Understanding Herbal Menopause Treatment

Nowadays we have familiar to the hormone replacement therapy or HRT as it is continually accepted in society as a menopause treatment. However many women do not choose this method as a treatment in the first place. Most of them are preferred to take some herbal treatment for menopause that greatly appear to them as softer options.

As the herbal menopause treatment has considerably a long history of usage, it often clinically the only interference needed. As most naturopaths and herbalists greatly prescribed herbal treatments for menopause rather than HRT, the use of the menopause herb has been continually increasing. Most of the herbs and supplements are now applied to administer the switch from the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of the woman's life.

As the great appreciation of the herbal menopause treatments, a number of simple herbal formulations that usually suggested as a beginning for most women are now available and lining on the shelves of several health food outlets anywhere in the world. And one of those herbal treatments for menopause that stand out as being worldly renowned in pharmaceuticals formulations are St. John's Wort and black cohosh.

Since the early days, St. John's Wort has known as the best herbal menopause treatment. During the menopausal periods, this herb has been applied traditionally for the treatment of anxiety and mood disturbance. Some clinical studies have proven this claim and have demonstrated the efficacy treatment since the early days. So far, there is no known side effect that cause by this herbal menopause treatment.

Beside black cohosh as the other herbal menopause treatment that is proven effective, it also has been proven that it has an oestrogenic effect. There is also no know side effect for the use of this menopause herb just like St. John's Wort. However the British Herbal Compendium suggests that this herbal treatment for menopause must not exceed six months and it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation phases.

From the information above, you may understand why herbal medicines have much to offer specifically in women for the treatment of menopause symptoms. Many women prefer herbal menopause treatments to relief their symptoms of menopause. Many patients and practitioners are now much confident in a broad array of effective therapeutic involvements since the further discoveries are noted in this area of herbal treatment.

Perimenopause Bleeding 101

Perimenopause is like a thief in the night. It creeps up silently without you knowing it's there. Before you know it, it takes away your most prized possession: Your normalcy.

I asked some of my friends what they thought about it but they were unanimous in shrugging me off. They didn't want to talk, saying it's too early to be talking about "it". One even said that she would rather be ignorant than be informed. Pressing further though, most of them admitted that now that they're in their late 30s, their periods are beginning to show signs of irregularity.

Contrary to popular belief, it is common to have 1 or 2 irregular cycles in a year. If you have more than that though, then know what the possible causes are. It maybe just stress after all. But if after a friendly visit to the doctor and they find nothing wrong with you, chances are, you're entering early menopause already.

The monthly period is actually the earliest sign of the dreaded stage. Perimenopause bleeding varies. It could be from short to long cycles, ranging from a very light to a very heavy flow.

How do menses work? For the first 10 to 12 days of the normal menstrual cycle, only estrogen is produced. In ovulation (a mature egg is released from the ovary and ready for fertilization via the fallopian tube), the body produces progesterone. If pregnancy does not occur, the body will stop making both estrogen and progesterone. At this time, menstruation will take place. By doing this, we have what we call hormone balance.

Women in their late 30s or early 40s still produce estrogen. Progesterone however is a different story as the body makes less of it. If you missed ovulation, it means there was no progesterone production. This is where hormone imbalance comes in.

What's worse is, since there is now a lot of estrogen that your body doesn't need, there is now estrogen dominance. This is definitely not good as most of the symptoms of perimenopause come from this hormone imbalance. Hair loss, mood swings, memory loss, low libido, uterine fibroids and weight gain are just some of the signs of perimenopausal hormonal imbalance.

So now that we know how our periods perform, the next thing we need to know is when our biological mothers had their menarche (first menstrual period). Why? Because most likely than not, the first time they had it was also at the age that you had it. If this is the case, then you will have the perimenopausal signs at the same age that they had it too. This is just to better prepare you for your turn at the wheel.

Irregular bleeding should be of no concern except for the following:

- Bleeding lasting for more that 2 weeks.
- Any type of bleeding after no bleeding for 6 months (unless you're pregnant - so make sure that you aren't).
- A period that requires a change of pads every hour.
- If you are high risk (diabetic, obese, high risk for uterine cancer, or with high blood pressure), it is best to consult with your doctor.

Before any treatment can be done, you need to take some tests to rule out. Hysteroscopy is the most popular choice for doctors as they will be able to check your uterus directly and see if there are "aliens" within. A vaginal probe ultrasound is also a good screening exam. The traditional endometrial biopsy may eliminate cancer as a suspect but will be helpless in diagnosing polyps or fibroids (muscular tumors that grow in the uterus).

Though surgery is one way to treat abnormal bleeding, it's not the only one available at your disposal. Before deciding on hysterectomy, fibroid or polyps removal, consider taking progesterone if the bleeding is just caused by the missing ovulation.

In any action you take, remember one thing: You decide on what to do with your body. The doctors will just be your guide. No one can force you to have surgery if you don't want to. What's important is that you know what you're going through so that you can eventually make the smart choice.

Menopause Supplements: Natural Herbal Remedies to Increase Libido

All women are bound to go through menopause where they experience depression, anxiety, heart palpitation, hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, stress and lack of energy. They also experience weight gain and a decreased libido. Menopause is that stage where monthly periods stop and is usually felt in the late 40s and early 50s. Women take supplements and remedies that will make it easier for them to handle symptoms of menopause. These contain herbs and other vitamins and nutrients that will help detoxify their bodies, including the female reproductive tract, increase their sex drive, control their weight gain and decrease depression.

One of these herbal remedies is damiana, a menopause supplements libido enhancer. This lessens vaginal dryness and heightens sexual urges. This supplement allows women to experience orgasms frequently. Chaste berry is another supplement that enhances sensitivity and lubrication which intensifies sexual cravings.

Black cohosh is a menopause weight loss supplement which controls the hormones that cause the cravings for eating plenty of food. This herbal remedy also helps lessen depression, night sweats, hot flashes and dryness in the vagina. Vitamin D should also be taken during the menopausal stage as this can control weight gain by giving a feeling of fullness, providing energy to do things and decreasing exhaustion. Magnesium also controls a person's cravings for sweet food and controls insulin. Vitamin B complex quickens the body's metabolism thus food is digested properly and fats are burned quickly. Omega 3 fatty acids are also nutrients that allow the body to lose fat quickly.

Depression is one symptom of menopause. Because the levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone are decreased, mood swings occur in women who are aging. Lack of enough estrogen also influences the manufacturing of serotonin and dopamine in the brain thus the reason for depression. Women will also see that their skin lack moisture and elasticity, their hair dry and wrinkles are more visible. All of these will add to their depression as they see their youth slowly dripping away.

Aside from black cohosh, there are other menopause nutritional supplements that will help lessen depression. St. John's wort is an herb that will aid in controlling moderate depression. Another such herb that has the same effect is Valerian.

Menopause is a natural phenomenon in women in their 40s and 50s. This can never be stopped but can be handled with the aid of all natural menopause supplements.

The Changes Associated With Menopause

Menopause simply refers to a woman's ending of menstruation. Commonly the term is used to refer to the entire span of time during which ovarian function declines and menstruation stops. This time period is normally years in duration, generally encompassing ages 45-55. Sometime around forty, a woman might notice that her period is different - how long it lasts, how much she bleeds, or how often it happens may not be the same. Or, without warning, she might find herself feeling very warm during the day or in the middle of the night.

The average age of last menstrual flow is about 51 years. It takes 12 consecutive months of no periods to determine when menopause happened, so the actual time when menopause occurs can only be established long after the act. The perimenopause or climacteric phase occurs about 12 to 24 months (in some cases, longer) before the last menstrual period, and is characterized by symptoms such as irregular periods and hot flashes. Post-menopause refers to the period of life starting 12 months after the last menstrual period.

Most women, an estimated 60 to 80% - experience only minor discomfort during menopause. After about a year or two of irregular periods and a number of hot flashes of mild to moderate severity, they simply stop menstruating. About 10 to 20% have virtually no symptoms. For the remaining 10 to 20%, including the majority of those who undergo surgical menopause, symptoms - especially hot flashes - may be a major annoyance and occasionally incapacitating.

However, smoking can lead to early menopause. Some types of surgery can bring on menopause. For example, the removal of a woman's uterus (hysterectomy) before menopause will make her periods stop, but her ovaries will still make hormones. That means she could still have symptoms of menopause like hot flashes when her ovaries start to make less estrogen. But in situations where both ovaries are removed (oophorectomy), menopause symptoms can start right away, no matter what her age might be, because her body has lost its main supply of estrogen.

Physical Changes Associated with Menopause

Women may have different signs or symptoms at menopause. That's because estrogen is used by many parts of their body. So, changes in how much estrogen a woman has can cause assorted symptoms. But, that doesn't mean she will have all, or even most, of them. In fact, some of the signs that happen around the time of menopause may really be a result of growing older, not changes in estrogen.

Ovarian Estrogen Production

During the perimenopause, estrogen production by the ovaries declines to about 10% of the level of the estrogen produced prior to perimenopause. At menopause, the ovaries disregard the signals to produce estrogen. It's the body's way of indicating that the woman's reproductive time is coming to an end. Ovarian-produced estrogen is called estradiol; only this form of estrogen decreases dramatically at menopause. Estrone estrogen, manufactured by, and stored in, the body's fat cells and other tissue, continues to be present in the bloodstream because its production isn't controlled by ovarian function.

Hot Flashes

The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes. Hot flashes, or flushes, have sometimes been called power surges. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of a woman's body. Her face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on her chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow. Flashes can be as mild as a light blush or severe enough to wake her from a sound sleep (called night sweats). Most hot flashes last between thirty seconds and ten minutes.

Though not entirely understood, hot flashes often are triggered by a stimulus, such as sitting in an uncomfortably warm room or experiencing stress and pressure. These are very common around the time of menopause because they are related to changing estrogen levels. They may also last a few years after menopause.

Changes in the Vulva, Vagina and Bladder

The vulva and vagina are very responsive to estrogen levels. Elasticity, lubrication, and thickness of the vaginal walls are affected by declining estrogen, and the tissues of the labia majora and minora become less engorged during sexual arousal. The mucous membrane lining of the vagina is particularly susceptible to irritation, minor injury, and infection as the capacity to produce lubrication decreases. Normally thick and cushiony, the vaginal walls can thin during menopause and after. The actual size of the vagina shrinks, as does the uterus. The cervix may atrophy (shrivel) and flatten out to the wall of the vagina. The Venus mound, or mons, loses plumpness and definition.

Changes in the lining of the urethra and bladder can cause irritation as well, leading to an annoying need to urinate frequently. Supporting muscles to the internal organs lose elasticity because of reduced blood flow to the pelvis. This is especially distressing if it leads to involuntary urine loss (urinary incontinence) when exercising, sneezing, coughing, laughing, running, or having sex. Some women experience thinning of their hair, including pubic hair and this can be as distressing for a woman as it is for a man.

Body Changes

A woman might start thinking that her body is changing. Her waist could get larger; she could lose muscle and gain fat; her skin could get thinner; she might have memory problems; and her joints and muscles could feel stiff and achy. It is still unclear if these changes as a result of a woman having less estrogen or just related to her growing older.

Success With Pre-Menopause Weight Gain Treatment

Weight gain is something women fear. We even can be kept awake at night worrying about how we will fit into our new evening dress or what we will look like in a swimming suit this year at the beach. Gaining weight can be a death sentence. As your middle begins to expand and you push harder at the gym to lose those added inches around your waist you find yourself running out of steam as you crumble at the thought - are you getting old? You have heard of perimenopause is this the same? You're too young for menopause but you know it's time to find the right pre-menopause weight gain treatment to keep the pounds off and you feeling - looking great.

Daily your thoughts are filled with "You can't go up an other dress size you just bought these new jeans the ones that make your "tummy flat." Yet you feel like your thighs are expanding at night while you try to sleep even though you're doing more tossing than slumbering. Let's not mention you just don't feel 'like it' when the man in your life mentions sex. Your guy says he understands and you tell yourself it's because you look and feel fat but deep down inside that is only part of it. You really aren't interested in intimacy, in fact your libido is low.

When Does Pre-Menopause or Peri-Menopause Start?

It's hard to admit it but you sound like your older friend or mother but you are only in your forties or perhaps early fifties can it be menopause? It likely is something that gets little attention it's pre-menopause. This is the time between peri-menopause when you found yourself in your late thirties to mid-forties usually. You first had something cause a hormone imbalance like having a baby or just 'hitting' thirty-five seemed to make a difference. Your symptoms included low energy, adult acne, and if your hormones are way out of whack you are irritable and have trouble losing weight already.

Then somewhere about 45 you notice more gray hairs, flabby abs, and your skin over night seems to have a dozen more fine lines or dark spots. Your other symptoms may be increasing too. Your anxiety is at an all time high only challenged by your insomnia, and the irritability has turned into mood swings. The biggest worry is still the weight gain and how to trim the pounds before it's to late.

Hormones

As we age our hormones change in our body. We make less and sometimes we get out of balance as we continue to make more of one hormone than another. You likely have heard of estrogen and progesterone but many people don't know that women also have a fair amount of testosterone and DHEA not to mention thyroid and adrenal hormones just to name a few. So lets take a look at how some of these play a roll in our weight gain.

DHEA The Age Gauge is nicknamed the 'mother of all hormones' as it has the ability to convert into estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. In 1984 Dr. Norman Orentreich proved that DHEA declined with age. DHEA is one hormone we should never let slow to low levels. Research has shown that low levels of this substance contribute to obesity and even high blood pressure or diabetes.

Melatonin we don't often think of this as a hormone but it is and is produced by the pineal gland. It not only includes youthful sleep patterns it aids our body defenses so that toxins that can make us sick or make us hold on to fat and stop us from winning the age battle. Many alternative practitioners consider Melatonin to be part of the list when it comes to essential hormones you must have to lose weight.

Natural estrogen is so important that drug companies have tired to make synthetic estrogen so they can make money but be cautious when looking at this. You only want to take bio-identical estrogen. When you do you will be happy you did as you experience better muscle tones, less wrinkles, better hair texture, and yes a reduction in your flabby abs or as the medical community calls it abdominal fat loss. This is because Estrogen lowers cortisol which in turn reduces abdominal fat per Female Patient April 2001, 26:18-24

Next Natural Progesterone flat out helps pre-menopause weight gain according to Female patient 2001 Oct, 19-23.

What if we kept going through the list of hormones and looked at adrenal gland, testosterone and thyroid not to mention the actions they all have on anti aging. Pre-Menopause Weight Gain doesn't have to be in your life even if you have put on a full dress size or two already. Losing weight once you are over forty becomes harder as your metabolism wanes due to these changes. Simple working with a natural herb and nutrition specialist can help you find the right pre-menopause weight gain treatment for you.

Joint Pain Relief Through Natural Remedies and Herbal Treatments

Every individual is in the risk of having joint pains, be it due to aging or some other factors. Whatever may be the cause; it is very often unbearable and demand emergency treatment. Age related joint pains like arthritis must be controlled through proper medication and remedies to prevent crippling and disability of the body. Free movement is greatly impaired in acute cases of arthritis related joint pains with frustrations creeping in gradually. Women experience problem after menopause due to the drastic drop in the estrogen levels.

Knee, shoulders, back and hip joints are mostly affected due to aging whereas some may experience pains in the wrists, fingers, ankles and heels.

Symptoms

1. Swelling and inflammation followed by acute pain.
2. Redness and tenderness of the joints.

Causes

1. Due to wear and tear of the cartilage due to aging.
2. Autoimmune disease
3. Gout
4. Physical injuries
5. Infection at joints
6. Low hormonal levels in women after menopause.

Treatment

Apart from the usage of over the counter NSAID's and steroids, following treatments are of great help in providing relief from the this problem and that too without any serious side effects.

1. Exercises play a great role in reducing various types of pains, especially swimming. Swimming in a heated pool gives the best results.

2. Bathing with Epsom salt or magnesium sulfate. This particular compound has good anti-inflammatory properties which are well absorbed by the skin. About 40 minutes of bathing gives good results.

3. Massaging with a mixture of camphor oil, menthol and eucalyptus oil on the affected areas alleviates the pains.

4. Joint pains due to arthritis can be reduced by drinking few cups of green tea regularly. Green tea has special constituents that protect the cartilage from wearing out.

5. Elimination of certain foods like meat, beef which are high in protein helps in reducing this problem. The protein can be substituted by vegetables and fish.

6. Dairy products should be avoided excluding the low fat yoghurt.

7. Alcohol consumption must be stopped totally.

8. The herb Boswelia Serrata has high anti-inflammatory properties and enhances the blood circulation to the joints that helps in reducing the pains.

9. The roots of Ashwagandha are beneficial in treating Rheumatoid Arthritis.

10. Ginger roots are also used for this treatment, which prevents the production of prostaglandins and leukotrienes, which are responsible for this problem.

11. Women need sufficient dietary calcium supplements like low fat milk, yoghurt to prevent the weakening of bones and joint pains after menopause.

12. Application of turmeric and lime paste or drinking milk adding turmeric is a good remedy to alleviate joint pains.

13. Massage with Rumatone Gold oil give good relief.

Three Top Herbs Used in Menopause

In many industrialized countries, menopause can be a time of great discomfort and stress. Menopause is not a disease, to be viewed as something to be 'treated', but a passage in life from childbearing years. The symptoms American women may experience include hot flashes, mood swings, irregular bleeding, memory problems, decreased sexual interest and other changes that effect the enjoyment of sex. Although dietary habits and amount of activity a woman engages in can decrease many of these problems, genetics and previous health can also play a role in how severe the symptoms can be for a woman.

Multiple studies today indicate that taking hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may not be as safe as previously believed. As just one example, in July, 2002, the Women's Health Initiative Study published results that demonstrated that the risks of HRT outweighed the benefits. Now more and more women entering menopause are considering 'natural' solutions to resolving uncomfortable symptoms of this life transition.

There are three particular herbs of interest when entering menopause. They include Black Cohosh, Chaste Tree Berry and Red Clover.

Black Cohosh

Black Cohosh is also known as Black Snakeroot, Bugwort, Rattleweed, Snakeroot, among other names. Black Cohosh was first used medicinally by Native Americans who introduced it to European colonists. Do not confuse black Cohosh with two unrelated plants, Blue Cohosh and White Cohosh.

Black Cohosh is one of the most popular herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms. Overall, the research supports that using Black Cohosh can help reduce menopause-related hot flashes. The research is a bit mixed on exactly how Black Cohosh works and if it has estrogen-like activity. Some research does show that in any estrogen-like activity, this activity does not pertain to the reproductive organs, such as breast, endometrium, and ovaries. A big question for women going into menopause is whether this is a safe herb for women with a history of cancer; the research generally says it is. However, for all women, this herb should not be taken for unlimited amounts of time.

There are also concerns of liver toxicity with the use of Black Cohosh. Until more is known, anyone who wishes to take Black Cohosh should consult their health practitioner and monitor their liver function to be on the safe side. It would also be wise to avoid taking it along with other herbs that may increase the risk of liver damage, which include androstenedione, chaparral, comfrey, DHEA, germander, kava, niacin, pennyroyal oil, red yeast, and others.

Remifemin, a branded black Cohosh product, has been used in Germany since the mid-1950s to manage menopause. Research that has been done generally has used either Remifemin or two other products produced by Enzymatic Therapy and Phytopharmica.

As mentioned earlier, before taking this and most other supplements, make sure to discuss them with your doctor, particularly if you are taking any prescription medications or have any medical conditions. All herbs do have various interactions with other substances.

Chaste Tree Berry

Chaste Tree Berry is also known as Vitex, Chinese Vitex, Hemp Tree, and Mang Jing Zi, among others. An interesting bit of history is that historians say that monks chewed Chaste Tree parts to make it easier to maintain their celibacy.

This herb has been most often recommended for relieving symptoms related to premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as bloating, headaches and cramping. Although this is where most of the research has focused, it is now being studied to see if it can help with menopausal symptoms as well, and has also become quite popular for this use although there have only been three studies looking into how it could help with hot flashes in menopause.

The therapeutic effects of Chaste Tree Berry have primarily been attributed to its indirect effects on various neurotransmitters and hormones. It seems to increase levels of progesterone and decrease levels of estrogen. Theoretically, Chaste Tree Berry might interfere with the action of dopamine antagonists such as antipsychotic drugs due to dopaminergic effects of Chaste Tree Berry. It is believed that this herb could interfere with any hormone-related medications. Finally, there is a report that some women who were receiving invitro fertilization procedures and taking Chaste Tree Berry were unable to get pregnant. Consequently, if you are taking any medications or have a history of any medical conditions, speak to your health professional before starting this herb.

This is an herb that is not recommended for women with a history of any hormone-related cancers. However, for others it does appear to be safe. So, particularly for women who suffer from PMS or have mild menopausal-related hot flashes without a history of cancer, this could be an effective herbal remedy.

Red Clover

Other names for Red Clover include Genistein, Meadow Clover, Purple Clover, Trifolium, among others. Do not confuse Red Clover with Sweet Clover, Soy or Liverwort, however.

As a food, Red Clover is considered safe. Medicinally, there have only been four studies on Red Clover for menopause and three of these showed no benefit. Research has considered a possible blood cholesterol-lowering affect, decreasing prostrate size, and perhaps a positive effect on cancer, but research has not definitively supported any of these benefits, yet.

There is some evidence that red clover isoflavones can inhibit oxidative and conjugative metabolism. The list of possible drug and herbal interactions is so large that the best recommendation is to never consider this herb without a long discussion with your doctor, or avoid this herb completely.

This is an herb that appears to be safest when eaten as opposed to taken as a nutrition supplement. Although it could be safe for healthy persons with no medical history or on medications or other herbs, it does not appear to relieve any menopause symptoms. It also is an herb recommended to be avoided by any woman with a history of cancer.

We have just reviewed three popular herbs taken to relieve menopause symptoms. Of the three, the one with the best safety and effectiveness profile is Black Cohosh. Chaste Tree Berry has been shown to be most effective for PMS and should not be taken by women with a history of breast cancer. Red Clover appears to be something safer to eat than take as a supplement and should be avoided by women with a history of cancer, as well as people on any other medication or herbal product. Something that I hope readers were able to realize is that although herbs are a natural form of medication, they still do work like drugs and should be taken as seriously as prescription medications are. Interactions are possible with all substances and before taking any herbal product, I highly recommend that you consult with a healthcare professional with adequate education and background to help you make an informed decision on how to best handle symptoms.

Finally, it's important to point out that in some societies there is not even a word for menopause. Women pass through this stage of life without notice. This makes it very clear that lifestyle has much to do with how a woman experiences this period of time in her life. If you currently suffer from symptoms of menopause, there are several things that you should evaluate. These include:

The amounts of fruits, vegetable and whole grains you eat daily,

Your intake of saturated fat, animal products and refined foods,

Your alcohol intake and smoking habits,

Regular exercise habits.

Each of these factors plays a large role in not only your health but how you experience the journey through menopause.