Trusted Botanical Supplements for Women in Perimenopause

For women, perimenopause is often regarded as a daunting and dreaded phase of life. Hormonal shifts typically begin at age 40 and fluctuate for several years, making it challenging for women to feel at home in their bodies. Symptoms can run the gamut from hot flashes and night sweats to brain fog and joint discomfort.

The good news? More attention, discussion, and research are helping to address a woman’s concerns and answer valid questions during this major transitional phase of life. Health-care practitioners are learning more about how to support their patients, and nutritional supplements and botanicals have been highlighted as additional tools to help women navigate this experience with a little bit more ease and look forward to what’s to come.

So, what are some of those common questions that women are asking?

What can provide reliable support for hormone balance during menopause?

Menopausal symptoms are varied and vast, and it can be challenging for women to feel supported in their unique experience. Because of the side effects and potential health issues associated with prescription medications, many women desire a natural approach to allaying the unpleasant aspects of menopause.

There are several botanical options that support the normal ebb and flow of the hormones associated with menopause.

Red Angelica is a flowering plant traditionally used to support menstrual cycle regularity, as well as to help manage discomfort during a woman’s cycle. At the same time, it supports restful sleep and cognitive health to benefit memory and mood.*

Fireweed is a sage-like herb that has been used in traditional Asian medicine to support muscles and bones and assist in the body’s recovery processes. It is traditionally known to support a healthy inflammatory response, pain management, and help to regulate body temperature.*

The silk plant is a climbing vine and is traditionally used to promote healthy blood flow. It provides additional benefits revolving around healthy aging, especially for overall vitality during the shifting phases of a woman’s life.*

Hops are commonly used in beer making, but the seed cones also are traditionally used to support healthy sleep and benefit female reproductive tissue. Hops contain phytoestrogens that mimic the effects of estrogen, benefiting menopause-related symptoms as natural estrogen levels begin to decrease during this stage of a woman’s life.*

These botanicals are ingredients in Thorne Perimenopause Complete, offering symptom support to benefit overall quality of life for women during this time of their lives.*

What plant constituents can support energy and mood during menopause?

Energy levels often dip as estrogen production declines during perimenopause, and the ups and downs in hormones are often felt in the ups and downs in mood too. Many adaptogenic herbs and nutrients can be beneficial tools to help women reclaim their physical and mental homeostasis.

While there are a variety of plants that are described as “ginseng,” the Panax genus of plants have been used in traditional Asian medicine for thousands of years. In the case of Korean ginseng, rare ginsenosides, which concentrate in the roots as the plant ages, are thought to be the most important compounds in the herb, supporting vitality and well-being with their stimulating adaptogenic and nootropic benefits, providing noticeable changes in the body’s resilience to stress.*

L-theanine is an amino acid that is found almost exclusively in the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) and has been used safely in Japan for decades. It enhances the production of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin and appears to play a role in the formation of GABA – a neurotransmitter that acts like a “brake” during times of runaway stress.*

Ginseng Plus and Theanine by Thorne can be assets for women throughout menopause to navigate the physical and mental changes that occur during this time. The botanicals in Ginseng Plus support energized days, while Theanine helps women experience more calm and relaxed nights.*

What trusted ingredients can help with sleep challenges during menopause?

In addition to hot flashes and night sweats interrupting sleep and making it harder for women in perimenopause to get adequate rest, the body’s natural production of melatonin starts to decrease as we age. This is where a classic melatonin supplement can come in handy to help support a normal circadian rhythm, or women can turn to botanical alternatives.*

Maizinol^®, an ingredient derived from the shoots of young corn leaves, provides a naturally occurring compound similar to melatonin, that has been clinically studied to support all phases of the sleep cycle. In addition to Maizinol, you’ll also find L-theanine in Deep Sleep Complex by Thorne, which can help a woman experiencing menopause-related sleep disruptions quiet the mind, ease nightly tension, and support restorative sleep to help her wake up feeling refreshed.*

Lastly, valerian has a long history of use in ancient Greek, Roman, and Ayurvedic medical traditions. Extracts of the Valeriana officinalis root have traditionally been used to support restful sleep and calm anxious feelings.* Thorne Valerian Root contains the patented Sleeproot® valerian extract that provides a high concentration of the active constituent for better effectiveness and less odor at a lower dose compared to many available extracts.

What about issues with sexual wellness and skin health?

Hormones are the chemical messengers of the body, so it’s no surprise that they contribute to body systems beyond reproductive health. Changes in sexual wellness, such as decreased libido, vaginal dryness, and changes to skin health are commonly seen in women throughout perimenopause and beyond, so more women are seeking natural solutions to help maintain their health in these areas.

Damiana (Turnera diffusa) extract, has been clinically studied to support improvements in key aspects of sexual function – from desire and lubrication to satisfaction and comfort – making it a natural choice for women seeking to nurture a more confident, connected intimate life.*

Fenugreek is a clover-like herb with seeds that taste and smell like maple syrup, making it a delicious addition to a spice collection. It also has been used medicinally as a tonic in women’s health, supporting menstrual cramps and a variety of menopause symptoms by restoring hormonal balance, and promoting a positive mood.*

Shatavari is known as the “queen of herbs” in Ayurveda. A member of the asparagus family, shatavari is used as an adaptogen and tonifying herb, specifically targeting women’s reproductive systems. It also is recognized to support women’s emotional health and hormonal harmony, key areas of focus for women going through perimenopause.*

As women’s sexual wellness often changes during this evolving life stage, Women’s Libido Boost by Thorne contains damiana, fenugreek and shatavari to support sexual health, libido, and vaginal dryness alongside their overall symptom support during perimenopause.*

Skin changes are also often noticed during this transitional phase, so supporting healthy skin texture and tone with ceramides or plant polyphenols can be powerful ways to support the skin you’re in. The white peach ceramides of HydroPeach™ offer support for skin hydration and smoothness, and redcurrant and blackcurrant extracts of MitoHeal^® benefit wrinkles, skin texture and pigmentation.*

These skin-supportive ingredients can be found in Thorne Collagen Plus, which also provides 13 g of collagen peptides (type I and III) to enhance the hydration, elasticity, and strength of skin, and nicotinamide riboside (NR) to support healthy aging and cellular energy.*

While this is not an exhaustive list of botanicals that benefit women throughout perimenopause, this article can hopefully be a beneficial starting point for women to feel more supported as they learn of the options available to them while navigating this phase of life.