Last updated on 29 December 2025 by Brisbane Livewell Clinic Editorial Team
Are You Trying to Find Relief From Menopausal Symptoms?
A Naturopath may help relieve menopause symptoms like hot flushes, mood changes, and fatigue by using herbal medicine, nutritional support, and lifestyle strategies tailored to your body’s needs.
Menopausal Symptoms and Menopause are different for every woman. Whether caused by nature or medical intervention (either surgical or pharmaceutical), the transition from having a monthly cycle to having none is a highly personal experience.
We all know that friend whose Mum had horrible menopausal symptoms for years, or maybe our own Mum who experienced menopausal symptoms that made life difficult to manage for a while. But when it comes to transitioning through menopause, there is help available to ease symptoms and support your body in its natural progression toward a period free life.
What is Peri-Menopause and how is it different to Menopause?
In the years leading up to menopause (which itself is defined as the experience of not having a menstrual bleed for at least 1 year), cycles can become irregular and menopausal symptoms begin to arise. Known as peri-menopause, during this time delays in menstrual cycles occur as bleeds become less frequent and symptoms such as hot flushes, mood changes, digestive issues, joint issues, sleep changes and fatigue occur [1-5].
For most women peri-menopause occurs in the late 40s or early 50s, unless a change to hormones or reproductive organ function has happened in response to the need for medical or surgical interventions such as a hysterectomy, whereby peri-menopause is bypassed and menopause occurs without delay [3-4].
The symptoms of menopause occur as a result of the ovaries reducing their secretion of oestrogen, a powerful trigger for ovulation and a hormone responsible for the various stages of a fertile menstrual cycle [3-4]. As this occurs, the adrenal glands, responsible for secreting stress hormones such as adrenalin and cortisol, take over the production of a less powerful type of oestrogen that is too weak to trigger fertile cycle changes, but just potent enough to evoke the health benefits necessary for a well and happy post-menopausal life [3-4].
How Herbal Medicine and Nutritional Therapies can help with your Hormones
In a unique position to assist in the transition from ovarian to adrenal oestrogen are the class of herbs known as adaptogens. Adaptogens include herbs such as Aswagandha (also known as Withania), a tonic to the adrenal glands which assists the body to cope with stress while providing relief from fatigue, insomnia and stress hormone disruptions [3-5].
Supporting hormone regulating adaptogens, plants such as Blue Cohosh, Damiana, Shatavari, and Sarsparilla work to support the balancing of reproductive hormones to assist in reducing symptoms associated with hormonal fluctuations [3-5]. While plants such as Chaste tree, assist in the restoration of balance in the glandular organs responsible for signalling the body to produce the hormones necessary for healthy hormone levels [1-5].
During times of hormonal change, your body also requires a change to its nutritional requirements. During perimenopause and menopause, nutritional requirements include increasing protein levels to support healthy muscle and bone mass, reviewing calcium intake to make way for the changes to your bones as a result of reduced oestrogen levels, and increasing the intake of antioxidant and nutrient-rich foods such as berries, avocadoes, green leafy vegetables, olive oil and green tea.
3 Tips From Our Naturopaths For Supporting Your Hormones During Menopause and Peri-Menopause
Here are 3 tips from our Naturopaths to help you support your hormones during this challenging time:
1. Support Oestrogen Balance with Liver Detoxification Herbs
Your liver plays a central role in breaking down and eliminating excess oestrogen. Herbs like St Mary’s Thistle and Schisandra may assist with phase I and II liver detox pathways, helping to reduce oestrogen dominance symptoms like irritability, weight gain, and heavy periods.
Ask your Naturopath to make you up some liquid herbs to support your Menopause or Peri-Menopause journey.
2. Track Basal Body Temperature to Monitor Thyroid Impact
Menopause can affect thyroid function, leading to symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and weight gain. By tracking your basal body temperature daily, you can help your Naturopath gain insight into possible thyroid dysfunction and support you with targeted nutrients like iodine, selenium, and zinc.
Ask your Naturopath how best to go about tracking your basal body temperature.
3. Include Lignan-Rich Foods to Gently Modulate Hormones
Foods like ground flaxseeds are rich in lignans, which can bind to oestrogen receptors and help balance hormone levels. These natural phytoestrogens provide mild support during fluctuations and are especially useful during the transition from perimenopause to menopause.
Ask your Naturopath for ways you can improve your nutrition-intake and support your body during Menopause or Post-Menopause.
