Do it Yourself Hormone Treatment

All women will eventually face menopause. Hot flashes, insomnia, headaches and mood swings are all common symptoms, and though prescription treatment is available, many women prefer to use a do-it-yourself approach to hormone treatment.

Menopause and Medication

• Whether a woman faces the sudden loss of hormone production due to a hysterectomy or is experiencing the gradual decline that occurs naturally with age, symptoms of menopause are bothersome and often debilitating. The traditional medical answer has been prescription hormone replacement treatment with either an estrogen and progesterone combination or with estrogen alone. Synthetic hormones were initially prescribed in an attempt to mimic the body's own hormones and provide protection for the heart and other organ systems, along with relief of the symptoms of menopause. In fact, the protection may not be there and the risk of cancer may actually be higher.

  Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy using hormone level testing and specifically compounded creams to replace diminishing hormone levels has gained in popularity, but it has several major drawbacks. It is time-consuming, requiring frequent testing and adjustment of hormone levels. It can be expensive because it still requires a visit to a specialized physician, and prescription compounds must be obtained from specific pharmacies and will not likely be covered by insurance. Though a great deal of positive anecdotal evidence for bioidenticals can be found, they have not been proven effective or safer than conventional treatment primarily because they have not been extensively studied in clinical trials recognized by the FDA. Consequently, many women may choose a self-treatment approach.

Herbal Treatment with Phytohormones

• A woman wishing to treat her own menopausal symptoms may try an herbal approach. Herbs known to contain phytohormones can boost naturally occurring hormone levels. Herbal remedies have been used for thousands of years by native peoples of Asia and the Americas to treat symptoms of menopause related to estrogen loss, progesterone loss and testosterone imbalance. Traditional western medicine has been slower to accept herbal treatment, but it is growing in popularity. Herbal supplements can be purchased from health food stores, although many large grocery stores, drugstores and discount stores now have natural remedy sections, which often carry popular herbal supplements.

Estrogen Loss

• Black cohosh contains phytoestrogens that interact with estrogen receptors in the uterus and breast in a similar fashion to natural hormones. It is helpful for relieving menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, anxiety and irritability, dry skin and loss of sexual desire. Red clover extract is also rich in phytoestrogens and has been used to treat symptoms of menopause related to estrogen loss along with other concerns of menopause, such as bone loss and loss of mental concentration. Ginseng increases ovarian estrogen production in early menopause. It will not be useful for women who have had their ovaries removed surgically or whose menopause has progressed beyond the early stages.

Progesterone Loss

• Wild yam possesses diosgenin, which is chemically similar to hormone precursors. It has been mainly used to treat symptoms of progesterone loss such as night sweats, vaginal dryness, weight gain and cloudy thinking. Wild yam is usually taken in an oral form such as pills or liquid extract. Natural progesterone cream contains progesterone that is most often manufactured from extracts of wild yam root. A small amount of natural progesterone cream is applied daily to thin areas of the skin such as the inner arm or stomach.

Testosterone Imbalance

• Saw palmetto is primarily used to treat prostate enlargement by blocking testosterone stimulation of prostate growth; in a similar fashion, it may block the effects of testosterone imbalance thought to cause menopausal symptoms, such as unwanted hair growth and skin disorders. Damiana has been used to improve sexual function and desire, which are thought to be related to testosterone, and as a tonic treatment for mental disorders. Its complete mechanism of action is not completely understood but it apparently works in part by vasodilation to directly stimulate blood circulation and increase metabolism and nerve functioning.