Almost every woman will encounter menopause at some point, usually in their 40's and 50's (the average age is 51).
The frequency and severity of menopause symptoms experienced by women will be vastly different, but one thing is for certain - no woman wants to go through hot flashes, night sweats, loss of libido, vaginal dryness, and mood swings.
Many women turn to natural menopause supplements to reduce or eliminate their menopause symptoms.
While this is generally a good alternative to more traditional hormone replacement therapy that is prone to side effects such as blood clots, stroke, heart attack, and gynecological cancers, it is still a good idea to be aware of various menopause supplements side effects.
While menopause supplements themselves don't necessarily cause the side effects, women should be cautious and make sure that they don't have pre-existing conditions that might possibly interact with the supplements.
They can do this by being aware of what ingredients are present and how they might affect certain conditions.
For example, dong quai is one of the most popular ingredients in these supplements, used to treat various gynecological ailments like PMS, cramps, and menopause symptoms.
But it is known to contain coumarin, which is a natural chemical compound that acts as a blood thinner.
This means women who are on blood-thinning medications like warfarin should not take dong quai in excess.
Another essential ingredient, red clover extract, contains isoflavones, which are plant-based chemicals with estrogen-like properties.
Red clover extract is used to treat symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats that are caused due to the declining level of estrogen during menopause.
But women who are already suffering from hormone-sensitive conditions like breast and uterine cancers, uterine fibroids, and endometriosis should avoid taking red clover in excess because it has the potential to deliver more estrogen than necessary.
Any medications or supplements are at risk for side effects.
Even multi-vitamins, when taken excessively, can do more harm than good.
The key is to know what ingredients are present and consult a medical professional when necessary.
For the most part, dong quai and red clover extract contained in typical menopause supplements are not of significant quantity to affect any pre-existing conditions negatively.
But it's still a good idea to exercise caution.
Menopause supplements are still by far cheaper and safer than hormone replacement therapy.
By following directions and taking the right dosage of right supplements, they can be a valuable tool for any woman's health regimen.