You're Not Really Going Crazy, You Just Think And Act Like You Are

A note about these articles - please read this first

Menopause is the time in a woman's life marked by the permanent cessation of her period. It can occur between 25 and 58 years of life. Mine began in my mid-thirties, contrary to my doctor’s opinion about my symptoms. So, I thought I was really going crazy, since the symptoms seemed to have no cause, and i felt emotionally disturbed. Until it was evident that I was right. Early menopause. Unfortunately, i suffered for several years with the symptoms before i took action to relieve them.

Your period may stop suddenly, but usually there is a gradual decrease each month until final cessation occurs; or in many cases, the interval between periods gradually becomes longer until complete cessation occurs. Menopause may be accompanied by hot and cold flashes, feelings of weakness, irritability, and in some cases mental depression. These changes are brought about by a natural decline in the secretion of hormones. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the typical medical treatment for these symptoms. When done right, HRT can greatly decrease these undesirable symptoms. However, most doctors routinely prescribe powerful synthetic hormones such as Premarin that lead to many undesirable side effects. About nine million women now use Premarin for hormone replacement. While some women appear to do fine on the drug, others experience problems, and all experience an increased risk for certain types of cancer.

Premarin is derived from the urine of pregnant mares. There are over 50 horse estrogens in Premarin—not one of which is naturally found in a woman's body. To manufacture the drug, between 75,000 and 85,000 mares are kept on some 500 farms in North Dakota and Canada. To collect their urine, these mares are confined in stalls throughout the duration of their pregnancy. Water is restricted because a concentrated urine is desired. Exercise is also denied. As soon as they give birth, they are immediately impregnated again. *This and of itself is unconscionable, in my opinion, if there is a natural way of developing a hormonal replacement therapy

Many women, particularly those who have experienced its undesirable side effects, have concluded that it may not be the best choice for them. Some of the potential side-effects of HRT with drugs such as Premarin are: 

(p.s. I’m not willing to accept any of them, I have enough symptoms to deal with already)
In my child-bearing years, i couldn't tolerate birth control pills - i'm not about to try these 
chemical hormones. While on the pill, I had developed painful and throbbing veins in my legs

Many women use a natural nutritional approach for the changes that accompany menopause. Several of the herbs that have proven to be the most useful are:

Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) - probably the most widely-used herb for female concerns.The research supporting the benefits of this herb is substantial. Black Cohosh is native to Eastern North America and has been valued by Native Americans and American colonists for the nutritional support of the female reproductive system, particularly to relieve menstrual cramps, aid amenorrhea and to ease labor. It was also used for fever, sore throat, bronchitis, hysteria, itch, lumbago, malaria, nervous disorders, snakebite, uterine disorders, yellow fever, and other ailments

A phytoestrogen is a naturally-occurring plant nutrient that exerts an estrogen-like action on the body. Scientists have discovered hundreds of phytoestrogens including soybeans, whole grain cereals, seeds (especially flax), nuts (especially walnuts) and many herbs.

Medical research has demonstrated numerous benefits associated with phytoestrogens. In a study published in the journal Menopause, for example, half the women who participated ate a diet rich in phytoestrogens such as soybeans and flax seeds, while half ate a standard diet. In the group that ate the phytoestrogen-rich diet, the menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes and vaginal dryness, decreased significantly. (4:2 (SUM 1997):89-94)

In a study conducted at the Bowman Gray School of Medicine in Winston-Salem, researchers found a significant reduction in menopausal hot flashes when women supplemented their diets with soy. When presenting their findings at the American Heart Association's annual scientific sessions, a spokesperson for the research group noted that Japanese women, who consume relatively high amounts of soy, report only one-eighth as many menopausal symptoms as American women. (United Press, Nov. 10, 1996). My personal experience is that having a couple of soy milk-based smoothies per day not only helps with the hot flashes, but the soy helps to prevent cancers, and the amount of fruits added to it make up my daily recommended intake - which i'm not likely to have otherwise.

The German Commission E (the German equivalent of the FDA) approved black cohosh for dysmenorrhea or painful menstruation. The herb is widely used in Europe for the treatment of PMS and for juvenile menstrual problems and even as a support for women who have had a hysterectomy. Black cohosh is considered a substance that promotes menstrual flow, but it is also successfully used by women with excessive menstrual flow, since it has a balancing effect on a woman's glandular system.

No adverse drug interactions have been identified with black cohosh. The herb has even been used in conjunction with conventional estrogen replacement therapy without any problems. In fact, studies indicate that black cohosh may actually reduce some of the negative side effects associated with conventional drug estrogen replacement therapy, including increased risk for cancer.

In a study of estrogen-dependent cancer, black cohosh extract was administered along with the cancer drug Tamoxifen. The herb appeared to work synergistically with the cancer drug to help block the proliferation of breast cancer cells. The combined effect was greater than the sum of the effects of each substance alone (Nesselhut et al. 1998).

The constituents of black cohosh do not enter into breast milk. There are no contraindications for lactation nor any problems found for nursing

*Authors of parts of the above adaptation unknown – some items were sent to me in a document as a contribution to the site .

To visit a very helpful informational site on menopause and black cohosh, please click here

Note: Using herbal treatments for symptoms requires time for the natural product to produce results in most cases. I have found through my own experiences, that it takes typically two to six weeks for your to notice marked results. This is because you are not ingesting a powerful chemical, you are allowing natural and plant materials to do their jobs gently and naturally.

Dong Quai is a well-known Chinese herb that aids in estrogen replacement/balance. It contains iron and vitamin E. This is frequently called the  "female tonic."

In Asia, Dong Quai has been used to treat hot flashes, as well as painful menstruation, lack of menstruation, and too frequent menstruation, and to assure a healthy pregnancy and easy delivery. Dong quai has demonstrated good uterine tonic activity, causing an initial increase in uterine contraction, followed by relaxation. Administration of dong quai to mice, resulted in an increase of uterine weight and increase of glucose utilization by the liver and uterus. These effects reflect estrogenic activities.

Black Cohosh contains a natural precursor to estrogen (i.e., the body uses these elements as raw materials to produce its own hormones and only in the amount it needs), an antispasmodic,and emmenagogue. It was widely used by early Native Americans, and later by American colonists for the relief of menstrual cramps and menopause. Recent scientific investigation has upheld the use of black cohosh in treating both menstrual and menopausal symptoms and problems

A special extract of Cimicifuga racemosa, standardized to contain 1 mg of triterpenes calculated as 27-deoxyacteine per tablet is the most widely used and thoroughly-studied natural alternative to chemical hormone replacement therapy in menopause.

In 1997, over ten million monthly units of this extract were sold in Germany, the United States, and Australia. Clinical studies have shown that this Cimicifuga extract relieves not only hot flashes, but also depression and vaginal problems. I find it invaluable in the relief of hot flashes. I have experienced a reduction in the occurrence and severity of hot flashes by over 90 percent. The decrease in hot flashes has the added benefit of relieving many of my other symptoms, especially those horrible night sweats that wake you in the middle of the night, the emotional problems and mood swings. Now if there were something for that last little ten percent……

In a large open study involving 131 doctors and 629 female patients, black cohosh extract produced clear improvement in menopausal symptoms in over eighty percent of patients within six to eight weeks. As shown in the tables below, both physical and psychological symptoms were relieved.

Most patients reported noticeable benefits within four weeks after the initiation of cimicifuga therapy. After six to eight weeks, complete resolution of symptoms was achieved in a large percentage of patients. Black Cohosh was well tolerated; there was no discontinuation of therapy, and only seven percent of patients reported mild transitory stomach complaints. 

Random thought about menopausal therapies and other drug commercials… If you pay attention to the commercials that bombard us on TV saying “ask your doctor if such-and-such is right for you” – listen to the possible side effects and read the fine print at the bottom of the screen. Better do it fast, it’s not meant to be read. The law demands that they provide that information in their advertisements. The law doesn’t say where and how and whether you have to be able to read it or hear it. I have little patience for commercials, and once i found out what the stuff was on the bottom of the screen, i read it quickly, and that's where i focus now. Some of this, combined with the quickly glossed-over oral warnings about some drugs advertised (rare incidences of sudden death, for instance) are important to pay attention to in these ads.

In a double-blind study, sixty patients were given either cimicifuga extract (black cohosh). (two tablets twice per day, providing a daily dosage of 4 mg 27-deoxyacteine), conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg daily), or diazepam (a Valium-like drug) (2 mg daily) for twelve weeks. Results showed a clear advantage of using cimicifuga extract over both drugs. Cimicifuga's effect in relieving the depressive mood and anxiety associated with menopause was far superior to either conjugated estrogens or diazepam.

The Kupperman Menopausal Index is one of the most utilized assessments in clinical studies of menopause. This quantitative assessment of menopausal symptoms is achieved by grading in severity:

Severe = 3
Moderate = 2 
Mild = 1 
Not present = 0

After grading each symptom, the total score is achieved by adding all of the symptom scores together.

The results on the Kupperman Menopausal Index from the double-blind trial of sixty women clearly demonstrated cimicifuga extract's superiority over conjugated estrogens and diazepam, especially when safety and side effects are taken into consideration.

In another double-blind study, eighty patients were given either cimicifuga extract (two tablets twice daily, providing a daily dosage of 4 mg 27-deoxyacteine), conjugated estrogens (0.625 mg daily), or a placebo for twelve weeks. Cimicifuga produced greater improvement in the vaginal lining and better results on the Kupperman Menopausal Index and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Anxiety than estrogens or placebo. The number of hot flashes experienced each day dropped from an average of 5 to less than 1 in the cimicifuga group. In comparison, the estrogen group only dropped from 5 to 3.5. Even more impressive was the effect of cimicifuga on the vaginal lining. While conjugated estrogens and the placebo produced little effect, a dramatic increase in the number of superficial cells was noted in the cimicifuga group.

No contraindications or limitations on the use for Black Cohosh is known Therefore, it offers a suitable natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy for menopause, especially where hormone replacement therapy is contraindicated. Toxicology studies shows that it is safe to use. Based on currently available data, cimicifuga appears safe for long-term continued use.

*Note: I use black cohosh root (powdered rhizome) capsules from Swanson Vitamin Company, and I take 1 three times per day, with no side effects whatsoever. I occasionally drink a black cohosh tea blend along with this dosage. At the beginning of this therapy, it has taken at least two weeks at double this dose for me to see a reduction in the incidence of hot flashes. Once I notice the reduction, I stick to the 1 cap 3x per day. If I decide not to take black cohosh for a while, it takes the two weeks as stated above, to see noticeable improvement, I’m beginning all over again.

Powdered rhizome: 1-2 g 
Tincture (1:5): 4-6 ml 
Fluid extract (1: 1): 3-4 ml (1 tsp) 
Solid (dry powdered) extract (4:1): 250-500 mg 
Do not exceed these dosages. Higher doses may cause vertigo and nerve center irritation, nausea and vomiting.

Adapted Article Source: 
Michael Murray and Joseph Pizzorno, "Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine."
I own and refer to this book quite often for all subjects of natural medicine

Note: before using combinations of herbs, I think it’s best that you research how and whether the herbs will work together, or work safely together. I choose to try one herb at a time to treat my menopause symptoms, and if there are any problems, I know exactly which herb caused them. I stop the use of an herbal preparation immediately upon seeing side effects that are not common or that I am unaware of after having done the research.

Licorice
The medicinal use of licorice root in both Western and Eastern cultures dates back several thousand years. Licorice is believed to lower estrogen levels while simultaneously raising progesterone levels. It is thought that the estrogen-like activity of licorice is responsible for many of its beneficial effects, but its effects on progesterone levels may also be important.  * I have decided against the use of licorice root due to the possible risks. It is possible that you might have a heart condition you are unaware of, or one that goes undetected by your physician. I am also concerned about it’s depletion of potassium. My choice is not to use this in the treatment of my menopause symptoms. Read the caution below:

Use licorice products carefully or not at all (especially in substantial doses) if you have high blood pressure or are taking digitalis-based drugs. Be sure to get plentiful amounts of potassium if taking licorice root.

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus) 
Chasteberry is a favorite herb in Europe, and it is said that it does wonders for all menopausal symptoms. The list of symptoms it can alleviate is exhaustive. As its name suggests, chasteberries were used in suppressing the libido in women of childbearing age. Pharmacological studies have indicated it works mainly through the pituitary, our master gland, which regulates all other glands, including those that produce sexual hormones. Chasteberry contains estrogen- and progesterone-like compounds. It does not appear to reduce libido during menopause. I am planning on trying this one.

Ginkgo biloba 
Ginkgo biloba extract is useful for the menopausal and postmenopausal woman because of its effects on the vascular system. It is especially useful in relieving both the cold hands and feet and the forgetfulness that often accompany menopause. Ginkgo biloba extract has also been shown to improve blood flow to the hands and feet in human clinical trials

Ginkgo biloba extract has been used to improve mental health in patients with cerebral vascular insufficiency, and may exert similar effects in menopause. Ginkgo biloba extract appears to work not only by increasing blood flow to the brain, but also by enhancing energy production within the brain, increasing the uptake of glucose by brain cells and actually improving the transmission of nerve signals.

Blessed Thistle - considered to be even more useful than Black Cohosh for hormonal imbalance. It is also an emmenagogue. I have not tried this one yet.

Burdock Root contains estrogen precursors. It is a good tonic and healer. It is also an aphrodisiac.

Fo-Ti, Polygonum multiflorum, is a tonic and nutritive herb for all but especially reproductive organs.

Damiana - is also a hormone balancer for both sexes. In addition, it is good for nerves and kidneys.

Siberian Ginseng- tonic and hormone-balancer for men and women, improves stamina and energy levels. Contains progesterone and testosterone precursors, as well as an anti-carcinogenic. This herb has great value as an all-around herbal preparation for prevention of cancers. * hasn’t produced noticeable changes or changes quick enough for me in the treatment of my menopause symptoms.

Kelp or other Seaweed should be eaten or taken daily. It’s great for emotional peaks and valleys and anxiety and is said to be valuable in alleviating, eliminating or preventing all menopausal symptoms. I haven’t tried kelp daily as yet.

Oats - nourish and help balance your hormonal system.

Nettle leaves- like seaweed, are nourishing to the endocrine system. Also a good source of calcium, magnesium, chlorophyll, chromium, plus many other minerals and vitamins.

Sarsaparilla -contains progesterone and testosterone hormone precursors. It is said to benefit and energize

Red Raspberry leaf- tonic for the uterine and mucous membranes. It also relieves menstrual cramping

Squaw Vine - uterine tonic

Suma contains estrogen precursors.

Alfalfa, Anise Seed, Sage and Garlic- promote estrogen production.

Evening Primrose Oil aids in hormone balancing. It contains precursors of Prostaglandins, important to the proper functioning of every cell in your body. Some women report losing weight when they take 4 to 8 capsules of Evening Primrose Oil daily.

Saw Palmetto Berries are a nutritive tonic for the reproductive organs of both men and women. I have taken this herb and have found it beneficial, but it smells and tastes awful. Take the tabs

Herbs For Hot Flashes And “Night Sweats”

These are my worst symptoms and they are quite debilitating. For me, they're a 24-hr. a day nightmare. They have become the focus of my day.... when's the next one coming.... I need to concentrate to do my job, and that's impossible when a hot flash begins to take over. The profuse perspiration and my feelings of nausea each time a hot flash rears it's ugly head are also major problems for me. Imagine being at a party, or being in the middle of a conversation, feeling the warning that you're going to have a hot flash, and you have to ride it out. Your face flushes as you go through it, you have no clue about what someone is saying at you, you can't concentrate on anything else but riding the wave of the hot flash. You'r nauseous, and sweat is pouring down your face, and it's coming out of all your pores.  I've had some people ask me whether i was feeling faint and was going to pass out, because it is a very noticeable, and physically obvious occurrence. I'm already an insomniac. Add to that the "night sweats" - you're in a deep sleep, you are awakened by a feeling of restlessness, heat, and sweat actually does pour from every pore in your body, soaking through whatever you're wearing, and sometimes right through to the sheet. I have found black cohosh to be a great aid in the reduction of both hot flashes and it has all but eliminated the night sweats.

Herbs Commonly Used For Night Sweats

Herbs for insomnia:
Those noted with a * are those that have worked for me.

Herbs Used For Depression, Nerves, Irritability

Depression is a common condition during menopause. I don't generally suffer from depression. I do suffer from anxiety and frustration. i do get "weepy" and emotional, I also experience unexplained feelings of anger during the hot flashes or the mood swings following a hot flash or night sweat episode. During my symptoms, i do not play well
with others. Many herbs work slowly, helping the body to adjust and to rebuild itself. Give any herb a fair trial of at least a few weeks up to a few months. Be patient, natural materials do not work like powerful artificial chemicals.

Stress and Lethargy
I experience a little of both, and not always at the same time. Lethargy for me is being too tired and lazy 
to get up from my seat or to initiate an activity, along with a general lack of ambition. Strange and out of 
character in my pre-menopausal years. I normally have a hyper-active personality, and now I frequently 
have no desire to do anything active or bother with certain things. Both symptoms come and go

Yerba Mate is good for that lethargic feeling that comes on now and then.  I like Yerba Mate tea anyway. I’ve found that it does give a little boost and ambition
Dandelion tea soothes nerves. 
Stress - Comfrey Root, Alfalfa, Oat Straw, Irish Moss, Horsetail (i've used horsetail for other reasons, but haven't seen a decrease in my feelings of stress)
Pau D'arco
Skullcap - used to calm nerves and repair the nervous system
Pumpkin Seeds, containing tryptophan, will soothe nerves, relax you, and help you sleep. Dose: about six or seven ounces
Chamomile tea 
Passion Flower 
Wild Yam

Decreasing estrogen increases the likelihood that the bladder lining become susceptible to involuntary urination (especially upon sneezing, coughing, or laughing), an urgent need to urinate frequently, or a sensation of burning upon urination. Estrogen-providing herbs can help to relieve these symptoms. I experience the first symptom infrequently, but i'm very conscious that it's good advice for me to be near a ladies' room while i'm out socially and to use it a few times, whether i think i need to or not.

Agrimony
Yarrow tea
Shepherd's Purse
celery root for incontinence
Marshmallow root
Kelp contains many nutrients and potassium and strengthens the urinary tract
Chickweed, nettle, and uva ursi helps alleviate water retention.

Vitamin E  – It has been suggested that vitamin E reduces the incidence of hot flashes. I have taken high doses of vitamin E for over 20 years. And by high, I mean between 2000-3000 i.u’s daily (or at least when I remember!). Obviously, in my case, this is not valid. It is valuable for your general health and appearance, protection against cancers, etc. but in my opinion should not be considered as a choice for relieving menopause symptoms. 
*Note: if you have diabetes or a heart condition, do not use Vitamin E without the prior advice of your doctor

*article above is a combination of my research and information sent by email and documents as a contribution. We do not know who the contributing authors were originally.

Recommended Reading
Natural Menopause Remedies, About Estrogen therapies, 
Living and Dealing With Menopause, Recipe Books and Resources