Menopause Herbs and the Symptoms They Treat
Using an herbal menopause treatment is a great alternative to hormone therapy or if you prefer natural remedies. Here you will find not only the most important herbs, but also the symptoms they treat. Each herb links to its own detailed page because you need to know about side effects, dosage and drug interactions.
At the end of the page you will find some general but important information about taking herbs.
21 Common and Not-So-Common
Natural Herbs for Menopause
| HERB | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|
|
Ashwagandha / Winter Cherry
(Withania somnifera) |
Helps to balance the hormone system. Great for fighting the negative effects of chronic stress. Helps with insomnia, mood swings and anxiety. Actively studied for cancer fighting properties and nerve cell repairs. |
|
Asian Ginseng
(Panax Ginseng) |
Promotes well-being and alertness. Helps with the fuzzy thinking common in menopause. Helps the immune system and boosts energy level. |
|
Black Cohosh
(Cimicifuga racemosa) |
Most popular herbal hot flash treatment. Acts on center in brain that regulates core body temperature, hormones and mood. Newer supplements use higher dosage than before. |
|
Chamomile /Camomile
(Matricaria recutita) |
Great for nausea and nervousness and has calming effect. Great choice for a calming tea before bedtime. |
|
Chasteberry / Chaste Tree Berry
(Vitex Angus Chastus) |
Benefits all ovarian hormones (Estrogen, Progesterone). Helps with PMS and menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, headaches, anxiety, fluid retention, irritability, and breast tenderness. |
|
Dictamnus / Dittany of Crete / Cretan Dittany or Hop Majoram
(Origanum dictamnus) |
Great energy booster, also known as an aphrodisiac. Helps with dizziness and lightheadedness. This is not a very commonly used herb in the US but it is very effective. Use it everytime you feel “out of sorts” without having specific symptoms. |
|
Dong Quai – Angelica
(Angelica sinensis) |
Most Menopause supplements contain some Dong Quai, which helps with hot flashes and night sweats. Often called the female ginseng for its energizing and mood enhancing effect. Anti-inflammatory. |
|
Evening Primrose Oil
(Oenothera biennis) |
Contains gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) which regulates hormone production. Helps with mood swings, headaches, anxiety, fluid retention, irritability, breast tenderness and hot flashes. |
|
Hops
(Humulus lupulus) |
Used for hot flashes, sleeplessness and night sweats. Very powerful plant estrogen. For the relief of sleeplessness it is often combined with Valerian. |
|
Kava Kava
(Piper methysticum) |
Anxiety and nervousness. Somewhat controversial herb because of some reports of severe side effects. |
|
Licorice Root / Liquorice
(Glycyrrhiza glabra) |
Licorice root contains phytoestrogens just like Soy and Black Cohosh. It causes mild adrenal stimulation and is helpful for the treatment ofadrenal fatigue. Also helps with mood swings and menopausal depression because of its activity on specific neurotransmitters. Use licorice extract for best results. |
|
Maca Root
(Lepidium meyenii) |
Balances hormone levels and activates production of female hormone precursors. Good option for perimenopause. Great for support of other herbal menopause treatments.
|
|
Mother-Wort
(Leonurus cardiaca) |
Great for night sweats, hot flashes, irritability, nervousness, anxiety, and insomnia. Very effective for heart palpitations which often occur in menopause. Can be used frequently and should be used for at least three months for maximum benefit. |
|
Red Clover
(Trifolium pratense) |
Contains phytoestrogens (plant estrogen). Used for hot flashes, night sweats and other symptoms due to estrogen deficiency. One of the great natural herbs for menopause with lots of minerals and anti-oxidants. |
|
Rhemannia
(Rehmannia Glutinosa) |
Helps to regulates menstrual flow which is important for some women during peri-menopause. Has anti-inflammatory effects and helps with urinary tract problems. One of the fundamental herbs in Chinese Medicine. |
|
Sage
(Salvia officinalis) |
Sage has many benefits and helps with hot flashes and night sweats. Also very effective anti-inflammatory. Sage has many active compounds which makes it a great all-round herbal remedy, not just for menopause and hot flashes. |
|
Sarsaparilla
(Smilax regelii) |
Contains sapponin and a specific phytoestrogen that could help with low sex drive in menopause. Anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Also good as a blood purifier to get rid of toxins. |
|
Soy / Soya
(Glycine max) |
Very common natural remedy for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. Contains lots of Isoflavones / phytoestrogens. Not everyone can process soy in a way to get the benefits of isoflavones. |
|
St. John’s Wort
(Hypericum perforatum) |
Well known and effective natural antidepressant. St. John’s Wort is a powerful herb and can lead to drowsiness. There are some known side effects and contra-indications. |
|
Valerian
(Valeriana officinalis, Valerianaceae) |
Great for irritability and mood swings. Helps with menopause insomnia. Often used in combination with Hops. |
How to Take Herbs:
- Start slowly to allow your body to adjust to the active compounds in the herb. This will also avoid stomach upsets.
- Take herbal supplements with at least 8oz of water to allow rehydration of the dried ingredients and to activate the compounds.
- A good rule of thumb is to use an herb for 6 days and skip the 7th. Some herbs have more specific recommendations for cyclical use.
- If the capsule gets stuck in your throat, take one tablespoon of salad oil or tomato juice.
- Be careful with tinctures. They contain a lot of alcohol. Only a little of the alcohol will evaporate if you put the tincture in hot water or tea.
- The active compounds in herbs don’t last forever; use the freshest herbs possible.
A Final Word
The choice for the best herbal menopause treatment can be based on where you are in the menopause transition. Each stage of the transition comes with its own list of symptoms and these symptoms are caused by the changes in your body.
When you understand the reason for your symptom, you are better prepared to pick the right treatment.