6 Herbal Remedies for Menopause That Help

Around the age of 45 to 50 years, most women undergo menopause, which is a very big change in the body. Menopause is a condition where the ovarian functions cease, leading to an end of the production of ova in the female body. This condition has many very troublesome symptoms that can prove to be difficult to handle and control. The symptoms of menopause include hot flashes, migraine, rapid heartbeat, dryness of the genital area, urinary frequency and urgency, back ache, joint pain, breast atrophy, decreased elasticity of the skin, fatigue, irritability and sleep disturbances. While not all symptoms are controllable, some of them can be controlled with the use of herbal remedies for menopause.

Scientific studies have, over the years, proved that certain herbal remedies for menopause are extremely effective and ease the discomfort considerably.

Six Herbal Remedies for Menopause
Phytoestrogens are compounds found in some plants that mimic the estrogen found in the human body. Since a major chunk of the symptoms of menopause are caused by the cessation in the production of estrogen, intake of the hormone helps a great deal in alleviating the symptoms. Herbal remedies for menopause predominantly include the intake of various herbs containing compounds that help. They are also safe and free of side effects.

1. Licorice and Black Cohosh: Since licorice has a known estrogenic effect, it has been one of the more successful herbal remedies for menopause. The regular use of black cohosh is also very helpful in reducing hot flashes. A dose of eighty milligrams a day, divided over the day, has proven to be helpful.
2. Bioflavonoid: Bioflavonoid are commonly found in fruits and vegetables high in vitamin C. Fruits like elderberries and bilberries are high in this substance and help in relieving hot flashes.
3. Vitamins A & E, Calendula and Aloe Vera: These substances are helpful in battling vaginal dryness. Calendula solution can be used as a douche and has been found to be very helpful.
4. Dong Quai: Dong Quai is a Chinese herb, also known as Chinese Angelica, and is useful in balancing hormones, post menopause. The recommended dose is 3-4 gram a day.
5. Chamomile and Valerian Root: Insomnia is also a common symptom of menopause. Sleeping pills might be helpful but are not recommended due to their addictive quality. Chamomile tea and Valerian Root tea are herbal remedies for menopause that are very soothing and help the individual sleep better.
6. Soybean Products: Soybean is rich in Phytoestrogens, and is a very effective remedy to battle hot flashes, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. Asian women are known to have a high intake of soybean and therefore usually do not suffer from the symptoms mentioned earlier to a great extent.

Menopause is a difficult time for a woman to go through, and the use of herbal remedies for menopause is highly recommended as they are natural and not otherwise harmful. These remedies have been in use for centuries and their value as aids to menopausal symptoms have been well established.

Traditional Home Remedies for Arthritis

There are a number of home remedies for arthritis that can be used for obtaining relief from inflamed and painful joints. Both patients who only resort to natural treatment and patients who are on arthritis medications can use these simple techniques to treat arthritis. It is, however, believed that these remedies are more effective for patients who do not use prescription drugs. As evidence suggests, arthritis drugs are not effective in the long run and cause serious damage to some organs. Also, some medications may interfere with the functioning of some natural ingredients.

One unanimous choice among popular home remedies for arthritis is heat therapy. Professionals believe that warmth increases blood flow and prevents the joints from becoming stiff by increasing the flexibility of the connective tissues. Patients with osteoarthritis have reportedly benefited from regular warm baths. Using a hot water bag or a heating pad in the winter months in particular is essential, as joint pains tend to increase during this time. Using warm water and two-three tablespoons of salt in a tub and soaking in the water for half an hour is known to work wonders for arthritis patients. For exactly this reason, a holiday to a seaside and bathing in warm saline water is often recommended to arthritis patients by many physicians.

Cayenne pepper also features in the list of home remedies for arthritis. This substance is known to contain capsaicin. Capsaicin is a natural pain-killing agent. Not only does it act as the external stimuli to divert pain signals from the joints, but it also initiates the release of endorphins (natural enzymes present in the body to fight pain). Although capsaicin is available as a cream and a lotion in the market, the most effective method of obtaining the benefits is preparing a home pack. Powdered cayenne pepper can be sprinkled in olive oil, coconut oil or any skin lotion for that matter, and massaged over the inflamed site. Both coconut oil and olive oil are popular among arthritis patients who use alternative medicines. Cayenne pepper is, however, known to cause mild local irritation.

Ginger is one of the most common medicinal herbs today, and arthritis is just one of the many ailments that can be treated with this root. Dietary supplements containing ginger extracts are available in the market, but if patients want to ensure safety and cure, it is best to stick to simple home remedies for arthritis. Patients with rheumatoid arthritis or osteoarthritis will greatly benefit from a few cups of ginger root tea each day. 4 grams of ginger is the optimum daily dosage for most. Green tea or black tea leaves and peeled and chopped pieces of ginger can be soaked in boiling water till it becomes lukewarm. It is best if no sugar is added. One teaspoon of honey works well. One essential point to be remembered is that ginger has blood thinning effects and should not be used by patients on medications like warfarin.

Curcumin is a naturally occurring compound that has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Turmeric is a great source of this compound. While most home remedies for arthritis apply to patients with osteoarthritis, this amazing herb is known to treat rheumatoid arthritis as well. Curcumin has been studied extensively, and scientific data supports that it inhibits the action of NF-KB, a substance necessary for activating the genes that trigger the disease. The optimum dosage of turmeric ranges between 400mg and 600mg. The active compound has blood thinning effects and should not be used along with pharmaceutical blood-thinners.

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