It goes without saying that natural medicines are the way to alleviate discomfort associated with hormone imbalances. In this article, I discuss My Five Best Herbs for Menopause.
There are so many herbs around these days, and as a practitioner Herbalist, I have access to many more than you would, say if you were buying products from your local health store or online. Drawing knowledge from Eastern and traditional Western Herbal Medicine, I think Herbalists these days have a lot more in their tool kit to help with menopausal symptoms than conventional medicine.
Your average retail selection of herbs for menopause includes red clover, black cohosh and dong quai and maybe a few others, but, there really is so much more Mother Earth has to offer. In consultation, I select herbs specific to a person’s health needs, and I have found that every woman is different regarding (peri)menopausal symptoms.
If you have ever Googled ‘perimenopausal symptoms’ or ‘menopausal symptoms’, you will realise that there is a list of symptoms as long as your arm, and it is often challenging to identify the correct remedy or herb for an individual. However, individual complexity aside, I have found that there are five key herbs that I keep coming back to. These are the herbs that I find most reliable and valuable for rebalancing the body when a woman is transitioning into the wise woman years.
So, My Five Best Herbs for Menopause
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is an Ayurvedic herb with soothing and nourishing qualities, and really, this herb is great for women through any time of their life. It is great for digestion, but the real clincher for this herb with menopause benefits the urinary tract. In Ayurveda, Shatavari is a rasayan for pitta dosha, providing nourishment for blood and the female reproductive system, and I love using this herb where there is depletion of energy.
Paeony (Paeonia lactiflora): pretty as, well, a paeony, this Chinese herb has a history of use with all kinds of hormonal imbalances. One of the best medicinal herbs for equipoise of the endocrine system, Paeony comes into its own with menopause and associated muscle spasms or memory issues. In traditional Chinese herbal medicine, paeony is considered a blood and nutritive tonic and is often prescribed for night sweats or menstrual irregularity.
Saffron (Crocus sativus): yes, really, it is what you think it is. It is made from those tiny little threads from saffron flowers. It is a bit pricey, but, hey, some of my clients are pretty special. In Ayurvedic terms, Saffron is tridoshic, meaning it is balancing for all of the three constitutions (Vata, pitta, Kapha). It is also a great liver and digestive herb, making it ideal for all-round energy, vitality and wellbeing. This potent herb is often used only in low doses to enhance the tonic action of other herbs in the formulation and brings brilliant yellow colour to formulations.
Sage (Salvia Officinale): this common culinary herb is used in Western Herbal medicine for its drying qualities, and in menopause, it is one of my most effective, go-to herbs for hot sweats. You can easily grow sage in your garden, make it into tea, chill it on a summer day, or add it to cooking. To get that real therapeutic dose, though, I like to use it in herbal tincture form selected with other herbs to create a synergy of balance and harmony for clients.
Rehmannia (Rehmannia glutinosa): is one of those herbs that only herbalists talk about. It is one of my many favourite herbs for the endocrine system, and I find it useful for women stepping into perimenopausal symptoms. This herb is termed an adaptogen – helping with the body’s adaption to stresses, a great addition to a herbal for menopausal symptoms. The balancing qualities of this herb come from its history of use with menstrual irregularity, which is a common symptom for a woman in perimenopause.
If you are like me, you might find it easy to get excited about the properties of herbs, their uses and their applications. However, before you race out and look for these herbs from your local health store, I encourage you to go to your local Herbalist or Naturopath to discuss your health concerns. The information provided in this article is for educational purposes only; it is not intended as a substitute for proper health advice from your health practitioner.
Leonie Satori
Herbalist and Naturopath Leonie is the Natural Menopause Mentor and creator of the Sundala Signature range products. With a passion for women’s health, menopause and a down-to-earth approach, Leonie guides her clients through health challenges, to help them reach optimum vitality.
The information provided in this article is for information purposes only and should not be taken as medical advice. We recommend you consult with a GP or other healthcare professional before taking any action based on this article. While the author uses best endeavours to provide accurate and true content, the author makes no guarantees or promises regarding the accuracy, reliability or completeness of the information presented. If you rely on any information provided in this article, you do so at your own risk.
