Natural Menopause Treatments

Traditionally, hormone replacement therapy has been the gold standard for treating the symptoms of menopause. However, we now know that hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can lead to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart disease. Natural treatments for menopause offer effective results with fewer side effects, and encompass not only herbal supplements and vitamins, but lifestyle changes that include exercise, more attention to diet and natural progesterone.

Diet

Making positive changes in your diet is one of the most effective ways to incorporate natural treatments for menopause into your lifestyle. Use your new and improved diet as a way to ease your symptoms and improve your health at the same time. Avoid consuming foods that have high amounts of caffeine. Eliminate carbonated beverages because they contain phosphorous, which can lead to bone loss. Reduce your intake of commercially prepared meats, many of which contain hormones. Limit sugar, which impacts your liver's ability to properly metabolize estrogen.

Add foods that contain phytoestrogens to your diet along with soy. Edamame is a good choice, along with soy milk, tofu, almonds, fruits and vegetables.

Supplements

Natural supplements can play a vital role in treating the symptoms of menopause. One of the most popular and useful supplements is black cohosh. Black cohosh has estrogenic properties which can help with menopause symptoms. It is considered a phytoestrogen. A recommended dosage is between 20-60 mg. 3 times a day.

Another natural supplement that helps with menopause symptoms is dong quai. Take 500 to 1000 mg two to three times a day. Ginseng, evening primrose oil, and vitex are other good options for menopause treatment. Read dosing instructions carefully on the bottle. Many of these herbal alternative treatments are available in combination formulas to treat the many symptoms of menopause.

Progesterone

Another natural treatment for menopause is the use of natural progesterone cream. This is commonly available over the counter in products such as Pro-gest. These are topical formulations that are typically applied to thin areas of the skin on the body for good absorption. Progesterone applied in this manner can help to balance out excess estrogen levels in the body as you go through menopause, with very few side effects.