Herbal Remedies For Peri-menopause
What is Peri-menopause?
Just like adolescence leads up to periods starting (menarche), peri-menopause is the lead up to them stopping (menopause). Every woman experiences their peri-menopause differently, with some suffering with severe symptoms and others barely noticing anything at all.
Perimenopause can create big changes on all levels. Physically, the body is swapping over from a potent form of oestrogen made in the ovaries, to a less potent form made by the adrenal glands. Besides the changes in oestrogen levels, lots of other hormones fluctuate too. Testosterone and progesterone levels change as well, and as they do, they affect other forms of hormones, like cortisol and insulin, leading to a wide range of symptoms.
On the psycho-emotional level, early perimenopause in particular can have quite an impact. Often anxiety and insomnia are the first signs of perimenopause, but many women don’t realise and therefore struggle to access the right support.
We rarely talk about the spiritual changes that come with peri-menopause, but they’re just as important. Literally anything can happen! Often it coincides with a time where grown up children leave home, or elderly parents need more of our care. We can easily end up losing our sense of purpose, questioning our relationships, career, and spiritual beliefs. Whilst it can be a rocky ride in many ways, peri-menopause is also a powerful initiation into elderhood, and a sacred renewal on every level.
Peri-menopause Symptoms
We’ve all heard of the hot flushes and mood swings, but there are lots of other potential menopause symptoms besides, including:
- Anxiety, depression, or insomnia
- Feeling lost or apathetic
- Joint pain
- Fatigue
- Skin and hair changes
- Vaginal dryness
- Bladder infections
- Brain fog and memory problems
These can be quite frightening, particularly when we don’t understand what’s going on, but they usually pass. If symptoms have become too much to cope with, HRT, or MHT as it’s now known is an option for some women. For those who can’t or don’t want to take it, herbal medicine offers a safe, effective alternative.
What is Herbal Medicine?
Many people have heard of traditional Chinese herbal remedies, or Ayurveda from India, but don’t realise we have a western tradition too! If you’re struggling with menopause symptoms, there are herbs growing in your garden or near your home which would be able to help.
But there’s much more to herbal remedies for peri-menopause than that! Working with herbs heals us on a very deep level. The simple act of picking a medicinal plant and creating a gentle, powerful medicine from it helps us to reconnect with nature. Whilst science can offer some explanation as to how our herbs work, we need to look elsewhere for more answers. Some look to the ancient, traditional teachings which take us way beyond the physical, forging a deep reverence for our planet, the and universe we live in. Menopause is the perfect time to re-evaluate and open ourselves to new possibilities, and working more with herbs is one path we can potentially explore them.
Herbs can be used as medicines in lots of different ways. Herbal teas are really quick and easy to use, but I also prescribe tinctures, creams, pessaries, ointments, oils, nasal sprays and spagyrics. Spagyrics are an ancient form of herbal medicine where the extract is separated into its component parts and brought back together. They work more potently on a patient’s spirit (psycho-emotional aspects) and soul (spiritual aspect) as well as the physical levels.
Although they’re natural, herbs still need to be used with respect and some knowledge. Some will interact with other medications, or make symptoms worse if they’re not used appropriately.
5 Key Herbs For Menopause
The best way to learn about herbs is to use them. No amount of reading books or blogs will help you to truly understand what each plant does, but do make sure you use the right part of the right plant when trying them out!
Common Sage (Salvia officianalis)
Sage is really easy to grow even if you only have space for a pot on your windowsill. It’s a very feminine herb which has lots of different uses in peri-menopause. I often use Sage for patients who have a lot of hot flushes, and excessive sweating, partly because it’s rich in phyto-oestrogens. It can also help to clear brain fog, and strengthen the body in stressful situations. It’s quite potent though, so you don’t need too much.
Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Although it’s often promoted as an aphrodisiac for peri-menopausal women, often we don’t see this effect much in herbal practice. Traditionally it was a male aphrodisiac, but Ashwagandha is still a brilliant herbal remedy for peri-menopause in other ways. It’s one of the few calming adaptogens, so it can really help a person to cope with life when they can’t cope any more, but without oversimulating them like other adaptogens can. Ashwagandha has a calming effect, buffering the effects of chronic stress on sleep and anxiety. It’s also mildly progestergenic, so ideal in the earlier stages of perimenopause when progesterone levels are disproportionately low.
Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)
There’s a lot of misunderstanding around Black Cohosh for peri-menopause which puts some people off using it, but it’s an essential herb in my dispensary. Contrary to popular belief, Black Cohosh doesn’t contain any phyto-oestrogens, so women who’ve been through cancer treatment often feel more comfortable using Black Cohosh than other herbs. I use it for treating joint pains and severe hot flushes, but it needs to be used at a low dose for a short period of time. Claims that it can cause liver damage are based on outdated and questionable research, but this is a herb that should still be used with care as it can cause headaches in some people.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca)
I’ve recorded a little video about Motherwort here, and it’s really easy to grow in your garden. It’s probably one of my favourite herbal remedies for peri-menopause, helping to calm and ground without causing drowsiness. Its latin name is ‘Leonurus cardiaca’ which alludes to its action on the heart. Legend has it that if you took Motherwort, you’d live forever, and when my heart failure patients take it their Doctors are usually astounded at how well they do! In terms of peri-menopause, its useful for reducing palpitations and night sweats, healing from ‘mum issues’ and giving you back your ‘lion heart’.
Vitex Agnus Castus
This is another really useful herb for peri-menopause, when you know how to use it! It works in completely different ways depending on the dosage, with low doses being more helpful for most women struggling with straightforward peri-menopause symptoms. I use it in women who have symptoms of low progesterone in relation to oestrogen during the second half of their cycle, as it helps to restore normal progesterone levels. Those symptoms might include anxiety, migraines, insomnia, bloating or sore breasts before a period, and happen more often in the early stages of peri-menopause. Women with healthy progesterone levels may experience side effects when using Vitex.
Can I Use Herbal Remedies With My HRT?
Lots of my patients are on HRT and herbs at the same time, but there are a few herbs I wouldn’t prescribe for a woman on HRT.
Can I Use Herbal Remedies If I’ve Had Cancer And Can’t Use HRT?
Yes, but if you’re still on medication it’s best to work with a Medical Herbalist who can make sure that your herbs won’t interfere with how that medication works. You might also like the ‘Menopause Mastery After Cancer’ group programme where we talk about herbs you can use.
How To Use Herbs For Menopause
There are two main ways you can use herbal remedies for peri-menopause: you can either self medicate, or see a Medical Herbalist.
Lots of women choose to self medicate for a variety of reasons. Some have never heard of a Medical Herbalist, so don’t realise that working with one is an option. Cost can come into it as well, but the problem is that not all herbal supplements are created the same. Using cheaper herbal remedies for peri-menopause can mean that you’re not getting the herb you think you’re getting, or you might be using the wrong part of the plant. This is particularly problematic with herbs like Ashwagandha where there have been a number of reports recently of liver damage, usually where the aerial parts of the plant have been used in medicine, rather than the root.
The best way to self medicate with herbal remedies is to learn a little about them, and then grow your own as much as possible. Whilst you might have to invest in learning, it pays off in the long run as you then have free or very cheap access to safe, effective medicines. I’m running a number of herbal medicine workshops over the coming months if you’d like to start your learning journey. Click here to find out more.
Alternatively, if you have more complex symptoms and are able to let someone else look after you, I’d highly recommend working with a Medical Herbalist. When a patient comes to me, I take a full medical history, and work out how their menopause symptoms relate to their overall health. I look at the psycho-emotional and spiritual aspects as well as the physical, because we’re complex beings. Spiritual or mental sickness inevitably affects physical health, and vice-versa. That’s why sometimes it’s best to combine herbal treatment with other modalities such as advanced hypnotherapy, like in my Rescue programme.
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