Let's Make Opting for Herbs Less Taboo for Menopause Symptom Support

Who knew herbs could help women experiencing adult puberty (menopause)? Dating back hundreds of years, people have used herbs like black cohosh, red clover, and sage to help with menopause symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, and night sweats. Sage, red clover and black cohosh formulated as herbal medicines work due to their phytoestrogen properties and appear to help women reduce the occurrences of having hot flashes by balancing hormones in the body by working as phytoestrogens, which are plant-based estrogens.

Herbal Remedies are Making a Comeback   

Today it seems as if more people are opting out of using allopathic medicine and searching for more holistic treatments for everything from the common cold to menopause. As women are opening up about their experiences with being peri- and menopausal, they are searching for more holistic ways to treat their symptoms.

As soon as I turned 40, I noticed a drastic change in my menstrual cycle and realized I was entering into a new phase of life. Menopause. I decided that I wanted to use as many natural remedies as possible, and so I began researching herbs. That’s when I came across what I consider to be my top three herbs to deal with the symptoms associated with menopause: Trifolium pratense (Red Clover), Salvia officinallis (Sage), and Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh).

Trifolium pratense (Red Clover) for Hot Flushes

(Menopace Red Clover, n.d.)

Red clover may have potential benefits to help ease hot flushes in women experiencing menopause. According to Kanadys et al. (2021), it is the isoflavones in Trifolium pratense (red clover) that may help with the signs of menopause. Isoflavones are chemicals found in plants that work like estrogen in the body.

It has been demonstrated that isoflavones, which are plant compounds mainly found in soy products, may help lessen the frequency and intensity of hot flashes that occur during menopause. Isoflavones help with hot flashes during menopause by binding to estrogen receptors and imitating the effects of estrogen. This may make these symptoms less frequent and less severe. They function as a natural substitute for hormone therapy by somewhat simulating the effects of estrogen in the body, though research findings vary, with some studies finding significant reductions and others finding little to no effect when compared to a placebo.

Kanadys et al. (2021) noted that a meta-analysis of all comparisons showed a statistically significant reduction in the daily incidence of HFs in women receiving active treatment compared to those receiving placebo treatment.

Red Clover is one of the herbs I like to use for hot flushes, but it’s certainly not the only one. The main herb I like to use for this is Salvia officinalis (Sage).

Salvia officinalis (Sage) Shows Promise in The Fight Against Hot Flashes

(Douglas, 2024)

Women going through menopause can get relief from their complaints with a variety of medicinal plants. In addition to potentially enhancing bone health and providing some protection against cardiovascular disease, phytoestrogens—plant substances that resemble estrogen in structure—can aid women with a number of menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes.

Kargozar (2017) designed a study to investigate the mechanisms and effects of medicinal plants employed in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Sage has shown promise in helping with symptoms of hot flashes in several German lead clinical trials. Wilfried (2021) noted that Salvia off. within 4 weeks significantly reduced the somato-vegetative (e.g., hot flushes) and psychological MRS subscale (e.g., physical and mental exhaustion) subscale (p < 0.05) without a significant effect on the genito-urinary subscale. This is based off of sage’s unique mechanism of action: “Salvia officinalis (sage) mechanism of action of binding to complex GABA / benzodiazepines receptors in the brain and participates in the treatment of hot flashes and sweats due to its estrogenic effects” (Kargozar, 2017). Based on this information, sage seems like an herb women would want to keep on hand.

Cimicifuga racemosa (Black Cohosh) Should Be a Staple for Women Ascending into Menopause

(Herbal Roots, n.d.)

Cimicifuga racemosa is a powerhouse in terms of assisting with symptoms of menopause. Herbal remedies made from the rhizome of black cohosh are sold in various European nations as remedies for menopausal symptoms including hot flashes. Black cohosh is a traditional medication used in the UK to treat rheumatic pain symptoms.

There is some proof that black cohosh extract may help with hot flashes, but it's not clear, and more high-quality studies are needed to be sure. Kenda, (2021) reports that there is no direct evidence that the triterpene glycosides in black cohosh extract are the main ingredients that help with menopause symptoms, especially hot flashes." Black cohosh extract may help reduce hot flashes by sticking to and changing important receptors in the brain and spinal cord that control: 

• Temperature

• Mood

• And sleep (for example, cells that respond to serotonin, dopamine, GABA, and ±-opioids).

 Research from Kenda (2021) states that black cohosh changes how the brain's metabolism works and how active it is generally. Extracts of black cohosh were linked to big improvements in menopause symptoms generally. According to early German research, black cohosh helped with both psychological and physical menopausal symptoms, such as:

• Vaginal dryness

• Anxiety

• Hot flashes

• And night sweats

Herbs are a great resource for many health concerns.  Some of the ways women can incorporate these herbs into their daily routines are with teas, extracts, tinctures and capsules. 

(Douglas, 2023)

Here is a good tea recipe for hot flashes:

Leonurus cardiaca (Motherwort) 1 tsp

Salvia offincinalis (Sage) 1 tbsp

Mentha spicata (Spearmint) 1 tsp

Combine ingredients in a tea steeper or tea bag, bring water to a boil and steep for 10 minutes. Add your favorite sweetener, lots of ice (sage works best for hot flashes when consumed cold) and enjoy. Keep in mind that it is advisable to consult with a holistic practitioner or herbalist before starting any new herbal regimens.

Key Takeaways 

Herbs have been used for hundreds of years and are becoming popular again. They are preventative in nature and are great additions to any regimen for health and wellness. Start your journey toward more balanced health by consulting with a healthcare provider and incorporating herbs like black cohosh, red clover, and sage into your daily routine. Take control of your wellness and discover how nature can support your body's transition through menopause. Though the herbs listed here are some of my favorites to use, I encourage you to research different herbs and work with a health or holistic specialist to find the right herbs for you and your unique situation and symptoms. How can you find a good holistic specialist? Ask around, search herbal groups on Facebook, or Google “holistic practitioners near me.” If you’re still wondering if any of these herbs will work for you, try one for 30 days and draw your own conclusions.

References

• Ebrahimi, A., Tayebi, N., Fatemeh, A., & Akbarzadeh, M. (2020). Investigation of the role of

herbal medicine, acupressure, and acupuncture in the menopausal symptoms: An

evidence-based systematic review study. Journal of family medicine and primary care, 9(6), 2638–2649. https://doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1094_19 

• Herbal Roots. (n.d.). Organic Black Cohosh - 600mg - 60 capsules.

https://herbalrootssupplements.com/products/herbal-roots-black-cohosh-extract-600mg_pos=1&_sid=856420e27&_ss=r 

• Kanadys, W., Barańska, A., Błaszczuk, A., Polz-Dacewicz, M., Drop, B., Kanecki, K., & Malm,

M. (2021). Evaluation of clinical meaningfulness of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.)

extract to relieve hot flushes and menopausal symptoms in peri- and post-menopausal

women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled

trials. Nutrients, 13(4), 1258. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13041258 

• Kargozar, R., Azizi, H., & Salari, R. (2017). A review of effective herbal medicines in

controlling menopausal symptoms. Electronic physician, 9(11), 5826–5833.

https://doi.org/10.19082/5826 

• Kenda, M., Glavač, N. K., Nagy, M., Sollner Dolenc, M., & On Behalf Of The Oemonom

(2021). Herbal products used in menopause and for gynecological

disorders. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 26(24), 7421. https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules26247421 

• Menopace Red Clover. (n.d.). Vitabiotics.

https://www.vitabiotics.com/products/menopace-red-clover-tablets-and-capsules

• Wilfried, D., Nina, C. D. G., & Silvia, B. (2021). Effectiveness of Menosan® Salvia

officinalis in the treatment of a wide spectrum of menopausal complaints. A double-

blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Heliyon, 7(2), e05910.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e05910