Since you're putting it in your body, you probably want to know a little bit about how a particular herbal remedy works. Let's investigate that first. Menopause complaints span a wide variety of symptoms involving many parts of the body. What they all have in common is the cause. Menopause related symptoms or complaints are attributable to dropping hormone levels of progesterone and estrogen.
Using herbs to replace dropping estrogen and progesterone
Many of the herbs that are advertised as helpful for relief of menopause complaints are essentially herb sources of estrogens. They have been called phytoestrogens (plant-estrogens) by the scientific community. By restoring dropping estrogen levels with plant like estrogens, menopause symptoms are relieved. Some common herbs (and foods) that contain phytoestrogens are red clover, soy, flaxseed and Siberian rhubarb root extract.
Alternately, some herbs contain a progesterone like molecule. The one that stands out is wild Mexican yam. Wild Mexican yam contains a substance diosgenin, which is very similar to progesterone. Different medical researchers argue in both directions-that the human body can, and cannot convert diosgenin into progesterone. So the reported benefits of wild Mexican yam may be due to its direct effect on human tissues. Or it may be due to the fact that it is converted bio-chemically by the body into progesterone, thereby restoring optimal progesterone levels as they drop during perimenopause.
Other menopause herbal remedies-Chasteberry
Other herbs and nutrients frequently used for relief of menopause related complaints don't fall into either of the above categories. That is, they don't mimic the activity of either estrogen or progesterone, yet can have beneficial effects. One example is vitex or chasteberry. This herb has been used more for relief of premenstrual complaints, and particularly for relief of breast pain associated with monthly cycling. How chasteberry achieves its benefit is not fully understood, but it has been shown to change levels of prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that regulates milk production in the breast.
Black Cohosh
Another herb that is commonly used by menopausal women is black cohosh. It was initially thought that black cohosh contained phytoestrogens. This has been refuted by recent research that suggests that black cohosh impacts serotonin receptors in the brain. Serotonin is a brain neurotransmitter that is sometimes referred to as the "tranquilizing" brain neurotransmitter. Many popular prescriptive anti-depressants (the SSRI's) work by influencing serotonin levels in the brain. Research suggests that black cohosh may have some benefit for osteoporosis. Research also suggests that black cohosh has no benefit for relief of menopause related hot flashes.
St. John's Wort
Another herb that finds its way into herbal menopause remedies is St. John's Wort. The herb has a well deserved reputation for helping to relieve mild depression. Since depression may be associated with premenopause and menopause, some manufacturers of menopause herbal remedies include it in combination formula's. How St. John's Wort works is not clearly understood. It is believed to benefit brain levels of serotonin in the same way as some prescriptive anti-depressants (the SSRI's) such as Paxil, Zoloft, Celexa and Prozac.
Other issues with herbal menopause remedies
There are a number of other issues to be considered with regard to herbal menopause remedies. Herbs are effective because of specific active ingredients within the plant. These active ingredients can vary depending on where the plant is grown, the growth conditions, when the herb is harvested, etc. A quality herbal product monitors the level of active ingredients in the herb. The bottle label should refer to "standardized" levels of key ingredients in the herbs used. Herb purity is another important issue. Herbs harvested overseas can be contaminated with toxins, including bacteria, heavy metals or pollutants. A quality herbal manufacturer tests any and all ingredients used for contaminants. Finally, before taking any herbal product, you should be clear on what side effects to expect. Some herbs tend to have side effects while others do not. If you are taking an herb that may produce side effects, it is important to know what they are. If you experience them, you want to be able to recognize that they are due to the herb you are taking, so that you can stop.
For more information on menopause herbal remedies including which remedies work the best for relief of specific menopause complaints, the side effects of some menopause herbal remedies, issues of herb quality and purity, and more please visit http://herbalmenopauseremedy.com/
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