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the herbal life |
B y ly n n t r y b a
don’t grind your
gears
herbs to help with hormonal shifts
Perimenopause, the period of transition leading to menopause, is sometimes called “reverse puberty.” Just as in puberty, women at midlife must deal with fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone. Challenges can include hot flashes, insomnia, decreased sexual desire, and other issues. Fortunately, science has shown that botanicals can help. Find your symptoms in the chart below to discover which herbs may ease your symptoms. Remember to consult a healthcare professional trained in herbal medicine before adding any botanical remedies to your wellness routine.
Keep in Mind Some herbs should be avoided if you are taking oral contraceptives or other medications (including antidepressants). Other precautions may also be necessary, such as restricting the use of black cohosh to a period of six months. Certain herbs
Black Cohosh
Red Clover
Hot Flashes
Sweating
Anxiety
may not improve symptoms immediately, but may significantly improve your quality of life after several months of use. One recent study, for example, showed that while St. John’s wort did not immediately improve hot flashes and sleep disturbances, women reported good results after several months. Other research indicates that herbal combinations may enhance effectiveness. If you want to stabilize your mood, for example, St. John’s wort taken with black cohosh may be more effective than taking a single herb. Perimenopausal women dealing with anxiety and depression also fared better when they took both St. John’s wort and chaste tree. TFL
Chaste Tree
St. John’s Wort
Depression
Mood Swings
Decreased Sex Drive Sleep Disturbances Fatigue
Panax Ginseng
SELECTED SOURCES “The Cimicifuga racemosa Special Extract . . . Prevents Hot Flashes . . .” by P. Kapur et al., Phytomedicine, 8/7/10 n “Effect of St. John’s Wort on . . . Hot Flashes in Premenopausal, Perimenopausal, and Postmenopausal Women . . .” by K. Abdali et al., 3/10; “Effects of Hypericum perforatum (St. John’s Wort) on Hot Flashes and Quality of Life in Perimenopausal Women . . .” by M. AlAkoum et al., 3–4/09, Menopause n “Effects of a Combination of Hypericum performatum and Vitex agnus-castus on PMS-Like Symptoms in Late-Perimenopausal Women . . .” by M. D. van Die et al., J Altern Complement Med, 9/09 n “Effects of Korean Red Ginseng on Sexual Arousal in Menopausal Women . . .” by K. J. Oh et al., J Sex Med, 4/10 n “Efficacy of Black Cohosh-Containing Preparations on Menopausal Symptoms: A Meta-Analysis” by T. Shams et al., Altern Ther Health Med, 1–2/10
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