Does anyone know what natural products can be taken for menopause symptoms?

Question

I don't like taking traditional medicines unless absolutely necessary. I have been using soy and black coshosh and continue to have hot flashes several times each day. I would greatly appreciate any information on this subject. Thank you!

Answer 1

ESTROVEN.....this is what I have been taking for 6 years now. It is sold over the counter. It is natural products and has worked wonders for me. I take the regular one (there is an extra strength one that I tried; however, you have to take it more than once a day and it did not work as well). Did I say it's done wonders for me??? Well, it has!

I had to have a totaly hysterectomy before I was 40 and because it was cancer I could not take any hormone replacement. I went cold turkey into the hot flashes and everything else associated with menopause. It was horrible and I thought I was loosing my mind.

This went on for 2 years and I thought it would let up, but it didn't. It continued to get worse. I saw a commercial on tv for this Estroven and decided it was worth a try. I called my doctor first and he said it would be ok to try, but he doubted it would work.

I bought it and after just 2 days I noticed a slight difference. After a full week, no more hot flashes! I did get a couple over the years, but they have been no where near what I was having in the beginning. All my other symptoms have gotten better too.

A couple of years ago I figured that it's been so long since I've had the hyst that I could probably quit taking this Estroven...boy was I wrong! All the symptoms started coming back, so I started it right up again.

Since I've been taking it, I've talked with my doctor and the pharmacist about it and their thoughts have changed on it too. They both reccommend it now because so many women have taken it and reported back to them with good results. Some women even call them their "happy pills" because you feel so much better without those nasty hot flashes and you're able to sleep a little better too...not to mention, you're less crabby!

Good luck and if you give it a try, I hope you have good results with it too (by the way, I've also tried the generic of it and it doesn't work as well...FYI).

Answer 2

Soy is kinda dangerous, so I'd lay off it. Black cohosh may be helpful, but if your diet is still mainly cooked/refined foods, it won't do much good. Consuming a raw-food diet will help eliminate them, as well as any other maladies you may have. There are alot of good books to get you started; the best one I've found so far is, "Living on Live Food" by Alissa Cohen (www.alissacohen.com). Search, "eat raw food" on Google to find more resources. HTH!

- Lauren

Answer 3

The following list of herbs include those that herbalists recommend to treat menopausal symptoms:
• black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa): shown to reduce hot flashes, other menstrual complaints at a recommended dose of 20 mg twice daily
• black currant: breast tenderness
• chaste tree/chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus): hot flashes, excessive menstrual bleeding, moodiness
• chickweed (Stellaria media): hot flashes
• evening primrose oil (Oenothera biennis): mood swings, irritability, breast tenderness
• fennel (Foeniculum vulgare): hot flashes, digestive gas, bloating
• flaxseed (linseed): excessive menstrual bleeding, breast tenderness, and other symptoms, including dry skin and vaginal dryness
• ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba): memory problems
• ginseng (Panax ginseng): hot flashes, fatigue, vaginal thinning
• hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata): memory problems, fuzzy thinking
• horsetail (Equisetum arvense): osteoporosis
• lady’s mantle: excessive menstrual bleeding
• Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) root: general menopausal symptoms
• Mexican wild yam (Dioscorea villosa) root: vaginal dryness, hot flashes, general menopause symptoms
• motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca): night sweats, hot flashes
• oat (Avena sativa) straw: mood swings, anxiety
• passionflower (Passiflora incarnata): insomnia, pain
• raspberry leaf: normalizes hormonal system
• sage (Salvia officinalis): mood swings, headaches, night sweats
• skullcap (Scutellaria lateriflora): insomnia
• sesame oil: vaginal dryness (applied topically)
• valerian (Valeriana officinalis): insomnia
• violet (Viola odorata): hot flashes.

Answer 4

I believe HRT is the only way to overcome the symptoms

Answer 5

sorry.