Menopause

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The menopause is a natural transitional stage of the female lifecycle. Some common symptoms include hot flushes, mood swings, depression and intermittent muscle pains and cramps, particularly at night. The cause of these symptoms appears to centre around the significant reduction in levels of the female hormones Oestrogen and Progesterone as a result of the body coming to the end of childbearing age.

Ingredients found to have substantial effect in decreasing some or all menopause symptoms are the herbals Black Cohosh, St John’s Wort, and, to a lesser extent, Soya Isoflavones. Some other ingredients, such as Vitamins C and E and the herbal Dong Quai also show some evidence of effect in easing symptoms.

Soya Isofavones may be of benefit in menopausal symptoms, particularly at levels of over 50mg per day. A good quality multivitamin and mineral supplement is recommended during and following menopause, but has no evidence of effect on specific menopausal symptoms.