Alternative treatments are holistic methods of treating a health problem without resorting to strong medication or other medical procedures. Such treatments include but are not limited to herbal supplements, acupuncture, biofeedback, homeopathy, massage and chiropractic therapies, altering you diet to include certain types of food or avoiding certain foods.

When it comes to treating menopause, women are more inclined to go with alternative treatments rather than more severe treatments such as hormone replacement therapy.

Studies have revealed that long term usage of hormone replacement therapy to cope with menopausal symptoms and conditions such as osteoporosis can have adverse consequences. Hormone replacement therapy can raise serious risks such as heart disease and breast cancer, to name a few.

Before embarking on any therapy that has serious potential health risks, it would be a great idea to give alternative treatments a try. Many women don’t realize that the phytoestrogen or estrogen that’s found naturally in plants, if included in your regular diet can help to put an end to many menopause symptoms.

This article will shed light on some of the popular alternative treatments that are most commonly used to treat menopause.

One of the most popular natural remedies is black cohosh, a flowering plant of the Ranunculaceae family. Also known as black snakeroot, the black cohosh’s roots and rhizomes have been used for a very long time by Native Americans because of its medicinal properties.

After thorough research, scientists have discovered that the compounds found in black cohosh is actually useful for treating hot flashes, night sweats, osteoporosis, etc.

Since black cohosh also has sedative properties, it can help control mood swings associated with menopause. It’s available in the market in many forms such as tablets, capsules and powder.

There is no particular evidence to prove whether black cohosh has any kind of immediate or long term side effects. However, since most of the black cohosh available in the market is harvested and collected from plants growing naturally in the wild there may be possibility of some plants being misidentified.

That basically means that there’s a slight chance of poisoning if the wrong plants are used. Therefore it’s of paramount importance that you buy your black cohosh from a reputable manufacturer or company.

Osteoporosis is a condition where the bones lose their mass and become weak and brittle. It’s a common condition that tends to occur during menopause. Doctors may often recommend hormone replacement therapy to treat osteoporosis.
A better and safer way to treat osteoporosis will be to make sure that your body gets a fair amount of calcium. Calcium is the building block for strong bones. You’ll also need vitamin D to promote calcium absorption in the gut. This will aid in normal mineralization of bones.

Just by spending 10 to 15 minutes a day in the morning sun you’ll get you your daily dose of vitamin D. That’s why it’s known as the sunshine vitamin.

During menopause, due to the wildly fluctuating hormones, the amount of vitamin D in the body may not be sufficient. The recommended daily dose of vitamin D is 600IU. If you can’t get out in the sun or the climate you live in doesn’t allow for it, you may consume vitamin D supplements that may be in capsule form.

Another way to get your vitamin D will be to eat foods such as sardines, tuna, salmon, eggs, etc. which are rich in this vitamin.

Another good herb for treating menopause symptoms is ginseng. This herb has been used by the Chinese for ages as a form of therapeutic treatment. Ginseng has medicinal properties that help with reducing fatigue, stress, sleeplessness, etc. It comes in many forms including powder, capsules and drinks.

With therapeutic treatments and aromatherapy gaining popularity in recent years, yoga and acupuncture are two other popular options that many women use to help alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

While modern medicine has not given conclusive proof that these holistic methods work, thousands of women swear by them and say that they help to relax and de-stress the body. This makes coping with menopause much easier.
These are some of the alternative treatments commonly used to treat menopause symptoms. Do give them a try. You may be pleasantly surprised when they work wonders for you.