Warnings that prescription hormone replacement therapy increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and breast cancer have many women looking for safe and natural remedies for the symptoms of menopause. Menopause symptoms last about four years, but for one in 10 women, they can persist for more than 12 years, according to the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin of the British Medical Association. And while many herbs have become popular among menopausal women, scientists warn that few herbs have been scientifically proven to be effective and that some can have dangerous side effects.
Step 1
Visit a trained herbalist who works with tinctures or powders made from plants. These treatments are considered more effective in treating menopause than pills found in the health food section of the grocery store. There is little known about what actually is in some of those store-shelf products and how much of those remedies you should take.
Step 2
Drink ginseng tea. According to the North American Menopause Society, ginseng has been scientifically proven to be helpful in treating menopausal symptoms. It can improve your mood and your sleep, and it contributes to your overall sense of well-being. Don't expect it to help with hot flashes, however. Ginseng comes in a variety of forms, including pills, but according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food in British Columbia, the best way to consume it is by making a tea from tea bags containing 100 percent ginseng. The benefits are more quickly absorbed by the body.
Step 3
Take black cohosh. Laboratory studies have found that plant-based estrogens in black cohosh may inhibit bone loss related to osteoporosis, and a number of clinical studies have found that this member of the buttercup family relieves hot flashes and night sweats better than Prozac.The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has recognized its value in treating menopausal symptoms. It's approved in Germany for treatment of menopausal symptoms. The recommended dose is 40 to 80 mg a day, either as a tea made from the dried root or as a tablet. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC), teas may not be as effective for menopause as an extract.
Step 4
Utilize red clover. Red clover is a source of isoflavones, which according to the UMMC produce an "estrogen-like effect" on a woman's body. Red clover has also "shown potential" in treating menopausal hot flashes, increasing bone density and maintaining cardiovascular health. Some studies cited by the UMMC have found that red clover increases the good HDL cholesterol in pre- and postmenopausal women. You can drink red clover as a tea or take a capsule (40 to 160 mg a day is recommended). It's also available as a tincture or fluid extract for tea.
Step 5
Try ginkgo biloba. According to a survey by the Journal of the North American Menopause Society, almost two-thirds of the women who used it thought it was effective in relieving symptoms of menopause. According to the UMMC, gingko is one of the most extensively studied herbs, and various studies have shown it to be effective in enhancing memory by improving blood flow to the brain. It's available in capsules, tablets, liquid extracts and dried leaves for tea, and doctors at the UMMC generally recommend you take 120 mg a day.
Tips and Warnings
- Let your doctor know when you are taking herbs; some can complicate general anesthesia during surgery and should be discontinued weeks before surgery. If you visit an herbalist, ask about his training and professional associations. Many belong to the American Herbalist Guild, which has a code of ethics its members are expected to follow. Medical herbalists are not licensed to practice medicine in the United States.
- Herbal remedies for menopause are not universally accepted as effective. More scientific study is needed. "Sometimes they help, and if it helps, it helps," Pamela Boggs of the North American Menopause Society told Cox News Service in 2005. "But we like to see scientific evidence .. and unfortunately the evidence just is not there." Don't overdo it. In England, where one in five people regularly use herbal remedies, the British Herbal Medical Association advises people to treat herbs like they would any other medicine. Not all herbs are totally safe--some have side effects like regular medicines, and little is known about proper doses. So get advice from your doctor or pharmacist before taking herbal remedies for menopause or any other condition. Avoid using herbs if you are pregnant or breast feeding. Some herbal remedies may have potentially dangerous interactions with other medications, both herbal and conventional, according to a study published in 2009 by the British Medical Association.
References
- "The New York Times;" Survey Finds Use of Herbs for Menopause is Common; Nicholas Bakalar; June 20, 2006
- "Canada Wire;" Natural remedies a safe alternative; July 17, 2002
- "Cox News Service;" Pressing pause on herbal approach; Meredith Moss; May 9, 2005
- Red Clover: An overview
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