Two Great Herbs for Menopause

There are two herbs that have shown great promise for women in their fight against the drastic changes associated with menopause, Red Cover and Black Cohosh. Read on to learn the key points of nature's little assistants.

Red Clover

Unlike synthetic hormone replacements, the phytoestrogenic isoflavones of this herb provide mild estrogenic effects within a woman's body when estrogen levels are insufficient. That seems like a good deal of big words but what it really means is that a smooth, nearly symptomless transition between level changes is possible. These phytoestrogenic effects ensure a natural check-and-balance system in the body because they bind to estrogen receptors. During menopause, there are substances that are able to bind to these receptors, causing the drastic changes in mood, hot flashes, and other complaints. Because Red Clover keeps these herbs from binding, they are instead removed from the bloodstream and broken down for excretion.

Overall, this herb provides a natural way to keep estrogen levels in check, ensuring a balanced mood and body.

Black Cohosh

This herb softens the impact of menopause on the body. While it is similar to Red Clover in that it addresses the estrogen receptor sites in the body, the two herbs are different in the manner in which they do this. Red Clover provides a balance and produces this hormone naturally when needed, Black Cohosh has been shown to produce estrogen whether it is needed or not. While this may suggest that you should choose one over the other, don't act too quickly. Black Cohosh has shown promise in greatly reducing the intensity and frequency of hot flashes during menopause and also has a sedative effect on the nervous system, helping to curb mood swings. This effect has proven beneficial during menopause as well as menstruation.

Beyond these herbs and the help they can provide, be sure to consider vitamins and minerals as well. Bone loss is not uncommon for women during this time and calcium supplements as well as magnesium are beneficial. Magnesium assists the effectiveness of calcium supplements and while you may not want to take an additional pill each day, your bones will thank you.

Evening Primrose Oil and Vitamin E have shown great promise in eliminating hot flashes and night sweats when taken long-term so consider incorporating these into your wellness regimen as well. Other great supplements to consider include a multi-vitamin, which is important for everyone, as well as B vitamins to support your adrenal glands. Because of the rapid changes, women's bodies can feel run-down and a B vitamin will assist your adrenals in keeping your energy levels up naturally.

While this change is no cake walk, the addition of the vitamins, herbs, and minerals listed above can provide a bit of relief. Relying only on chemicals or hormone replacement therapy can have a negative impact in other parts of your body so consider researching how natural remedies can benefit you.