Herbs and the Menopause
The menopause is a period of waning ovarian function, which marks the end of the reproductive lifespan. As such, it is a normal event in the life of a woman and should not be regarded as a disease. The aim of herbal treatment is to assist the adjustment to this important change and provide symptomatic alleviation of the effects of oestrogen withdrawal. It is not intended that herbal treatment for the menopausal change should be prescribed indefinitely, although it may be prescribed for a significant period of time until the body has adapted to the new hormonal levels.
Not all women have menopausal symptoms, but about 10% experience hot flushes, and 40% suffer from depression. Other symptoms such as sweating, fatigue, irregular menstruation and insomnia occur in 20-40% of perimenopausal women.
The main aim of herbal assistance with the menopausal change are as follows:
- To assist the body to adapt to the new hormonal levels by reducing the effects of oestrogen withdrawal.
- To support the organs involved with hormone balance and stress management such as the liver and the adrenal glands.
- To provide support for the nervous system using tonic and nervine tonic herbs.
- To abate the intensity of the hot flushes or sweating.
- To ease associated symptoms such as anxiety, insomnia and poor concentration.
Thus a combination of hormone balancing, oestrogenic, uplifting and ovarian tonic herbs might be used, but each case is treated holistically on an individual basis.
In addition to herbal treatment, your herbalist will provide dietary advice to aid the changing hormones and to help prevent osteoporosis. A major element of menopausal dietary advice is to increase the intake of phyto-oestrogens.