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[Jaymac]

HI

Interested to find out what REALLY worked for some of you with natural remedies.

My main issues are: mental lassitude,
                             anxiety (that has improved since GP gave me antidepressants)
                             Memory
                             No sex drive (which is my husb is totally understanding about)
                             Dry Skin (itches)
                             headaches

and now recently nausea ( huh wtf??).  and ..

hot flashes - I thought I'd escaped that part as they began recently but boy literally about 2 or 3 every hour and then at night ....the sweats, mahhhhhn the sweats.  I constantly have greasy hair and...smell sweaty. 

I am 44 but about a year back blood tests showed I was well into peri.  I haven't had a period for ages - (I did have some bleeds when I took the HRT patch for 3 months but I've stopped those in Sept as HRT patches were making me crazy (literally!!).  Other than the 3 bleeds on HRT I guess I haven't had a natural bleed for oh at least 10 months...

[CLKD]

Make sure that any vaginal issues are sorted with a localised HRT medication.  Nightly.

We have lots of threads about 'memory' here.  As oestrogen levels drop the skin may become dry: inside and out! 4 me it was my insteps or behind my shoulders ........ a moisturiser may be required regularly.

As oestrogen levels drop muscles may become lax = aches and pains  .  Read round.  Make notes ;-)

You really need some heart and bone protection and there are several ways of delivering HRT .  My periods waxed and waned over about 3 years ......... last bleed in 2002.

[CLKD]

Some ladies browse Holland and Barratt or Boots 'own' herbals but often when hormones begin meandering, any benefit from herbals is lost.  They would be on the NHS if they were known to work.

[BlueButterfly]

My aunt and mother swear by Evening Primrose for their hot flushes. Obviously doesn't work for everyone.

I use a natural progesterone cream....absolutely got rid of my anxiety. I'm in the US so it's easy to get over the counter at a health food store or over amazon. However, a lot of people can't tolerate any kind of progesterone.

I know there are other natural supplements but haven't tried any yet. I think it is hard to say what 'works' and doesn't, as far as natural supplements go. I think they really depend on the person.

[Shadyglade]

Some ladies browse Holland and Barratt or Boots 'own' herbals but often when hormones begin meandering, any benefit from herbals is lost.  They would be on the NHS if they were known to work.

You often say this CLKD but it's simply not true.  I lived in Germany and herbal meds are regularly prescribed, on their own or alongside, conventional meds.  German doctors have to past a a module of herbal meds to get their degree.

Also our docs often recommend St. Johns Wort

[CLKD]

But they are not prescribed under the NHS, nothing to do with costs but probably ? lack of research?  and St John's Wort should not be taken with other medications for mental health issues.  Also, did they actually work for ladies?  They may have been prescribed but how much evidence is there that they worked ......... I would have taken Heroin had I thought it would have solved anxiety  but am aware that it brings it's own problems.  >sigh<

Maybe keep a mood/food/symptom diary Jaymac to see what helps?  Then let us know 

[Shadyglade]

What's the NHS done to get your total trust, CLKD.  Yes it is wonderful but not infallible or always right.

I don't want to be harsh but If you don't have faith in alternatives, it's a bit naughty to post in the Alternatives section, and put people off.

[CLKD]

It's a balanced view point. 

Also, I doubt if anything works 'quickly' ......... bodies don't usually get where they are suddenly so it takes a while for anything to be 'taken up' and benefits felt.

[CLKD]

    Let us know - useful for those who have undergone treatment for breast disease.

[Hurdity]

What's the NHS done to get your total trust, CLKD.  Yes it is wonderful but not infallible or always right.

I don't want to be harsh but If you don't have faith in alternatives, it's a bit naughty to post in the Alternatives section, and put people off.

"naughty" Shadyglade ?? Medicine is not primarily about faith – it's about scientific evidence which underpins everything. Once there is research demonstrating efficacy over placebo and numerous trials – a product can be licensed and is on average worth trying (if costs etc do not constitute a barrier). Placebo in itself is powerful – but this is not a religious site –  the only "faith" we need to have is in ourselves and that the (tested) product/strategy/treatment we are going to try will also work for us.

As you know anyone can post wherever they like on this forum provided comments are polite and not unkind, or abusive or judgmental towards individuals, and it helps if the comments are relevant.

The OP asked for any alternative remedies that helped and a valid observation was given.

There have been published summaries about alternative treatments to HRT and the evidence for them – might be slightly out of date:

This one focuses more on prescribed alternatives to HRT spespecially for those who cannot take hRT for medical reasons and eg breast cancer survivors – but the anti-depressants (recommended in the paper) are not the first line of treatment and should only be considered if HRT is medically contra-indicated otherwise HRT is recommended.
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2053369117711646?hootPostID=6690d93930a10b86869c48433ab506e7

This one looks at research into a whole range of alternatives including some complementary treatments and herbal alternatives:
https://www.rcog.org.uk/globalassets/documents/guidelines/scientific-impact-papers/sip_6.pdf

Here is a brief summary on NHS website which initially focuses on important lifestyle aspects:
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/hormone-replacement-therapy-hrt/alternatives/

Here is a summary of clinical care recommendations from the North American Menopause Society:
https://menopause.org/publications/clinical-care-recommendations/chapter-6-complementary-and-alternative-medicine

There is information on this website too:
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/phytoestrogens.php
https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/otherpreps.php

https://www.menopausematters.co.uk/othertechs.php (but I'm dubious about the reporting of some of these!)

As already said too - if you are that young and periods are few and far between HRT is needed ideally until at least the natural age of menopause - to protect heart and bones and general health - so do persevere with trying to find the right product - or even the CCP ( there are a couple suitable for menopause which contain more "natural" oestrogen.

I hope this helps – happy reading! As CLKD said, nothing is quick!

Hurdity x

[BlueButterfly]

I look forward to seeing how the diet does for you Jari.

As someone who is starting all this fun young and not being able to take estrogen, getting my body to work the best it can with what is has is all I really have! At least the progesterone is helping. Need to be better with exercise and avoid the sweets! (I'm doing terribly this time of year!) I need to protect these bones and heart.

[Shadyglade]

CLKD I was talking about shooting down alternatives remedies in the Alternatives section. Nothing more.

HRT and ADs are fine for those who want and can take them but others what alternative choices.

What's the point of this section otherwise?

[Shadyglade]

Jari, too found Marilyn Glenvile invaluable during peri. 

[Hurdity]

CLKD I was talking about shooting down alternatives remedies in the Alternatives section. Nothing more.

HRT and ADs are fine for those who want and can take them but others what alternative choices.

What's the point of this section otherwise?

Did you not see my post Shadyglade?

It is fine to "shoot down alternatives remedies" if there is lack of evidence to support them. CLKD was questioning whether there was evidence. I went onto produce some studies about evidence. The alternatives section is about ANYTHING that is alternative to HRT for menopausal symptoms and for ANYONE to comment - which does include ADs for those who are medically unable to take HRT, as well as lifestyle changes, exercise regimes, fans and other products, herbal remedies, various therapies, mindfulness, CBT, dietary options. It's a long time since anyone tried to suggest we should not criticise anything that is recommended in this section!!!

Bluebutterfly - you are taking progesterone though which is a component of HRT? if you are unable to take HRT then has your specialist said that this is OK?

Hurdity x

[Shadyglade]

Hurdity I do not read every post, especially long ones. No time, sorry.