Menopause affects millions of women, whether they’re just in the beginning stages or right before it, in the middle of it, or dealing with its after-effects. In any case, all of these stages can produce some unfavorable symptoms. Hot flashes and night sweats, depression and irritability, fatigue, and menstrual problems are just to name the most common ones. Listed below are some of the best herbs to use to help alleviate these symptoms, by category. Most of them can be bought at a local health store, drugstore, or online.
Hot Flashes and Night Sweats
Black cohosh can be used for a few different things, such as arthritis and pain of the muscles, but it’s said to be one of the best herbs to help with hot flashes and night sweats. There hasn’t been a whole lot of study on this herb to prove its effect when it comes to menopause, but there has been enough to strongly suggest its usefulness, and it contains a natural precursor for estrogen. Suggested use is 200 – 250mg in capsule form, a few times a day, but no more than that – it also should not be used for longer than a few months at a time.
Dong Quai is a Chinese herb that is also great for hot flashes, as well as all-around menopause symptoms such as painful menstruation along with menstruation that’s too frequent or a lack of, because if helps with estrogen replacement when there begins to be a deficiency of estrogen. Suggested dosage is around 500mg in capsule form, two times a day.
Another good herb especially for hot flashes and night sweats is sage. There are many medicinal uses for sage, and its estrogen-containing qualities also can greatly help out with menopause. As a common herb, it’s also easy to use by sprinkling it fresh in your soups, on vegetables, or other foods. For a better effect, you can drink sage tea daily – it especially helps to prevent night sweats when you drink it before bed.
Depression and Irritability
Dandelion root is great for when your hormones are out of balance and you become irritable and anxious in the midst of common menopausal mood swings. This herb will take the edge off of the stress and anxiety, and is generally available in 540mg capsules (which is beneficial to take a few times a day) and in tea form, which you should drink a few cups of daily and tastes great with honey.
Another of the best herbs when it comes to stressed mental states is St. Johns Wort. This is a common herb that also functions as a mild sedative, and is great for smoothing out feelings of depression and helping to wind your mind down at night to help you sleep. Suggested dosage is to take a 500mg tablet once or twice a day, before bed if you have trouble falling asleep.
Black cohosh is also great for calming the nerves, as is kelp, or seaweed, which is usually available in 660mg capsules or powder form, which you should take once daily.
Menstruation and Cramping
Licorice root is good for menopause overall, as it balances out hormones and acts as a stimulant and restorative for the adrenal glands and estrogen levels. Because of this, it is also especially great for menstruation problems in particular. However, it is advised you do not use licorice root if you have a very high blood pressure or low potassium levels. For anyone, it is suggested to take in extra potassium while using this herb. It is generally available in 450mg capsules, which should be taken no more than twice daily. It is also available in tea form, of which will be beneficial when drinking 1 or 2 cups a day.
Raspberry leaf is also good when it comes to menstruation during menopause, because it is one of the best herbs to help lessen and even out some of the painful cramping associated with it. It is available in pill form, usually around 1,000 mg (which is fine to take a couple of times a day), but a nicer and more flavorsome option may be to drink 2-3 glasses of it in tea form daily.
Wild yam root is a popular, powerful herb used worldwide, generally as an anti-inflammatory medicine. Because of this, it is also beneficial for reducing menstrual cramping, and other active progesterone properties can also help lessen heavy bleeding. This is available in capsule form and is fine to take up to around 3,000 mg a day.
Fatigue
Ginkgo Biloba, a widely-used herb, is great for fatigue and stimulating brain function, as it improves oxygen to the cells and overall blood circulation. Studies have also shown it to help increase the intake of glucose by the brain cells, which helps keep the mind energized. Suggested dosage is to take no more than 1,000 mg in capsule form per day (it is generally available in 60 and 120 mg capsules).
Another fine herb for fatigue and other menopausal symptoms is sarsaparilla, with its progesterone and testosterone properties helping to restore energy in women going through menopause – especially when it is combined with Siberian ginseng (like normal ginseng, but stronger). It is recommended to take around 1,000-2,000 mg per day in capsule form, or 2 to 3 cups of sarsaparilla tea.
Many of the above herbs may take awhile for your body to adjust to, so don’t give up if it doesn’t seem to be working right away. Give it a few weeks, or even a couple months, before you decide it won’t work. Most of them have even more powerful benefits when combined with each other.
