Menopause is a new territory to explore for women experiencing fluctuating levels of sex hormones progesterone and estrogen. This phenomenon is expected but never welcomed by many because of its accompanying discomforts like hot flashes, night sweating, mood swings, and many other problems concerning the cardiovascular and bone health.

Menopause, however, is not something to fear when you are armed with enough knowledge about its stages, the symptoms that come with it, natural menopause relief, and the several ways to deal with menopause pains and discomfort naturally.

In this post, we rounded up 11 natural remedies for menopause you can try at home. But first, let’s talk about what menopause is, shall we?

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a period that marks the end of your menstrual cycle and your fertile years. During this time, your ovaries stop producing enough estrogen to regulate your monthly period.

As a consequence of declining estrogen count, you may experience changes in your menstruation together with night sweating, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and loss of libido. Menopause also causes an imbalance in progesterone levels, which is crucial in maintaining a healthy hormonal system. Considering this, you may expect progesterone deficiency symptoms such as migraine, weight gain, and mood swings.

Menopause, additionally, comes with health risks. Unfortunately, the fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone may affect your bone health and cardiovascular system.

Estrogen plays a role in regulating cholesterol levels, which is useful in protecting your heart. A drop in estrogen compromises your heart health and puts you at risk for high blood pressure, heart attack and even stroke.

Estrogen is also crucial in maintaining bone strength and density. Though it is a sex hormone, its function is not restricted to the reproductive system as it also is responsible in promoting osteoblast activity and bone resorption. Hence, low estrogen count may result in bone problems like osteoporosis.

It’s important to note, however, that menopause symptoms are unique in every women. Well although menopause affects females differently, this transition is usually a painful jarring experience in most cases.

But don’t forget that you can empower yourself with the knowledge of herbs that can help your body cope with the stresses and pains co-occurring with menopause. Check them all below.

Natural Remedies For Menopause Symptoms

1. Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are plant-based estrogens found in soybeans and flaxseeds that are said to be useful in balancing hormones. Women with declining estrogen levels have reported relief in taking phytoestrogenic meals and supplements.

Apparently, regular consumption of phytoestrogens helps in easing hot flashes, vaginal dryness, and mood swings. Research also claims that these natural estrogen food sources may reduce the risk of heart disease.

2. Ginseng

Ginseng is an excellent herbal supplement known to improve overall health. For menopausal women, it is known to enhance sleep quality and promote a better mood upon waking up in the morning. It also enables the body to handle stressful situations more effectively.

According to studies, ginseng can potentially increase mental performance when taken with Ginkgo Biloba.

3. Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is an herb popular in treating hot flashes, vaginal dryness, moodiness, low sex drive, and night sweats. Its roots are ground into a powder and placed in capsules or mixed in warm water for tea.

4. Dong Quai

In traditional Chinese medicine, Dong Quai is called the “female ginseng” due to its many benefits in treating premenstrual syndrome (PMS), menopause, and overall post-partum recovery.

For menopausal women, Dong Quai is used to treat hot flashes and reduce sleep disturbance. Its potential in treating osteoarthritis is also being studied.

5. Wild yam

Wild yam, also known as diosgenin, is a natural alternative to estrogen replacement therapy. It functions similar to estrogen. Therefore, it is beneficial in stimulating estrogen activity within the body.

In fact, wild yam is popularly used as the main ingredient in the best progesterone cream for menopause and many other female hormone health supplements for the management of vaginal dryness, osteoporosis, and low libido.

6. Vitamin E

Vitamin E acts as an antioxidant.

Common health problems of women in the menopausal stage such as weight gain and heart disease are usually addressed by daily intake of Vitamin E, either as a supplement or in food.

Food sources are almonds, wheat germ, avocado, and sunflower seeds.

7. Evening primrose oil

Evening primrose oil (EPO) is a flower containing essential Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids necessary for women’s brain and bone health. It addresses hormonal changes during menopause and is used to soothe vaginal dryness, hair loss, hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats.

EVO can be taken orally and applied topically.

8. French maritime pine bark extract

Pycnogenol, also known as French maritime pine bark extract, is a plant-based antioxidant that contains organic compounds called flavonoids. Studies show that regular use of pycnogenol improves menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, night flashes, and vaginal dryness.

Pycnogenol is available in capsules.

9. Red clover

Red clover is an herb that has isoflavones, a type of phytoestrogen that benefits menopause symptoms like hot flashes, night sweats, and loss in bone density. Fermented red clover, according to research, is effective in reducing hot flashes.

Red Clover is available in teabags or tablets.

10. Flaxseed

Flaxseed can be ground or crushed to extract oil that’s rich in omega-3 fatty acid called ALA or alpha-linolenic acid best known for lowering cholesterol levels. But aside from its positive effects on the management of cholesterol, ground flaxseed is useful in relieving hot flashes and night sweats.

Ground flaxseed can be added to cereals, pasta, and desserts and is also available in supplement capsules.

11. St. John’s Wort

A well-known herb for managing depression, St. John’s Wort has proven its worth in improving mood swings associated with menopause. Women experiencing terrible mood changes that negatively impact their daily waking lives may find relief in the use of St. John’s Wort because of its calming, antidepressant properties.

Takeaway

As with all herbal remedies, the efficacy highly depends on the quality and purity of herbs used as well as in the frequency and correctness of administration. Moreover, there are a few safety risks involved, primarily when herbal products are utilized without the supervision of a professional or experts. With this said, you must use natural menopause relief herbs with caution and make sure to inform your healthcare provider about your decision to try herbal alternatives for natural menopause relief.