Fighting Menopausal Problems with Herbal Remedies

Menopause, which forever brings down the curtain on her reproductively active phase of life, is a significant change in a woman’s life. The hormonal changes during the shift can result in hot flashes, mood swings, memory waning, vaginal dryness, weight gain, or night sweats. Hormone replacement therapy is the much advocated remedy for these changes, though there are enough herbal remedies also available to combat the situation. Many natural herbs have medicinal properties, and proper use of either is an effective herbal cure for the problems associated with menopause. While hormone therapy may have its benefits, that is not the lone mode of treatment for menopausal problems, and the following natural herbs, used in herbal treatment, can significantly reduce the discomforts associated with the problem.

Chasteberry: This is one of the medical herbs that has always been known for its effect on body hormones. Many practitioners of alternative systems of medicines, and herbal therapy as well, have advocated the use of it in healing menopausal symptoms. Through proper administration of chasteberry, the vaginal changes that take place during menopause can be reversed. Chasteberry also provides a very effective herbal cure for the lower sex drive that is seen as part of menopause in many women. Besides its specific effect on vaginal changes and sex drive, chasteberry is, in general, is useful as an important ingredient in most herbal treatments for menopause. Chinese medicine men have always strongly advocated the use of chasteberry as a very effective herbal cure for menopausal complaints.

St. John’s Wort: Another important natural herb used in the herbal treatment of problems related to menopause is St. John’s Wort. The effect of this herbal medication is mainly on the psychological problems associated with menopause like mood swings, anxiety, depression etc. It has anti-depressant properties, and is an effective herbal cure in general for depression. A standard dose for herbal treatment by St. John’s Wort is the intake of about 100 to 300 mg of the herbal supplement. The extract of this natural herb, which goes by the botanical name Hypericum perforatum, is known as hypercin, and the herbal supplement that is taken should have 0.3% hypercin, and should be taken thrice a day.

Ginkgo biloba: This is also an equally popular natural herb in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. It has antioxidant properties and stimulates the flow of blood to the brain, the reason why it becomes important as an herbal remedy in treating the memory weakening associated with menopause. The herbal supplement is in the form of capsules of 40 mg to 80 mg and recommended to be taken thrice a day.

Valerian: What this herbal supplement treats is insomnia associated with menopause. Practitioners of herbal medicine recommend the taking of a pill daily night, an hour before going to bed. Dosage is 300 mg to 500 mg.

Lavender Essential Oil: The properties of this herbal supplement are also mainly effective for insomnia. Because of the aroma of this natural herb, its use becomes a combination of aroma therapy and herbal therapy. There is no tablet to be swallowed or herb to be ground here. All that is needed to be done is put a couple of drops of this oil on to the pillow as an herbal remedy.