Your health: Menopause and plant medicine

Hops and sage contain naturally occurring phyto-oestrogens that help to buffer oestrogen decline in the body. Photo / iStock

I'm in my mid 40s and have suddenly started having heavy periods that go on for weeks, am I going into menopause and is there something I can do with plant medicine? Appreciate any help you can give me, Tracey

I presume you have had a medical check-up and your bleeding relates to a change in hormones. Heavy bleeding can be a typical sign you are entering peri-menopause which happens before menopause, when your periods stop altogether. The journey from your fertile years to the time when ovulation ceases can take several years.

There are many herbs which can support you during this transitional period, this time of your life does not need to be a drag. Herbs such as calendula, lady's mantle and yarrow are astringent and can help with heavy bleeding, while chaste tree berries are well-known for their ability to help balance out hormonal spikes which are experienced as pre-menstrual tension, irritability and anxiety. I like to combine these plants into a PMT easing medicinal tea that also contains calming lemon balm and soothing cinnamon which evens out blood sugar swings, commonly associated with hormonal distress. This synergistic combination is very helpful during peri-menopause.

When hot flushes become an issue, then different herbs are called for to lessen or completely stop taxing symptoms. Hops and sage contain naturally occurring phyto-oestrogens that help to buffer oestrogen decline in the body and ease many symptoms such as hot flushes, excessive sweating, insomnia and heart palpitations.

Although it may seem strange, supporting liver function throughout peri-menopause can go a long way to experience little or no symptoms during this transition.

This is because your liver is responsible for detoxifying your used up hormones. If the liver isn't functioning properly, these hormones can be recycled into the body, where they cause unwanted hormonal symptoms. Some of the best plant medicines for liver function include st mary's thistle, globe artichoke, and dandelion root. They are best taken as a medicinal tea before breakfast.

A healthy diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and sufficient fluids will go a long way to support a healthy menopause, too. Plant medicine and healthy lifestyle choices are the key to vitality and enjoyment during all stages of a woman's life, including menopause and beyond.

Hi Sandra, can you please let me know, where and who do I see to get good plant medicine? I live in Napier. Thanks, Jen

It is great that you are interested in purchasing plant medicine remedies for yourself or your family. A registered medical herbalist can help you work out which plant remedy is right for you. There are medical herbalists located throughout New Zealand, including several in the Hawkes Bay. They can be contacted via the official website of the New Zealand Association of Medical Herbalists (nzamh.org.nz/)

Alternatively, speak to the staff in your local health shop, organic store or pharmacy that has a registered medical herbalist on staff. They are usually very passionate about their work and will have received feedback from their customers about what works and what doesn't.

Look for plant medicine remedies that are made from real whole plants which are minimally processed, such as medicinal teas and liquid preparations. Plant medicines are best taken in liquid form rather than as a tablet because in liquid form the active constituents are highly bio-available, which means your body gets more of the available nutrients.

Ideally, the remedies you purchase should be organic and from a clean environment, as you don't want harmful chemicals mixed in with your medicine! Do your homework and ask questions.

Hi, what are some of the most common plant medicines that would be essentials to have on hand? I have just read your interesting article on the NZ Herald site. Is the Artemis range of herbal teas a quality brand? Also what tea is good for blood circulation?Kind regards, Suz

Some of the most well-known plant medicines many households have on hand include arnica for sports injuries, chamomile for stomach upsets, lavender for relaxation and Valerian for sleeping. However, plant medicines tend to work best when they are carefully blended together. It's important that the herbs are formulated by an expert to ensure safety and that you are getting the right plant medicine for your specific issue. As a health scientist, it is important to me that each ingredient is supported by the latest research in traditional plant medicine.

Many people lead busy lives, so I have formulated a range of remedies (artemis.co.nz) based on age-old Swiss formulas that have been handed down to me through my long lineage of medical herbalists. They reliably address a range of common health concerns from injury recovery to colds and flus, digestive upsets, interrupted sleep or stress.

The quality and potency of medicinal plants growing environments of Central Otago offer some of the best healing herbs in the world, and is definitely my first choice when I source herbs. Over the past 17 years, we at Artemis have scoured the earth to find the best certified organic herb growers, and will not use any plants from environments which have high levels of pollution, such as China. We know that the more superior the quality of plants, the better they work - plus, you don't want to take a plant medicine remedy full of heavy metals and toxins.

For blood circulation, I recommend Artemis' Healthy Heart Tea, which is great for high blood pressure, irregular plus and poor circulation, as the medicinal tea has the combination of hawthorn, which improves circulations and increases the coronary blood flow, and motherwort, a classical heart tonic that has been used for over 2,500 years. It also relaxes tension that can restrict blood flow. Warming foods such as ginger and garlic can also be added into your daily diet to support healthy blood flow.

Always seek advice from your GP or call 111 in health emergencies.

- nzherald.co.nz