanding of the issues.

Your health is your most important asset, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it's vital that you make educated choices.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body's levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and imbalances between these two hormones. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels.

Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect as the body's own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

ESTROGEN TREATMENTS

Soy

Soybeans and foods made from soy extracts are by far the richest source of phytoestrogens (sometimes called "isoflavones"). Soy can be consumed in the form of tofu, soy cheese, meat substitute products such as soy burgers, breads and muffins made with soy flour, and soy drinks, sometimes known as "soy milk". Some studies have shown that consuming soy beverages or breads made with soy flour twice daily can reduce the severity or the number of hot flashes, but these results are inconclusive and inconsistent.

Soy powders and pills contain much higher levels of phytoestrogens than soy foods, and may have a more significant effect in alleviating menopause symptoms than soy foods, but little is known about potential hazards. Consuming soy extracts and soy foods produce other health benefits, including reducing the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease, and lowering cholesterol. Some studies suggest that phytoestrogens may actually help to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the overproduction of natural estrogen in the body.

Herbs containing phytoestrogens

Red clover has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat skin conditions, asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, joint disorders, and breast inflammation. Red clover has been recently discovered to contain high levels of phytoestrogens, and its usefulness in the treatment of menopause symptoms is being investigated. Some studies have shown the herb to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and improving bone density and strength, while other studies have been inconclusive.

Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms for thousands of years, although its effectiveness has yet to be clinically verified by Western health practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain phytoestrogens, though clinical studies confirming this are inconclusive. It is a perennial plant native to North America, and is also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot and macrotys. The plant has a long history of usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by Native American people and more recently by alternative health practitioners, and has been used to treat a range of gynecological ailments as well as several other health problems. Some studies shown that taking pills made from black cohosh extract helps provide short term relief from a range of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood swings and anxiety. However, little is known about the effects of taking the treatment in the long term, and some negative side effects have been reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric discomfort and weight gain.

Maca

Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by stimulating glands in the body to produce their own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps thousands of years, and has been used as a treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a range of benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, reducing depression and stress, increasing athletic ability and creating a general sense of well being. It is also claimed to be effective in treating a wide range of menopausal symptoms, including mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. Objective clinical research into the effectiveness and the potential hazards of taking Maca root supplements is very scant.

PROGESTERONE TREATMENTS

An alternative view of the causes of menopause symptoms places more emphasis on the role of progesterone, and imbalances between progesterone and estrogen. "Estrogen dominance" is a recently identified syndrome, and a small number of doctors believe this is the cause of severe PMS and menstrual problems in early adulthood, and a range of severe symptoms as menopause approaches. Advocates of progesterone treatments believe them to be free from the health risks and side effects associated with estrogen based treatments.

Natural progesterone cream

Natural progesterone creams usually contain extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a substance which is believed to be similar to the progesterone produced in the body. The creams are applied to the parts of the body where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to pass through the skin and circulate through the body. Many women have found natural progesterone creams to be very effective in treating menopause symptoms, but there is no evidence to show that the creams lower the risk of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed.

Chaste tree berry

Chaste tree berry, sometimes known as Chasteberry or Vitex agnus castus has been used since ancient Greek times to treat a range of ailments. It is believed to stimulate the production of progesterone, and has been shown to be very effective in alleviating severe PMS and a range of menopausal symptoms

Lynn Donn is the webmaster for http://www.menopause-symptoms-perimenopause.com Her website includes helpful articles on perimenopause and menopause symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Site offers suggestions on how to ease symptoms of menopause and perimenopause naturally using black cohosh, soy and natural progesterone cream etc.

Editor's Note: It is always advisable to seek advice from your doctor before using any medical treatment, including natural remedies.