Herbal Alternatives for Symptoms of Menopause

Sooner or later, every woman will deal with menopause, and the reduced hormone levels that cause the classic menopause symptoms. The traditional treatment for this is hormone replacement therapy, or HRT. Why, then, do some women choose herbal remedies to deal with symptoms of menopause?
For women who are at high risk for breast cancer, HRT is not a good option as it can increase the risk. Whether justified or not, there is also some stigma attached to using HRT, since we've all heard the stories about the harsh effects it can have on our bodies, like skin discoloration and weight gain. So it should come as no surprise that some women seek alternatives.

Before You Decide on HRT or an Alternative, Do Your Homework

Some women swear by herbs, but there is limited research on the effectiveness of herbal remedies. Unless your doctor advises you against it, the only way to know if herbs alleviate your symptoms is to try. But it might be a good idea to ask your doctor if herbs would interfere with other prescriptions you might be taking.

Here are a few common herbs that have proven effective for some women

--Soy: Women who seek a more natural treatment seem to like soy. Soy contains isoflavones, which are a phytoestrogen, or plant estrogen. And plant estrogen behaves like a weak form of estrogen in the human body. People who use soy to treat symptoms of menopause point to Asian women, who have a much higher level of soy in their diets than most of us, and in general they have few problems with menopause. The jury is out on that theory, however, since American women and Asian women have many lifestyle differences that could account for that.

If taken over time, soy can help protect against osteoporosis and high cholesterol. Soy also promotes heart health and can guard against breast cancer, endometrial cancer, and blood clots. In the meantime, it provides some relief from night sweats and hot flashes. It is recommended that soy, as a menopausal treatment, be taken over a two- year or less period of time, 50 grams per day. Women with breast cancer are advised not to take soy, as it can interfere with estrogen receptors in breast cancer treatment.

--St.John's Wort: St. John's Wort (SJW) can be helpful in cases of mild depression and, like soy, should not be used for a period longer than two years. SJW is not recommended for severe depression, and in fact, might interfere with prescription anti-depressants.

If you begin taking SJW and don't notice an improvement right away, don't give up. SJW can take time (up to four weeks) to build up in the blood system. Also, if taken alone, SJW can irritate your stomach, so be sure to take it with meals.

--Black Cohosh: Another herb that is said to be helpful in the treatment of hot flashes and night sweats, sleep disorders, and mild depression is black cohosh. It is recommended that you take it for no longer than six months at a time. This herb may tend to act like estrogen, though conclusions on its effectiveness are mixed.

Black cohosh is not habit forming and in most women causes no side effects, but don't overdo it. Stick to the dosage recommended on the bottle, because, while it does not cause any of the side effects normal associated with HRT, overdosing can cause nausea and vomiting.


Combining Hormone Replacement Therapy With Herbs

Some combinations of herbs with HRT are okay, but check with your physician first HRTs are powerful drugs and some herbs may interfere with their effectiveness.

Whether or not you can replace HRT with herbs depends on why you are taking the HRT. Hormone replacement therapy sometimes is used as a treatment for heart disease, osteoporosis, or other ailments, so obviously it could be dangerous to stop taking HRT in favor of herbs. This is not a decision that should be made without physician's help.

Exercise May Help Too

Some menopausal symptoms can be controlled even more naturally than herbs. One woman learned to fight off mood swings with exercise. Whenever she felt a crying spell coming on, she'd go for a brisk walk or even a short run. The exercise might dispel the mood swing, or only delay it. But at least, if this works for you, you can control the timing to some degree.