Can Herbal Remedies For Menopause Help Ease Menopausal Symptoms

The Menopause, or "change of life" as it is sometimes referred to (though that tends to be more from old text books) is an experience that most women will experience at some point in there lives. It originates from the Greek words which mean "to cease" or "to end" and "monthly" or "month". So in literal terms it means the end of the monthly menstrual cycle. On average, most women start to experience the early menopause symptoms during their early 50's, but it can start any where from early 40's to late 50's.

Every woman's menopause is unique and personal. Four out of five women go through "the change of life," as menopause is often called, with few signs beyond the ending of their monthly periods.

Menopause is caused by physical changes in the female body that occur naturally with age. Specifically, the levels of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone) circulating within the body decrease which leads to menstrual irregularity and eventually menstrual cessation.

The three clear signs of the onset of menopause are an irregular monthly flow, hot flashes, and vaginal dryness. Hot flashes have long been considered the classic symptom of menopause. A woman experiencing a hot flash may feel a sudden wave of warmth in the face, neck, and chest, lasting for several minutes and accompanied by reddening of the skin, like blushing.

Experiencing a hot flash can also be accompanied by perspiration (or hot sweats) especially over your upper body, and at times can be pretty heavy. It can also bring on headaches, palpitations and dizziness. There's not a lot you can do to eliminate the symptoms, but there's plenty you can do to manage them. Wear multiple layers of clothing, so that you can remove some if necessary, drink plenty of cool liquids, and if you're at home try a cool shower. Some people I know actually say a hot shower works well - not necessarily during the shower, but certainly when you get out - this is a method they practise in hot countries to keep cool so there's no reason it can't be effective to manage your hot flashes.

Vaginal dryness is another classic sign of menopause, though one less talked about. As your body is producing less female hormones (estrogen and progesterone), the side effect of this is to thin out the urinary tract and vaginal walls, which leaves the skin there even more delicate and susceptible to damage and infection. In some cases, this thinning can make sexual intercourse an uncomfortable and even painful experience.

However, all is not lost - there are many natural and alternative treatments for menopause, and some very effective herbs for menopause symptoms. Vaginal dryness can be effectively treated with k-y jelly, apricot oil or vitamin E oil. Black cohosh is also effective for treating hot flashes.

By: Wendy Jones

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Author Wendy Jones runs a menopause support website. For self-help tips and advice on herbal remedies for menopause visit her site Early Menopause Symptoms Support