Women's Health

When You’re in Menopause – Try the 10 Best Herbs

Menopause is a condition that marks the absence of menstruation in women. Women also experience a change in their hormonal levels. The usual age for menopause is 40-50 years, and most women start to develop signs of aging in their early 40s.

Women also experience various symptoms like hot flashes, hair loss, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, and weight gain. Different drugs are available to fight against these uncomfortable symptoms, but they are not the best choice and might possess some side effects.

Many home remedies, including herbs for menopause, are used to ease the symptoms. Herbs help improve mood and balance the hormones. Various cultures adopt herbal therapies as a medicinal alternative to treat different conditions.  You can use these herbs as teas, tinctures, or extracts for the treatment.

Did You Know!

  • The menopausal transition usually occurs between 45-55 years.
  • 5% of women may suffer from early menopause before the age of 40 years.

Herbs for Menopause

Menopause is accompanied by many problems and symptoms. The common symptoms include hot flashes, hormonal imbalance, hair loss, fatigue, and weight gain. Many over-the-counter and prescribed drugs, in general, are available in the market, but herbal supplements also help treat the various symptoms.

[Also Read: Best-Known Essential Oils for Menopause]

1. Ginseng

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Ginseng is a Chinese medicinal herb that has positive effects on physical as well as mental health.

Ginseng is a widely used natural herb for menopause(1) that gives relief in various symptoms of menopause, including fatigue, stress, and lack of stamina. It also improves mood and sexual function. According to studies, it also helps reduce the occurrence of night sweats and hot flashes.

You can prepare ginseng tea by simply boiling it in water. Women with high blood pressure should limit the use of this herb.

Drink the ginseng tea daily for 2-4 weeks to get desired results.

[Also Read: Wondrous Ginseng Benefits On Health ]

2. Black Cohosh Root

Black Cohosh Root is a native herb of North America and is used for treating various conditions, including menstrual cramps.

This herb for menopause reduces dryness in the vagina and hot flashes in women. This extensively researched herb modulates oestrogenic paths inside the body. The research also suggests its effectiveness in early menopause.

You can use it as a pill or in the form of tea.

40-200 milligrams spread into multiple doses of dried herb is effective in treating the condition.

3. Red Raspberry Leaf

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Red raspberry leaves are obtained from Red Rasberry plant. The leaves are generally dried and then used in the form of a herb. Red raspberry leaves are beneficial for women for various conditions, including pregnancy and menopause. It helps balance the hormones.

It helps lessen heavy periods and improves mood. It maintains a healthy uterus and eases pain and cramps during periods. To make a Red raspberry tea, boil red raspberry leaves in water and have it.

You can start with 1 cup each day and then increase the dosage to 2-3 cups each day.

[Also Read: Home Treatments to Get Rid of Period Cramps]

4. Chasteberry Tree

Chasteberry is a popular home remedy used to treat many health conditions, particularly reproductive health. Chasteberry(2) is effective in treating premenstrual conditions and symptoms of menopause. It also helps ease hot flashes in women in their perimenopausal stage. It also helps increase the production of progesterone and maintains the balance of hormones inside the body.

It can either be consumed as a tea or in the form of capsules.

For menopause, the daily dosage of chaste berry is 160-240 grams.

5. Dong Quai

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Dong Quai is a widely used herb used in various Chinese medicines. This fragrant plant helps build blood health, regulates the immune system, and relieves pain.

This herb is widely used in treating irregular periods, hot flashes, cramps, and hormonal imbalance. For hot flashes, however, the study is not very supportive.  It also gives relief in pelvic pain.

The herb is generally used in the form of tea. It is also used in combination with other herbs in powder or tablet form.

The average daily dosage of Dong Quai for menopause is 2,000-3,000 mg, which can be taken in three doses.

[ Read: Natural Remedies to Treat Menopause ]

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6. Red Clover

Red clover flowers are used to treat skin conditions, like eczema and psoriasis.

When we talk about herbs to help with menopause, red clover is a common name that comes to the mind. It contains isoflavones which have effects on the female body similar to estrogen.

You can prepare red clover in the form of tea by boiling in water. Red clover is also available as a herbal supplement for menopause.

  • The daily dosage is 80 mg of red clover for menopause.
  • Also, 30 drops of red clover tincture, three times a day helps reduce symptoms of menopause.

7. Licorice

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Licorice is also known as a sweet root and is widely used for making candies and medicinal purposes. It helps treat stomach pain and reduce stress.

Hot flashes are a common symptom among women in their menopause stage. Licorice root reduces the occurrence of this symptom.

Licorice root is available in the form of extract, powder, tea, and DGL. The tea is available in the market but can be organically made using licorice root at home.

  • You can have the powdered form; the licorice dosage is 75 mg per day according to the guidelines given by the World Health Organisation (WHO).
  • You can also have Licorice tea, and the recommended dosage is 8 ounces a day.

[ Read: Herbs for Hot Flashes ]

8. Valerian

Valerian is extracted in the form of root or rhizome of the plant. The herb is effective in treating different diseases, like dizziness, anxiety, and neural pains.

Valerian is beneficial for women during menopause as it helps reduce hot flashes. The herb also improves sleep in many women in the postmenopausal stage.

You can use it as a tea or as a raw herb.

  • The dosage for raw herb of valerian for menopause is 300 to 600 mg per day before bedtime.
  • For tea, use 2 to 3 grams of dried valerian herb in a cup of warm water.

[Also Read: Essential Oils for Dizziness for instant relief]

9. Ginkgo Biloba

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Ginkgo Biloba is used as herbal medicine. The herb is rich in antioxidants and helps treat many blood and memory disorders.

Ginkgo Biloba is used as a herb for menopause because of the presence of phytoestrogens in it. It increases the levels of estrogen and treats the hormonal imbalances during menopause. It also improves mood in menopausal women.

You can use it in the form of a tablet, extract or tea for menopause.

The dosage of Ginkgo Biloba for menopause is 120 to 240 mg per day.

10. Green Tea

Green tea is extracted from leaves of camellia Sinensis plant. It possesses various health benefits most common being weight loss.

As the bone density also reduces in women during menopause, green tea strengthens bones and helps prevent bone fractures. Green tea improves metabolism and helps lose weight.

You can have Green tea, by boiling in water.

Typical usage of green tea is one cup in a day.

Menopause is an inevitable stage in women’s life. For some women, it is not so uncomfortable, but for others, it might create hindrance in day to day activities.

These best herbs for menopause contain antioxidants and other compounds that help with hot flashes and hormonal imbalances. The herbs have least side effects, but the dosage should be consulted with a doctor before usage.


FAQs

1. What Are the Risk Factors of Menopause?

Menopause is a natural condition occurring in the age group of 40-50 years in most women. Sometimes certain risk factors arise in some cases, including early menopause, chromosome defects, autoimmune diseases, thyroid, surgeries, etc. Side effects of chemotherapy also cause early menopause.

2. What Can Induce Menopause?

Menopause occurs naturally, but in some cases, can be induced through surgery. In induced menopause, both the ovaries are removed permanently. The ovaries might also get damaged due to cancer treatments.

3. What Are the Other Treatment Options for Menopause?

Along with herbal treatments, various other remedies like using tablets, patches, gels, and creams prescribed by doctors. Some lifestyle changes and usage of essential oils also help relieve the various symptoms.