Menopause is the moment in time during a woman's life when a year has passed since the last menstrual period.

The word menopause comes from the Greek words pausis, which means pause, and men, which means month. The time leading to menopause is called perimenopause, a phase during which a woman's ovaries produce fewer eggs, ovulation becomes irregular, and production of hormones oestrogen and progesterone decreases.

Transitions of any variety can be challenging, and navigating the ebbs and flows of hormonal changes during perimenopause can be especially so. Symptoms linked to hormone imbalance can be severe and wide-ranging, from those more commonly recognised like hot flushes, headaches and changes in cycle length, to debilitating lesser-known problems with insomnia, nervousness, depression, brain fog, palpitations, hair loss, joint pain, tiredness, vaginal dryness, UTIs, sensitive teeth and gums, and sweating. 1,2  Symptoms are associated most with a reduction in oestrogen levels, but also of progesterone and testosterone — finding ways to address these changes can help reinstate harmony and alleviate many, often extremely distressing, perimenopause indications. 1

Whether a woman experiences any or none of those symptoms and at what frequency, severity and duration is unique to everyone, but herbal medicine can offer effective solutions, especially when specifically adapted to individual physiology, constitution and constellation of symptoms.

When creating a herbal prescription for someone experiencing perimenopausal symptoms, herbalists will consider plants that nurture the nervous system (see our article, Nervines), regulate hormone levels, support the liver (which metabolises hormones), improve resilience to stress (see our article, Adaptogens), and encourage sleep.

For women experiencing hot flushes and night sweats, one herb that may be called upon as an ally is Sage (Salvia officinalis).  Energetically, Sage is drying and consequently aids drying excessive secretions, such as sweating. In this context, Sage is often paired with Motherwort (Leonorus cardiaca), a bitter, cooling and drying nervine. Motherwort is a herb with an affinity for the female reproductive system and is especially supportive through times of change. By nurturing the nervous system, Motherwort can be effective in supporting mood and sleep, and soothing anxiety and fatigue. As a heart tonic, it is also used in remedies to help ease palpitations. 3,4

Below is a very simple recipe, for a cooled infusion of Sage and Motherwort.

Recipe

1tsp dried Sage

1 tsp dried Motherwort

 

Add the herbs to a teapot and cover in boiling water.

If some sweetness is desired, add a little honey. Leave for up to 15 minutes and then strain.

Allow the infusion to cool completely and then drink before bed or bottle and store in the fridge to take at any point throughout the following day.
 

 

References

1. Trickey R, Trickey Enterprises. Women, Hormones & the Menstrual Cycle. Melbourne Holistic Health Group; 2011.
2. Hananja Brice-Ytsma, McDermott A. Herbal Medicine in Treating Gynaecological Conditions. Aeon Books; 2020.
3. Hedley C, Shaw N. Plant Medicine. Aeon Books; 2023.
4. Fisher C. Materia Medica of Western Herbs. AEON Books; 2018.

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