There is a long tradition of treating unpleasant and debilitating menopausal symptoms with herbal remedies. This knowledge has been passed down through the centuries and now, for the first time, we are beginning to understand through scientific research how plants work in the body at the cellular level.

Menopause affects each woman in a unique way. An over-the-counter herbal remedy, which is aimed at the “average menopausal woman,” may relieve some symptoms but not others. Menopausal symptoms can include depression, anxiety, insomnia, hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue, loss of libido, memory loss, to name just a few. So you can see that menopause can be a complex condition, one that needs to address all of the symptoms before a woman can regain a sense of well-being. Medicinal plants that contain phytochemicals called steroidal saponins are very effective in treating the symptoms of menopause. An example of such a plant is Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) (see below). Compounds from these medicinal plants can exert an estrogenic effect by binding to estrogen receptors in the brain. This can relieve symptoms of decreased estrogen levels. Although plant-derived phytoestrogens are not as potent as the estrogen produced by the ovaries, they can still have a mild estrogenic effect and convince the body that more estrogen is present and therefore lessen withdrawal symptoms. Hot flashes usually correlate with luteinizing hormone (LH) surges, which are triggered when the body detects that estrogen levels are low. If phytoestrogens are present, LH surges and hot flashes decrease.

There are many herbal remedies that are effective in helping a woman transition to lower estrogen levels. Some of the most used medicinal plants are shown below:

black cohosh(Cimicifuga racemosa).

Native to North America and now cultivated in Europe, Black Cohosh root has long been used to treat gynecological issues, including menopause and menstrual problems. Research has confirmed the validity of traditional knowledge. Two reviews published in 2003 in the Journal of the North American Menopause Society concluded that Black Cohosh is a safe natural medicine. The German Commission E also supports its use to treat menopausal symptoms and menstrual problems.

How does it work

The effects of black cohosh are believed to result from complex synergistic actions of triterpene glycosides, and the efficacy has been supported by clinical trials in Germany and Italy. Black Cohosh has been proposed to have a mild estrogenic effect on the body without causing undesirable thickening of the lining of the uterus. A clinical trial, which ran for 12 months, found that Black Cohosh reduced the number and severity of hot flashes.

sage (sage officinalis)

Native to the Mediterranean and now cultivated around the world, Sage aerial parts have traditionally been prescribed for menopausal hot flashes. In an open-label trial, which lasted 3 months, a product containing extracts of sage and alfalfa improved menopausal symptoms of hot flashes and night sweats. In several open studies, salvia has reduced sweat production in patients with excessive sweating (hyperhidrosis). In fact, it is recommended for excessive sweating by the Scientific Committee of the European Scientific Cooperative on Phytotherapy (ESCOP).

How does it work

Research shows that the phytochemical thujone, found in the volatile oil of the plant, has a mild estogenic effect. The mechanism by which Sage reduces sweating is the subject of further scientific investigation.

wild sweet potato (Dioscorea villosa)

Wild Yam is native to North and Central America. Both the Mayans and the Aztecs used this plant for medicinal purposes to relieve menstrual, ovarian and childbirth pain. A more recent traditional Western use of Wild Yam is for hormonal imbalance during menopause.

How does it work

The phytochemical, steroidal saponins, can exert estrogenic effects by binding to estrogen receptors in the brain (part of the negative feedback mechanism of estrogen control). So when a menopausal woman is experiencing low estrogen levels, Wild Yam can relieve estrogen withdrawal symptoms.

de San Juan Worth (Hypericum perforatum)

Native to Europe, St. John’s wort is one of the most valuable European medicinal plants for the treatment of depression, particularly the type of depression associated with menopause. This medicinal plant has been very well researched with many clinical trials, one of which found St. John’s wort to be as effective as imipramine (a tricyclic antidepressant) in treating mild to moderate depression. In another trial, St. John’s wort compared favorably with fluoxetine (Prozac), particularly for the treatment of depressed patients with anxiety symptoms.

How does it work The key phytochemical in St. John’s wort, hypericin, helps elevate biochemicals in the brain that affect mood, namely dopamine and serotonin. If you buy this remedy over the counter, it’s worth noting that some St. John’s wort products are too low in hypericin to have any beneficial therapeutic effect. Additionally, this herb can interact with some pharmaceutical medications, so if you are taking prescription medications, it is best to have this herb prescribed by a qualified Natural Medicine Consultant.

Many women are now discovering that Natural Medicine can provide a natural alternative to HRT.