Natural Remedies for Menopause Include Herbal and Dietary Remedies

Many women look to natural remedies for menopause symptoms since the once popular hormone therapy is associated with some life threatening conditions. Women who use the traditional hormone treatments long term show an increase risk of:

• Heart attack
  
• Stroke
  
• Blood Clots
  
• Breast Cancer

Nonetheless, menopause causes uncomfortable even painful symptoms such as:

• Hot flashes
  
• Night sweats
  
• Irregular periods
  
• Vaginal dryness
  
• Sleep problems
  
• Muscle and joint pain
  
• Mood disturbances
  

The National Institutes for Health (NIH) suggest that alternatives to hormone therapy can provide relief for some of the symptoms without the risks of the traditional hormonal medical care. Health care professionals recommend that when it is possible, before you begin treatment with natural remedies for menopause, you should confirm that menopause is causing your symptoms, as other serious health problems have similar signs.

Using Natural Remedies for Menopause

Phytoestrogens

Numerous foods and herbs contain phytoestrogens that are plant-based estrogens or isoflavones, which researchers are studying to confirm or deny the effectiveness for treating menopause symptoms. Research has both supported and not supported the effectiveness of phytoestrogens and it continues in the effort to determine what factors determine its effectiveness, if any.

Soy

Soy and soy products are touted as one of the primary natural remedies for menopause with some claims that Japanese and Chinese women rarely suffer from hot flashes due to their high consumption of soy and soy products such as tofu. Soy appears to offer relief from hot flashes and night sweats.

Sunflower Seeds

Sunflower seeds provide both plant-based estrogen and vitamin E, which is also associated with relieving symptoms of menopause. It is easy to grow sunflowers and harvest the seeds, and you could easily add the seeds to your stored supplies for an emergency.

Flax

Flax is another plant that has multiple uses and some women report it is effective in relieving vaginal dryness and reducing night sweats. Flax seed and oil provides Omega-3 oils, which relieve the symptoms of menopause.

Black Cohosh

Cimicifuga racemosa, also called black cohosh, black snakeroot or bugwort, is part of the buttercup family and a perennial plant native to North America. Native Americans used the root to make teas and tinctures, and it is reported to:

• Regulate periods
  
• Relieve hot flashes
  
• Resolve sleep problems
  
• Soothe mood disturbances

Some health care professionals warn that possible side effects of black cohosh include causing inflammation of the liver, abdominal pain and jaundice. Some warn that pregnant women should not use black cohosh as it may cause early labor and researchers continue to study the effectiveness of this plant.

Aloe

The "burn plant" aloe is a versatile plant easy to grow and provides a multitude of medical functions. As one of the natural remedies for menopause, aloe gel can ease vaginal dryness.

Natural Progesterone

Mexican wild yams are reputed to be a source of natural progesterone but this is not true. They contain a chemical diosgenin that laboratories can make into various compounds but the human body cannot. Some wild yam creams have progesterone added to it, but it is not a natural product.

Exercise

Among the many benefits of exercise is that it is one of the natural remedies for menopause as it reduces and prevents:

• Hot flashes
  
• Sleep disturbances
  
• Vaginal and bladder atrophy
  
• Joint pain
  
• Anxiety, irritability and depression

Moderate exercise that is right for you and your needs has positive side effects as it increases your overall health by preventing heart disease and controlling your body weight. Research supports that it does relieve the symptoms of menopause.

Other Eastern exercises and practices that can benefit women during menopause include:

• Yoga
  
• Tai chi
  
• Qi gong
  
• Acupuncture

Finding an acupuncturist in the midst of a global catastrophe might be a challenge, but you can become skilled in yoga, tai chi and qi gong, all of which research supports as being effective for controlling menopause symptoms.

Currently women may opt for natural remedies for menopause but in a post apocalyptic event, they might be the only remedies available. Losing many of the modern conveniences such as the washing machine is automatically going to prompt purposeful activity and exercise. Combining exercise with readily available foods such as sunflower seeds should make the symptoms of menopause manageable in a post apocalyptic world.

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