Are Natural Menopause Supplements Right for You?

Although what happens during menopause is a natural series of changes, the experience can be uncomfortable. As a woman’s hormone levels start to fluctuate, the hot flashes, mood swings and other signs that menopause is starting can cause many women to search for a source of relief. It is important to note, however, that while doctors are willing to treat the symptoms of menopause with hormone replacement therapy and drugs like antidepressants, menopause is not a disease. Many of the treatments that are prescribed could be harmful, whereas menopause itself is not a harmful process. If the idea of taking treatments that can lead to heart problems and other illnesses does not sound appealing, you may be a good candidate for natural menopause supplements.

One supplement that is known to stop hot flashes is black cohosh. Used for many years by Native American tribes, black cohosh also has pain relieving and sedative properties. Some women find that it is effective for hot flashes, and when taken with St. John’s Wort it even helps to balance out the mood swings that also occur as the woman’s hormone levels change.

Another natural menopause supplement that has gotten a lot of attention from doctors in recent years is soy. Women in Asian countries where they consume a lot of soy do not experience hot flashes and other symptoms to the same degree as Western women. Many tie this to the presence of phytoestrogens in soy that mimic the estrogen that a woman’s ovaries stop producing during menopause.

Ginseng is a supplement that helps to elevate the mood as well as aiding sleep. Kava is another natural supplement that is good for enhancing the mood and getting enough sleep. The two can be taken together in tea, but kava should not be used while consuming alcohol because of the strong sedative effects of both.

Some women experience a sense of brain fog or a lack of ability to concentrate during menopause. This can be due to factors such as hormone levels, stress and simply taking on too much at once. Ginko biloba is one supplement that people have used for years to help improve memory and concentration that can help women during this time.

One supplement that some women neglect to take that is very important during menopause is calcium. When a woman’s body stops producing the usual amounts of estrogen, her bones quickly begin to lose density. That can lead to osteoporosis and fractures that are hard to heal. Taking calcium supplements with vitamin D can help a woman keep some of her bone density. Calcium should be in a chewable form, as tablets often do not break down in the body the way that they should. Magnesium and phosphorus are also good for the bones and should be supplemented as well during menopause.

There are many natural menopause supplements available. Whether you prefer drinking them in teas or taking them in pill form, they can be very beneficial to women who want to ease their passage into menopause naturally without the use of medications.


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