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About This Story
Sandy, a certified nurse-midwife and menopause clinician, talks about her own experience managing menopause symptoms using hormones, supplements, exercise, and counseling.
More on menopause and therapies that might help can be found at NCCAM.
About the Common Therapies List
The therapies listed in the orange sidebar are not necessarily meant to treat conditions directly. Often they are used to reduce stress, therefore increasing a person’s ability to cope and/or heal.
Discuss & Share Your Stories
Natural HRT for Postmenopausal Women
Anthony J. Bazzan, M.D.
Jefferson-Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine
It is estimated that 75% of women are in an estrogen deficient state within a few years after the onset of menopause. A relative few number of women continue to have sufficient endogenous estrogen. After decades of being advice to the contrary, women are now told to avoid hormone replacement and/or take drugs for their symptoms, because of the negative outcomes of the WHI and HERS studies. This has left many women feeling abandoned and distressed with symptoms of menopause and osteoporosis. We report high clinical success in treating symptoms and signs of menopause and estrogen deficiency.
Self-Empowerment for Menopause
Claudia Harsh, M.D., OB/GYN, Physician Acupuncturist
Director of Integrative Gynecology, Alliance Institute for Integrative Medicine
Our culture has so many misconceptions about menopause! This midlife transition can be filled with knowledge, wisdom and inspiration. But it all begins with self-empowerment. Ever since the Women’s Health Initiative study was published in 2001 (re: associated risks that may be associated with HRT) many women are seeking other approaches to control menopausal symptoms. At our center, we often use acupuncture to help reduce hot flashes and fatigue. In addition, we may suggest herbal supplements. If you go this route, it is important to work with a physician who is familiar with the use of herbs and nutraceuticals, in order to evaluate potential drug-to-herb and/or vitamin interactions.