Herbal Remedies for Menopause

There are many women for whom hormone replacement therapy may not be necessary or may be dangerous. For these women herbal therapy may relieve some of the common discomforts associated with menopause.

Herbal sources are used in the manufacturing of some of the traditional therapies such as progesterone and estrogen. Some plant compounds can produce estrogenic and progestational effects. There are scientific studies of herbal remedies used to treat menopausal symptoms in the U.S. They have been small, but the results are encouraging. In Germany, 70% of physicians prescribe herbal remedies, which are covered by insurance. The German Health Department's Commission on Herbal Remedies, known as Commission E, has reviewed 315 medical herbs. Two thirds of those reviewed are deemed safe and effective.

In 1995 Congress passed The Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act. The DSHEA called for a Presidential Commission to make recommendations concerning health claims, side effects, special precautions, dosages and medical interactions of herbs for sale in the U.S.

SOME APPLICATIONS

Herbs can alleviate some of the following symptoms in some women.

• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Mood swings, Anxiety and Irritability
• Frequent vaginal and bladder infections
• Fatigue
• Forgetfulness
• Headache
• Breast tenderness / pms
• Abnormal hair growth