How Can Herbal Supplements Help with Your Menopause Symptoms?

I’m not saying you can step outside and find a menopause treatment growing in your yard, but it might be worth trying an herbal supplement from the store. Herbal supplements can take the edge off your symptoms or support your current treatment when you feel like it needs a little boost.

That said, just because herbs are natural doesn’t mean they’ll all help you. Before you order your supply of herbal supplements for menopause, do your research and find out which ones can balance your hormones and tone down the hot flashes.

Why Try Herbal Remedies for Menopause Symptoms?

The short answer is…relief. Herbal supplements can ease menopause symptoms and help you sleep, balance your mood, and keep you cool when the hot flashes hit. While estrogen therapy, vaginal creams, and certain medications work for a lot of people, they’re not always the best or most comfortable treatments.

Full disclosure: There’s less research on herbal supplements for menopause than there is for most medications. Supplements can vary based on the manufacturer, and they might also have different ingredients that affect how well they work for you. Still, if you’re looking for natural remedies or want to use them alongside other menopause treatments, it’s worth talking to your doctor to see if they’re a good fit for you.

Every Herb Is Not Like the Other

Even the most popular herbs don’t treat everything. Before you start a new supplement, you have to know what your body needs and how each herb works. If you’re dealing with common menopause symptoms, you can start by looking into well-known herbs like:

• Black cohosh
• Red clover
• Dong Quai
• Evening primrose oil
• Maca root
• Ginseng
• St. John’s wort

The good news is you have plenty of options when it comes to herbal remedies for menopause. Let’s dig into some of them to help you decide which ones might help you.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh has long been used for menstrual irregularities in Native American medicine. It also treats common menopause symptoms, like hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Instead of working directly with estradiol or replacing hormones, it works with neurotransmitters to boost your serotonin and dopamine levels.

Red Clover

The isoflavones in red clover work like estrogen in the body, which means this herb may offer an alternative to hormone replacement therapy. Along with reducing common menopause symptoms related to falling estrogen, red clover also helps strengthen your bones and lower cholesterol. With a higher risk of osteoporosis after menopause, red clover can benefit you long after you go through the change.

Dong Quai

There’s no strong evidence that dong quai, also known as angelica, brings menopause relief. However, some people find it helps with their mood and hot flashes. Plus, if you get headaches during menopause, it can relieve pain and may even improve your cardiovascular health.

Evening Primrose Oil

If you find yourself waking up in the night with damp clothes and sheets, a 2021 study showed that evening primrose oil makes night sweats less severe and less frequent. Some people also use it for hot flashes during the day, though there’s less evidence it works as well for them.

Maca Root

When low libido gets in the way of your sex life, maca root can revive it. It also cools down your hot flashes and might make it easier to sleep through the night again.

Ginseng

This root, long used in Chinese medicine, is a multipurpose herb when it comes to menopause. It can relieve hot flashes, balance mood swings, and improve your sleep, too.

St. John’s wort

Many people use St. John’s wort for depression, since it has a similar function to selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications. While you shouldn’t use it to treat severe depression or mood issues during menopause, it can help if you’re constantly feeling a little down.

St. John’s wort can be even more effective combined with black cohosh, but it takes a couple months before you see improvement. You should also be careful when taking it with SSRIs or allergy medications, as it can interfere with both.

When Are Herbal Supplements Right for You?

Before you order every herb on this list, think about what you need for your menopause journey and how you want to feel. That can help you choose the best supplement for your symptoms—or you might find that you need more help than herbs can give.

Herbal supplements often work better when you have mild to moderate menopause symptoms but you still want relief. They work well for people who want a natural solution, or for those who already have a treatment plan and just need a little extra help without upping their medication dose. Still, herbal remedies are not right for everyone, especially if you take medications that interact with certain herbs or have health issues that might get worse with them.

Natural Doesn’t Equal No Risk

Just because they’re natural doesn’t mean herbal supplements can’t harm you. Many of them aren’t well-researched, and while that doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t work, it can mean the effects are less predictable and come with less certainty.

Herbs and other plant products used for menopause can interact with medications or worsen conditions you already have or are at risk for. For example, even an herb like black cohosh, which doesn’t have many interactions, can still harm you if you have liver disease. It also increases the toxicity of chemotherapy.

Many herbal supplements interact with the enzymes that help break down medications in your system. That can mean your body can’t absorb those medications as well, which can reduce their effectiveness and become dangerous for you—especially if those medications are essential for your well-being. Before you take any new supplement, talk to your doctor and do your research to make sure it’s safe for you.

Create a Natural Menopause Treatment You Can Adapt

Herbal supplements are no miracle cure, but they may bring a sense of normalcy back to your life during menopause. It can take some trial and error (along with a few extra weeks of waiting), but combined with getting the right vitamins, minerals, and healthy foods, you can balance your body and feel better. When you go into your menopause treatment informed about your options and with the right support, you can find options that fit your individual needs and adapt them throughout your journey.

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