Natural Ways to Help with Menopause

Last week we talked about Menopause! We dove into what Pre- and Peri- Menopause means and when symptoms arise. It wasn’t until we went into solutions to those menopause symptoms that we all realized… the choices weren’t that great because unfortunately hormone therapy has risks, such as blood clots, heart disease, stroke, and breast cancer.

What’s the alternative when dealing with forgetfulness, muscle aches, urinary tract infections, fertility issues, loss of sex drive, weight gain, hot flashes… a bunch of other things?

Well whether you’re in the Peri-menopause stage or Menopause these natural ways will help with your symptoms. However I want to remind you that when taking the natural ways, you normally have to wait longer to get relief (as in you’ll find relief once your body finds balance and stays there). For example I recently had an affid issue in my garden and I decided to use the natural method in order to avoid hurting any bees and other insects. These bugs were seriously killing my plants and everyday I sprayed this natural bug repellent on them. It took awhile and I had to try a few different natural methods but eventually I found one that worked for me. It took months, instead of days (when you use harsh chemicals - you know the ones that have a million health warning on them) but it was worth it. I’m not saying this to discourage you and I do think the risks are high for hormone therapy so trying a natural way to get relief is better for a more healthy quality of life. I just want to make sure you realize that relief will be achieved over time and not over night.   

Let’s start with things you can take and then we will go over things you can do and maintain in your body to combat these peri- and menopause symptoms. 

Taking Natural Supplements

Symptoms: Mood swings/Sleeplessness/Hot flashes/vaginal dryness/excessive sweating

Suggestion: Black Cohosh* 

Effectiveness: Helps about 50% of women who take it 

Black cohosh can be found at your local health store and has been known to relieve symptoms. However, many experts consider the evidence unclear on how well it works in all women. Black cohosh contains potent phytochemicals that have an effect on the endocrine system which is made up of glands. Endocrine glands secrete hormones, or body chemicals, into the bloodstream. *Black cohosh should not be combined with birth control pills, hormone therapy, or tamoxifen. It should not be used by women who are allergic to aspirin. When black cohosh is used at regular doses, its only known side effect is occasional stomach discomfort. Black cohosh may have risks that are not yet known, including possible effects on liver function (though this hasn’t been proven).

Symptoms: Mood swings/Hot flashes/Sleeplessness 

Suggestion: Magnesium 

Effectiveness: Helps about 80% of women who take it 

Magnesium can help with stress and anxiety but it’s also been shown to reduce hot flashes and raise serotonin levels to improve your mood. Numerous studies have also shown its effectiveness in helping women have a deeper more restful sleep. Why do we need it? Mostly because we are deficient in this mineral because of modern farming practices and food processing that depletes it’s presence. Making this supplement a must in order to get the amount our bodies need. *Note: you’ll notice if you take too much you’ll have increased bowel movements as magnesium draws water into the intestines and can work as a laxative. 

Other herbs? Women have been known to use Kava, Primrose Oil, Ginseng, Dong Quai (used to treat gynecologic conditions for 1,200 years in Traditional Chinese Medicine), Red Clover and more but as more studies are done to see the effectiveness, they don’t seem to be holding up to the test! At least not for curing hot flashes. Still that doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. So don’t be afraid to look into these herbs. 

Symptoms: Mood swings/Hot flashes

Suggestion: S'moo

Effectiveness: Great based on reviews from women like you

S'moo is a supplement created to help balance women's hormones and though it wasn't created for menopause, women have been reporting that it has significantly helped with their mood swings and hot flashes! 

Other ideas to make you more comfortable. 

Symptoms: Vaginal atrophy (drying of vaginal tissue)  

Suggestion: Vibrations

Effectiveness: Improvement of dryness 

It’s just one of those things that comes with menopause and it’s not fun! However it seem that if you’re experiencing vaginal atrophy (dryness, burning, itching, pain with intercourse and bleeding) you need to work on keeping your vagina in shape. I know it’s so weird to talk about but it’s like any part of your body. It needs attention. Using a vaginal vibrator on high for 15 minutes twice a week will help and having more sex doesn’t hurt either. Please make sure you’re comfortable and use enough lubrication. 

Symptoms: Mood swings/ hot flashes/ fatigue/ Sleeplessness   

Suggestion: Controlled breathing 

Effectiveness: 50-80% of women who use this. 

Breathing? That’s it? Your body needs oxygen but it also needs to stop being in a constant state of stress and tension. Getting more of both helps everything! Studies show that slow breathing helps decrease fatigue, while improving sleep and mood. Participants who worked on inhale and exhales twice a day reported reduced hot flashes. 

Besides these suggestions remember that your body is a temple and you live there! Eat foods rich in calcium and Vitamin D, work to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, eat lots of fruit and vegetables. Stay away from trigger foods like caffeine, alcohol and foods that are sugary or spicy. Foods like this may trigger hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

Exercise Regularly!!!  Eat more foods rich in phytoestrogens: soybeans and soy products, tofu, tempeh, flaxseeds, linseeds, sesame seeds and beans. 

Drink Enough Water because when you’re experiencing menopause, you’ll often experience dryness. This is likely caused by the decrease in estrogen levels but drinking 8–12 glasses of water a day can help with these symptoms and just make you feel better overall! 

Just be sure to talk to your doctor before you try any new supplements, which can occasionally interfere with other medications you might be taking. We hope these suggestions help you feel better while keeping you safe and giving you the best quality of life possible! 

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is strictly the opinion of S'moo and is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical advice or to take the place of medical advice or treatment from a personal physician. All readers/viewers of this content are advised to consult their doctors or qualified health professionals regarding specific health questions. Neither S'moo nor the publisher of this content takes responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading or following the information in this educational content. All viewers of this content, especially those taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, should consult their physicians before beginning any nutrition, supplement or lifestyle program.