Herbs And Natural Cures

Herbs and natural cures are an alternative type of medicine originating from plants and other extracts to heal illness and address psychological concerns. Herbs and natural cures have also proved successful in relieving various types of menopausal symptoms. This page discusses some of those herbs and natural cures and outlines how they help with menopause.

How do herbs and natural cures work for menopause?

Herbs and natural cures have been used for centuries and were the precursor to modern medicine. They remain a popular alternative to traditional medicine throughout China and East Asia, and are enjoying increasing popularity in the US. Some herbs perform important functions like strengthening the immune system, boosting energy levels and supporting the balance of female hormones. It is also worth keeping in mind that herb and natural cures are often a more affordable solution for menopause relief than surgical alternatives.

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 4 billion people, 80% of the world population, presently use herbal medicine for some aspect of primary health care. These include illnesses from depression to diabetes, menopause to PMS, indigestion to high cholesterol, anxiety to insomnia, and much more.

What is menopause exactly?

The use of herbs and natural cures should not be complemented with conventional medicine without the explicit consent of your medical practitioner.

Menopause is the process culminating in the final menstrual period in a woman´s life. It involves a decline in the production of hormones such as estrogen to the point where menstruation ceases altogether. Whilst a completely natural process, during menopause women may suffer from symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, and aches and pains, which they want to alleviate with herbs and natural cures.

Types of herbs and natural cures

There are two major forms of herbs for menopause relief; phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs. Phytoestrogenic herbs contain phytohormones, compounds similar to the hormones produced in the body, while non-estrogenic herbs stimulate the body´s own internal hormone production.

Phytoestrogenic herbs
Phytoestrogenic herbs are plants that contain phytoestrogens, which, as stated earlier, have chemical structures similar to human estrogen.

There are many different herbs and natural cures which have high sources of phytoestrogens, (usually available in supplement form) which help people who are suffering from hormone imbalance ailments, by copying the body´s own source of the estrogen hormone. Phytoestrogens appear in large doses in herbs such as black cohosh, chasteberry, and ginseng.

Evening primrose oil comes from a wildflower native to America. It is an oil is a derivative of the evening primrose that is used for a great number of issues, ranging from fibrocystic breasts to prostate disease to chronic fatigue syndrome.

There are a number of symptoms that the use of evening primrose oil has been reported to relieve in women going through the menopause transition. Psychological issues such as change in mood, irritability, and anxiety can be improved by the use of evening primrose. Another common side effect of rapid hormonal fluctuations, headaches, is also reportedly relieved by evening primrose oil.

Non-estrogenic healing herbs don't have a chemical structure similar to estrogen, but work by stimulating the body´s endocrine system (hormone producing system) into producing more hormones on its own.

What herbs and natural cures should I use?

One of the biggest attractions of herbs and natural cures is that they often do not have unwanted side effects (though each herb supplement needs to be taken on its merits) and much research confirms their healing applications. In any treatment for hormone related symptoms as suffered in menopause, a healthy diet and lifestyle critical.

To learn more about specific herbs and natural cures for menopause click here.