A No Nonsense Summary Of Herbal Perimenopause Remedies
October 5th, 2011
Looking online for an herbal perimenopause remedy can be frustrating because of the lack of objective information. Everyone seems to be just selling a product. The products being offered online usually do not offer supportive information. They rely on the repute of the herb to sell the product. Few manufacturers make the effort to provide objective information about the herbal ingredients efficacy, safety and whether there are side effects.
Taking a pill without knowing its potential benefit and safety might make it hard to swallow. Understanding the benefits is vital. Let’s investigate that first.
Menopause remedies can be divided into two fundamental groups. This is true even though the complaints they attempt to remedy span a wide variety of symptoms involving many parts of the body. Herbal peri-menopause remedies attempt to remedy the underlying cause of premenopause complaints. Dropping levels of sex hormones underlies peri-menopause complaints.
Using herbs to replace dropping estrogen and progesterone
Many of the herbs that remedy menopause complaints are a source of plant based estrogen. The estrogens found in plants are different from those found in humans, and are called phytoestrogens (plant-estrogens). Using phytoestrogens to replace lost human estrogens helps to relieve peri-menopause related complaints. Some common herbs (and foods) that have phytoestrogens are red clover, soy, flaxseed and Siberian rhubarb root extract. Find an herbal menopause remedies
Other herbs contain substances with a progesterone like effect on the body. The one that stands out is wild Mexican yam. Diosgenin is a substance in wild Mexican yam which is claimed to either fuel progesterone production or have a progesterone like effect in humans. Research has not determined whether diosgening mimics the action of progesterone or is actually converted into progesterone. So how the reported benefits of wild Mexican yam are achieved is not certain. But it may be due to its direct effect on human tissues. It maybe that wild Mexican yam helps restore dropping levels of progesterone during peri-menopause because the diosgenin is actually converted into progesterone.
Another peri-menopause herbal remedy is Chasteberry
There are other herbs used for peri-menopause that can’t be placed in either of the two categories above. Their ability to relieve menopause related complaints is not because of an estrogen or progesterone like effect. Chasteberry, for instance has neither an estrogen nor a progesterone like effect. Chasteberry has customarily been used to relieve breast tenderness associated with premenstrual syndrome. The exact mechanism of chasteberry is poorly understood, although it is known to impact levels of the lactating hormone, prolactin.
Black Cohosh
When you think herbal premenopause remedy, one herb that often comes to mind is black cohosh. It was initially thought that black cohosh contained phytoestrogens. Researchers now find that black cohosh does not have phytoestrogens that influence estrogen receptors. Instead it impacts serotonin receptors in the brain. As a neurotransmitter, serotonin has a tranquilizing effect on us. Many popular prescriptive anti-depressants (the SSRI’s) work by influencing serotonin levels in the brain. An additional benefit of black cohosh may be in helping to maintain bone density. Research also suggests that black cohosh has no benefit for relief of perimenopause related hot flashes.
St John’s Wort
St John’s Wort is another herbal remedy that is used by women in perimenopause. The herb has a well deserved reputation for helping to relieve mild depression. Herbal combinations that address peri-menopause complaints often included St John’s Wort since depression is a frequent complaint associated with perimenopause. St John’s Wort mechanism of action is only partly spelled out by researchers. It is thought that it’s mode of action is on the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Many common anti-depressant drugs also have this mode of action.
What else should you know about herbal peri-menopause remedies?
null null Many factors such as climate, soil, harvesting practices and so forth affect the level of active ingredients in an herb. The amount of known active ingredients is monitored in quality herbal products. The bottle label should refer to “standardized” levels of key ingredients in the herbs used. It is also important that the herb not be contaminated.
Toxins, including bacteria, heavy metals and other environmental pollutants, is a problem in herbs harvested overseas. null Finally, before taking any herbal product, you should be clear on what side effects to expect. null null Knowledge of side effects before hand will forewarn you if you need to stop taking the herb.
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