Melissa Asks...
Hi Melissa,
Discontinuing HRT can throw your hormones into an extremely imbalanced state, so what you should focus on is choosing natural treatments that will help to rebalance your hormonal levels as you move through menopause.
St. John’s Wort is a great start to helping manage your symptoms! Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t noticed benefit yet, as this herb has a fairly slow onset, meaning it can take up to 3 months of daily use before you see changes to your symptoms and most research is done over a period of 2-3 years.
So this means that you should look at this as a long-term support. That being said, research has continued to show that St. John’s Wort does help with mood changes, hot flashes, and insomnia so keep up with your dosing and if you see absolutely no changes after 3 months, consider some other treatment options.
Red Clover
This herb has also been shown to help specifically with mood changes related to menopause. If you are noticing you have more anxiety, this is a great treatment to consider. This is a gentle herbal option, making it a great addition to other treatments you may already be using.
Black Cohosh
This herb has the ability to act as an endocrine modulator without actually acting exactly like estrogen, so it’s safe to use throughout this time of hormonal transition and it will help to support more balanced hormonal levels. It’s been shown to not only reduce hot flushes and sweating (especially night sweats), but it can improve sleep and mood changes. One thing to note is that it takes a minimum of 3 months of daily use to see the full effect.
Yoga
Hatha yoga (done 1-2 times per week) has been researched for menopause and it has shown to not only help with vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats, etc), but also helps with mood support.
The great thing about an exercise-based treatment is that you will see improvements within days of starting a regular physical activity schedule so it can be a great addition to other natural therapies as there’s no risk of interaction and the benefits extend well beyond your menopausal symptoms!
It’s important to remember that natural does not mean without risk. St. John’s Wort has a lot of interaction with medications and supplements so if you are taking any other medications ensure your healthcare provider has approved this for use.
There are some great natural treatment options available so remember that everybody is different and it can take a few tries to find a combination that works best for you. But knowing what options may be available to you is a big step in the right direction.
In support of your health, Dr. Clarence, ND
5)Rooibos
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!
