Many women sail through menopause without a hitch, but others aren’t so lucky. As estrogen levels decline, some women experience symptoms ranging from headaches and hot flashes to vaginal dryness. Today, women having difficulty with menopause can find relief with supplemental estrogen. However, Native Americans had to find their own remedies. They looked, as always, to nature to find them—and they were highly motivated to succeed.
Unlike many cultures, Native Americans had tremendous respect for women of all ages. It was their custom to hold women “in the highest regard,” says Robert Blackwolf Jones, a Native American psychotherapist. Why else, he explains, would the force of creation itself be called Mother Earth?
This may explain why the Native Americans developed an enormous number of herbal remedies for treating problems associated with menopause. They created so many, in fact, that herbalist Amanda McQuade Crawford devoted an entire book, The Herbal Menopause Book, to the topic. Here are the ones researchers believe hold the most promise.
Black cohosh. This herb has been found to contain estrogen-like substances that may help relieve many symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes and vaginal dryness.
Licorice. Like black cohosh, licorice contains estrogen-like compounds. It also has a compound called glycyrrhizin, which appears to act as a natural regulator, raising estrogen levels when they’re low and lowering them when they’re high.
Red clover. Rich in estrogen-like isoflavones, red clover has been found to promote estrogenic activity.
Boron-rich foods. The mineral boron can help increase estrogen levels in the body, according to herbal expert James A. Duke, Ph.D. Foods that are high in boron include strawberries, peaches, cabbage, tomatoes, dandelion greens, apples, asparagus, figs, poppy seeds, broccoli, pears, cherries, beets, apricots, currants, parsley, cumin seed, and dill.
This Herbs For Menopause article is taken from :
Healing Secrets of the Native Americans - Porter Shimer
