Many of the women I see are drawn both logically and instinctively to a more natural approach to menopause. In this post I suggest that given all we know about the issues around HRT, there are alternatives like homeopathy that you can explore.
Are There Alternatives to HRT?
Could Homeopathy be an Alternative to HRT?
Does homeopathy offer us support at menopause? No one approach has all the answers, but you might be surprised at just how much homeopathy could offer you.
There are specific studies [1] & [2] that give good results for women using homeopathy at menopause. There were reported improvements with: 
- hot flushes and sweats
- tiredness
- anxiety
- sleeping difficulties
- mood swings
- headaches
A study at Bristol Homeopathic Hospital found 70% of follow-up patients reported improved health, 50% major improvement. The largest improvements were reported in childhood eczema or asthma, and in inflammatory bowel disease, irritable bowel syndrome, menopausal problems and migraine [3].
A gold standard randomised controlled trial (RCT) by Laboratoires Boiron showed significant improvements in hot flushes between the group of women taking a non-individualised homeopathic combination and the placebo group [4].
Another RCT was set up to assess the efficacy of homeopathy vs placebo, and Prozac vs placebo, when used for moderate to severe depression in menopausal women.
Both treatments had an effect significantly different from placebo. But significantly homeopathy caused greater clinical improvement in symptoms of depression than Prozac and also improved the patients’ menopausal symptoms, whereas Prozac did not [5].
Well over 200 million people worldwide use homeopathy, it is one of the most commonly used systems of medicine in the world today [6], [7]. A study showed that in the UK 12% of the population (equivalent to nearly 8 million people) use homeopathy [8].
Why Didn’t Anyone Tell You Homeopathy Could be an Alternative to HRT?
You would be justified in asking why you don’t hear of these and the many other positive studies. Many year’s ago, I phoned a local newspaper and asked a young female reporter to publish a story about the Womens Health Initiative Study being stopped early back in 2002 because of the serious cancer and cardio-vascular health risks of HRT to the participants. I was told it wasn’t news!
I tried the radio – the BBC’s Woman’s Hour were not interested in talking about the positive elements to menopause as a life stage or alternatives to HRT. The mantra then and it seems still, is HRT or suffer. And it’s not true!
There are alternatives and positive ways of navigating menopause that don’t over-medicalise this important life stage. You can read the Perimenopause Advice from Judith, a lovely woman I worked with a while ago.
Homeopathy has so much to offer for our health and wellbeing. You may find my post Evidence for Homeopathy useful to refer to as an overview of sources for trials, studies and the testimonials of people who have found that homeopathy helped them.
Meanwhile, I believe we each need to gather our own information and create our own assessment of what the true benefits and risks are. Making a genuinely informed choice instead of finding ourselves on the conveyor belt heading for potential harmful drugs or unnecessary surgery.
Why is it Worth Looking for Alternatives to HRT?
Reproductive hormones as found in HRT are steroids, and carry risks. The risks will be debated endlessly because it generates a lot of income for the pharmaceutical industry, so they are understandably protective. But chemically and biologically you can’t escape the nature of what is being prescribed.
In previous blogs I have discussed some of the health risks associated with HRT. And not so long ago the Daily Telegraph published an article about the increased risk: HRT triples the risk of breast cancer, biggest ever study shows – The Daily Telegraph.
I have also been concerned about issues with Bio-Identical HRT. There seems to be an assumption that it is safer because it is “identical”, but I’m not convinced.
Without doubt some of the advances of modern drugs and surgery are truly spectacular – life saving and life enhancing. However, I do believe we have to be selective, and to choose them when the benefits do genuinely outweigh the risks.
Health Benefits of Taking a Natural Approach at Menopause
I believe that looking for alternatives to HRT like homeopathy, means that you don’t need to expose yourself to the added risk of cancer, stroke, heart disease and a myriad of other side effects from HRT.
A more engaged and natural approach may also improve your physical health by taking the opportunity to look at how you live – your diet, stress levels, relaxation, creativity, exercise, etc.
It feels like an unfortunate consequence of “a pill for every ill” is that there is a disconnect between how we live and our health. As if what we think, feel, do and eat has no impact or importance. I’ve had patients tell me that they have been put on statins for raised cholesterol. Then when they asked their GP for dietary advice they were told “it doesn’t matter, eat what you like because you are on statins now”.
Menopause is a Natural Process
For most women menopause is a natural process. Some may be catapulted into it through a surgical or drug treatment, but even then there are still choices.
If you read my other posts about natural alternatives and menopause, you will find out how wonderfully we are designed. I realise you might not be feeling that as you read this, but your body is actually designed to produce back up supplies to support you now and in the longer run. Modern life might take its toll so that menopause can be a bit of a rollercoaster ride, but we can support restoring balance naturally. Adding in synthesised chemicals on top does not help us in restoring our true equilibrium. It simply masks what is really going on and pushes us further away from our centre.
Even if you feel modern life has painted you into a tricky corner and that you have no choice but to take synthetic or bioidentical hormones, I would suggest that is not the case. You have choices and there are alternatives to HRT.
Alternatives to HRT: Supporting your Physical Health
Dietary and lifestyle measures deserve time and attention and can have an enormous impact upon how a woman experiences her menopause. Sometimes women can find that just making some timely adjustments here can dramatically improve how they feel.
My post Foods That Help With Menopause offers some suggestions about dietary measures. Improving nutrition will often, by default, bring about a beneficial shift for the whole family, creating healthy habits for the years to come.
Finding time and space for ourselves can be difficult. Not always easy in a busy life, especially for women whose workload often seems to spread over 24 hours! Practices like Tai Chi, Yoga, Pilates, and the Alexander Technique can offer a range of overall health benefits as well as helping to increase awareness of the physical tension in our bodies, to relax, strengthen and support our posture.
Exercise that can be incorporated into daily life and your weekly schedule can help with your physical health. If it is something you enjoy so much the better as a way to build in relaxation.
Supporting Your Emotional Wellbeing
All of the steps above will also help your welbeing, but you can also build in a range of activites and approaches that can be transformational in terms of your emotional health.
Meditation, mindfulness or self-hypnosis: these can provide the means of reducing mental and emotional stress. For others a more grounding practice such as gardening, walking, tai chi or pottery may be an activity that helps them to find peace and stillness.
Creativity: losing ourselves in something we love to do, losing track of time and leaving behind all the hassles of everyday modern life can be a wonderful gift to ourselves. Whatever it is that we enjoy, that makes us feel happy and alive is an expression of our creative selves.
Sleep: is the body and mind’s chance to recuperate, repair and process. In both the long and short-term, adequate and good quality sleep is a vital part of supporting ourselves in living a healthier life.
Alternatives to HRT – Taking a Holistic Approach
There are many different avenues you can explore to support your health and well-being at all of life’s stages. I write about homeopathy as an alternative to HRT and our approach here because that is my area of practice. I take a holistic approach using remedies, herbs, supplements, dietary and lifestyle measures. As well as considering the emotional aspect of what a woman might be experiencing. You can also look into acupuncture, Bowen, etc.
Work with what feels right for you. Trust the truth of your own experience – what inspires and delights you? What drains and depletes? What nourishes and supports you?
For most women menopause is a natural process. For some they may be catapulted into it through a surgical or drug treatment, but even then – there are still choices. There are alternatives to HRT.
The Benefit to You as Woman of Taking a Natural Approach at Menopause
Menopause is an important life stage for women. A badge of honour – wisdom hard won. Nonetheless, it can be a time of challenge but as with all transitions, there is the opportunity for growth and happiness. Trying chemically to medicate it out of existence misses both the point and the truth of it!
If you have seen my previous blog on the Journey Through the Menopause you will have read about the immense value to us of this transitional life stage. I offer my seven stage Heroine’s Journey model to support us in exploring the journey we undertake at menopause.
I believe homeopathy truly is a medicine of transition. Remedies can support and reflect this journey, enabling us to navigate our way through, stage by stage. We have thousands of remedies to call upon as we aim to provide individually tailored support. You might also find my post Natural Remedies for Menopause a useful read. Please do bear in mind that a blog can only give you a snapshot of the depth and breadth of what is available when using homeopathy but my hope is to share the possibilities with you.
As a homeopath my aim is to not only offer remedies to support the emotional and physical process, but also to provide a space in which to explore the landscape of the heroine’s journey at menopause as it unfolds.
I hope you have found this post to be supportive in exploring alternatives to HRT: Homeopathy.
Chantry Health is based in Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion in Wales, and I also work online. I offer a free mini-consultation so we can see if we think my approach might suit you. Please do contact me.
Thank you – I look forward to hearing from you.
References
[1] Thompson EA, Reilly D. The homeopathic approach to the treatment of symptoms of oestrogen withdrawal in breast cancer patients. A prospective observational study. Homeopathy. 2003 Jul;92(3):131-4. ECCH Research Paper – An Overview of Positive Homeopathy Research and Surveys, ENHR, April 2005
[2] Relton, C. NHS Homeopathy Menopause Service. Outcome Study. In press. ECCH Research Paper – An Overview of Positive Homeopathy Research and Surveys, ENHR, April 2005
[3] Clinical Outcome Study, Bristol Homeopathic Hospital, 1997-99
[4] Efficacy of a Non-Hormonal Treatment, BRN-01, on Menopausal Hot Flushes. A Multicenter, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo- Controlled Trial (Colau ét al, 2012) – Springer International Publishing AG
[5] Macías-Cortés ED et al. Individualized homeopathic treatment and fluoxetine for moderate to severe depression in peri- and postmenopausal women (HOMDEP-MENOP study). A randomized, double-dummy, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. PLoS One, 2015 ;10(3):e0118440
[6] Commission Report to the European Parliament and Council on the Application of Directives 92/73 and 92/74, Com (97) 362 final; Jul-97
[7] Prasad R. Homeopathy booming in India. Lancet, 370:November 17, 2007, 1679-80
[8] Global TGI Barometer, issue 33; Jan-08