Five Herbal Remedies For Easing Menopausal Symptoms

Menopause, also known ominously as "the change," is a difficult time in most women’s lives. Most women experience many of the difficult symptoms of menopause, which can include night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of sex drive, memory loss, depression, and sudden mood swings.

Many women also experience weight gain during menopause. Many women decide to go with hormone replacement therapy in order to deal with the most trying symptoms of menopause.

Most women feel that hormone replacement therapy is their only choice during menopause. But there are many herbal and natural therapies that can help women ease menopausal symptoms.

Here are just five easy to use herbal remedies that can help ease some of the most common symptoms that women experienced during menopause.

Chasteberry: This herb is often overlooked, especially when it comes to treating the difficult symptoms that many women experience during menopause. Chasteberry has long been thought to help have a profound effect on the body’s hormones. Many traditional herbalists and naturopathic doctors believe that chasteberry can make a profound difference in the lives of women who are currently suffering from the most difficult symptoms of menopause.

Many herbalists believe that chasteberry can actually help reverse the vaginal changes that are generally a part of menopause. Chasteberry is also thought to reverse the effects of a lowered libido that many women experience during menopause.

Many practitioners of traditional Chinese medicine also believe that chasteberry can help reverse many of the most difficult symptoms that women are apt to experience during the course of the menopause process.

St. John’s Wort: This is a popular herb that is recommended to menopausal women for its ability to help treat the symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and mood swings. St. John’s wort is believed to be even more effective in treating depression than traditional antidepressants that are prescribed for mild to moderate depression.

Most herbalists and naturopathic doctors recommend taking 100 to 300 milligrams of St. John’s wort supplement each day. Make certain that the St. John’s wort supplement is standardized for 0.3 percent hypercin three times a day.  

An Interesting Herb Fact

Valerian: Many menopausal women find that they have a difficult time falling asleep. This is where valerian comes in. Valerian is a safe and nonaddictive herbal remedy for getting a good night’s sleep. Herbalists recommend taking 300 to 500 milligrams of valerian each night, at least one hour before bedtime.

The Goldenseal plant is often used as an herbal remedy to treat gynecological problems. It can help reduce the severity of menopausal symptoms, and it has been known to ease the pain associated with premenstrual symptoms, especially symptoms linked to stagnation.

Lavender Essential Oil: Another natural and safe way to achieve a peaceful night’s sleep is through the use of lavender essential oil. Lavender essential oil is an easy way to integrate aromatherapy into your menopause herbal therapy. Simply drop a few drops of lavender essential oil onto your pillow for a restful night’s sleep.