Hi R.,
I also recommend the Arbonne Balancing creams(they have worked really well for some of my clients), good nutrition, lots of water, etc.
But definitely get your blood work done. Female hormonal changes and thyroid changes can go hand in hand so I def think a thyroid check would be beneficial too. It's always good to see what might be off and then address from there.
If it is perimenopause, you might find some of these resources helpful.
*_What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause: Balance Your Hormones and Your Life From Thirty to Fifty. _ Dr. John R. Lee, M.D. et al *
*_What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Menopause: The Breakthrough Book on Natural Progesterone. _ Dr. John R. Lee, M.D., Virginia Hopkins *
*_The Estrogen Alternative: Natural Hormone Therapy with Botanical Progesterone. _ Raquel Martin with Judi Gerstung, D.C. *
*_Hormone Heresy - What Women MUST Know About Their Hormones. _ Sherill Sellman
*
Also, here is a website with some natural ways to balance out:
http://womenshealth.about.com/cs/menopaus1/a/naturalmenop...
Good luck!
T.