Menopause: Worried About the Risks of HRT? Combat Symptoms of the Menopause With An

Every woman will eventually go through the menopause. On average, women reach menopause at around 50-51 years of age, although it can happen earlier or later.

During the years leading up to the menopause, the ovaries decrease in activity and stop producing eggs. As a result there is a drop in the levels of the female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone.

The standard medical treatment for women going through the menopause is with Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This involves a daily treatment with artificial oestrogen or progesterone to combat the problem of falling hormone levels. 

But in the last few years, this treatment has become controversial for many patients and doctors alike. Directors of a US national study known as the Womens Health Initiative abruptly stopped their research in 2002 and warned that taking HRT increases the risk of breast cancer, blood clots, stroke, and heart attack (JAMA 2002;288(3): 321-3). Because of these findings, the desire to treat the menopause with natural means instead of synthetic drugs is growing in popularity.

The lack of oestrogen and progesterone that accompanies the menopause has repercussions in your whole body affecting everything, from your hair to your toenails. So it is important to follow a treatment programme that takes care of all your needs both physical and psychological. There are several natural ways that can help you achieve this. (Ann Pharmacother 2004;38(9):1482-99).  

Help your body prepare for the menopause
There are many ways you can help your body handle changes that the menopause brings. One of those ways is to make changes in your diet. Because during the menopause your supplies of calcium and phosphorus (which are needed for healthy bones) become deficient, you need to consume foods that are high in these two minerals. Such foods are dairy products (particularly milk), broccoli, peas, beans and nuts. Also you should avoid carbonated drinks which are generally thought to drain phosphorus from your bones.

It is best to increase your intake of foods containing natural oestrogen such as soya milk and soya products in general. Other foods that are considered to be beneficial are grains, oats, wheat, brown rice, and nuts. These contain natural antioxidants and nutritional factors which protect your body against the effects of accelerated ageing that may accompany the menopause.

Some nutritionists recommend avoiding meat such as beef, pork, and chicken because these contain high levels of saturated fats. Saturated fat (as opposed to unsaturated fat) lowers your bodys ability to use oestrogen and so could worsen the symptoms of the menopause.

Another foodstuff that reduces your bodys ability to use oestrogen is sugar, so it is best to avoid excessive sugar intake. Finally, cultures of Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidus (which are the good bacteria in your bowel) can boost your natural supplies of oestrogen and help your liver use oestrogen much more effectively. These bacteria are found in natural yoghurt and are also available in capsule form.

Plant remedies for improving the symptoms of the menopause
Red clover isoflavones are natural plant oestrogen hormones which are biologically identical to our own hormones and are thought to work in the same way, to boost your own oestrogen supplies. The plant hormones also mimic our own natural secretion of hormones which is to say  a constant drip by drip during the day, rather than one large dose in the morning which wears out by the end of the day (as with synthetic hormones). Many women report a dramatic improvement of their symptoms after taking red clover and research evidence supports its effectiveness.

In an experiment performed at the Department of Clinical Pharmacology, St. George Hospital, Australia, red clover was found to have a possible effect on the memory of menopausal women, one of the consequences of menopause (Climacteric 2004;7(1): 70-7). There are different brand names of tablets containing red clover, so the dose will depend on the manufacturer.

Angelica, or Angelica sinensis (also known as Dong Quai) is a well known remedy used by Asian healers and health practitioners to help improve the symptoms of the menopause. Scientific research shows that Dong Quai can be a very effective herbal treatment.

In an experiment performed by Israeli scientists, 55 women were divided into two groups. The first group was treated with a preparation containing Dong Quai, whereas the second group were given a placebo.  At the end of 12 weeks, the women who were taking Dong Quai experienced a significant improvement of their symptoms compared to the second group (Clin Exp Obstet Gynecol 2003;30(4): 203-6).  The dose for Dong Quai is 500 mg to 1000 mg, up to three times daily.

Chaste tree, or Vitex agnus-castus is a shrub native to Europe and central Asia. (Drug Saf 2005;28(4): 319-32) and it is believed to have a strong positive benefit in relieving the symptoms of the menopause (Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 2003;9(3): 157-60). The dose is 175 mg daily.

Additional nutrients that may help during menopause are (Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2002;79(3): 195-207): 

1. Vitamin E, to help improve hot flushes and sweating. The dose is 400 units a day. This can be taken with vitamin C, 1,000 mg a day, which helps maximise the actions of vitamin E.

2. Calcium, helps maintain strong bones, at a time when the lack of oestrogen depletes calcium from your bones. The best type of calcium is calcium hydroxyapatite or calcium citrate, which are easily absorbed in the bowel, taken at a dose of 1500 mg a day.

3. Magnesium, works together with calcium to maintain healthy bones. The dose is 500 mg daily.

4. Evening Primrose Oil, helps reduce hot flushes and vaginal problems. The dose is 500 mg, three times a day.

5. Ginseng (Panax ginseng), useful in preventing tiredness and sleep problems. The recommended dose is up to 1,500 mg a day.

6. Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), a natural plant oestrogen that manages menopause symptoms. The dose is 20 mg to 60 mg, three times a day.

We at NHR have written previously about the risks of HRT and continue to be concerned.  It may be worth your while to try these natural alternatives to see if they work for you, before turning to more conventional HRT medications. For more information contact The Menopause Exchange, P.O.Box 205, Bushey WD23 1ZS, tel. 020 8420 7245.