10 Natural Alternatives Treatments To Reduce The Symptoms Of Menopause

Menopause generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.  A woman's menstrual cycle ends and she has a drop in hormone levels, consisting of estrogen and progesterone.  With this natural change of life, a wide range of uncomfortable symptoms occur.  Technology and research has given women a wide array of natural remedies to reduce the symptoms of menopause.  10 natural alternative treatments to reduce the symptoms of menopause include:
 
1.   Herbal Remedies: Nature has given us a number of herbs that contain treatments for menopausal and perimenopausal systems. The more popular herbs include:
-   Black cohosh: this thick stem woody floral plant contains chemicals that are equivalent to synthetic hormones and can ease mood swings, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, night sweats and more.-   Dong quai: this is like ginseng for women and is great for relieving hot flashes and breast tenderness.-   Ginkgo Biloba: an Asian tree whose leaf properties encourage mental alertness.-   Sage leaf extract: great antiseptic, with antioxidant properties for the relief of dry skin and night sweats.
 
Other herbs, all of which can be taken safely, in a combined form, are St. John's Wort, wild yam, red clover, chaste tree, and burdock.
 
2.   Vitamins and Minerals: Vitamins and minerals help menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, as well as, combating long term effects of menopause, which includes heart disease and osteoporosis.
-   Vitamin A: it fights vaginal dryness and infections caused by low estrogen levels, as well as maintaining healthy eye sight and skin disorders-   Vitamin C: this sunshine vitamin fights all forms of infections, it reduces hot flashes, and boosts collagen production, which is depleted during menopause.-   Vitamin D: it promotes strong bones, hormonal balance, and helps to control moodiness.-   Magnesium: take this mineral to fight fatigue, especially at the early stages of menopause. It also fights migraines and supports bone density.
 
3.   Acupuncture: This alternative method of healing is now a more acceptable form of treatment for a variety of illnesses and menopausal symptoms.  By manipulating needles into different parts of the body, women experience less high temperatures and mood changes.  After several treatments, women experience a dramatic change in follicular stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone levels after several treatments.
 
4.   Yoga: Relaxing and stretching techniques helped women to stabilize their mood swings and depression. The practice of yoga teaches breathing techniques, posture forms, and concentration to focus the soul, body and mind.  Various yoga poses can be done in the privacy of your home to relieve stress, help with hot flashes and insomnia.
 
5.   Physical Activity: Physical activity sounds a lot better than exercise, but remaining physically active, even when you don't feel like it, really helps with many menopausal symptoms.  If you stick to a light aerobic or a exercise regiment for six months, like walking, swimming, or weight training, women have reported a 60% reduction in night sweats, less anxiety, and controlled weight gain.  Menopause has a physiological impact on a woman's daily life and exercise can give women a new sense of purpose and help them emotionally.
 
6.   Diet: Diets rich in foods that support estrogen levels are great natural alternative treatments.  Foods like soy, organic apples, alfalfa, cherries, potatoes, rice, wheat and yams help to treat menopause symptoms deliciously and safely.  Other foods include, soy, tofu, fiber in the form of fruit and vegetables, soy beans, chick peas, and lentils.  The Japanese plum called “umeboshi,” is great for headaches, digestion, flashes, and nausea.
 
7.   Drink, Drink, Drink: Adding aloe vera juice or coconut water to a daily diet helps to cool the body when those flashes hit and internally they cool the liver.  Drinking two to four ounces, two to three times a day helps to relieve temperature changes and cools your psyche.
 
8.   Hypnotism: Headlines on TV and newspapers have reported that clinical hypnosis can reduce hot flashes and associated symptoms.  An 80% decrease in menopausal symptoms have been experienced by women who engaged in hypnotic therapy.
 
9.   Aromatherapy: It might be only a mind set, but aromatherapy seems to affect the body and mind when beneficial oils are used to regulate hormones and change irritable moods.  Inhaling the scent of oils like rose, lavender, jasmine, geranium, clary sage and neroli, does place us in a mellow state of mind.
 
10.  Massage Therapy: Massage therapy eases depression by reducing the body's stress hormone levels.  The body can relax in order to reduce cortisol levels.  The long term effects of engaging in massage treatments are uninterrupted sleep cycles, better concentration and less tension or pain.