Herbs For Menopause – An Overview Of Herbal Medicine

Although nobody knows for certain when we first began to use herbs and plants for therapeutic and medicinal purposes, archaeological excavations of ancient civilizations have uncovered evidence that plants were used in spiritual rituals and burials. The earliest recorded evidence of herbal remedies derives from China (2800BC.) From the ancient Chinese Empires to the contemporary medical practitioner’s office, herbal medicine has come a long way, and has fallen in and out of fashion with both the general public and the medical profession many times. Today there are a huge range of natural medicines on offer, from herbs for menopause to relaxing plant infusions to treat anxiety.What is herbal medicine?Herbal medicine is a branch of alternative or natural medicine that involves the use of plants or plant extracts to treat and prevent health problems. Roots, leaves, stems and flowers have all been used in herbal medicine since its origins thousands of years ago. These raw extracts have been consumed as teas and tinctures, applied to the skin topically, or swallowed in pills and capsules. Herbs for menopause symptom treatment are usually specially formulated supplements which are produced in capsules for daily use. Herbal medicines can be used to treat emotional and psychological problems as well as physical ailments, including depression, anxiety and mood swings. There is also a tradition of using herbs to improve or enhance general health and wellness.The development of herbal medicineEvidence suggests that early herbal medicine developed around superstition or visual cues. The herbs were usually found in the wild and selected for treatment because they resembled a particular body part or grew in a certain area. However, as scientists began to focus on the healing power of plants, herbal remedies became far more refined. Many of the herbs and plants that were used in herbal medicine by ancient civilizations were, in fact, precursors to many of the modern prescription drugs which are in common use today. A good example of this is the two groups of herbs for menopause symptom relief. Both phytoestrogenic and non-estrogenic herbs are beneficial to menopausal women because they help to replace lost estrogen and balance hormones levels, providing relief from hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and other uncomfortable and distressing symptoms of menopause. These herbs can be considered nature’s own answer to Hormone Replacement Therapy, a common treatment for menopausal women which uses synthetic hormones to promote hormonal balance.Herbal medicine todayAlthough the conventional medical profession in the West is yet to fully embrace herbal remedies as an alternative to synthetic drugs, in some respects their influence in the medical field is felt more strongly than ever. As concern mounts about the potential side effects and non-efficacy of synthetic drugs, both physicians and the general public are seeking out safer, more natural and less expensive alternatives to treat their health problems. This positive shift in public opinion has lead to many women choosing herbs for menopause as their first line of treatment against menopause symptoms.