If you’ve looked online lately for an herbal perimenopause remedy you’ve no question found lots of solutions and little information about them. Most brands rely on the prior reputation or familiarity of an herb to make the sale. There seems to be very little tangible information about what to anticipate in terms of results, and nearly no information about side effects and safety issues when consuming herbs.

Taking a pill without knowing its potential benefit and safety might make it hard to swallow.  Understanding the benefits is essential. Here we’ll look at how well a number of herbal perimenopause remedies work.

Menopause remedies can be divided into two fundamental groups. This is inspite of the fact that menopausal complaints involve many body systems and areas of the body. The remedies can have a broad impact because they treat the cause of peri-menopause complaints. Dropping levels of sex hormones underlies menopause complaints.

<b><h2>Herbs for hormone replacement of estrogen and progesterone</h2></b>

Plant estrogens are the active ingredient in many herbal remedies used for relief of perimenopause related complaints. The estrogens found in plants are different from those found in humans, and are called phytoestrogens (plant-estrogens). These plant derived estrogens can be used to restore estrogen levels and relieve peri-menopause symptoms. Herbs and foods like red clover, soy, flaxseed and Siberian rhubarb root are plentiful in phytoestrogens. Here’s where you can Learn more about <a href=”http://herbalmenopauseremedy.com”> herbal  perimenopause remedies</a>

Alternately, some herbs have a progesterone like molecule. One herb that contains high concentrations of these molecules with a progesterone effect is wild Mexican yam. Diosgenin, which is found in wild Mexican yam, is said to support low progesterone levels. Research has not determined whether diosgening mimics the action of progesterone or is actually converted into progesterone. So how the reported benefits of wild Mexican yam are achieved is not certain.  But it may be due to its direct effect on human tissues. Diosgenin could be converted to progesterone and thereby restore ideal progesterone levels that drop during premenopause.

<b><h2>Chasteberry is another perimenopause herbal remedy</h2></b>

There are also herbs that don’t fit into either the plant estrogen or plant progesterone category. That is, they don’t mimic the activity of either estrogen or progesterone, yet can have beneficial effects. Chasteberry, for instance has neither an estrogen nor a progesterone like effect. The primary benefit of chasteberry is reported to be relieving breast tenderness associated with monthly menstrual periods. Chasteberry seems to provide relief by altering the production of prolactin, a hormone that stimulates milk production.

<b><h2>Another Herbal Remedy — Black Cohosh</h2></b>

Black cohosh is an herb that has long been associated with peri-menopause. Researchers thought at one time that black cohosh contained phytoestrogens. Black cohosh influences the brain.  Specifically it impacts serotonin receptors. Perhaps the best way to describe the action of serotonin is that it is tranquilizing. Serotonin levels are also affected by anti-depressant drugs such as Paxil, Zoloft, Prozac and Celexa. Research suggests that black cohosh may have some benefit for osteoporosis. Research also suggests that black cohosh has no benefit for relief of premenopause related hot flashes.

<b><h2>Use St John’s Wort for premenopause depression</h2></b>

St John’s Wort is another herbal remedy that is used by women in premenopause. Perhaps the best known benefit of St John’s Wort is relief for depression. Depression is one of the 11 common complaints of women in peri-menopause.  St John’s Wort appears in many combination herbal formula’s for perimenopause. St John’s Wort mechanism of action is only partly spelled out by researchers. It apparently affects serotonin levels in much the same way as common anti-depressant drugs.

<b><h2>Things to watch out for with herbal perimenopause remedies</h2></b>

null Herbs are effective because of specific active ingredients within the plant. Herbs grown in different climates and soils, and processed differently will often have different levels of active ingredients. A quality herbal product monitors the level of active ingredients in the herb. The level of active ingredients in each herb of a product should be measured and guaranteed. It is also important that the herb not be contaminated.

Toxins, including bacteria, heavy metals and other environmental pollutants, is a problem in herbs harvested overseas. It is the herb manufacturers responsibility to test for toxins. Finally, before taking any herbal product, you should be clear on what side effects to expect. Some herbs tend to have side effects while others do not. null If you experience them, you want to be able to recognize that they are due to the herb you are taking, so that you can discontinue.