Every woman entering menopause knows it’s not fun: interrupted sleep, sweat-soaked clothes, insomnia, mood disruptions, the list goes on. Every woman is different in the severity and number of symptoms she experiences. Some women sail through symptoms with no adverse reactions, other women seem to suffer through all the symptoms. Having hot flashes are equivalent to having the heat of a volcanic eruption sear through your body. It’s not a pleasant experience, trust me.
Menopause treatment from plants can dramatically reduce these symptoms and prevent diseases caused by the loss of estrogen in the body. Estrogen occurring in plants is phytoestrogen, plant compounds that are similar to estrogen. Medicinal herbs that are high in phytoestrogens alleviate menopause symptoms gently. Phytoestrogens primarily balance the body’s hormone levels naturally.
Phytoestrogens are also in foods and women should incorporate them into your diet. These foods include fermented soy (miso, soy sauce, tempeh), lentils, chickpeas, hummus, garlic, celery, sunflower and sesame seeds, alfalfa, mung beans, beansprouts, sage, fennel, and parsley.
Herbs For Menopause Symptoms
Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) treats hot flashes, night sweats, and sleeplessness, the latter usually occurring as a result of night sweats and sometimes itching. For maximum effect take dong quai with black cohosh. This herb aids in regulating the levels of estrogen in your body, which also assists in relieving menopause symptoms.
Dong quai is a mild sedative that will help reduce mood swings and stress related to menopause. Dong quai increases levels of estrogen in a woman’s body. It mimics natural human hormones with plant hormones called phytoestrogens, that have a similar structure to estrogen.
Dong quai root is often brewed into a tasty herbal tea which has a strong, bitter taste similar to anise. Or you can take it as a tincture or capsule.
Suggested dosage: 1 cup of tea or 1 to 3 dropper full of tincture two times daily.
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is a natural remedy for a number of menopause-related symptoms, including hot flashes, night sweats, disturbances in mood, and vaginal dryness. Black cohosh helps increase low levels of estrogen that are prevalent in most menopausal women.
Suggested dose: 10 to 60 drops of tincture two to three times daily; 1 cup of tea twice daily; 1 tablet of powdered extract twice daily.
Hops (Humulus lupulus) contains naturally-occurring phytoestrogens that have mild estrogenic effects and are extremely safe. Hops is useful for the reduction in hot flashes and night sweats.
Suggested dose: hops tea has a bitter flavor but if it’s too hoppy for you, try adding chamomile or mint to tone it down. Use just-boiled water (rather than boiling water, which will steam away some of the active ingredients), cover and steep for at least 10 to 12 minutes. Take as a tincture, use six to eight drops of hops tincture diluted in water every two or three hours to start and then tapering off as symptoms begin to diminish.
I have hops tincture for sale in my Etsy shop.
Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) root is sought after for symptoms of menopause. It contains a phytoestrogen that balances women’s menstrual cycles and reproductive hormones. The root doesn’t cause extreme changes like the HRT Hormone Replacement Therapy. The phytoestrogen triggers the production of natural progesterone in a woman’s body after she applies the herbal cream to the skin and this effects the estrogen level.
Wild yam works best taken over time. This herb is not advised if you have a history of estrogen-responsive cancers.
Suggested dose: dried herb: 2-4 grams daily in capsules, or divided into 1 cup of infusion daily. Take the tincture at a dosage of 10-40 drops three to four times per day.
Licorice root (Glcyrrhiza glabra) mimics the effects of estrogen in the body by leveling the fluctuations of hormones. This herb affects the adrenal glands and kidneys. Due to this, it reduces menopause symptoms such as depression, hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, and urinary incontinence.
Licorice has anti-inflammatory properties and is good for the digestive tract. By supporting adrenal function, licorice root helps improve energy levels and general well-being during times of stress.
Suggested dosage: A tea can be made with 1 tsp of licorice root taken 2x a day for up to 4 weeks. Use just-boiled water (rather than boiling water, which will steam away some of the active ingredients), cover and steep for at least 10 to 12 minutes. You can also use a tincture diluting 30 – 40 drops in water and drinking 2x a day. This tincture is alcohol-free.
Additional Herbs For Menopause
Skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora) supports and nourishes the nervous system and helps calm anxiety and relieve stress. Its antispasmodic action makes it useful for headaches caused by stress, worry or muscular tension. This herb is used as a tincture in small doses of 3-5 drops in water.
Ginseng (Panax ginseng or Panax quinquefolius) helps with some menopausal symptoms, such as mood symptoms and sleep disturbances, and with one’s overall sense of well-being. However, it has not been found to be helpful for hot flashes.
Red clover (Trifolium pratense) contains phytoestrogens called isoflavones that cause a significant reduction in hot flashes. Red clover contains more phytoestrogens than soy products which women generally use to balance their hormone levels. The best way to take clover blossoms is as an infusion. To make an infusion, take 1 ounce of dried herb and place in a 1 quart mason jar. Add boiling water and cap letting it sit for 4-8 hours or overnight. Strain out the herb and drink throughout the day. I like my infusions chilled.
Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex agnus castus) has multiple beneficial properties for pre-menopausal or post-menopausal women by acting on the pituitary gland to stabilize hormonal imbalances.
Suggested dose: 1 dropper of the tincture daily before breakfast.
Herbal menopause treatment can dramatically reduce symptoms and prevent diseases caused by the loss of estrogen in the body. Herbs alleviate menopause symptoms gently and are aimed primarily at balancing the body’s hormone levels naturally.