Women of all ages deal monthly with some sort of hormonal changes that can upset both the mind and the body. For those still in their reproductive years, menstrual cramps and heavy bleeding can be a problem, while women going through menopause, during and after, can experience insomnia, fuzzy-brain syndrome, night sweats, and hot flashes. Some women even experience cold flashes during the peri-menopause stage, and during the full-on stage of menopause.
These natural changes can bring on a lot of physical and emotional health issues, but Mother Nature has provided a few remedies of its own to relieve pain and discomfort and to also to alleviate the disoriented feeling many women experience during their menses and menopause, among other common health issues such as headaches and migraines.
Dong Quai
Dong Quai is a traditional Chinese herb that has been used for healing purposes for many years, going back to ancient times. This healing herb helps to restore energy in women, fighting the fatigue that occurs during menstruation. Dong Quai’s secret is that the herb works with the yin and yang energetic properties within the body, which brings the body and mind into a state of peacefulness and balance.
Note: As with many herbs, Dong Quai is to be avoided if you are pregnant.
Sage
Sage is a pretty familiar herb when it comes to the world of natural healing. The Native Americans have for centuries used sage to control hot flashes in menopausal women. It can be consumed as a tea, hot or chilled, to regulate the body’s temperature. Sage essential oils can be put into a spray bottle filled with cool water to provide immediate relief for hot flashes, especially in hot weather.
Note: Sage, is not to be used if you are an epileptic, as it may trigger seizures.
Green Tea
Many women find green tea to be a soothing and delicious beverage, but how many know of its healing and preventative powers? According to the American Cancer Society, regular consumption of green tea has been scientifically linked to warding off certain cancers that primarily affect women. The caffeine in green tea and certain chemo-preventative properties may help women avoid various types of breast tumors.
According to the National Headache Foundation, women experience headaches and migraines three times as often as men. Migraines are often debilitating, so women tend to use prescription and over-the-counter drugs much more often than men. Feverfew is a plant whose leaves are used for natural medicine after they are dried. This plant is known for soothing severe headaches and migraines in women and is more easily found in health stores than it was previously.
A balanced diet is always a way to soothe cramps and menstrual pain, combined with proper rest. If your pain is severe each month, it is important to visit your gynecologists to check for endometriosis or fibroid tumors.