Nikki Hawkes

Medical Herbalist, specialist in Gut & Thyroid health

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menopause

Take control of your menopause with acupuncture

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If you struggle with symptoms of the menopause such as hot flashes you are not alone. Symptoms due to changes in women’s hormone levels can make you feel like you’re going crazy. Most women have at least some symptoms at this time. But, for up to 20% of women these symptoms are very distressing.

Symptoms during menopause

  • night sweats and/or day sweats
  • tiredness and problems sleeping
  • emotional changes such as feeling more anxious
  • cognitive changes such as brain fog
  • joint pain
  • vaginal dryness and loss of libido

And all this, lasting on average for four or five years. [Read more…] about Take control of your menopause with acupuncture

Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes

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Hot flashes are one of the most common problems of menopause. That periodic, sudden rush of heat and resultant drenching sweat can be most troublesome. Though many ladies turn to hormone therapy to help them through this time, there are concerns about how safe these medications are in the longer term. Which is why complementary therapies such as herbal medicines are a popular choice. A recent review of scientific studies shows that there are plenty of herbs with the ability to reduce the physical and psychological effects of menopause, including hot flashes.

The changes that occur prior to menopause, a time called perimenopause, occur in relation to a reduction in the number of ovarian follicles. This period can last for several years and usually starts in a woman’s 40s. It is a time of dramatic change in hormonal balance. Once the follicles are gone, the menses cease and menopause begins. This usually happens around the age of 50, but again there is quite a bit of variation, based on a woman’s genetics, nutrition and lifestyle factors such as smoking. [Read more…] about Herbal remedies to reduce menopausal hot flashes

Why its best to talk to a professional herbalist about your menopause

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Some women sail through their menopause and barely have any symptoms. Their monthly period diminishes and stops and that’s it. For the majority of women though, this is not the case and symptoms can be numerous and severe. Leading many to look at their options. These options might include hormone replacement therapy, bioidentical hormones, or herbal and nutritional support. This post is about herbal support for the perimenopause and why it is better to talk to a professional herbalist rather than buying an off the shelf product.

There is no doubt that herbal remedies are popular with the general public. Across the globe the sale of herbal dietary supplements amounts to a multi-billion pound industry. Yet, in many cases herbal remedies are used much like a natural version of conventional drugs. As in X herbal remedy treats Y condition, disease or symptom. Or for a more relevant example, using sage leaf to treat menopausal symptoms. In my experience this approach is not the best way to use herbal remedies. [Read more…] about Why its best to talk to a professional herbalist about your menopause