Many women turn to herbal products, vitamin supplements, and acupuncture in an effort to ease menopause symptoms; however, these alternatives have not been subject to rigorous clinical testing like prescription medicines and may pose potential health risks.
Non-hormonal treatments are effective ways of relieving menopausal symptoms and warding off osteoporosis; however, they can have unwanted side effects that some women wish to avoid due to either medical reasons or personal preferences.
Acupuncture
Women may start experiencing menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes and vaginal dryness several years prior to reaching the menopause, typically around age 51 or earlier due to surgery or medication. Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), however, may help ease symptoms – non-hormonal treatment options like acupuncture, diet and exercise may provide additional support in managing symptoms effectively.
Acupuncture has been shown to alleviate many menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, insomnia and anxiety. Studies of its use vary and more research needs to be done before conclusively proving its efficacy. It remains unknown whether combination therapy works better than just acupuncture alone – valerian root may reduce hot flashes and night sweats while ginseng and licorice may improve energy levels and support adrenal glands.
Black cohosh has been shown to reduce menopausal symptoms, but more high-quality RCTs are necessary for accurate evaluations and meta-analyses of its use. Furthermore, research into mind-body techniques such as hypnosis or other mind-body techniques remains limited, meaning more RCTs must be conducted comparing them against alternative strategies of symptom reduction.
Some prescription medicines may help relieve menopausal symptoms, including antidepressant clonidine and high blood pressure medication clomipramine, both of which have been shown to decrease hot flashes and anxiety; they both may also have side effects; another effective symptom-reducing pill is called Tibolone and can be purchased through your GP; this pill has been found to alleviate hot flushes while improving sleep; alternative therapies should always be discussed with a medical provider before beginning them, since supplements or complementary and alternative medicine treatments could interact with prescribed drugs; these could include supplements or complementary alternative medicine treatments as prescribed drugs may interact or interact with each other – discuss all potential interactions or interactions before proceeding with any alternative therapies with your healthcare provider before undertaking them yourself or using them alone.
Massage
Menopause hormonal fluctuations can result in various uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes, irritability, anxiety and insomnia. Massage therapy has proven invaluable in relieving these discomforts during this transitional phase and creating balance in daily life during this phase of transition. While some women may require hormone replacement therapy (HRT), others find alternative approaches help manage symptoms more effectively and ensure healthy and happy lives during menopause.
Researchers conducted a 50 participant study and discovered that regular massage significantly reduced menopausal symptoms including anxiety and depression while improving sleep quality. Massage stimulates endorphin release – the body’s natural painkillers – while helping balance fluid levels within the body during times of hormonal fluctuations.
Traditional Chinese Medicine views menopause as a decline in Kidney and Spleen energies. Acupressure to strengthen these meridians may help bring hormone balance back into balance while working on liver meridians enhances overall energetic flow, relieving stress and encouraging emotional well-being.
Massage may help reduce muscle and joint pain associated with menopause by encouraging relaxation and improving circulation. Massage also has been found effective at managing hot flashes by decreasing cortisol levels which have been linked to these symptoms.
Women experiencing difficulty sleeping during menopause frequently report fatigue and other symptoms of low mood, according to studies. Therapeutic massage has been shown to decrease subjective sleep disturbance and anxiety-depressive symptoms while polysomnography shows decreased REM latency with increases in stages three and four.
Reflexology
Reflexology involves massaging specific points on the feet, hands and ears to stimulate certain energy points that correspond with ancient Chinese beliefs that the body contains an energy called qi, or life force. When this energy becomes blocked due to stress it can cause illness; Reflexology helps keep this flow open – helping with menopausal symptoms like hot flushes. Reflexologists in the US are trained to work with people of all ages and backgrounds – before every session your reflexologist will ask about your health history and lifestyle questions before starting this therapy session.
Studies with a large group of women revealed that alternative therapies could effectively alleviate some menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats. Therapies like acupuncture, herbal remedies and vitamin supplements were all found to reduce symptoms significantly – however it is wise to consult a physician first as these remedies may have side effects or interfere with other medications taken for other health concerns.
Antidepressants and gabapentin, typically prescribed to treat epilepsy, may help ease some symptoms associated with menopause. Cognitive behavioral therapy also assists in decreasing mood swings and anxiety common during menopause.
Red clover and black cohosh may provide relief from menopause symptoms, yet its effectiveness remains unclear. Interactions may occur between these products and medications and potentially serious side effects can arise, while their safety has yet to be tested; for this reason it would be prudent if you suffer from circulatory problems, gout or have alcohol after having reflexology treatments as it can further exacerbate its effects. It’s recommended to wear loose clothing so as to lie comfortably during your treatments.
Hypnotherapy
Menopausal symptoms can include hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of libido and decreased energy. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can provide some relief; however, not everyone finds HRT suitable and there may be increased risks such as thromboembolic disease and breast cancer associated with its use.
Hypnotherapy offers an alternative natural solution to HRT. Professor Gary Elkins, an expert in hypnosis, led two large randomised clinical trials using clinical hypnosis to reduce menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and sleep disturbances. His team found that when compared with structured attention control treatment, clinical hypnosis lead to significant decreases in both self-reported and physiologically measured hot flashes among perimenopausal and postmenopausal women alike.
Hypnosis is an ancient practice with proven benefits to both body and mind. Hypnosis has been proven to aid sleep, reduce anxiety, stress and depression levels as well as menopausal symptoms like hot flushes and insomnia by changing one’s inner narrative allowing them to change behaviors or beliefs so as to better cope with menopausal symptoms.
At a hypnotherapy session, you will listen to soothing music as your therapist guides you into a deep state of relaxation. He or she may then provide suggestions that will help manage hot flashes by visualising cool environments or thinking about cooler situations; then return back into normal alertness feeling calmer and more balanced than before; this has proven successful at improving many women’s quality of life during menopausal symptoms management with hypnotherapy.
Dietary supplements
There are various dietary supplements claiming to alleviate menopausal symptoms, but not all are supported by sound scientific research and may interact with certain medications. Before taking any such dietary supplements – particularly natural-labelled options – consult your physician first so they don’t adversely interact with prescription or over-the-counter drugs you may already be taking.
Many women turn to complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) therapies to manage menopausal symptoms; however, evidence shows them to be ineffective, and some could even be potentially harmful. While promoted as natural and safe remedies, they often go unregulated or become contaminated. Red clover and black cohosh dietary supplements may have estrogenic properties; however they could interact with certain hormones and blood thinners.
Study results on 886 women 45 to 65 years of age who were members of a health maintenance organization showed that 76% had employed at least one alternative therapy to manage menopausal symptoms, such as herbal remedies; homeopathy or naturopathy remedies; acupuncture; chiropractic therapy; massage therapy and soy dietary products. Many of those using these treatments cited stress reduction or relaxation techniques as the motivation.
Some women turn to HRT for relief, but it is important to remember that HRT is still a drug and should be carefully monitored by your physician. Other ways of alleviating symptoms may include exercise, sleeping in a cool room, eating healthy foods and reducing stress; using vaginal lubricant or moisturizer might also help. Clonidine (Catapres-TTS-1 and Nexiclon XR) can ease hot flashes by blocking a brain pathway; however it can cause dizziness, drowsiness and constipation and should never be taken by women expecting or breastfeeding mothers or breastfeeding women during gestation/lactation.