Menopause

Herbals

For hot flashes/night sweats:

* Black Cohosh - (Sold as Remifemin.) Use 2 daily or "Nature's Herbs" brand, as directed.

* Dong Quai - Use 200 mg standardized extract daily.

* Ginseng - Use 100-300 mg standardized extract daily. (Note: This is not the same as Siberian ginseng.)

For sleep disturbances:

* Valerian - Use 200 mg extract as needed, or hops 1/2 to 1 1/2 cc tincture at bedtime. (Don't use this if you have depression.)

* "Relaxozyme" - This is a combination product from Enzymatic Therapy, which includes valerian, hops and passionflower.

For vaginal dryness:

* Borage oil - Take 500-1000 mg daily. (Dong quai, black cohosh and vitex also help with dryness.)

* Vitamin E gelcap - Puncture a vitamin E gelcap and squirt the contents inside. This works best if done daily for several weeks.

For mood swings:

* 5-HTP - If the mood swings are caused primarily by anxiety, take 50-100 mg of 5-HTP once or twice daily. (May cause drowsiness.) Don't use this without consulting your care provider, if you are on an antidepressant of any kind.

* sAME - Take 100-200 mg daily. Don't use this if you are already on an antidepressant of any kind before consulting with your care provider.

For improving poor libidos:

* Ginseng - May help increase testosterone levels, therefore improving poor libidos. However, it may increase blood pressure, worsen insomnia, and cause postmenopausal bleeding. Please be sure to discuss this issue with your care provider, as it is complex and may need to be addressed on many levels.

Note: Please inform your care provider of whatever herbals you are currently taking, and be aware that some of them need to be stopped prior to any surgery, as they affect your blood clotting abilities.