Menopause and herbal medicine do mix
Having established in my last article what menopause is – a cessation in the menstrual cycle for a length of more than 14 months, and the accompanying symptoms including, but not restricted to, anxiety, depression, hot flushes, night sweats, loss of libido, weight gain, joint pains, insomnia, excessive tiredness and changes in bone density – we can now look at the myriad of herbal medicine that is available to help rebalance the body and reduce the symptoms of menopause.
Food is medicine and herbal medicine is the natural extension of plant medicine. It is vital that throughout our lives we eat well, meaning five to 10 serves of a variety of vegetables a day and two pieces of fruit, organic or home grown where possible.
It also means good quality protein at every meal, including deep-sea fish, chicken, eggs, red meat farmed without added chemicals and legumes prepared properly by soaking overnight and then cooking well.
We need good quality fats in our diet daily including fish, but also avocados, chia seeds and a variety of nuts and seeds. Activating nuts, whereby you soak them overnight and then dry in the oven on a low setting, makes the absorption of nutrients more bio available.
Drinking filtered water daily helps our body to detoxify and work optimally. It also helps our brain processes. Organic herbal teas also help keep us hydrated with the added benefit of herbal properties infused in the water.
Herbal medicine for menopause can be as simple as sage leaves soaked in lemon juice and taking a teaspoon every morning for mild symptoms, to herbal medicine prescribed by a herbalist-naturopath for more severe symptoms. Wild yam, Black cohosh, licorice, sage, ziziphus, bupleurum and St John’s wort, to name a few, are herbs readily used in tonics prescribed by herbalists. They all have individual actions but put together in a tonic they become a synergistic blend that helps a multitude of symptoms, including hot flushes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, joint pains, insomnia and low energy.
In a consultation your health history is taken, diet and lifestyle discussed as well as your presenting symptoms. From this information a herbal tonic is blended to suit your unique health concerns, and to help rebalance your body and return you to good health.
Make your appointment during August and receive a complimentary packet of Tea for Health ‘Meno-ease tea’, a spearmint-tasting organic herbal tea blend with plant oestrogen herbs to help with menopausal symptoms.
Feel balanced and enjoy life again with herbal medicine!