The Natural Menopause Handbook Herbs, Nutrition, & Other Natural Therapies

The Natural Menopause Handbookbases its healing advice on the belief that menopause is a natural process-one that does not necessarily require medication. This revised edition focuses on herbs, nutrition, and other natural health approaches such as exercise, aromatherapy, and visualization to offer a holistic plan for wellness during perimenopause (the time leading up to and including menopause) and the postmenopausal years. Experienced medical herbalist and author Amanda McQuade Crawford examines both the age-old wisdom of nature and new research on natural therapies to address a wide range of menopausal symptoms and bodily issues. This comprehensive handbook features an extensive collection of healing remedies, such as "Tea for Restorative Sleep," "Ten-Minute Visualization," and "Elixir for Healthy Joints," as well as appendices on making your own custom herbal formula and creating an herbal home medicine chest. In clear, supportive language, McQuade Crawford explains the nature and physiology of the most common health concerns and provides more than fifty herbal therapies to ease all stages of this natural transition in every woman's life.

AMANDA McQUADE CRAWFORD earned her degree in herbal medicine from Britain’s College of Phytotherapy and is a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. She was a founding member of the American Herbalists Guild, and she has taught at hospitals and medical schools across the United States. She is currently a consultant medical herbalist in Los Angeles, California.

Foreword — vii

Acknowledgments ix

Introduction — 1


Chapter 1: Perimenopause — 7

The Reproductive Process and Perimenopause 8

The Onset of Perimenopause - 9

A New Stage of Life - 10

Mood Swings - 11

Erratic Menstrual Cycles - 16

Spotting and Flooding - 19

Improving Fertility - 22

Sexuality and Vaginal Changes - 27

Whole-Body Effects of Perimenopause - 30


Chapter 2: Menopause - 34

Cardiovascular Disease - 40

Osteoporosis - 45

Depression - 54

Dysmenorrhea and Reproductive System Pain - 60

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats - 67

Irregular Cycles - 74

Vaginal Thinning and Dryness - 78

Changing Appearance of Skin and Hair - 87


Chapter 3: Hormone Replacement Therapy - 93

HRT Studies: The Pros and Cons of the Drugs - 94

Hormone Therapy: A Historical Overview - 97

Hormones, Herbs, and Cancer Risk - 98

Natural Hormone Replacement or HRT: Your Decision - 102

Premature Menopause - 104

Coming Off of Hormones Safely - 106


Chapter 4: Postmenopause - 112

Arthritis - 113

Changing Nutritional Needs - 122

Nervous System Changes - 133

Immune Strength - 140

Vaginal Changes - 148


Appendix A: Guidelines for Preparing Herbs - 153

Appendix B: How to Make Your Own Menopause Formula - 156

Appendix C: Herbal Home Medicine Chest - 160

Appendix D: Herb Images - 162


Resources - 175

Bibliography - 181

Index - 189