Most women will experience the symptoms of menopause in one form or another as they progress through this stage of life. A doctor can prescribe medication to make the symptoms easier to handle, such as hormone replacement therapy. Another option is to take the more natural, holistic route and turn to naturopathic treatment. This alternative is preferable for many women who wish to avoid any possible complications associated with pharmaceutical approaches.

What is interesting is that the first piece of advice given by naturopaths would be almost identical to the advice of a medical doctor: keep your diet healthy. It’s been pretty well shown that refined and processed foods are harmful to the body. Getting rid of sugar and junk food, and eating as many fresh, unrefined fruits and vegetables as possible could make a big difference almost right away. Fried food should probably go too, and many naturopaths advise against caffeine and even dairy products as well. And drink a lot of water, to keep the system flushed and clean.

Exercise is essential to easing the symptoms of menopause. Some naturopaths recommend yoga, while others suggest a more vigorous workout. A combination of the two may work the best for some women, depending on their physical condition. This can do wonders for hormones that are fluctuating like crazy. Remember, it is easier to make changes to the way you live your life if you possess a good attitude and think in a positive and hopeful manner.

When it comes to hormone replacement, naturopaths believe it’s possible to achieve the same effects using natural foods, without resorting to medications. Soy beans contain phytoestrogens, which have an estrogen-like effect in the body. Naturopaths do warn, however, that some of the necessary phytoestrogens are removed if the food is processed, so be sure to read labels carefully to make sure it contains isoflavones. However, it’s possible to have too much soy, so trade it off regularly with other foods that contain phytoestrogens, such as flax seed. If a woman takes 2-4 tablespoons of ground flax seeds per day (that’s flax seeds, not flax seed oil), she should have enough to provide the phytoestrogens she needs. She would need to drink extra water, though, since ground flaxseeds absorb water from the body.

Certain herbs have also been shown to be effective at reducing the symptoms of menopause. For example, black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) is an herb that belongs to the buttercup family which can relieve many symptoms of menopause such as anxiety, mood swings, night sweats, sleep disturbances, irritability, anxiety and nervousness. However, the symptom it works the best to relieve is hot flashes. Most women can take black cohosh as side effects are not common with this herb. In rare incidences it can cause nausea and vomiting, as well as stomach upset, headaches and dizziness.

Other naturopathic remedies that can provide relief during menopause are: St. John’s wort for anxiety, depression and mood swings; Damiana for stress, fatigue and mild anxiety; Vitamin B complex for fatigue, depression and mood swings; vitamin E for dry skin, weak and dry hair; iron and a multivitamin for exhaustion and fatigue; essential fatty acids, selenium and zinc for dry skin and dry weakened hair; Saw palmetto for personal dryness; valerian for insomnia, mild anxiety and nervousness; and calcium, vitamin D, copper, magnesium, manganese and zinc to decrease the risk of osteoporosis. Always check with your physician before taking any kind of supplement to be sure it won’t interfere with any medications you’re currently taking.

Menopause is a difficult time for many women, and requires them to make a number of adjustments to their lifestyle in order to combat the symptoms. For example, did you know there are certain menopause foods that can stabilize your situation and prevent weight gain? Click here to learn more about menopause symptom relief.