Homeopathy is one of the most common forms of integrative medicine. It uses a small amount of a naturally occurring plant, mineral, or animal substance to stimulate a healing response in our bodies. You may have heard people suggest chamomile for teething babies. That’s a form of homeopathy. Keep reading to learn more about homeopathic remedies for menopause.
Homeopathy works to reduce symptoms associated with conditions like depression, allergies, migraines, arthritis, irritable bowel syndrome, and hormonal conditions.
Most people who use homeopathic remedies also use conventional medicine or other alternative therapies alongside it. Women in menopause often turn to homeopathic remedies to manage their wide range of symptoms.
Explaining Menopause
Menopause is the point in time in a woman’s reproductive cycle when she goes 12 consecutive months without a menstruating. Once menopause begins, a woman can no longer become pregnant through natural means, but IVF and donor eggs might be an option.
The effects of menopause aren’t just during the 12 months without a menstrual cycle. The whole transition usually takes about seven years, from pre-menopausal phases to post-menopausal, but the whole process can take as long as 14 years. Lifestyle factors like smoking, the age when menopause started, and ethnicity all play a part in how long menopause lasts.
No two women experience menopause the same way. Symptoms and side effects of menopause include vaginal dryness, hot flashes, irregular menstrual cycles, trouble sleeping, weight gain, mood changes, chills, and night sweats.
How to Treat Menopause
First and foremost, when it comes to menopause, there’s nothing to “treat.” Menopause isn’t a disease or illness, it’s a natural part of a woman’s life, and there’s no way to stop this biological process. With that being said, menopause can be an uncomfortable transition to undertake, and there are options available to help.
Conventional treatment options for menopause depend on the symptoms and side effects the patient is experiencing. Hormone therapy, antidepressants, estrogen cream, and medication to help with hot flashes are all examples of menopause treatment methods.
Conventional treatment methods are effective for menopausal symptoms, but they don’t come without potential side effects. Estrogen cream can cause skin irritation, nausea and vomiting, severe headaches, confusion, chest pain, and more. The side effects of commonly-prescribed medications are why more and more women seek integrative solutions, like dietary changes, supplementing with B vitamins, and homeopathic remedies. Some women also feel integrative therapies are more effective than conventional treatment methods.
How Homeopathic Remedies Can Help Menopause
Homeopathic remedies can ease or reduce symptoms of menopause, like hot flashes, poor sleep, or mood changes.
One study involving 99 doctors and their 438 patients found that 90% of participants reported disappearance or lessening of their menopause symptoms, primarily hot flashes. Most of these changes took place within 15 days of beginning the homeopathic treatment. The most prescribed homeopathic solution was Lachesis mutus, belladonna, sepia, sulfur, and sanguinaria Canadensis. Another study found homeopathic remedies to show potential value in helping women who are struggling with infertility, indicating the effect on hormones.
Homeopathic supplements haven’t been approved or treated by the FDA, but that doesn’t mean they’re unsafe. There are plenty of high-quality, reputable homeopathic supplements on the market.
Remember, menopause is a physical and hormonal transition from one part of a woman’s life to the next. You’re leaving the natural childbearing years behind and entering a new phase of life. Homeopathic remedies, and even conventional medicine, can’t stop this biological process. They can only make it more comfortable.
Some of the most common homeopathic remedies for menopause include:
- Graphites, which are helpful for women who have trouble concentrating, experience night sweats, and skin problems
- Sepia, which is helpful for women with irregular and unpredictable periods, both in terms of timing and flow
- Sulphuric acid, can help ease irritability, excessive weepiness, and emotional responses, and nightmares around the time of monthly menstrual cycles
- Belladonna, helps with hot flashes and excess sweating
- Lilium tigrinum (tiger lily), women with a lot of anxiety during their menopausal years have responded well to this homeopathic remedy
Finding Homeopathic Remedies for Menopause
There are nearly 10,000 substances that have been used as a homeopathic remedy at one point in time. Identifying which remedy and how much of it to use is not only daunting, but it can be dangerous, too. While rare, drug interactions can occur with homeopathic remedies and other substances.
Heally’s network of integrative physicians knows the risks and benefits of homeopathic supplements. Treating hormonal concerns is one of our areas of expertise. After learning your medical history and current list of medications, your provider can narrow down the right homeopathic remedy and dose for you to take.
To speak with a doctor about using homeopathic remedies during menopause, you can connect with us online. We’ll be in touch with you soon.
