Premenopause, or perimenopause, currently affects more than 2 million women in France. Heavy periods, mood disorders, hot flashes… What natural solutions to treat the symptoms of premenopause? We tell you everything.
What is premenopause?
Premenopause is “a state of transition that occurs in some women between 40 and 50 years old” according to the French Society of Endocrinology. These are the first body changes that accompany the ongoing hormonal changes before menopause sets in permanently. It induces a decrease in estrogen and progesterone levels, which often leads to unpleasant symptoms. Menopause occurs once the ovarian system stops working, thus no longer producing these female hormones. If menopause is easy to diagnose because the first symptom is the cessation of menstruation for at least 12 consecutive months, premenopause is more difficult to detect because hormone levels fluctuate from one day to the next due to their instability…
Symptoms of premenopause:
- Irregular menstrual cycles;
- Recurrence and/or worsening of PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome);
- Heavy periods;
- Hot flashes;
- Mood disorders;
- Sleep disturbances and/or night sweats;
- A decrease in libido;
- Vaginal dryness;
- Urinary weakness;
- Weight gain
Natural solutions to treat premenopausal symptoms
What natural solutions to treat the symptoms of premenopause? While there are several hormone-based drug treatments to treat premenopause, some natural tricks work perfectly to help you manage this very special period of a woman’s life.
Spices
Used in alternative medicine, including ancestral Chinese and Indian medicines, for decades, certain spices can help you restore a certain nervous balance. Irritability, stress, anxiety… These mood disorders are a well-known symptom of premenopause and can have dramatic long-term consequences, in addition to being very unpleasant for you and those around you. If left untreated or alleviated, these disorders can develop into depressive disorders.
- Saffron– Antioxidant, relaxing and rich in iron, magnesium and vitamin B6, saffron has a soothing power that is as effective on muscle pain as on mood and sleep disorders;
- Turmeric– Anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, turmeric helps relieve menstrual pain because it is also a blood thinner. In addition, some recent studies give it antidepressant properties and the latter would therefore act directly on mood and its disorders.
Meditation and sophrology
All alternative medicine advocates the practice of a relaxing activity. Meditation and sophrology have the advantage of slowing down thoughts and therefore reducing states of stress, anxiety and irritability. Meditation helps you to relativize and therefore to see the direct link between your emotions and the symptoms of premenopause. In addition, thanks to their relaxing properties, these activities can help you sleep better. Many applications now allow you to practice at home, at your own pace. Simple relaxing music at bedtime, meditative routine morning and evening or sophrology sessions with a specialist… Find the right method for YOU!
Plants
The fantastic power of plants on our health is well established. Herbal teas, food supplements, skin applications… They are the basis of natural medicine across cultures around the world. Plants are therefore an excellent solution to treat ailments related to premenopause. They will allow you to reduce or even eliminate certain symptoms and help you live this hormonal transition in a more serene way.
- Lemon balm: it helps fight stress, anxiety and insomnia;
- Passionflower: it has sedative and anxiolytic properties and helps fight against mood and sleep disorders;
- Evening primrose: Anti-inflammatory, evening primrose oil helps fight PMS, hot flashes, irritability and abdominal pain ;
- Hops: It has sedative properties that helps fight sleep disorders, it also helps reduce hot flashes and nervous states;
- Cranberry: With a disinfectant power of the urinary tract, cranberry, or cranberry, helps fight against cystitis;
- Chasteberry: it helps to compensate for progesterone deficiency by mimicking its action;
- Green tea: Draining and detoxing, green tea helps limit weight gain related to premenopause;
- St. John’s wort: This plant helps fight against depressive states, anxiety and nervous agitation, it facilitates sleep;
- Valerian: endowed with sedative and relaxing virtues, it promotes sleep;
- Sage: A hormonal simulant, sage helps regulate menstrual cycles and calm menstrual pain and hot flashes.
Aromatherapy
Some essential oils can also help you fight against premenopausal disorders:
- Lavender essential oil : relaxing and soothing, it helps to treat sleep and mood disorders;
- The EO of petit grain bigaradier : Known for its powerful antispasmodic effects, it also helps manage emotional disorders and helps fight stress by facilitating relaxation;
- Mandarin tree EO: It is recommended in case of insomnia, stress or anxiety.
