It is no secret that all women undergo dramatic hormone changes that range from puberty to menopause. These changes in hormone levels can often have negative effects on the women who experience them, causing mood swings and physical ailments. Therefore, many women are demanding natural, as opposed to chemical, treatments as a solution that will help them avoid these changes.

Although estrogen hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was once widely accepted and used by women undergoing PMS and menopause symptoms, it has now been shown that HRT can have a damaging effect on the health of the women who use it. This finding is in stark contrast to the once popular opinion that HRT was an effective and safe treatment for women experiencing changes in hormone levels.

Maybe one of the greatest frights for women nowadays is the cancer of the reproductive system, and we estimate that about one in ten women will get breast cancer in her lifetime. The artificial hormone replacement therapy regimens made women feel better, but at the same time they multiply the risk of getting cancer; so many physicians and patients prefer to cease HRT and cope with the symptoms of menopause in other safer ways.

Although hormone replacement therapy was once widely used to treat discomforts experienced by women undergoing hormonal changes, many natural remedies have existed which perform the same functions, but are much safer for the women using them. As an example, Asian women have long benefited from the effects of a high intake of soy beans. Natural ingredients in the soy beans have the ability to mimic estrogen, thus preventing unpleasant symptoms such as hot flashes.

Native American women have found herbs from their traditional medicine that help as well. Red clover has been seen to help decrease the number and severity of hot flashes, while black cohosh works well on cramps and bloating and many other PMS complaints. Each of these has found a role in natural HRT alternative care.

Researchers actually developed the first oral contraceptives through extracts of wild yam, as the yam is a plant that has a natural estrogen function. Therefore, it is only natural that those seeking natural alternatives to hormone replacement therapy would turn to this plant to incorporate it into a holistic preparation.

As well, there are many natural compounds and extract that are diuretics to reduce fluid retention and spasms that are associated with cramping. The most effective supplements contain mixtures of natural extracts that will work together for the most effective relief. Plant-based estrogen sources will work as well for some women as prescription medications with less side effects and risk.