Ahhh, menopause. That wonderful time of life when you’re finally free from Mother Nature’s monthly visits, you no longer have to worry about getting pregnant, and PMS is a thing of the past.
Yeah, right.
But what if you’ve just traded all those problems for a new set, including the hot flashes, the mood swings, the foggy thinking, depression, fatigue, and the other obnoxious symptoms that often come with menopause? There’s always hormone replacement therapy, but many women have been scared away from hormone therapies, due to the health risks they pose.
But there is still hope for relief, there are alternative treatments for menopausal symptoms such as osteoporosis and postmenopausal cardiovascular disease. Alternative therapies for irritability and depression during menopause are also being explored.
The most important thing you can do to relieve symptoms is to stay fit, eat well, and keep stress under control. Women who exercise regularly are found to suffer from menopausal symptoms much less than sedentary women.
Here are some remedies that are believed to alleviate menopausal side effects:
- Magnesium – Studies have found that the use of magnesium significantly increases bone mineral density in both the elderly and menopausal women.
- Evening Primrose Oil – Commonly used to treat symptoms associated with menopause, Evening Primrose Oil may reduce hot flashes and depression.
- Soy – Scientific tests show that bone density is increased and depression, irritability and hot flashes are lessened. Although soy can decrease some symptoms associated with menopause, large amounts must be ingested for it to be completely effective.
- Natural Progesterone – Extracted from plant sources, “natural” progesterone has been widely used to treat menopausal symptoms, but no scientific evidence exists to prove its effectiveness.
- Fish Oils – Rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, fish oil can be a positive component in preventing cardiovascular disease in menopausal women. You can get it through the consumption of fish or via a fish oil capsule if it’s more convenient.
- Black Cohosh – An herb that’s used extensively in Europe to treat menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes.
- Exercise –
- Red Clover – An herb that is sometimes used to prevent cardiovascular disease in menopausal and post-menopausal women.
Non-traditional, alternative therapies have been used for centuries to treat menopausal symptoms in women. While these therapies can be effective, be sure to consult with your health care professional before you begin such treatment – especially if you suffer from another condition that might be adversely affected.
Hopefully, some of these remedies will help you breeze though menopause and enjoy this great time of life.
