Alternatives to Estrogen

When women reach menopause the production of estrogen greatly declines, leaving many to experience difficult side effects including hot flashes, heavy sweating, exhaustion and even depression. For those with serious side effects, estrogen replacement hormones offer relief but can also increase the chances for certain kinds of cancer. For those who want relief but do not want to take hormones, there are options that may help.

Black Cohosh

• Black cohosh is an herb sold as a dietary supplement to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. Although preliminary evidence and anecdotal evidence is encouraging, the National Institutes of Health's Office of Dietary Supplements believes there is not enough data available yet to officially recommend black cohosh for menopausal symptom relief. That being said, the herb appears to be safe for women who have had breast cancer or who have a history of breast cancer in their family. It also appears to help quell hot flashes in some women.

Foods with Natural Estrogens

• A number of different foods and herbs are sources of natural plant estrogen and can be very helpful during menopause, The extensive list of foods (as well as a list of foods that inhibit estrogen) is referenced below. These foods all have one thing in common--they are high in vitamins, minerals, fiber, and fatty acids while being low in saturated fat.

Hot Flash Relief

• A January 2005 issue of Obstetrics and More reported more than half of all women experience hot flashes during and after menopause, which can interfere with daily activities and greatly disrupt sleep. These hot flashes are due to a diminishing amount of estrogen in the body. An Oregon Health and Science University study looked at data from over 40 trials studying non-hormonal treatments for hot flashes. According to the findings, some antidepressants like paroxetine, venlafaxine, fluoxetine and citalopram eliminated about one hot flash per day, as did the blood pressure medication clonidine. The anti-seizure medication gabapentin eliminated two per day. Each of these medications comes with medical side effects that must be weighed against the menopausal side effects when determining if they are worth taking in lieu of estrogen or nothing at all.