As baby boomers are approaching mid-life, the largest population in history of women going through menopause is occurring. In western culture, menopause has been seen as the end of “youth and beauty” instead of “growing into wisdom and experience.” Other cultures celebrate when women enter menopause, which symbolizes an elevated status.

For the past 50 years the medical community has treated menopause as a disease that needs to be remedied instead of an accepted process in a woman’s life. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drugs have been used as a panacea for heart disease, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and depression but has proven too risky for the possible benefits.

With the realization that synthetic hormone replacement therapies can cause more harm than good, women are looking for alternatives to assist with a smooth transition into menopause and declining hormone levels.

What is Hormone Replacement Therapy/HRT?

Hormone Replacement Therapy or HRT is a treatment for women who use estrogen, progesterone and occasionally androgen hormones to augment the decline of naturally produced hormones, especially during menopause. This type of therapy is used to help women with the effects of menopause and reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis.

Synthetic estrogen medicines first became available in the early 1940's using only estrogen at first, yet by the mid 70's it became apparent that women using estrogen began to show a considerable increase of endometrial cancer. Synthetic estrogens are derived from the urine of pregnant horses. Equine estrogen is many times stronger than the naturally occurring estrogen in a woman's body. This synthetic estrogen is referred to as natural although the amount and ratio of hormones is not natural to women.

Women using synthetic estrogen have a higher incidence of breast tenderness, water retention, high blood pressure and gallbladder disease. Recent studies indicate a significantly increased risk for breast cancer and uterine cancers by as much as 20 to 30 percent! The American Heart Association has changed its position and is now recommending that HRT not be used for the prevention of cardiovascular disease in postmenopausal women. Synthetic estrogen increases the susceptibility of the blood to thicken and clot, which is the leading cause of heart attacks. This can be especially threatening to those suffering from heart disease.

Isoflavones & Phytoestrogens

It is well known by now that women in Asian cultures suffer far less from the effects of menopause than women in Western cultures. They also tend to have less heart disease and other hormonally related issues. This difference is thought to be from the benefit of the isoflavones found in the soy rich, Asian diet. However, soy is not the only plant rich in isoflavones, nor is it the most robust source. Women in the Mediterranean region experience less effects associated with menopause, possibly due to the isoflavones found in legumes like chickpeas, which are common foods in their diets.

Isoflavones are types of antioxidants that have shown promise for cancer prevention. Some of the antioxidant protection comes from the regulation of sterol metabolism, which includes the synthesis, breakdown and excretion of cholesterol and sexual hormones in the liver and bowels. Isoflavones promote healthy intestinal flora (friendly bacteria) populations, which are also associated with this process.

Isoflavones also contain phytoestrogens, which are plant-derived, hormonally active compounds that relate in structure to estrogen. The body can utilize phytoestrogens, if needed, and can beneficially alter hormone metabolism without the side effects associated with synthetic estrogen. This is particularly appropriate, during menopause, when estrogen levels often decline too sharply to maintain balance for a smooth, symptom-less, mid-life transition. It is important to remember that unlike synthetic hormone replacements, these isoflavones produce estrogenic effects only if the tissues need them. So there is a natural check-and-balance mechanism at work that synthetics do not offer.

Phytoestrogens will bind to excessive estrogen in the body and help remove it. This prevents more powerful and dangerous xenoestrogens from doing possible harm. Xenoestrogens are estrogenic substances originating outside the body from industrial pollutants, household cleaners, solvents, synthetic cosmetic ingredients, synthetic hormone medications and synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. These foreign estrogens have been linked with an increase in breast cancer and other health issues.

Sources of Phytoestrogens

Phytoestrogens are found in many foods including legumes, especially soy, flaxseeds, alfalfa, apples and herbs such as black cohosh and red clover.

Black cohosh is a very popular herb for women and a respected source of phytoestrogens. This herb has traditionally been used by native Americans and early settlers for easing child birth and menstrual irregularities. Since the 1940’s, studies have attributed estrogen-like activities to black cohosh. By the 1950’s, physicians in Germany adopted black cohosh as an alternative to synthetic hormones, which were showing unwanted side effects. Many studies dating back to this time indicate the usefulness and safety of black cohosh in the treatment of premenopausal and menopausal symptoms including a decrease in the severity and duration of hot flashes; an improvement of depressive moods and sleep disturbance, sweating, headache, vertigo, palpitations, tinnitus, and a reduction of nervousness and irritability.

Researchers in Germany found black cohosh to have an effect on pituitary hormone levels, considerably and selectively decreasing luteinizing hormone. A surge in the release of luteinizing hormone has been linked to hot flashes. German studies over the decades continue to find black cohosh as having safe and effective results as a suitable treatment of choice in menopausal symptoms.

Red clover contains more isoflavones and phytoestrogens than soy, with biochanin A, daidzein, formononetin, and genistein being the most active. Red clover’s isoflavone content may help improve heart health by lowering cholesterol levels and relaxing the smooth muscle lining of the arteries thus increasing arterial flexibility. Red clover’s phytoestrogens can be a wonderful benefit during menopause to help smooth the transition by offering phytoestrogens when needed and helping avert issues caused by a decline in estrogen levels (see isoflavones and phytoestrogens above). Research suggests that red clover may increase bone mass and decrease the incidence and severity of hot flashes during menopause.

Combinations of Herbs

A formulation by Hanna Kroeger, Female Balance™ contains: black cohosh root, anise seed, yellow dock root, and ginger root, which have been used for centuries by herbalists as well as by modern day physicians for women’s hormonal conditions.

As reported above, both science and traditional folk herbalism herald black cohosh as one of the great female herbs for supporting healthy menstrual and menopausal transitions. Thanks to research, physicians and herbalists in Germany now prescribe this herb to regulate the female reproductive cycle. Anise has a folklore reputation for relieving spasms that often accompany menstruation, harmonizing digestion, and supporting healthy elimination. Traditional herbalism credits black cohosh, anise, yellow dock, and ginger with providing nourishment, reinvigorating the body, and having benefits for the liver. Herbalists believe the liver regulates blood flow and hormone levels during the varying phases of the monthly cycle and during menopause.

Other Options

While hormone replacement therapy has been prescribed for many different uses such as menopause, osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, the risks of synthetic hormones seem to outweigh the benefits. We can see that herbs and foods rich in phytoestrogens can be a big help on a hormonal level. In addition to phytoestrogens, there are other ways to stay healthy as hormone levels change.

When the level of estrogen decreases, some women are prone to osteoporosis. By the time a woman is in her menopausal years, her calcium intake should be 1500-mg. per day to help prevent loss of bone mass. Calcium can be found in yogurt, dark leafy vegetables and supplements. Incorporating weight-bearing exercise with your cardiovascular exercise, helps keep bones strong. Avoiding excessive red meat intake, alcohol and sugar throughout ones’ life can help keep bones strong as well.

After menopause, a woman’s risk of cardiovascular disease, including hardening of the arteries, matches that of a man’s. Enjoying a diet rich in grains, fruits and vegetables and low in cholesterol and animal fats, can be vitally important. Having a regular exercise routine and not smoking is very important as well. Estrogen helps a woman’s blood supply stay low in LDL or “bad” cholesterol. When estrogen levels decrease, this extra protection ceases and some women may suffer. (Many sources of phytoestrogens have been shown to help keep the heart and arteries healthy).

Take care of your liver and intestinal flora, as these are thought to be responsible for hormone metabolism. By keeping these in optimal health, the body can utilize the hormones it has and accept supplemental phytoestrogens more effectively. Yogurt and acidophilus are great food sources of friendly intestinal flora.

Eat food rich in isoflavones and phytoestrogens such as legumes like soy (soy beans, tofu, miso, soy milk, tempeh), chickpeas and beans of all kinds, garlic, celery, seeds, flaxseeds, fennel, whole grains, fruits, nuts and vegetables. Since women in Asia and the Mediterranean have shown to have less issues during menopause, try cooking traditional recipes from these cuisines that include phytoestrogen rich ingredients. Remember, you can get phytoestrogens from herbs and in your diet.

Synthetic hormones have been some of the most commonly prescribed medicines ever sold. They have been prescribed for many health issues that research has shown to be too risky and the side effects too uncomfortable. For several issues, HRT actually instigates the symptoms they are trying to mitigate. Lifestyle changes and herbal phytoestrogen supplements are not only a great alternative to HRT, but also empower women to take care of themselves. Women cannot postpone the effects of womanhood, but they can ease into them more naturally without the unwanted side effects of synthetic hormones.