Herbal Medicine has been known since ancient times to support women health!

According to “De Materia Medica,” the first-ever Pharmacopoeia written by the Greek physician, pharmacologist and botanist Pedanius Dioscorides (who lived during the first century BC), there are a number of plants and extracts that have been successfully used for treating various and serious gynecologic conditions.

Herbal medicine can support women that may experience many different symptoms during the menopause.

Most of the symptoms can be improved with the use of natural remedies.

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Learn more about Menopause and Natural remedies on Part 1 of this article 

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Supplement for Menopause

B-COMPLEX

The B vitamins have a broad range of benefits including stress reduction, immune system protection, a rise in energy and mood, and protection for cognitive functions including memory.

B complex is recommended if  there are the following symptoms related to stress and low-energy:

• severe mood swings
• irritability
• tension
• anxiety
• depression 

You can find B vitamins in a variety of foods, the body does not store B vitamins well, and the need for them is increased under those conditions.

Plant sources of B vitamins including whole grains, beans, and lentils. Green leafy vegetables are particularly high in folate (vitamin B9).

VITAMIN C with bioflavonoids

Vitamin C can reduce hot flushes and is needed for your body to produce collagen, a major part of the bone matrix, helping to keep your bones strong.

Vitamin C also helps to maintain the elasticity of the tissue in your skin.

Vitamin C has been shown to reduce the intensity and the number of hot flashes via promotion of adrenal function.

This allows for increased hormonal production, specifically estrogen, allowing for a greater antioxidant defence system in postmenopausal women.

Vitamin C intake has been associated with a protective effect on bone. This can be seen through its suppressive action on osteoblast and osteoclast activity, which thereby prevents accelerated bone turnover and eventual bone loss. 1

In food, vitamin C found mainly in fruits and veggies.

MAGNESIUM 

Magnesium has a calming effect on the body, it can be helpful for insomnia, restless sleep, feeling anxious, stress and tense, it also supports healthy bones and helps if you are suffering from muscle cramps.

Herbal Remedies to support Menopause

AGNUS CASTUS

Also known: Vitex agnus-castus, also called Vitex, chaste tree, chaste berry, Abraham’s balm.

Vitex agnus-castus has popular use in relieving PMS, menopause symptoms and infertility issues.

Vitex can help with period pain, breast tenderness, mood swings, irritability that usually may occur at the perimenopause state.

SAGE

Latin name: Salvia Officinalis

Recommended if you suffer from hot flashes and night sweats.

Salvia Officinalis found to reduce the frequency and intensity of Hot Flashes and Night Sweat. 2

Hot flashes and night sweats occur before and during menopause because of changing hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, affecting the body’s temperature control.

Hot flashes may vary from person to person and is determined by the following factors:

alcohol intake, caffeinated products, eating of spicy foods, high ambient temperature, wearing tight clothing, smoking or exposure to cigarette smoke.  3

Sage actually helps to get it back into balance and it works really quickly.

Sage is often taken as a tea. It’s also available in tincture form of the fresh herb and as an essential oil.

BLACK COHOSH 

Latin name: Actaea racemosa, formerly Cimicifuga racemosa

Black cohosh is used to alleviate hot flashes and other symptoms of hormone withdrawal.

Extensive clinical research shows that it’s effectively taken around the menopause.

MILK THISTLE

Latin name: Silymarin marianum

Useful when dealing with any hormone changes in the body.

It’s important for good liver function, which helps eliminate old hormones from your system.

DONG QUAI

Latin name:Angelica sinensis

In Traditional Chinese Medicine this herb is used as a woman’s tonic.

Dong Quai has been named “female ginseng” because of its use for various health conditions afflicting women including dysmenorrhea, pelvic pain, recovery from childbirth and menopausal symptoms.

This is a potent herb for women health, it has the ability to regulate oestrogen levels – whether they are too high or too low – strengthening the uterus, improving uterine tone and regulating the menstrual cycle.

Dong Quai is also traditionally used for stagnation such as PCOS, endometriosis, ovarian cysts and uterine fibroids.

MACA

Latin name: Lepidium meyenii

Maca works in an entirely different way for most women than phytoestrogen herbs (like black cohosh and liquorice root) or HRT, by promoting optimal functioning of the hypothalamus and the pituitary, thereby improving the functioning of all the endocrine glands.

In studies, Alkaloids in the Maca root produced fertility effects on the ovaries and testes of rats.  The Alkaloids were acting on the hypothalamus-pituitary axis, which may explain why the effects in humans are not limited to ovaries and testes, but also acts on the adrenals, giving a feeling of greater energy and vitality and on the pancreas and thyroid as well. 5

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There are many ways to support the hormonal changes that you might experience during menopause. 

Try natural solutions to support your body, they work gently and in synergy with the body.

If you have any questions, you can contact me HERE