Menopause marks the end of the fertile years in a woman’s reproductive life. Leading up to this stage is perimenopause — a period that can span anywhere from a few months to a decade.

Around the mid-40s — and sometimes as early as the mid-30s — many women begin this transition, as menstrual cycles change and eventually cease. During this time, symptoms may occur alongside significant shifts in the sex hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.

Symptoms that often arise during this phase of hormonal change can include hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, mood changes, difficulty losing weight, low libido, and vaginal dryness, among others.

This can be a frustrating, inconvenient, uncomfortable, and even nerve-wracking period of a woman’s life. However, there are ways to make this transition smoother.

Working to restore balance in the body and support hormonal health is an effective approach to managing the uncomfortable symptoms that accompany perimenopause and menopause — and herbs may help.

Chastetree and Menopause

Plant medicines have supported women’s health for thousands of years. One herb that offers notable benefits for women at various stages of life, including menopause and perimenopause, is chastetree.

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s fertile years and brings a decline in endocrine function. Hormonal changes during this time can contribute to night sweats, hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disruption.

The estrogen-balancing effects of chastetree may help ease common menopause symptoms by positively influencing hormonal changes during this transitional period, including beneficial effects on prolactin levels.

Targeted Menopause Support

Menopause symptoms vary widely, which is why the St. Francis Menopause Support tonic is formulated with a variety of herbal ingredients.

This unique tincture formula does what its name suggests: helps relieve uncomfortable symptoms associated with this period of change in a woman’s life. Several herbs work in synergy to balance and calm the body and mind for a smoother transition.

Along with chastetree, dong quai may help support hormone balance, while adaptogenic rhodiola may support memory and increase the body’s resilience to stress and fatigue.

The addition of sage may help reduce hot flashes associated with menopause, as well as excess perspiration and night sweats — common and disruptive symptoms experienced during perimenopause and menopause.

This balancing formula may also include black cohosh to help alleviate menopausal symptoms, ease nervous tension, and relax skeletal muscle.

While St. Francis Menopause Support is a daily tonic, sage can be used acutely when hot flashes and night sweats are particularly disruptive.

Sage single herb tincture helps to effectively reduce hot flashes, perspiration, and night sweats associated with menopause and is made with certified organic sage.

Menopause can be challenging, but uncomfortable symptoms can be managed! As this transition is a unique experience for every woman, consulting with a Naturopathic Doctor can help to define your health needs and treatment plan for minimizing symptoms.

About the Author: St. Francis Herb Farm

At St. Francis Herb Farm, they work with nature to understand, nurture, and extract healing compounds. They are obsessed with herbs and the wisdom they unlock in our bodies to heal and nourish naturally. A proudly Canadian second-generation owned company of organic farmers who, for over 30 years, have crafted well-made plant medicine.