Besides
menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum and menopause, there are some
health disorders that, without being exclusively female, affect women more (migraine
and frequent headaches, cardiovascular diseases, joint disorders…).
Medicinal
plants may be the perfect ally to deal with those and prevent the main disorders
suffered by women, always under professional advice.
Menstrual cramps
The menstrual
cycle is a biological process that affects the health of women. It is related
to reproductive function and hormonal, physical and psychological changes,
which are also health indicators. Sometimes menstruation comes with pain,
abundant bleeding or the absence of menstruation, which indicate that something
is wrong and there’s a need to address the causes of this imbalance.
Natural help:
Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus L) and Mugwort (Artemisa
vulgaris)
Mugwort
soothes painful menstruation and improves irregular menses. Chaste tree is used
to relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and irregularities in the
menstrual cycle. It helps women with low progesterone levels to recover the
balance between estrogen and progesterone.
Hot flashes
Hot flashes
and excessive sweating are two of the most common symptoms suffered by women in
the transition period towards menopause. The intensity varies among different women
and may disrupt their social lives. These are disorders derived from estrogen
deficiency.
Natural
help: Black cohosh (Cimifuga racemosa L.) and soy isoflavones
Isoflavones
(mainly found in soybeans) are helpful with hormonal imbalances. They have a
similar structure to estrogens, and this makes them reproduce their effect, thus
contributing to reducing the frequency and severity of flashes and sweating. In
addition, we have to highlight Black cohosh among the plants that have been
proven to be beneficial for menopausal symptoms.
Osteoporosis
The total amount
of bone a person has in their skeleton is continuously changing throughout life.
From birth to youth, as the skeleton grows, bones are formed faster than they
deteriorate, reaching their maximum at approximately 30 years of age. After the
age of 40, bone mass gradually decreases. Whereas in men this loss is constant,
in women it is accelerated during menopause due to the reduction of estrogen
levels. The Spanish Organization of Rheumatology estimates that 1 out of 4 postmenopausal
women and 40% of women between 70 and 79 years of age suffer from osteoporosis.
Natural
help: vitamins and minerals
To face this
situation, it is essential to provide the body with an extra supply of calcium —and
vitamin D3 to ensure that calcium reaches the bones—, along with other elements
such as magnesium or vitamin K (MK7).
Sleep disorders
Sleep
disorders are quite common in middle-aged women and increase during menopause. About
60% of menopausal women suffer from sleep disorders, and insomnia stands out
among them. Hormonal changes have an impact on women’s biological clock and
thus cause problems falling asleep —because less melatonin is synthesized- and
awakenings throughout the night -which are increased by hot flashes.
Natural
help: Passionflower (Passiflora incarnata L), valerian (Valeriana
officinalis L) and California poppy (Eschscholtzia
californica Cham).
A
supplement with melatonin can be helpful here to fall asleep, but plants such
as passionflower, valerian and California poppy also have sedative, calming and
mild hypnotic properties.
Tired legs and varicose veins
Heavy legs,
cramps, swelling, tingling, warmth and sometimes dilated veins are symptoms of
tired legs. This disorder is produced when veins cannot easily send blood back
from the lower limbs to the heart. The normal process is that the contraction
of muscles impulses blood against gravity, and a system of valves inside the
veins prevents the blood from flowing downward. If this process fails, the discomfort
will begin, as blood will stagnate, veins will dilate, and fluids will leak
into the tissues. This problem is more common in women due to hormonal factors,
and its symptoms increase with age as veins lose elasticity over the years.
Natural
help: Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana), Horse chestnut (Aesculus
hippocastanum) and Buthcer’s broom (Ruscus aculeatus)
Witch hazel,
with flavonoids and tannins, enhances blood flow thanks to its venous vasoconstrictor
and anti-inflammatory properties; Horse chestnut, with saponins, has anti-edematous
and anti-inflammatory properties; and Butcher’s broom increases the resistance
of capillaries and reduces their permeability.
Urinary infections
The very morphology
of the urinary system puts women at greater risk of suffering urinary
infections. Their urethra is shorter than men’s, and that makes it easier for bacteria
to enter the bladder. It is estimated that 1 out of 5 women will suffer from cystitis
at least once in their life, likely between the ages of 20 and 40.
Natural
help: Large cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon Aiton), Bearberry (Arctostaphylos
uva-ursi Sprengel) and Heather (Calluna vulgaris L.).
The
treatment for an infection of the urinary tract is by means of antibiotic drugs,
but since for a good number of women this ends up becoming a recurrent problem,
some plants help in prevention. Large cranberry contains anthocyanins that make
it a strong antibacterial as they prevent microorganisms from adhering. Bearberry
and Heather have urinary antiseptic and diuretic properties.
Vaginal candidiasis
The
infection caused by different species of candida is the second most common cause
of vaginal infection and mainly affects women between the ages of 20 and 45. Normally,
the origin is in the imbalance of the vaginal microbiota, due to an
extraordinary increase in the development of the fungus Candida albicans —which
is usually found in small amounts in that body part— and a reduction in the species
of Lactobacillus.
Natural
help: Marjoram (Origanum vulgare L.) and probiotics
It is
considered that the essential oil of Marjoram is one of the best natural
antiseptics. It stands out for its antifungal properties and for contributing
to the balance of beneficial bacteria in the microbiota. Another essential aid is
the use of probiotics that protect against infection and help restore vaginal
flora.
Anemia
According
to the information provided by the World Health Organization, 1 out of 3 women of
childbearing age (between 15 and 49 years) suffers from anemia. The loss of
blood through menstruation may be one of the causes of iron deficiency anemia,
which causes fatigue, lack of concentration or headaches, among other symptoms.
Pregnancy
is another stage of women’s lives in which the prevalence of anemia increases.
Iron is essential to increase the amount of blood and thus ensure the supply of
oxygen to the fetus.
Natural
help: Iron and Vitamin C
In cases of anemia, it is important to watch your diet and include in your
menu legumes (lentils and chickpeas), green leafy vegetables (chard and spinach),
nuts (almonds and pistachios) or red meat. Food supplements combining iron and
vitamin C may be a great option if you need to reach suitable levels.
