Biomimetic Hormones | Natural Hormone Replacement Therapy

Let’s take a look at the problem of low estrogen and hormonal imbalance.  This would be indicated by two things:  Firstly, you are experiencing the symptoms of low estrogen and hormonal imbalance which include hot flashes, night sweats, dry vagina, urinary urgency, memory loss, brain fog and perhaps feelings of depression and irritability.  With these symptoms you should first visit your bioidentical doctor to get your hormones tested.  When the results arrive, he will then write an individualized prescription for bioidentical hormones.

There are also some natural supplements that you can take that will help solve the worst of your symptoms.  These natural herbal supplements for menopause will help deal with low estrogen and menopause symptoms.  Phytoestrogenic herbs such as Angelica, Black Cohosh, Red Clover Extract, licorice or sage can be used to boost healthy estrogen levels.  Choose one of the following.  You can purchase these at the health store.

Angelica:

Angelica has been used for hundreds of years to combat the symptoms of menopause and a lack of menstruation (amenorrhea), and PMS.  Angelica has anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties and can also help with painful menstruation.  It is also beneficial in that it counteracts menopause symptoms such as hot flashes.  Usually, a naturopath will recommend that you 400 mg. one to three times per day without food.

Black Cohosh:

Black Cohosh is another traditional herb for the treatment of menopause symptoms such as vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes, urinary problems, etc.  Taken without food, take a 40 mg tablet, two times a day is the usual recommended dose.  However, always check with your doctor or naturopath for the exact dose for yourself.

Red Clover Extract:

Red clover extract contains isoflavones which are natural estrogens found in plants.  It may help with menopause symptoms – there is conflicting research on red clover extract.  Some reports say that it helps with such problems as bone loss, improves blood pressure, increases good cholesterol, thereby reducing heart disease risk.  The best product for red clover extract is Promensil which has been researched the most.  Take 80 mg. per day and see if it helps first with your hot flashes.

Licorice:

Licorice is an herb which contines phytoestrogens and can help with stress and burnout.  Only take it before 3:00 in the afternoon because it is a stimulant.  Recommended dose is 300 – 900 mg. per day, but check with your naturopath for the dosage that is right for you.

Sage:

Sage will assist with hot flashes and night sweats if these are your main issues. This will help restore estrogen balance. Take without food, 400 mg per day.

The above are the best herbal supplements for menopause if you are not taking bioidentical hormones.  As always, we highly recommend that you visit a naturopath or a doctor experienced in supplementing with herbal supplements to explain your symptoms so they can assist you.

Make sure also that a healthy diet, exercise, smoking cessation, reduction in alcohol intake and stress reduction are included in your daily life.  Neither bioidentical hormones or natural supplements are going to work very well if you don’t live a healthy life style.

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If you first want to try treating your menopause symptoms with natural solutions such as herbal supplements, diet change, exercise and improving your healthy living habits before you try bioidentical hormones, there are some products on the market for you.

Medical research has proven that women need natural hormone supplementation with bioidentical hormones such as estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. You may even be hearing a lot about Human Growth Hormone supplementation as well. It’s another hormone that decreases as you age.  Natural hormone supplementation can combat the symptoms of menopause such as anxiety, hot flashes, night sweats, muscle and joint pain, sleeping problems, brain fog, thinning of the vaginal wall and vaginal dryness, memory problems, mood swings, irritability, depression, acquisition of new allergies, urinary incontinence, and weight gain.

However, there are some herbal supplements available which can give some women complete relief from menopause symptoms. These are the herbal solutions which has played a part in traditional herbal medicine and they have been clinically researched, they are safe and well tolerated. In addition, they are not expensive to buy.

Look for products which contain dong quai, vitex, black cohosh, gamma-orzyanol and hesperidin. Such a product containing all these ingredients in the correct amounts is MenoSense which you can buy in your local health store.

If you are having sleep problems and you wake up in the early hours of the morning and can’t get back to sleep, there are other herbal supplements available by the same company. Waking up in the early hours of the morning and not being able to fall back to sleep is due to stress, high cortisol levels and insulin levels which shoot up in the early morning hours. This is a sign of adrenal exhaustion which comes from chronic stress and living a stressful life. MenoSense makes a product called AdrenaSense which helps combat anxiety and insomnia. If sleeping problems are causing a lot of problems in your life and they are severe, perhaps you should be speaking with your bioidentical doctor about supplementing with natural bioidentical hormones.

Low Libido Natural Treatments

A low libido can be improved with the bioidentical hormones progesterone and testosterone. Low libido during menopause and andropause occurs when production of the hormones estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and prolactin drops. A low thyroid also affects libido. However, if you would like to try some traditional herbal supplements for assisting with low libido, try the herbs L-Arginine which benefits both men and women’s libidos.

Tribullus Terrestris or puncture vine is an adaptogen which raises testosterone levels that are low. Ginkgo biloba also assists with low libido and improves blood flow to small vessels which increases sexual sensation. Eurycoma Longifolia is a Malaysian ginseng and helps libido and assists with vaginal dryness. Choline Bitartrate is another herb that boosts a low libido. As well as these herbs, take some Pantothenic Acid or vitamin B6 which assists with cell production and increases endurance.

All of these natural supplements for the treatment of menopause and andropause should help if you are suffering mild symptoms. They must be used in the correct doses and the dose that is correct for you will be determined by a naturopath or your doctor. If you do not find relief from menopause symptoms from these natural herbal solutions, you should look into having your hormones checked and getting a prescription for natural bioidentical hormones from your bioidentical doctor. Whether you take only natural supplements or bioidentical hormones, you must follow a healthy life style in menopause or andropause. Nothing works alone to restore hormone balance if you are not taking care of your body and your health.

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