Menopause is considered to be one of the greatest physical milestones within a woman's life. However, during and after the cycle many women turn to help in order to reduce the symptoms that are caused by menopause and this help usually comes in the form of hormone replacement therapy (HRT).
HRT has been and most likely remains the most popular and common way helping women through menopause. It works by replacing the estrogen that is lost when the ovaries stop producing it. By doing this, it means symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings that are associated with menopause start to develop. Millions of women throughout the world take this prescribed drug; it is an appropriate choice for some women but not all and, despite all of the positive effects this drug can have, it is shrouded in controversy.
HRT has been linked with heart disease and cancer and, more recently, memory loss and dementia. These are some of the main reasons that a lot of women are now looking into alternatives to help them cope with the symptoms and the stages involved in what has become known as 'the change of life.'
Natural hormone replacement therapy is becoming a highly popular choice with many women who have lost faith in other drugs or who see it as being a generally healthier choice. This form of therapy usually contains plant estrogens, which are called phytoestrogens and you'll be glad to know they have the power to take the strain out of the symptoms associated with menopause almost as well as HRT does.
A lot of women are sometimes put off by aspects associated with natural supplements as they think that they are all hype but no pay-off. Well, this is definitely not true for natural hormone replacement therapy; just take a look at the two examples below:
Black Cohosh
This is an extract of a plant and is one of the most popular herbal remedies for menopause symptoms. It is something that has been used for centuries to help with conditions that affect a woman's reproductive organs, which includes menstrual problems, an inflammation of the ovaries, and relief from labor pain.
It is the root of the plant that is used; this is because the root is said to have estrogenic properties. It provides sterols, which is the beginning for steroid hormones like estrogen and progesterone.
Wild Yam
When research has been conducted about this, it has indicated that it is a powerful alternative medicine that contains many steroidal saponins that are widely used to manufacture progesterone. It is also a powerful estrogenic herb that is used by women around the world thanks to its anti-inflammatory action that can provide relief from menopausal arthritis as well as other menopause symptoms. It is often used as a way of helping cope with hot flashes, night sweats, and mood changes, as well as vaginal dryness.
There is a number of natural hormone replacement therapy treatments on the market today, all of which are extremely capable of helping to soothe symptoms connected to the menopausal cycle. They give you just that extra little bit of help you need so, if you do find yourself struggling with night sweats or finding it hard to cope with hot flashes, then give them a try.