Menopause Supplements

Menopause is the time at which women have stopped menstruating for 12 months or more. This is an indication that the ovaries are not producing adequate hormones to maintain this process. This may lead to signs and symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances and emotional changes. However, there are many natural supplements that can assist in making the transition into this new stage of life less difficult. Menopause is not without its benefits, though, such as the retention of valuable nutrients, like iron, that are typically lost with menstruation. There are many nutrients and herbal medicines that can be of assistance during this life stage, not only to reduce symptoms, such as hot flashes, but also to support adrenal gland health.

Typically forgotten is the importance of adrenal gland health, as stated in a research article by the European Journal of Endocrinology in January 2009. The adrenal gland synthesizes an enzyme called aromatase. This enzymes converts testosterone to oestrogen. Oestrogen is what the ovaries prmarily produce, which drops significantly during meopause. It is believed that the majority of signs and symptoms experienced by menopausal women are due to low oestrogen, though there is also a growing body of evidence for low progesterone as a contributor. The adrenal glands are typically regarded as important for maintaining energy levels, though their health during peri-menopause and menopause may also be integral. Nutrients and herbs typically helpful for adrenal gland health are: vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, vitamin B5 and B6, licorice (not if blood pressure is high) and adaptogenic herbs such as withania, schisandra, rhodiola and siberian ginseng. Of course, psychological stress and over-working needs to be managed. 

A clinical trial was conducted in 2013 and published in Planta Medica on Salvia officinalis, commonly known as Sage, on its ability to positively influence hot flushes in menopausal women. It concluded that Sage is safe and had an anti-hot flush effect, likely due to its estrogenic activity. Other herbal medicines that are commonly used for the management of symptoms during menopause are Dong Quai, Glycine max and Shatavari.