What Herbs Help With Menopause?
Menopause is a natural process, which is one reason so many women prefer to treat the disruptive symptoms of menopause naturally. From brain fog to hot flashes, and mood swings to a decreased sex drive, some women will have severe, ongoing symptoms, while others may only experience sporadic menopause symptoms. No matter how unsettling symptoms of this major hormonal change may be, there are natural ways to manage symptoms. Read on to learn about herbs that can help mitigate the symptoms of menopause.
Black Cohosh
Black cohosh is perhaps the most well-known herb used to reduce the severity of menopause symptoms. Black cohosh grows in North America and has a long history of use as a Native American herbal medicine. Black cohosh helps to reduce hot flashes. For many women, it also appears to help manage mood swings. Other women find that black cohosh helps promote better sleep.
Integrative medicine specialists also cite the pain-relieving and calming effects of black cohosh, as potential benefits to premenopausal, perimenopausal, and menopausal women.
Wild Yam
Wild yam is a versatile, natural plant native to North America. It is often equated to natural dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone that is naturally produced in the body’s adrenal glands. DHEA is a precursor to estrogen. That’s precisely why it’s often used to treat symptoms of decreasing levels of estrogen such as night sweats and hot flashes.
Incidentally, wild yam is also frequently used in skincare products, as an anti-aging ingredient. Studies have pointed to wild yam helping to promote an increase in new skin cells, which may lessen some of the skin changes such as a reduction in fat under the skin, and a loss of elasticity that occurs with menopause.
Echinacea
Echinacea is native to North America and has long been used by Native Americans as a versatile natural medicine. Echinacea provides anti-inflammatory effects, which help with anxiety and stress. It may also help reduce visible signs of aging in the skin, because it is loaded with antioxidants, thereby helping to fight oxidative stress. In addition, echinacea may help reduce symptoms of osteoarthritis, which many women develop in menopause.
GABA Tea Leaves
Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) is a neurotransmitter made naturally in your body. The function of GABA is to block various anxiety signals from reaching the brain. As women age, the body begins to produce less GABA. This reduction in GABA can lead to increased anxiety and changes in cognition (AKA brain fog). GABA Oolong tea leaves provide a boost of GABA, which may help to manage stress, anxiety, and mood changes that often accompany menopause.
More Herbs that May Help With Menopause
Other herbs that may help to calm symptoms of menopause include ginseng and valerian. Ginseng is one of the world’s most popular herbal treatments. For perimenopausal women, it may be effective in reducing a variety of symptoms, including a reduced sex drive, and mood swings.
Valerian is also frequently used to treat symptoms of menopause including sleeplessness and anxiety. Studies show that it can promote better sleep, thanks to its natural calming qualities.
Herbal Tea for Menopause
Many of the most commonly recommended herbs to treat menopause can be found in naturally formulated Hot Flash Tea. Using a proprietary blend of wild yam, echinacea, black cohosh, and organic GABA tea leaves, Hot Flash Tea contains no chemicals, additives, or metals. Hot Flash Tea is vegan and gluten-free. Learn more about treating the symptoms of menopause naturally, with herbal tea.
