5 Herbs For Menopause

Menopause is a natural transition in women that comes with age and can occur anywhere between the ages of 35 and 50. This is a term that refers to the permanent cessation of menstrual cycle. It happens because of certain hormonal changes that take place in a woman’s body.

Some common symptoms of menopause include hair thinning, sleeping disorders, mood swings, hot flashes, reduced fertility and vaginal dryness. There are certain herbs that can be taken in proper dosage to relieve the discomforts caused by menopause. Following is a brief rundown on some of those herbs.

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Top 5 Natural Herbs for Menopause

Ginkgo

Ginkgo leaves can be used to treat menopausal symptoms. Its therapeutic effect is mainly due to its two main active components – ginkgo flavone glycosides and terpene lactones. Both these components help in improving blood circulation to the feet, hands and brain. This herb can be very useful particularly for those women who experience heavy mood swings due to menopause.

It improves mental clarity and boosts your mood by balancing the hormone levels in your body. Ginkgo also helps in improving libido, which usually diminishes during the menopausal period. Since the leaves have a sour taste, it is generally taken in the form of tablets or capsules in the doses of 80 mg three times daily.

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Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is known by several terms, such as squawroot, bugwort, bugbane, black snakeroot, actea racemosa and cimicifuga racemosa. Its roots and underground stems, which are used for medicinal purposes, taste acrid, spicy, sharp and bitter. They contain a natural substance called rhizomes that are rich in estrogen content. The discomforts caused by menopause usually occur due to the decreased estrogen levels in the body.

Black cohosh balances these hormones, which eventually helps in relieving the symptoms associated with menopause, such as backache, hot flashes. You can take 30 drops of root extracts diluted in one glass of water. Alternatively, you can also drink a herbal tea, prepared by steeping ½ tsp. of powdered black cohosh in one cup of boiling water for thirty minutes. This herb can also be taken as capsule supplements.

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Dong Quai

Dong Quai is also termed as Chinese angelica or tang kuei. Its roots, which contain coumarins, are used for medicinal purposes. Estrogen is a predominant female hormone. Coumarins interact with the estrogen to treat ailments associated with the female reproductive tract.

Dong quai roots also contain folinic acid, folic acid, nicotinic acid, biotin and vitamin B12 and E. The combined effect of all these components can be very helpful in relieving menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes. You can take it in the form of capsules, liquid extract and tea. The daily recommended dosage usually ranges between 400 and 600 mg.

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Red Clover

Red clover flowers contain isoflavones, which can be very helpful balancing the estrogen levels in the body. For best results, it should be taken in the form of tea, which you can brew by steeping two teaspoons of dried red clover flowers in one cup of hot water. You can drink this tea three times daily.

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Chaste Berry

Chaste berry contains androstenedione, testosterone and progesterone. It increases the ratio of progesterone to estrogen to an improved level that eventually helps in relieving certain discomforts caused by menopause. However, excess dosage of this herb can cause skin rashes. So, contact your doctor for proper dosage.

In the end, it is very important for you to understand that each woman experiences menopause differently. Therefore, it is always wise to consult your doctor before you try any remedy to relieve menopausal symptoms.