Herbal Remedies for Peri-Menopause & Menopause

When dealing with the hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness and other symptoms of peri-menopause and menopause, many women seek herbal answers to help them make it through. They may turn to herbal treatments to use in conjunction with traditional therapies or as an alternative. And though scores of herbal remedies are marketed for peri-menopausal and menopausal relief, it's difficult to know how safe they are and whether they are truly effective. Popular herbal treatments for peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms include soy and other phytoestrogens, vitamin E, St. John's wort, ginseng and Mexican yam.

Considering Herbal Treatments

• There are several factors to consider when deciding whether to use herbal remedies for peri-menopausal or menopausal symptoms. One is the risk factors involved with traditional treatments such as hormone replacement therapy (HRT). The risk of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer and blood clots increases with HRT. For peri-menopausal symptoms, low-dose birth control pills are often prescribed. For women who smoke or are a high risk for blood clots, however, this may not be the best option.

  The severity of your specific symptoms is another factor. Your hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal symptoms may not be severe enough for hormones or other traditional treatments, while still warranting the degree of relief that herbal remedies may offer. Other considerations include the safety and potential effectiveness of the treatment. To avoid complications, be sure to consult your doctor about any herbal remedies you are considering.

Common Herbal Remedies

• Several herbal remedies are used for the treatment of hot flashes. Phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, are sold in tablet and powder form, and can also be found in foods such as soybeans, legumes and flax seeds; soy offers the highest concentrations. The safety and efficacy of phytoestrogens have not been proven. Due to their similarities to estrogen, you should avoid taking phytoestrogens if you have a high risk of developing breast cancer.

  Wild yam is another popular hot flash remedy. A natural progesterone, it has been used to treat menstrual cramps, morning sickness and menopausal symptoms for centuries. It can be purchased in cream, liquid extract and powder form.

  Vitamin E is also commonly used to combat hot flashes in menopausal women. Though it's fairly safe, you should not take more than 400 international units of vitamin E per day, according to the Mayo Clinic. To treat hot flashes as well as vaginal dryness, some herbalists recommend Dong quai. This plant root is a commonly prescribed Chinese herbal medicine and is used for various female reproductive issues.

  Herbs used to combat menopause-related mood swings and depression include St. John's wort and ginseng. St. John's wort is a flower extract used to treat mild to moderate depression. Ginseng is used to stabilize moods and combat stress.