| More and more women are seeking natural | | | | breast inflammation. It is thought to work by |
| alternative treatments for symptoms of | | | | improving circulation and stimulating urine and |
| menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the | | | | mucous production, or "purifying the blood". Red |
| most compelling reason for many is the | | | | clover has been recently discovered to contain |
| association between conventional hormone | | | | high levels of phytoestrogens, and its usefulness in |
| replacement therapy and a number of serious | | | | the treatment of menopause symptoms is being |
| health risks, including an increased risk of breast | | | | investigated. Some studies have shown the herb |
| cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no | | | | to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and |
| means been proven, and the issue is currently the | | | | improving bone density and strength, while others |
| subject of serious debate among women's health | | | | have been inconclusive. |
| experts. Many women have experienced | | | | Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese |
| unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional | | | | medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, |
| HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal | | | | menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms |
| bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at | | | | for thousands of years, although its effectiveness |
| the thought of taking drugs which have been | | | | has yet to be clinically verified by Western health |
| manufactured synthetically. | | | | practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood |
| The whole notion of returning to old fashioned | | | | vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure |
| herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain | | | | and circulatory problems. |
| comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal | | | | Black Cohosh |
| medicines which are being rediscovered have | | | | Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain |
| been used to treat a range of ailments for literally | | | | phytoestrogens, although clinical studies to confirm |
| thousands of years. There is a commonly held | | | | this have been far from conclusive. It is a |
| belief that medicines derived from natural sources | | | | perennial plant native to North America, and is also |
| are necessarily free from the risk of negative | | | | known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot |
| side effects, harmful interactions and allergic | | | | and macrotys. The plant has a long history of |
| reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind | | | | usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by |
| of medication you choose to take, it's essential | | | | Native American people and more recently by |
| that you fully understand how it works, what | | | | alternative health practitioners, and has been used |
| dosage level is appropriate for you, and what | | | | to treat a range of gynecological ailments including |
| objective research has been done on its | | | | menopause symptoms, infertility, inflammation of |
| effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your | | | | the uterus and ovaries, and to induce lactation, |
| doctor is the best person to provide you with | | | | bring on menstruation, and alleviate labor pains. It |
| professional, individual advice and attention. | | | | has also been used to treat rheumatism, fever, |
| Information you find online and in women's health | | | | coughs and colds, hives and backache. Some |
| publications is a useful supplement to your | | | | studies have shown that taking pills made from |
| doctor's advice, and it's wise to read as widely as | | | | black cohosh extract is very helpful in providing |
| you can to get an overall picture of the issues. | | | | short term relief from a range of menopause |
| Your health is the most important thing you have, | | | | symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood |
| and while you are free to make your own choices | | | | swings and anxiety. However, little is known about |
| about treating menopause symptoms, it's vital | | | | the effects of taking the treatment in the long |
| that you make these choices with your eyes | | | | term, and some negative side effects have been |
| open. | | | | reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric |
| Most experts believe that all of the common | | | | discomfort and weight gain. |
| symptoms of menopause are caused by the | | | | Maca |
| dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body's | | | | Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by |
| levels of estrogen and to some extent | | | | stimulating glands in the body to produce their |
| progesterone, and the imbalance between them. | | | | own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been |
| Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally | | | | cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps |
| focus around restoring these hormone levels. | | | | thousands of years, and has been used as a |
| Natural treatments are typically made from | | | | treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and |
| extracts of plants containing substances which are | | | | increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a |
| very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone | | | | range of benefits, including alleviating PMS |
| produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of | | | | symptoms, reducing depression and stress, |
| these treatments relies on the assumption that | | | | increasing athletic ability and creating a general |
| these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones | | | | sense of well being. It is also claimed to be |
| have a similar effect in the body to the body's | | | | effective in treating a wide range of menopausal |
| own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments | | | | symptoms, including mood swings, depression, |
| work by stimulating glands to produce natural | | | | irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced |
| hormones more effectively, rather than restoring | | | | libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. |
| the hormones artificially. | | | | Objective clinical research into the effectiveness |
| Another approach is to treat each symptom | | | | and the potential hazards of taking Maca root |
| individually. There is a range of natural treatments | | | | supplements is very scant. |
| which focus specifically on alleviating common | | | | Progesterone treatments. |
| symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido | | | | An alternative view of the causes of menopause |
| problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue. | | | | symptoms places more emphasis on the role of |
| Estrogen treatments. | | | | progesterone, and the imbalance between |
| Soy | | | | progesterone and estrogen. "Estrogen dominance" |
| By far the richest source of phytoestrogens | | | | is a recently identified syndrome, and is believed |
| (sometimes called "isoflavones") is soybeans, and | | | | by a small number of doctors to be the cause of |
| foods made from soy extracts. Soy can be | | | | severe PMS and menstrual problems in early |
| consumed in the form of tofu, soy cheese, meat | | | | adulthood, and a range of severe symptoms as |
| substitute products such as soy burgers, breads | | | | menopause approaches. Advocates of |
| and muffins made with soy flour, and soy drinks, | | | | progesterone treatments believe them to be free |
| sometimes known as "soy milk". Some studies | | | | from the health risks and side effects associated |
| have shown that consuming soy beverages or | | | | with estrogen based treatments. |
| breads made with soy flour twice daily can | | | | Natural progesterone cream |
| reduce the severity or the number of hot flashes, | | | | Natural progesterone creams usually contain |
| but results have been inconclusive and | | | | extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a |
| inconsistent. Soy powders and pills contain much | | | | substance which is believed to be similar to the |
| higher levels of phytoestrogens than soy foods, | | | | progesterone produced in the body. The creams |
| and may have a more significant effect in | | | | are applied to the parts of the body where the |
| alleviating menopause symptoms than soy foods, | | | | skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, |
| but little is known about the potential hazards. | | | | inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to |
| Consuming soy extracts and soy foods may | | | | pass through the skin and circulate through the |
| have a range of other health benefits, including | | | | body. Many women have found natural |
| reducing the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and | | | | progesterone creams to be very effective in |
| heart disease, and lowering cholesterol. Some | | | | treating menopause symptoms, but there is no |
| studies suggest that phytoestrogens may actually | | | | evidence to show that the creams lower the risk |
| help to reduce the risk of breast cancer by | | | | of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from |
| blocking the overproduction of natural estrogen in | | | | the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed. |
| the body. | | | | Chaste tree berry |
| Herbs containing phytoestrogens | | | | Chaste tree berry, sometimes known as |
| Red clover has been used in Asia for thousands | | | | Chasteberry or Vitex agnus castus has been used |
| of years to treat skin conditions, asthma, | | | | since ancient Greek times to treat a range of |
| bronchitis, kidney stones, joint disorders and | | | | ailments. |