Natural Remedies for Low Estrogen Levels in Women
Low estrogen levels in women can cause a variety of unsettling symptoms to develop. While these symptoms may be uncomfortable and distressing, they are very often treatable. The most important step in treating these symptoms is to recognize that they are caused by fluctuations in hormone levels. This allows you to then take the proper steps to regain hormonal balance.
Symptoms of Low Estrogen Levels
Fluctuating estrogen levels is a common occurrence, although it happens mostly in women who are pregnant or reaching the stages of menopause. These symptoms are often recognized as the signs of menopause, but they also may be warning signs of more serious health conditions. Estrogen affects many of the body’s systems, including the brain, the liver, the heart, the breasts, the bones, and the reproductive organs such as the ovaries, vagina and uterus. Some of the most common symptoms associated with low estrogen levels are sweating, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, dry skin, a reduction in the woman’s libido, mood swings and fatigue. These occur due to how estrogen affects the various organs and body systems. These symptoms can affect not only pregnant women and women reaching the stages of menopause, but also younger women. Low estrogen levels may also produce symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as migraine headaches and vaginal infections. More serious effects include arthritis and artherosclerosis, or the development of blockages within the arteries. Any of these signs and symptoms should be reported to a doctor, not only to determine that their cause is hormonal, but to rule out any other serious and possibly life threatening conditions.
Treatment Options for Hormonal Imbalances
Treating low estrogen levels in women is possible. Once these symptoms have been identified as being the result of fluctuating hormone levels, a doctor can begin the process of correcting the hormonal imbalance and restoring the patient’s well being. There are several directions of treatment that may be pursued for the treatment of hormonal imbalances in women. A doctor may choose pharmaceutical hormone replacement therapy, but recent studies have indicated some disadvantages to this treatment option. These disadvantages include links to blood clotting disorders, heart disease, ovarian cancer and breast cancer. While this treatment plan is best suited to extreme cases of hormonal imbalances, most doctors now feel that alterations of lifestyle and diet changes are the best way to restore hormone levels naturally.
Treating hormone imbalances through changes in lifestyle can be the most productive treatment method, but it requires that the patient maintain self disciple and continuously manage their own care. The first step is maintaining a healthy diet plan. This includes foods that naturally control estrogen levels. These foods include wheat products, rice, yams, potatoes, apples, soy products, cherries and alfalfa. Exercise and weight management are also an important part of naturally treating hormonal imbalances, as well as stress relieving measures. Meditation and yoga are good examples of natural ways to reduce stress levels. The best way to maintain these lifestyle changes is build a routine around them and follow it religiously.
There are also many forms of alternative medicine available to help naturally balance hormones. Estrogen containing plants such as Phytoestrogenic herbs are useful in restoring a balance, but these herbs may interfere with the body’s ability to naturally produce estrogen. Non-estrogenic herbs work to stimulate natural production of estrogen in the body, and are probably the safest and most productive way to naturally correct imbalances. When deciding to take any kind of herbal treatments, it is advised to consult with a health care professional first.
Proper diet, exercise, stress reduction and herbal remedies represent the best way to naturally correct low estrogen levels in women who are experiencing distressing and annoying symptoms. This treatment plan will be most effective if it is laid out by a doctor and practiced daily by the patient.