As a result of the estradiol patch shortage, more women are exploring alternatives to hormone replacement therapy such as hormone pellets which provide gradual delivery of estrogen without depending on availability of patches.
Estrogen activates receptors throughout the brain, bones, skin, blood vessels, and genitourinary system – sparking off a chain reaction that protects against disease and aging.
1. Phytoestrogens
Phytoestrogens are weak estrogen-like compounds found in many plants that bind more weakly than estradiol hormone produced by your own body, helping ease perimenopausal symptoms, prevent osteoporosis and support cardiovascular health. Traditional medicine used Medicinal herbs containing phytoestrogens; modern supplement forms now include these compounds for use against menopause symptoms; research has focused on isoflavones, lignans and coumestans as potential remedies.
Scientists first recognized phytoestrogens in the late 1800s, and soon thereafter their effectiveness at relieving climacteric symptoms was investigated. Unlike estrogen which increases risk factors like heart disease and cancer, phytoestrogens do not increase these risks, making them an appealing option as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy.
Some researchers once speculated that phytoestrogens might increase breast cancer risk; however, current research is inconclusive. Furthermore, most people do not consume enough soy products to experience any significant health benefits, and soy isoflavones only weakly interact with estrogen receptors – therefore requiring a higher dosage to lower cholesterol and triglycerides and reduce osteoporosis risk.
Isoflavones can impede thyroid function for people suffering from deficiencies or conditions like hypothyroidism. A 2020 study indicated that isoflavones may prevent thyroid activity; so, if you are taking anti-thyroid drugs such as Methimazole (Tylenol) or Levothyroxine (Sertraline), consult your healthcare professional prior to consuming large quantities of isoflavones.
Soy’s isoflavones may interact with tamoxifen, an anticancer drug used to treat certain forms of breast cancer and other estrogen-dependent tumors, making soy an unsuitable food choice for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, those who have hormone-sensitive cancers, as well as pregnant or breastfeeding women who need adequate amounts of iodine for proper thyroid functioning and metabolic health. Furthermore, research suggests that soy’s isoflavones may interact with tamoxifen to increase risk of endometrial cancer in women taking anticancer drugs.
2. Vitamin D
Vitamin D deficiency, with low testosterone levels as its result, can lead to numerous unpleasant symptoms and disorders. Plant estrogens (isoflavones) found in soy and red clover (Trifolium pratense) provide hormone replacement without the unwanted side effects associated with estrogens; similarly, Cimicifuga racemosa (black cohosh) contains phytoestrogens but no estrogenic activity.
A Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center study discovered that overweight and obese women taking 2,000 IU of vitamin D each day for one year experienced the greatest decrease in blood estrogens – known risk factors for breast cancer. This was true regardless of weight loss.
3. Omega-3 fatty acids
Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are key components of cell membranes and serve as precursors for signaling molecules known as eicosanoids that play an integral part in physiological processes, including cardiovascular, pulmonary, and immune functions. Omega-3 PUFA also help promote heart health by helping lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels thereby decreasing cardiovascular disease risk.
Research suggests that omega-3 fatty acid intake through food and supplements may lower the risk of coronary heart disease by lowering triglyceride levels and improving vascular flexibility, and increasing nitric oxide production to improve blood vessel elasticity and flow to the heart.
Evidence from both case-control and prospective studies suggest that higher dietary and/or supplement intakes of long-chain omega-3s (LC omega-3s) may be linked with reduced risks of colorectal cancer and breast cancer respectively. Other case-control and prospective studies have also reported such associations; however, other research did not find them.
In a randomized clinical trial of both premenopausal and postmenopausal women, supplementation with omega-3 fatty acid significantly decreased vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats, particularly among the most severely affected subgroup. Overall effects however were modest.
Maternal diet intake of LC omega-3s is vitally important to infant health and neurodevelopment, with DHA accumulation most rapidly taking place during the third trimester of gestation. Furthermore, several prospective and nested case-control studies have reported that higher blood levels or intakes of LC omega-3s correlate to lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease dementia or cognitive dysfunction.
Studies suggest that long-chain omega-3 fatty acids could provide protection from macular degeneration by inhibiting oxidative damage and increasing antioxidant capacity, with no clear link to direct estrogen effect or indirect inflammation effects; such fatty acids can be found naturally occurring in food sources like fish as well as plant-derived supplements like flaxseeds and chia seeds.
4. Acupuncture
Hormonal imbalance is one of the hallmarks of both perimenopause and menopause, leading women to experience vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats as well as other difficulties throughout their climacteric journey. Estrogen has undeniable positive effects on a woman’s body, but recent concerns over HRT make doctors reluctant to recommend its use as short-term relief from vasomotor symptoms.
Acupuncture provides both immediate and long-term relief from menopausal symptoms through stimulating specific acupuncture points that influence the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis and autonomic nervous system, helping balance hormone levels by creating a more harmonious hormonal feedback loop. Research demonstrates that acupuncture can significantly decrease both frequency and intensity of hot flashes.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine have also proven beneficial in alleviating sleep disturbances caused by hot flashes, including difficulty falling or staying asleep. Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) therapy have proven successful at improving menstrual cycle irregularities including missed or irregular periods; TCM therapies also can ease menstrual pain associated with premenstrual syndrome, dysmenorrhea, and fibroids.
Pine Mountain Chinese Acupuncture & Herb Clinic’s team is committed to helping patients manage their menopause with safe, natural treatments such as acupuncture and herbs. Acupuncture can restore your endocrine system back into balance without side effects from synthetic hormones – without suffering through menopausal symptoms without them! Contact our Austin office to discover more how acupuncture and TCM therapies may alleviate them – schedule your consultation now!
