Black Cohosh and Menopause

I've been using a combination of progesterone cream--the one made with Mexican Yams & a Phytoestrogen cream that has black cohosh, evening primrose & several other natural remedies. You can also look up information on bio-identical hormones on line or check out the book "What your doctor won't tell you about menopause" by Dr. John Lee for more info.

I decided I preferred the creams to the pills, because I forget to take the pills & sometimes I end up with heartburn or an upset stomach from them.

Be very careful with supplements. They are not regulated, and you don't know what is in them. Obviously you shouldn't keep taking the black cohosh.

I don't know why you're reluctant to do hormone replacement -- I'm on it, and it's wonderful.

Ive read studies where low doses of clonidine (a blood pressure med) & certain antidepressants were successful in curbing hot flashes. I am a minimalist when it comes to meds but you need some relief. Talk with your doc. Theres also reputable over the counter items with good track records that contain soy & black cohosh ex. estroven. Also imo commercial hormone replacement products can be "too much" consider talking to the pharmacist at a compounding pharmacy. many can compound hormone replacement formulas (oral, topical, vaginal) that are effective at much lower doses than the commercially ones from big pharma. Good luck.

I love supplements but I work with several different alternative health care providers knowledgeable in the areas where I'm looking for help.

Hormone-related supplements - I think you especially need advice there.

It's fine to get "outside the box" imho but you still need solid, reliable knowledge about yourself and about how different treatments are supposed to work. You also need safe, reliable sources for supplements.

A lot of herbal remedies aren't what you think they are. Because they aren't regulated the way pharmaceuticals are, the quality control is purely a matter of self-reporting. Some have been found to contain nothing more than lawn clippings.

Know what helps? Pineapple, sunflower seeds, fresh almonds and mango.
Good luck!