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4. Saint John’s Wort: Stabilizes Changes in Mood
St. John’s wort is a valuable herb for menopausal women. While hot flashes and night sweats are commonly discussed, many women transition through menopause silently suffering from sadness and depression related to hormonal adjustments and changes in self-image. Anxiety and irritability may occur.
St. John’s wort has effectively relieved mild to moderate depression for two millennia. It helps to balance mood swings and reduce feelings of anxiety. St. John’s wort works especially well to relieve menopausal distress when combined with black cohosh.
900 to 1800 milligrams of standardized extract, which contains 3-5% hyperforin and/or 0.3% hypericin, is the usual recommended dosage. Sensitivity to sunlight may occur. St. John’s wort has the potential to interact with blood thinners, pharmaceutical antidepressants, and several other medications, so check with your doctor or pharmacist before using St. John’s wort.
Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy might be a safer option for menopause symptom treatment. Learn more here.
