Medicinal Herbs For Post Menopause

The years preceding a woman's final menstrual period are fraught with hormonal fluctuations and symptoms. After menopause, a woman's health needs change as her body adjusts to a postmenopausal state. Merck Online Manuals reports that an average woman is postmenopausal for about one-third of her lifetime. Herbal remedies may help reduce uncomfortable symptoms that may occur after a woman's reproductive cycle ends. Before starting an herbal program, consult your doctor or a certified herbalist for personal recommendations and dosage instructions.

Bone Health

After menopause, a woman's bones may weaken, leading to osteoporosis and an increased risk of fracture. The Gale Encyclopedia reports that women can lose as much as 50 percent of their bone mass as they grow older.
Herbs that may reduce bone mass loss include alfalfa, licorice, marsh mallow, oat straw and horsetail, according to Gale, although scientific studies supporting these claims are lacking.

Memory

Low estrogen levels after menopause may reduce memory function. If you're forgetting more than usual, Gale suggests boosting your cognitive memory with ginkgo biloba, gotu kola and brahmi, all available from health food stores. Don't exceed the dosage instructions on the package without your doctor's approval. Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not stringently test most herbal remedies, some may have side effects that increase with high dosages.
Dr. Andrew Weil, author of numerous natural health books, suggests adding fresh flax seeds to the diet to promote healthy memory function. Add to baked goods or hot cereals or grind for use in smoothies.

HRT Alternatives

A woman's estrogen level decreases after menopause, which may lead to the loss of muscle tissue, dry skin and insomnia. Conventional medical treatment replaces lost estrogen with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to maintain muscle and bone health and to reduce aging symptoms. Gale recommends the use of phytoestrogens, or mild plant hormones, as an alternative to HRT.
Herbs that contain phytoestrogens include red clover leaf, licorice root and wild yam. Available in tea, extract and capsule form, these herbal remedies should be used as directed on the package and notify your doctor if you're already on a hormone replacement program.