Do Herbs for Menopause Really Ease Menopausal Symptoms
by Wendy Jones
The Menopause, or "change of life" as it is sometimes referred to (though that tends to be more from old text books) is an experience that most women will experience at some point in there lives. It originates from the Greek words which mean "to cease" or "to end" and "monthly" or "month". So in literal terms it means the end of the monthly menstrual cycle. On average, most women start to experience the early menopause symptoms during their early 50's, but it can start any where from early 40's to late 50's.
Every woman's menopause is unique and personal. Four out of five women go through "the change of life," as menopause is often called, with few signs beyond the ending of their monthly periods.
Menopause symptoms occur due to the physical changes a woman experiences as she gets older. In particular, it is due to the reduction in the levels of hormones - namely estrogen and progesterone - in her body. This decrease causes an irregularity in the menstrual cycle and the eventual end of the menstrual cycle all together.
The three early menopause symptoms that signify the start of the process are irregular monthly periods, vaginal dryness and hot flashes (or hot flushes). Probably the most common - or classic - symptom is hot flashes. Hot flash symptoms are when a woman experiences a sudden wave of heat rising through your body, in particular in the chest, neck and face, which can be (usually is) accompanied by a "blushing" sensation or flushed/reddening skin. The feeling can last for quite a few minutes and become quite uncomfortable.
A hot flash can make you perspire - in some cases profusely - and may bring on headaches, dizziness and an increased heart rate (though it's nothing to be overly concerned with - it's usually just your heart trying to cope with the increase in blood flow). An effective method for dealing with hot flashes (or hot flushes depending on what part of the world you live in) is to help control your temperature by wearing several layers of clothing. When you get hot, you can always take some layers off. A cool shower often works well, but depends if you're at home or have access to a shower. Drinking cool liquids (not necessarily cold, but nicely cool) usually has a very beneficial effect as well.
Vaginal dryness is another classic sign of menopause, though one less talked about. As your body is producing less female hormones (estrogen and progesterone), the side effect of this is to thin out the urinary tract and vaginal walls, which leaves the skin there even more delicate and susceptible to damage and infection. In some cases, this thinning can make sexual intercourse an uncomfortable and even painful experience.
Of the many natural and herbal remedies for menopause, a simple remedy for vaginal dryness is use of a personal lubricant (K-Y jelly, apricot oil or Vitamin E oil) during intercourse. A physician may also prescribe a vaginal cream containing estrogen.
Author Wendy Jones runs a menopause support website. For handy tips and support on herbs for menopause visit her site Early Menopause Symptoms Support You are welcome to reprint this article - but get your own unique content version here.
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