How to Get Natural Menopause Relief

Menopause marks the end of female fertility and is defined as the period of time 12 months after a woman's last menstruation. Menopause is a natural part of aging for women. The production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop off dramatically during menopause, and this can cause physical symptoms in some women. According to the Mayo Clinic, more than 40 percent of women experience significant symptoms during menopause. Several natural remedies can potentially offer some relief to women suffering from menopause symptoms.

Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause symptoms vary greatly in severity. Some women suffer from all symptoms while others suffer from one or two. Menopause symptoms include vaginal dryness, bleeding, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbance, irritability and depression.

Herbal Remedies for Menopause Relief

Several herbs offer relief from menopause symptoms. Black cohosh is a general treatment for menopause symptoms, and is thought to offer some relief for vaginal dryness, hot flashes and moodiness. Ginseng has also been used to treat menopause for many centuries, and helps support vaginal wall health and minimizes insomnia and hot flashes. Red clover tea is also commonly used for menopause symptoms. There is, however, little scientific evidence validating the efficacy of herbal treatments for menopause symptoms.

Foods for Menopause Relief

Diet can have an effect on menopause symptoms. Most women are prone to gaining abdominal weight after menopause, so maintaining a healthful diet is especially important after menopause. Several food plants such as flax seeds, sesame seeds, sunflowers seeds, apples, carrots, cherries,and garbanzo beans contain phytoestrogens, which some studies have shown to be of benefit in treating menopause symptoms.

Physical Activity

Several sources, including the Mayo Clinic, strongly recommend regular exercise for women entering menopause. While exercise provides limited effect in reducing symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, regular physical activity during menopause offers many benefits including preventing weight gain, preventing osteoporosis, and reducing the risk of breast cancer and diabetes. Some studies have shown yoga to be particularly beneficial for menopause symptoms.