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Return To Menopause Article Archive   Can Herbal Remedies for Menopause Help Ease Menopausal Symptoms By Wendy Jones Menopause is part of the natural, life-long process of female growth and development. The word menopause originates from the Greek words meaning 'to cease' and 'month.' In essence, menopause refers to the stopping of menstruation. For most American women, menopause occurs at an average age of 51, but it can begin as early as 40 and end as late as 58. Every womans menopause is unique and personal. Four out of five women go through 'the change of life,' as menopause is often called, with few signs beyond the ending of their monthly periods. As your body ages (gracefully of course) it goes through a lot of changes - and at this stage in your life your bodys production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone start to decline. It is this reduction in natural levels of the female hormones that brings about the menopausal symptoms and change of life. If you think you are starting to go through the menopause, there are usually 3 clear signals or symptoms to watch out for. They are hot flashes, irregular periods and quite likely vaginal dryness. An irregular menstrual cycle is probably the first thing youll notice. This could happen several months or even years before you experience the full onset of menopause, but is one of the classical early menopause symptoms. Hot flashes are also quite likely, although the degree to which they affect you varies from woman to woman. A hot flash starts as a warm or hot feeling rising from your torso through your neck and up to your face. It can also cause your face to redden slightly as though you were blushing. Experiencing a hot flash can also be accompanied by perspiration (or hot sweats) especially over your upper body, and at times can be pretty heavy. It can also bring on headaches, palpitations and dizziness. Theres not a lot you can do to eliminate the symptoms, but theres plenty you can do to manage them. Wear multiple layers of clothing, so that you can remove some if necessary, drink plenty of cool liquids, and if youre at home try a cool shower. Some people I know actually say a hot shower works well - not necessarily during the shower, but certainly when you get out - this is a method they practise in hot countries to keep cool so theres no reason it cant be effective to manage your hot flashes. One of the other symptoms of menopause - that of vaginal dryness - are caused by the reduction in estrogen. This decrease in natural hormones makes the urinary tract a lot thinner, and can cause both the urinary tract and vagina to become more susceptible to infection. In certain cases, it can also make having sex quite a painful, or at least uncomfortable experience. Of the many natural and herbal remedies for menopause, a simple remedy for vaginal dryness is use of a personal lubricant (K-Y jelly, apricot oil or Vitamin E oil) during intercourse. A physician may also prescribe a vaginal cream containing estrogen. About the Author: Author Wendy Jones runs a menopause support website. For her personal tips and support on herbal remedies for menopause visit her site Early Menopause Symptoms Support Arthritis And Menopause

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