Menopause Herbal Remedies
Among the oldest and most venerated of all homeopathic symptom treatments are menopause herbal remedies. Some of these find their beginnings in Europe and Asia and date back thousands of years. Menopause and posmenopausal symptoms are nothing new, and neither are the many tinctures, potions or elixirs for common menopause symptoms.
By the dawn of the 19th century, traveling medicine shows crisscrossed country hawking their bottled curatives boasting claims that their particular concoction would provide blanket coverage for all ailments. These everything-in-one-bottle remedies were heavily fortified with alcohol and actually did make the customer/patient feel better, especially short term.
Later, secret additives like St John’s wort, ginseng and black cohosh began to appear as ingredients on the label as expensive and exotic herbs only recently uncovered by mysterious shamans or medicine men from the Far East or Western Europe.
Not much has changed from then to now with the exception of the fact that consumers are far more knowledgeable and less vulnerable to charlatans than at any time previously in history. The internet age has changed everything in this respect.
Pharmaceutical companies have never been strong proponents of herbal remedies of any sort. These, simply do not fit their business model. If a curative is available in nature, pharmaceutical companies realize that the potential product cannot be patented or manufactured into a licensed, FDA approved proprietary pharmaceutical and so, they are unable to obtain exclusive rights or control the cost to the consumer. Pharmaceutical companies leave natural, herbal and homeopathic remedies to supplement manufacturers.
Some home-grown menopause herbal remedies actually do work, or at least work well enough to keep the myth alive.
There has been a resurgence in interest related to herbal menopause treatments in the past decade due to the overwhelmingly damning evidence provided by the WHI study concluded in July of 2002 directly linking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to heart disease, cancer, and dementia.
A study conducted last year involving more than 350 otherwise healthy post-menopausal women showed that black cohosh was no more effective at treating common menopause symptoms, than a placebo. This was harsh news for many women, especially long-time black cohosh advocates and those seeking a channel of hope away from the life-threatening risks associated with HRT and HT.
Less evidence (either for or against) other menopause herbal remedies, including St John’s Wort, ginseng, evening primrose oil, ginkgo biloba, etc., is available.
It should be noted that all women are different and that they experience post menopausal symptoms differently. Among the most common symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
Symptom severity and bout duration also vary among individuals. Only about 15% of post menopausal women experience menopause symptoms which could be characterized as severe to very severe.
This would infer that less invasive and drastic measures could assuage mild to moderate menopause symptoms.
In addition to herbal menopause remedies, common sense measures can be employed to avert hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings.
Layered wicking clothing and sleepwear can be used to chill hot flashes and night sweats. Personal cooling devices, including a handy or bedside fan will also go a long way toward mollifying the effects of mild to moderate hot flashes and night sweats.
As we age, we are less capable of metabolizing nutrients, including calcium. The council of a nutritionist may be advised as it is vitally important that proper increments of important vitamins and minerals be regularly ingested, especially for those approaching or past post menopausal years.
Proper diet and exercise are also important, even though joint pain and early signs of osteoporosis are more common at this stage of life. Natural whole foods rich in calcium are important, like salmon, and dairy products.
Physical activity should focus on load-bearing exercises like walking, jogging, low-impact aerobics, (not swimming), including modified weight training. Bones actually can become stronger with the right combination of diet, exercise, vitamins and minerals.
This common sense approach to a complete post menopause health regimen can be rewarding and help to stave off many of the more common symptoms associated with menopause.
Many women are reverting back to these methods rather than embracing what are now recognized as life-threatening hormone replacement therapies.
Interestingly, relatively new all natural plant based supplements have become available which can safely and effectively manage menopause symptoms. Cultivated plants rich in isoflavonoids and lignans have potent phytoestogenic properties which can rejuvenate estrogens within the body and in so doing, balance hormones.
FemFlax® is an all-natural plant based menopause symptom management supplement whose primary active ingredient (flax hull lignans) is concentrated from whole ground flaxseed.
