Hi Tess,

One of the challenging things about medicine is that not every treatment will work for every person. The great news is that there are a lot of natural treatment options available to you!

Avoiding things that may worsen your symptoms and using treatments that can help balance your hormonal changes is a great way to move into a more stable and well-managed menopausal state.

So here’s a few things to avoid while you are in menopause:

Caffeine. You’re right that caffeine worsens symptoms such as hot flashes, night
sweats and insomnia. So it’s best avoided during this phase of life. If you love coffee and are missing that morning cup, consider dandelion coffee. This herb won’t worsen menopause and actually helps to support liver health and low blood pressure (which is important to think about as women are at a higher risk of developing high blood pressure after menopause).

Alcohol. I often recommend women stay away from alcohol during menopause, or at most limit their intake to 1-2 drinks/week. This is because it naturally disrupts our sleep by placing an increased demand on our body as we metabolize it, causing a rebound effect about 4 hours after we fall asleep (which wakes us up from sleep).

Additionally, research has shown that in menopausal women, 2-3 drinks will not only reduce your sleep, but will increase your hot flashes, likely caused by the lowering effect alcohol has on estrogen levels.

Now let’s chat about a few options to treat your menopausal symptoms!

Black Coshosh. I talk about this herb often as it’s been shown to not only reduce hot flushes and sweating (especially night sweats), but it can also improve sleep and mood changes. When looking for ways to balance your hormones while you are going through menopause, consider this herb as it is an endocrine modulator (meaning it supports hormonal balance). One thing to note is that it takes a minimum of 3 months of daily use to see the full effect.

Black Coshosh. I talk about this herb often as it’s been shown to not only reduce hot flushes and sweating (especially night sweats), but it can also improve sleep and mood changes. When looking for ways to balance your hormones while you are going through menopause, consider this herb as it is an endocrine modulator (meaning it supports hormonal balance). One thing to note is that it takes a minimum of 3 months of daily use to see the full effect.

There's just something about knowing that the herb you're taking is from a species of tree that has been around for over 290 million years that makes it feel special.

Yes, the ginkgo tree (also known as the maidenhair tree) has been around for that long – and it's been used for holistic purposes for quite some time. But what can this special ginkgo leaf do to help women with their menopause symptoms?

Well, like red clover, ginkgo contains phytoestrogens, which level out the estrogen in your body. On top of helping with mood swings, thanks to that increase in estrogen, ginkgo biloba (another name for ginkgo leaf) can also help improve your memory.

Let’s be honest, hot flashes are one symptom of menopause that everyone wishes they could send packing. Thankfully, there's a solution in licorice root.

The herb, made from the literal roots of the licorice plant, contains compounds that can significantly reduce hot flashes. In addition, it can raise estrogen levels in the body (one of the hormones that drops when menopause kicks in), and help eliminate other symptoms as well, like night sweats.

Licorice root has been used for thousands of years in order to regulate women's hormones, and scientific studies have proven its effectiveness, making it one of the top herbs to reach for as you walk down the grocery store aisle.

Though it sounds a little funny, rooibos is an herb that's commonly made into a form of tea. It is made from the leaves of the red bush plant. Also known as a member of the Fabaceae plant, it grows in South Africa and other warm climates.

This tea is heralded for many things, including the fact that it lacks the high amounts of tannins found in other forms of tea, making it healthier for you. Plus, rooibos can help boost your metabolism, since it contains aspalathin, an antioxidant that is known to reduce fat storage in the belly region, which is an unwanted side effect that is often spurred by menopause. And let’s face it, we all want to shrink any fat that decides to settle on our mid-sections.

And there you have it! These 5 simple herbs can truly help curb your menopausal symptoms and get you back to living your best life. Want them all in one delicious cup? Reach for our Menopause Support Tea which helps balance your hormones, curb those unwanted side effects, and give you a new zest for loving the skin you’re in!