3 Tips For Choosing Natural Menopause Remedies
- By Candice Jones-Hughes
- Published 02/18/2009
- Medicines and Remedies
- Unrated
Many women want to use natural menopause remedies but may not know where to start or which remedies to use. There can be big differences in philosophy between linear science-based modern medicine and more holistic philosophies such as TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) or Ayurvedic medicine. Understanding these differences will make it easier to choose specific natural menopause remedies.
There are also many modalities to choose from. The most basic approaches will have the most effective long-term impact on your health. For example, eating healthy and getting enough exercise will support your health in multiple areas and increase your life and your ability to enjoy it.
Using herbs or vitamin supplements to correct problems will be way less effective if you are not eating right. For example, I have had digestive issues since peri-menopause. I use the herbs gentian and ginger to help with indigestion and heartburn. But if I continue to eat foods that I am now more sensitive to like wheat, I will further damage my digestive system and the herbs will be a band-aid, at best. If I change my diet and use the herbs to support my digestive system while it is healing, I will impact my health in a positive way.
This is very different from what we are taught through modern medicine. Every problem has a drug you can take. Does it cure you or heal you? Mostly no. It masks the symptom. Hypertension medication does not lower your blood pressure in a healthy way – that's why you have to keep taking it. But losing ten pounds can lower your blood pressure long-term by correcting the problem.
Tip #1 for Choosing Natural Menopause Remedies - Understand the Difference between Modern Medicine and Holistic Medicine
Modern medicine
Modern medicine generally offers quick relief, although there is usually a cost. For example many medications for high blood pressure have serious side effects. Many people are used to this approach, so they think the cost is inevitable. It's easy, it doesn't take any discipline. Most people come to alternative approaches either because modern medicine failed them completely, or the cost became too great.
Holistic medicine
Herbs and supplements may be more subtle and take longer to notice than pharmaceuticals. This is not always true, however. I remember someone telling me they chose an antidepressant medication over an herb like St. John's wort because they wanted fast relief. St. John's wort and antidepressant medications take a similar amount of time to work, and St. John's wort may have less side effects.
That brings up another point that many people miss when they start using herbs or vitamins. St. John's wort is not a general all-purpose remedy for people with depression. It is useful for very specific conditions, and not for others. So just because your friend, or someone in a health forum says they received fantastic benefits from taking St. John's wort doesn't mean it will work for you. It doesn't even mean you should run out and get some to try – not without doing your research first. There may be contraindications y
ou should know about.
Tip # 2 – Get to Know Your Body
The better you understand your body the better you will be able to care for it. We each have unique physiologies and life circumstances. Choosing good natural menopause remedies is easier when you have an understanding of how your particular body works..
For example, “The Family Guide to Homeopathy” by Dr. Andrew Lockie, lists six different remedies for hot flashes. Each remedy has a different symptom picture. You choose the remedy by matching your symptom picture with the matching remedy. For example Lachesis, 30c has this symptom picture: “Hot flashes, sweating, constricted feeling around abdomen, headache upon waking, dizziness, flooding during periods, great talkativeness.” Kali carb. 30c has this picture: “Hot flashes, loss of appetite, backache, feeling very taut and nervous, palpitations, symptoms worse around 3am.” (Lockie) If neither of these pictures matches your symptoms, you have four other remedies to choose from.
Ayurvedic medicine distinguishes three metabolic principles, or doshas, Kapha, Pitta and Vata. These principles affect your physiology in different ways, and you can be out of balance which will affect your health. You can change the amount of kapha, pitta or vata influence you are under with diet and other factors. The Western tradition has it's constitutional types – phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine and melancholic. Each type has different characteristics, and some herbalists and other holistic practitioners will use remedies that are best suited for your particular type. Understanding your body will also help you choose between several different herbs to help you sleep or which herbs may help with hot flashes.
One way to become more aware of your body is to keep a journal. You can include the food you ate that day with your moods and any other health issues you want to keep track of. If you have issues you've been putting up with for awhile, like mild back pain or postnasal drip, you may forget to note them at first.
With some practice you will begin to notice more and more about your body. When I first started working with herbs, I used to get several colds each year. I knew I had a cold when my nose started running or my throat was sore and scratchy. After awhile I got so that I would know at the very beginning of the cold, and then I could tell I was going to be sick before there were any of these symptoms. I usually got really tired right before the symptoms would break out. I now take a supplement when I know I'm getting sick and I can almost always avoid the cold completely.
Tip #3 - Seek Out Alternative Practitioners
One way to learn about natural menopause remedies is to work with a practitioner. I like to work with people with both M.D. training and some form of alternative medicine training. That way I know that any serious medical conditions will be diagnosed and treated along with any natural approaches, by someone trained in both systems. I have worked with doctors who are homeopaths, doctors who are also nutritional experts, and I currently work with a doctor trained in anthroposophical medicine.
With a little practice and self-education, you can learn to choose the best natural menopause remedies for your situation, and benefit from the health supportive approaches used in natural medicine.
There are also many modalities to choose from. The most basic approaches will have the most effective long-term impact on your health. For example, eating healthy and getting enough exercise will support your health in multiple areas and increase your life and your ability to enjoy it.
Using herbs or vitamin supplements to correct problems will be way less effective if you are not eating right. For example, I have had digestive issues since peri-menopause. I use the herbs gentian and ginger to help with indigestion and heartburn. But if I continue to eat foods that I am now more sensitive to like wheat, I will further damage my digestive system and the herbs will be a band-aid, at best. If I change my diet and use the herbs to support my digestive system while it is healing, I will impact my health in a positive way.
This is very different from what we are taught through modern medicine. Every problem has a drug you can take. Does it cure you or heal you? Mostly no. It masks the symptom. Hypertension medication does not lower your blood pressure in a healthy way – that's why you have to keep taking it. But losing ten pounds can lower your blood pressure long-term by correcting the problem.
Tip #1 for Choosing Natural Menopause Remedies - Understand the Difference between Modern Medicine and Holistic Medicine
Modern medicine
Modern medicine generally offers quick relief, although there is usually a cost. For example many medications for high blood pressure have serious side effects. Many people are used to this approach, so they think the cost is inevitable. It's easy, it doesn't take any discipline. Most people come to alternative approaches either because modern medicine failed them completely, or the cost became too great.
Holistic medicine
Herbs and supplements may be more subtle and take longer to notice than pharmaceuticals. This is not always true, however. I remember someone telling me they chose an antidepressant medication over an herb like St. John's wort because they wanted fast relief. St. John's wort and antidepressant medications take a similar amount of time to work, and St. John's wort may have less side effects.
That brings up another point that many people miss when they start using herbs or vitamins. St. John's wort is not a general all-purpose remedy for people with depression. It is useful for very specific conditions, and not for others. So just because your friend, or someone in a health forum says they received fantastic benefits from taking St. John's wort doesn't mean it will work for you. It doesn't even mean you should run out and get some to try – not without doing your research first. There may be contraindications y
Tip # 2 – Get to Know Your Body
The better you understand your body the better you will be able to care for it. We each have unique physiologies and life circumstances. Choosing good natural menopause remedies is easier when you have an understanding of how your particular body works..
For example, “The Family Guide to Homeopathy” by Dr. Andrew Lockie, lists six different remedies for hot flashes. Each remedy has a different symptom picture. You choose the remedy by matching your symptom picture with the matching remedy. For example Lachesis, 30c has this symptom picture: “Hot flashes, sweating, constricted feeling around abdomen, headache upon waking, dizziness, flooding during periods, great talkativeness.” Kali carb. 30c has this picture: “Hot flashes, loss of appetite, backache, feeling very taut and nervous, palpitations, symptoms worse around 3am.” (Lockie) If neither of these pictures matches your symptoms, you have four other remedies to choose from.
Ayurvedic medicine distinguishes three metabolic principles, or doshas, Kapha, Pitta and Vata. These principles affect your physiology in different ways, and you can be out of balance which will affect your health. You can change the amount of kapha, pitta or vata influence you are under with diet and other factors. The Western tradition has it's constitutional types – phlegmatic, choleric, sanguine and melancholic. Each type has different characteristics, and some herbalists and other holistic practitioners will use remedies that are best suited for your particular type. Understanding your body will also help you choose between several different herbs to help you sleep or which herbs may help with hot flashes.
One way to become more aware of your body is to keep a journal. You can include the food you ate that day with your moods and any other health issues you want to keep track of. If you have issues you've been putting up with for awhile, like mild back pain or postnasal drip, you may forget to note them at first.
With some practice you will begin to notice more and more about your body. When I first started working with herbs, I used to get several colds each year. I knew I had a cold when my nose started running or my throat was sore and scratchy. After awhile I got so that I would know at the very beginning of the cold, and then I could tell I was going to be sick before there were any of these symptoms. I usually got really tired right before the symptoms would break out. I now take a supplement when I know I'm getting sick and I can almost always avoid the cold completely.
Tip #3 - Seek Out Alternative Practitioners
One way to learn about natural menopause remedies is to work with a practitioner. I like to work with people with both M.D. training and some form of alternative medicine training. That way I know that any serious medical conditions will be diagnosed and treated along with any natural approaches, by someone trained in both systems. I have worked with doctors who are homeopaths, doctors who are also nutritional experts, and I currently work with a doctor trained in anthroposophical medicine.
With a little practice and self-education, you can learn to choose the best natural menopause remedies for your situation, and benefit from the health supportive approaches used in natural medicine.
Candice Jones-Hughes
Candice Hughes attended the Pacific School of Herbal Medicine. For info on finding practitioners and licensing, see Natural Menopause Remedies For info on using herbs, see Herbs for Menopause
View all articles by Candice Jones-Hughes