The Best Alternative Treatments for Menopause

When women begin the transitional stage of menopause, they can experience some uncomfortable and distressing symptoms. Seeking treatment is often at the top of their list, but there are many options and many arguments about which treatments are best. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) has been widely criticized, so are there any alternative treatment options out there? Read on to find out how you can relieve menopause symptoms naturally.

5 Alternative Options to HRT

It is not surprising that women are searching for alternative options to HRT to treat menopause. Fortunately, there are many ways to help rebalance the levels of your natural hormones. Here are five of the best treatment options. Consider trying these treatments before opting for a method that is much more invasive, as they can be quite effective without any risk or negative side effects.

Exercise

Exercising is an easy way to balance your natural hormones. Try to exercise for at least half an hour a day, five days a week. Running, walking, swimming, and aerobic classes are all good options. If you struggle to fit exercise into your busy schedule, try to combine it with your daily routine. Walk to work instead of using the car, or take the stairs instead the elevator.

De-stressing techniques

Stress is one the major factors that contribute to menopause symptoms, making them worse than they have to be. Make sure you take time for yourself to de-stress. Join a weekly yoga or meditation class, practice deep breathing exercises daily, or just enjoy a bubble bath with a good book.

Balanced diet

Eating a healthy and well-rounded diet is essential if you are trying to re-balance estrogen and progesterone levels, because missing out on vital food groups can result in a change of hormone production. Try to incorporate more vitamin E and soy into your diet. Soy has phytoestrogens, so tofu and other soy-derived products can help re-balance hormone levels.

Hormone-regulating herbs

These herbal supplements can be used to treat menopause symptoms because they stimulate the production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. They do this by nourishing the endocrine glands, which produce these hormones.

Phytoestrogenic herbs

These herbs are able to re-balance estrogen levels because they contain estrogenic components produced by plants. Introducing this plant-based estrogen into your body can relieve menopause symptoms, but they shouldn't be used for long periods of time, as the body can become less capable of producing estrogen on its own. Hormone-regulating herbs are considered a safer option when compared to phytoestrogenic herbs.

Recommendation

To relieve uncomfortable menopause symptoms, it's necessary to remedy the root of the problem, which is hormonal imbalance. Lifestyle changes and natural herbal supplements should be tried first, before more invasive treatment options. It's always good to talk to your doctor about your particular symptoms. Together, you can create a treatment plan that fits you.