Peri menopause is the beginning stage of menopause. According to the Post Menopause Help website, peri menopause is a condition that many women suffer from in the months or years before they begin menopause. Peri menopause is caused by fluctuating levels of estrogen, progesterone and testosterone hormones. Some of the symptoms that women may experience are insomnia, night sweats and disturbed sleep. For women who are looking for a natural way to treat the symptoms of peri menopause, a variety of herbs can balance out hormones and provide relief.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh can help to relieve the symptoms of peri menopause. According to the 34 Menopause Symptoms Health Center website, black cohosh is a phytoestrogenic herb. Phytoestrogens are estrogen-like chemicals found in plants that function like estrogen within the body. Black cohosh has the ability to increase low estrogen levels by replacing some of the missing estrogen hormones. Dr. Andrew Weil states that one of the best traditional herbs for menopause is black cohosh. Black cohosh can help alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. It seems to work by supporting and maintaining hormonal levels, which may lessen the severity of hot flashes.
Dong Quai
Dong quai can be beneficial in treating the symptoms of peri menopause. According to Dr. Andrew Weil, dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is known both in China and the West for its ability to support and maintain the natural balance of female hormones. Dong quai is non-estrogenic herb, which means that it does not utilize estrogen to balance hormones and relieve peri menopausal symptoms.
Ginseng
The Herbs for Menopause website states that Ginseng (Panax ginseng) is an herb that Native Americans, the Chinese, and Koreans have been using for centuries because of its medicinal properties. Ginseng restores hormone imbalance by substituting human hormones with phytoestrogenic hormones. Ginseng is beneficial for treating vaginal dryness, a common symptom of peri menopause.
Red Clover
According to Herbs for Menopause, red clover is a perennial clover plant that originates from Asia, parts of Northern Africa, and Central Europe. It has vibrant red, pink and purple petals that are easily identifiable. Red Clover is often used to treat peri menopause symptoms and considered one of the most common herbs for peri menopause and menopause because of its unique chemical properties. Red clover helps to relieve various symptoms of peri menopause such as hot flashes and night sweats.
MacaActive
According to 34 Menopause Symptoms Health Center, an excellent example of a safe and effective non-estrogenic herb for a hormonal imbalance caused by peri menopause is MacaActive. MacaActive (Lepidium meyenii) is a dehydrated vegetable plant that produces a radish-like root. It balances hormonal levels in peri menopausal women by nourishing their hormonal glands. MacaActive has the ability to alleviate the hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings caused by peri menopause.
Evening Primrose
Dr. Andrew Weil states that evening primrose is a natural source of the essential fatty acid gamma-linolenic acid (GLA). Evening primrose consists of yellow flowers and it has been used for centuries by Native Americans to treat a variety of illnesses. It provides the essential fatty acids that are needed to balance hormones in peri menopausal women. Evening primrose can help to relieve mild to moderate peri menopausal discomforts such as fluid retention and breast tenderness.
