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Mood changes associated with early menopause may be due to adjusting to a diagnosis of early menopause or as a result of bothersome symptoms such as night sweats causing sleeplessness, tiredness and subsequent irritability.
The first factor to consider is lifestyle changes including dietary change (see Table 3), exercise, yoga, Tai Chi, meditation, relaxation and counselling if appropriate.
| Table 3: Suggested dietary changes |
| Consume regular meals of protein and complex carbohydrates (5 smaller meals or 3 regular meals). |
| Eat oats for breakfast which- "feed the nervous system" (and help to keep the blood sugar levels steady avoiding the mid-morning energy dip). |
| Consume five different vegetables and two pieces of fresh seasonal fruit daily. |
| Fish is recommended to be eaten 3 times a week (which can include canned fish, especially sardines and salmon because the edible bones are a rich source of calcium for bone health and may also help heart health). |
| Ensure adequate calcium intake of 1200-1500mg daily (calcium supplement if insufficient dietary intake). Natural therapists will often suggest calcium in the form of calcium citrate, often in combination with magnesium and other nutrients including vitamin D, silica, zinc, folic acid and boron. |
| Reduce or eliminate caffeine (maximum one coffee or three teas per day) |
Herbs used in the Management of Psychological Issues (Tables 4 and 5)
St John' Wort is specifically used for hot flushes triggered by anxiety or stress. It is not an oestrogenic herb and therefore it is not effective on its own for the treatment of hot flushes. It is often combined with black cohosh for the management of perimenopausal symptoms. Traditionally it is considered specific for depression associated with the menopause. It has been shown in many clinical trials to be effective for the treatment of mild to moderate anxiety and depression. As St John's Wort is well known, many people self-prescribe this herb, when other herbal treatment may be more appropriate.
| Table 4: Herbs and supplements used by naturopaths for the treatment of depression |
- St John's Wort, Hypericum perforatum
- Lavender, Lavandula officinalis
- Oat Straw
- Lemon Balm as a tea
- Vitamin B complex
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| Table 5 Herbs and supplements that a naturopath may use for the treatment of anxiety |
- Hops
- Lavender, Lavandula officinalis
- Motherwort, Leonurus cardiaca
- Skullcap, Scutellaria lateriflora
- Lime flowers, Tilia spp
- Valerian, Valeriana officinalis
- Zizyphus, Zizyphus spinosa
- Vitamin B complex
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It is also important to note that there are some adverse effects of St John's Wort including a photosensitivity reaction and interaction with some prescribed medications (Table 6). St John's Wort should not be taken in conjunction with these medications.
| Table 6: Drugs which interact with St John's Wort |
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HIV medication
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Immunosuppressives: Cyclosporin, tacrolimus
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Warfarin
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Digoxin
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Theophylline
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Anti-convulsants: carbamazepine, phenobarbitone phenytoin
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Anti-depressants drugs including selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's)
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Triptans
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Content updated June 25, 2007
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