Menopause is a life transition that many women fear and dread. You may know an older female who experienced debilitating symptoms and you’re worried about going through the same. A lot of women are not able to take hormone replacement therapy due to previous illness or family history, and many women simply feel uncomfortable about the thought of taking hormone replacement therapy. Fortunately there are natural solutions that can help to alleviate symptoms.

Menopause symptoms can range from mild and slightly annoying to overwhelming and debilitating. Hot flashes and night sweats are usually the worst symptoms because they can significantly disrupt sleep. Long term sleep deprivation inevitably leads to exhaustion, with a significant increase in the risk of depression or anxiety. Vaginal dryness is another common menopause symptom that greatly reduces quality of life for some women.

The healthier you are throughout your life, the less likely you are to have problems with menopause. Women who are a healthy weight, eat well and exercise regularly usually experience fewer symptoms of menopause.  While women menstruate, most of their hormones are produced in their ovaries, adrenal glands and body fat.  After menopause it is the adrenal glands and body fat that produce sex hormones, albeit in much smaller quantities.

The healthier your adrenal glands are throughout your life, the easier your menopause will likely be.  That is why women who have experienced intensely stressful situations or women who lived with chronic stress experience much worse menopause symptoms.  Stress depletes your adrenal glands, but so do stimulants.  Stimulants such as caffeine, nicotine and sugar over stimulate the adrenal glands and in time can lead to adrenal gland exhaustion.  Therefore, women who consume a lot of stimulants over their lifetime usually run out of hormones sooner and have a difficult menopause.  There are several herbs and nutrients that act as adrenal gland tonics.  They can help to gently increase hormone production and ease the symptoms of menopause.  Beneficial herbs for the adrenal glands include Withania somnifera, Rhodiola and Siberian ginseng.  These herbs are found in Adrenal Plus Support tablets. Magnesium and vitamin C also help to support the adrenal glands.

Hot flashes can be caused by other health issues besides a drop in hormones. Women who carry excess abdominal weight and women who have a fatty liver are much more likely to get hot flashes than slim women with a healthy liver.  Women who regularly drink alcohol are also more prone to hot flashes and night sweats than women who don’t.  High blood pressure can cause or aggravate hot flashes. Returning the blood pressure back down to normal can completely eliminate hot flashes for many women.  Stress and anxiety can also generate hot flashes.  Therefore nutritional support of the nervous system can address hot flashes in some women.  Magnesium, meditation, deep breathing exercises and yoga can all help stress and anxiety.

Natural methods of reducing menopause symptoms

The following remedies may be helpful for women who wish to avoid using hormones:

  • Femmephase capsules are a mixture of phyto estrogens from herbs and foods, plus nutrients. FemmePhase can be used as a natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy and may manage the symptoms of low estrogen such as hot flashes and night sweats.
  • Try to achieve a healthy weight and slim waist. Overweight women are more prone to hot flashes, especially if they carry their weight on their abdomen.  Carrying weight there means you have too much visceral fat. This is a dangerous type of fat. Underweight women are also more prone to symptoms of estrogen deficiency, as they make very little estrogen in their body fat.
  • Look after your liver.  Women with a fatty liver are more prone to hot flashes.  A good diet and a liver tonic can correct this. See the book Fatty Liver: You Can Reverse It.
  • Exercise can help prevent hot flashes.  Aerobic exercise that makes you huff and puff and sweat is excellent for preventing hot flashes.
  • Try to reduce your stress levels.  Stress, anxiety and tension can all promote hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes and insomnia.  You can reduce stress by changing the way you perceive situations in your life, learning new coping skills, or making changes to your circumstances.  Taking time out to look after yourself and doing things that make you happy is also important.  In some women, prescription antidepressant medication can be very effective at treating hot flashes and insomnia.  Magnesium supplements can help because magnesium has a relaxing effect on the body.
  • Healthy adrenal glands are necessary.  After menopause the bulk of your hormones are produced in your adrenal glands and body fat.  There are several herbs and nutrients that can support the adrenal glands.
  • Get your blood pressure checked regularly.  High blood pressure can promote or worsen hot flashes.  Weight loss, a low carbohydrate eating plan, stress reduction and a magnesium supplement can help correct blood pressure.
  • Magnesium promotes a restful sleep.  Magnesium relaxes the nerves and muscles of the body and can promote a deeper sleep.

The above statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease.