Menopause Matters Forum
Menopause Discussion => Alternative Therapies => Topic started by: Bea66 on November 09, 2017, 11:31:26 AM
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Hi, I'm new here, and hoping for some advice on natural/alternative remedies. I've been down the hey route, and it seems I'm sensitive to oestrogen, I also struggle with most prescription medication, so I'm trying to find suggestions of what to try next! I've heard sage can help some women, and wondered if anyone here had tried it? I suffer mainly hot flushes at night, not sweating though, just burning, dry heat, and pretty debilitating panic/anxiety. My weight is fine, I'm 3 months off the ciggies, I don't drink alcohol or caffeine, ( I'm a migraine sufferer) . There seem to be so many things targeted at us, I don't know where to start!
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Bea66 - do keep in mind that herbs and many alternative remedies are still drugs so should be used with professional advice supervision. Most oestrogen in HRTs these days, are produced from natural sources, so are deemed bio identical. It is unusual to be sensitive to oestrogen but sensitivity may depend on how it is delivered - many find transdermal HRT works better and brings fewer problems. It is quite common to be sensitive to progesterones, so if you still have a uterus (therefore have to use progesterone) this can be a sticking point if you choose to try HRT at some stage
You say you went down the ‘hey' route - excuse my ignorance, but what is this?
There is a section on this site about alternatives so do look at this. In the peri stage, some women do find that certain herbals help a bit - but sadly there is little evidence to prove whether any alternative remedies work for menopause symptoms. It is good to look at lifestyle e.g. diet and exercise as this can be helpful. Have you tried Mindful Meditation?
I'm very post meno and stopped HRT about 18 months ago - ( 61 now and had HRT for over 25 years due to premature meno) I now use high dose Red Clover in the hope it will help my bone density and heart, I also have soya milk and soya yogurts - this increase in isoflavines (phytoestrogens) has reduced my flushes a bit - so it's worth trying dietary changes. Many find St John's Wort good for low mood and anxiety so this may be worth trying. Many alternative remedies can bring side effects, so approach with caution if your system is sensitive.
Let us know how you get on. DG x
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Sorry, autocorrect, I meant HRT route! I had a hysterectomy about 16 years ago, and kept one ovary, and was on and off Hrt for years, but developed hemiplegic migraine, so had to come off it. My recent try was Evorel patches, I really hoped I'd be fine with them, but sadly not. I'm 51and thought I'd finished with all this, as I've been symptom free for a couple of years, so maybe this isn't hormonal, and I need to go back to the doc and get some more tests done.
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Hello Bea66 and welcome to the forum.
Your post resonated with me as only today I've decided to go back to the doctor to ask if anything else can be causing my symptoms. I am seven years post meno and despite four years of various HRT's I have continued to have problems, even the flushes have never completely abated!
I will post on the forum if I learn anything of interest and look forward to reading your updates.
Take care.
K.
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If 'alternatives' were reliable, they would be on the NHS. However, some ladies find good relief until their hormones kick in! when all benefit is lost.
How is your diet over-all? Maybe add herbs to your cooking? We use a lot of ginger and garlic, fresh fruits and veg.. Exercise may help too though I've got really lazy in the last 2 years so Himself and I have a new Health Plan for us! Not easy on a dull day so we have a treadmill .....
As oestrogen levels drop the muscles may become lax = aches and pains as well as the body gets dry: skin, vagina, eyes, ears, nostrils >:(. maybe make a list in a diary ?
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Hi ,
I have found that Vogel sage works really well for hot flushes. I tried another brand but the Vogel seem to be the best. Until I started taking it my kids were frequently asking me why I was so hot ! .... so I would definitely give it a go. Good luck ! X L
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Thanks all. Lunalowe, I will try that. Didn't fancy making a brew of the stuff 😨
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Bea66
Just a thought - have you had your thyroid function checked recently. If flushes and night sweats have returned after being ok for quite a while, it may not be menopausal.
DG x
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Yes Dancinggirl, had it all checked when this started getting problematic. Will go back anyway, as I'm not entirely convinced this can be Meno, as I'm sure I'd done with it years ago!
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At least the drugs prescribed via the NHS or Private Clinics have been approved by NICE whereas not all 'alternatives' have. So care should be taken and keep a diary as to any good/difficult side effects.
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If they haven't gone through the testing that NICE insist upon, Drugs won't get onto the NHS Prescription lists!
No drug is truly 'safe'. Some may have reaction. Mainly though patients get good results if the drug prescribed for the specific purpose is used correctly.
Some patients suffer awful side effects which meanes that they are unable to keep taking the prescribed medication. Myself included, Tamoxifen almost killed me :'( but many 1000s women take it successfully. Which reminds me ..........
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If anyone is worried about the safety of the herbal medicines they take, or are considering taking, this type of medicine is now regulated and has been for sometime. I haven't looked to see if sage is listed but if it is sold by a reputable UK merchant it would would have to be. Here is the relevant government website for checking.
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/herbal-medicines-granted-a-traditional-herbal-registration-thr
Hope that helps.
Shadyglade
Thank you, Shadyglade - that's very interesting.
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Just to point out that there is a difference between a herbal extract used as food supplement and one used as a medicinal product and I presume that different regulations will exist for each? The link I think applies only to herbal medicines. Not sure where sage come into this and whether it actually is a food supplement? I'm not an expert but perhpas some more knowledgeable could give examples?
I know for example that Evening Primrose capsules used to be available on NHS - as a medicine - and not a food supplement.
Sorry to hear about your migraines Bea66 and hope you manage to find a solution that works for you?
Hurdity x
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Perhaps this might help, Hurdity?
http://www.mhra.gov.uk/home/groups/par/documents/websiteresources/con081884.pdf
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Well, I do try..... :rofl:
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There is also a warning about sage under the 'Natural Alternatives to HRT' section on this site:
"SAGE This herb can be taken as a tea or as an extract in tablet form to help with hot flushes. There are studies ongoing into its effectiveness but does seem to have a regulating effect on hormones. Caution with HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE and if taking TAMOXIFEN"
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/otherpreps.php
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You are a Mine of Info. :lol:
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Hi, I am very new to the forum and great to be able to stories that I can relate to and share my,own experiences.
I have just finished taking my first 60 ‘Sage Leaf Extract' tablets by SOLGAR with a combination of sage tea brewed from fresh sage leaves. I can't say my hot flushes have completely disappeared, but I don't get as many episodes as I used to. However, I have also been taking Cleanmarine Menomin capsules, which have krill oil blended with B vitamins, Folate, Biotin and Soya Isoflavones. The other vitamin I take is vitasorb B12 liquid vitamin. I don't drink alcohol anymore as it triggers my hot flushes.
I had to have a blood test two weeks ago as I felt that my hot flushes were becoming a nuisance. The results revealed that my Serum FSH level value is 60 (high). Have been prescribed HRT tablets - which I am not keen to take and have tried taking a couple of tablets and had bad side effects.
The point is having taken a range of natural tablets I am still getting hot flushes. But do try Sage and see how it might help you. ;)
P.S. Harry Bear is one of my favourite bear
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Well I'm delighted to report that my hot flushes seem to be fewer and milder after around ten days of taking Ultra Sage, which means I am only waking once or twice a night now! Fingers crossed!
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I tried ultra sage on the unofficial recommendation of my menopause consultant. I found it worked really well for about 6 weeks and then the effect seemed to just stop and I was back to square one.
Hope it works for you, I tend to find herbal alternatives only offer temporary relief but hey relief is relief
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For what it's worth-
I worked for Holland and Barrett for 18 months and had to do a lot of study of many different types of products. I was already aware of sage as a treatment for hot flushes and so many women would come up to me asking for help with menopause symptoms. I pretty much always recommended sage, black cohosh and specific menopause vitamins and a few times ladies would come back in to thank me for me suggestion as the products had definitely helped them.
What worked for me was being pre-emptive, when I was in my late 40s I started taking MenoSeren as I didn't want to be knocked siedways by menopause. What happened was that I had nearly no symptoms and I'm fairly certain it was down to the supplements. I also have been taking EPO for years, still do.
Hope this helps,
Maria