Herbs can offer gentle relief through the various passages of womanhood. Many herbs are contraindicated during pregnancy and nursing. See your health care practitioner for recommendations specific to you.
Herb
Symptoms
Action/Precautions
Black cohosh
(Cimicifuga racemosa)
Hot flashes, vaginal dryness
Mimics the effects of estrogen, so it helps estrogen deficiency that causes hot flashes and vaginal dryness
Chasteberry
(Vitex agnus-castus)
Irregular periods, mood swings
Regulates hormones, alleviating menstrual irregularities, depression and cyclic breast discomfort.
Dong quai
(Angelica sinensis)
Irregular periods, cramps
Regulates hormones; relaxes uterine muscles; relieves cramps. Avoid with heavy menstural flow.
Ginkgo
(Ginkgo biloba)
Fluid retention, breast pain
Alleviates bloating and breast pain. Improves perimenopause-related "brain fog." Don't take with blood-thinning medications.
Hops
(Humulus lupulus)
Sleep disturbances
Induces sleep. Contains B vitamins, which are calming during night sweats. Avoid taking with sedative drugs.
Licorice root
(Glycyrrhiza glabra; Glycyrrhiza uralensis)
Fatigue
Build energy; regulates blood sugar. Avoid with high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes or kidney disease.
Motherwort
(Leonora cardiaca)
Mood swings
Calms the nervous system.
Nettles
(Urtica dioica)
Sleep disturbances
Promotes relaxation by strengthening the adrenals. Helps restore minerals excreted during night sweats and hot flashes.
Red clover
(Trifolium pratense)
Hot flashes
Regulates hormone levels, alleviating hot flashes.
Shepherd's purse
(Capsells bursa-pastoris)
Heavy bleeding
Contracts the uterus, helping to alleviate long-term or heavy menstrual bleeding.
Siberian ginseng
(Eleutherococcus senticosus)
Fatigue
Increases energy, vitality and endurance. Builds immunity and helps the body adapt to stress
Sources: Natural Health Bible (Prima) edited by Steven Bratman, M.D., and David Kroll, Ph.D.; The Herbs of Life (The Crossing Press) by Lesley Tierra, L.Ac.; Menopausal Years: The Wise Woman Way (Ash Tree Publishing) by Susun Weed.