🌺 Japan's Soy Delight 🇯🇵

In the Land of the Rising Sun, women have turned to soy-based wonders to tame those menopause woes. Soy products like tofu and miso soup are rich in phytoestrogens, which are plant compounds that mimic estrogen. Some studies suggest that soy consumption might alleviate hot flashes and improve bone health during menopause. Looks like Japan's soy magic might have some truth to it!

🌿 India's Ashwagandha Elixir 🇮🇳

India, the land of Ayurveda, holds a treasure trove of herbal remedies. Enter ashwagandha, an adaptogenic herb believed to combat stress and balance hormones. While research is ongoing, a study in the Journal of Ayurveda and Integrative Medicine (2012) indicated that ashwagandha might help reduce menopausal symptoms and improve overall well-being. Adaptogens, like ashwaganda and some types of mushrooms, are thought to help with things like stress, brain fog, and sleep!

🍵 China's Green Tea Potion 🇨🇳

Across the Great Wall, Chinese women embrace the soothing power of green tea. Packed with antioxidants, green tea has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and cancer. While not directly proven for menopause relief, a study in Climacteric (2015) reported that green tea might reduce the risk of certain menopause-related conditions. Plus, green tea HAS been found to be rich in l-theanine, which can reduce stress. Sip on, ladies!

🌺 Mexico's Wild Yam Wonder 🇲🇽

In the heart of Mexico, wild yam has captured women's attention for centuries. It's believed that the plant's compounds, Diosgenin, act as natural hormones. In fact, our vibrant third progesterone cream is derived from wild yams, and though more research needs to be done on eating wild yam for menopause symptoms, across central and south America, as well as Africa, the use of yams, cassava, and yucca for women's reproductive health is well established.

🍯 Greece's Honey Healer 🇬🇷

Ah, Greece! The land of mythology and honeyed delights. Locals praise honey's healing properties, and studies indicate its potential to promote better sleep and soothe a sore throat. However, specific research on honey's impact on menopause is lacking. While honey's golden touch is sweet, its direct link to menopause remedies remains a bit of a mystery. But, Greece has more to offer than just honey - olive oil has been scientifically shown to have a positive effect on skin health and makes a great moisturizer, and the mediterranean diet can certainly help with overall health, wellbeing, and longevity!

🌺 Hawaii's Maca Manna 🏄‍♀️

Hawaii, where paradise meets menopause relief! Maca root, native to the Andes, is believed to boost energy and balance hormones. Studies like the Journal of Evidence-Based Complementary & Alternative Medicine (2015) propose that maca might reduce anxiety and depression during menopause. There is also evidence to suggest maca is a libido booster, with many women finding it helps during menopause to increased overall desire. Aloha to that!

🌼 Sweden's Fantastic Flowers 🇸🇪

Whilst many of us are out here using honey and pollen to try and manage allergies, our Scandanavian sisters have other ideas... New research suggests Swedish flower pollen can be a potent menopausal remedy - so much so that it is now being used in other well known supplements around the world. There are several ways Swedish flower pollen can help safely and effectively manage menopause symptoms. Common symptoms that Swedish flower pollen can help with include hot flashes and night sweats, irritability and mood swings, and sleep issues.

🌬️ Thailand's Tonics 🇹🇭

Over in Thailand, studies have shown that their tonics, which are aimed to treat a variety of symptoms can help with both sleep and overall quality of life issues for women in menopause. Studies are limited, but a study that looked at traditional Thai herbal blood and wind tonic formulations used by a traditional Thai medicine doctor, found evidence to suggest they were effective. As to what goes in them? We struggled to find that information unfortunately, however, we DID find info that suggested Thai massage could also help menopause symptoms by reducing aches and pains and increasing blood flow, so that might be a more accessible option!

🍃 Britain's Mighty Mint 🇬🇧

This was a small study - although there are several others as well - that explored how well spearmint (Mentha piperita Labiatae) worked for hormone imbalance in 21 women who suffered from PCOS and hirsutism (unwanted and excessive hair growth). Studies found that spearmint positively affected high androgens, per the study "there was a significant decrease in free testosterone and increase in luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone and estradiol." Other studies have found spearmint is good at regulating hormones overall, and can be beneficial for women in menopause by decreasing facial hair, increasing estrogen levels naturally, and balancing hormone levels.

🍹 Egypt's Flax Remedy 🇪🇬

There are not a lot of specifics on what the researchers meant by 'menopause symptoms', BUT, there is evidence to suggest flax is a great addition to your diet - and can help. Per the study, "The menopausal symptoms decreased and the quality of life increased among the women who used flaxseed for 3 months." This Egyptian seed, which is tiny, can be added to salads, crackers, or oatmeal - or you can buy ground flax and add it to just about everything!

🌱 America's Black Cohosh Cure 🇺🇸

Black Cohosh is well known as a menopausal treatment - but, it is one of the few folk remedies that does come with risks. It is clinically shown to be effective - "In contemporary Western herbal medicine, the use of cohosh is usually restricted to the management of menopausal symptoms and other difficulties related to the reproductive system in women. Currently, cohosh is widely used to mitigate menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances, vertigo, nervousness, mood swings, and vaginal dryness associated with postmenopausal females." However, it can have side effects such as stomach upset, cramping, headache, rash, a feeling of heaviness, vaginal spotting or bleeding, and weight gain. Our advice? If you are going to use this, check with your doc and proceed with caution!

If you're looking for even more remedies like this, such as seaweed, dandelion tea, and even olive oil - check out our Science of Menopause to explore all these studies and more!