Navigating the transformative journey of menopause can often feel overwhelming, accompanied by a mix of physical and emotional symptoms that challenge everyday life. However, there is a natural herb that has gained reputation for helping to support women through perimenopause and menopause called Sage Leaf. 

Sage is known to alleviate menopause symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, and mood swings. Sage Leaf has a long history in traditional medicine and modern studies support Sage’s benefits  for easing menopause symptoms. Sage Leaf is available in Sage Complex, a menopause supplement with plant oestrogens from a variety of herbs including red clover, dong quai, and hops. 

In this editorial, we unveil the key benefits of Sage Leaf in Sage Complex, a natural remedy for menopause, and explore the effectiveness of menopause supplements in managing common symptoms. Whether you're just beginning the journey during perimenopause, or at the start of menopause, you do not need to struggle anymore.  

What is menopause?
Menopause is a stage in a woman’s life when her menstrual periods stop, and she can no longer get pregnant. When her period has stopped for 12 consecutive months, this is defined as menopause and the period before this is termed perimenopause. 

Common symptoms of menopause
Some women have no symptoms at all whilst others experience hot flushes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbances, joint and muscle pain, low mood, brain fog, and numerous other concerns.¹

The most common and disruptive symptom is hot flushes. These are feelings of sudden warmth that may result in sweating and/or a rapid heartbeat. Night sweats, a form of a hot flush, can obviously disrupt sleep. Mood swings, low mood, irritability, and anxiety are driven by low female hormones, which result in lower uptake of serotonin, the mood elevating neurotransmitter in the brain. 

Another common symptom of menopause is vaginal dryness. It is estimated that one in four women going through the menopause suffer from this condition which can also increase the risk of urinary tract infections.²

Weight gain, especially around the midriff region, loss of elasticity of skin, thinning hair, hair loss, fatigue, decreased libido, headaches, and migraines are the range of possible symptoms that women face during this transition. 

The role of herbal remedies for menopause symptoms
Herbal remedies have a long history of use for helping many health conditions, including the symptoms of menopause. These natural remedies for menopause offer an alternative or complement hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and are gentle on the body and free from synthetic chemicals. 

These herbal remedies for menopause, such as Sage Leaf, Dong Quai, Red Clover, and Hops, contain phytoestrogens, which are plant oestrogens that mimic the effects of oestrogen in the body and help achieve hormonal balance without side effects.

Sage for menopause symptoms
Sage Leaf, known scientifically as Salvia officinalis, is a herb that has been historically used for its medicinal properties. Sage has traditionally been used to treat digestive problems, sore throats, excessive sweating, and skin conditions. It is Sage’s ability to reduce the numbers and severity of hot flushes and night sweats that is of particular importance to women going through the menopause.

Does Sage help with the symptoms of menopause?
Sage works to alleviate many symptoms of menopause due to its unique combination of bioactive compounds. Sage supplements are one of the top herbal remedies for menopausal symptoms and with good reason:

• Sage contains phytoestrogens which are plant-based compounds that mimic oestrogen which declines during menopause. These compounds can help to achieve hormonal balance and provide relief from hot flushes and night sweats.
• Many women complain of feeling hot during menopause. This is because a decline in oestrogen can increase body temperature. Sage supplements have been found to help regulate internal body temperature. The herb’s astringent properties help regulate body temperature and reduce excessive sweating by constricting the sweat glands.
• Oestrogen displays anti-inflammatory properties helping to protect the body from a variety of concerns. During menopause, declining oestrogen levels result in an increase in inflammation which can affect the joints, muscles, damage our arteries increasing the risk of cardiovascular problems, and damage other organs.³
• Sage contains chemicals which have an anti-anxiety effect and stabilise mood. 

Scientific studies support Sage’s benefits for menopause
A growing body of scientific research supports the benefits of Sage Leaf for menopause symptoms. Several studies investigated the efficacy of Sage in reducing hot flushes and other menopausal symptoms. A study published in the journal Advances in Therapy found that a daily supplement containing Sage significantly reduced the intensity and frequency of hot flushes and night sweats.⁴

Another study found a 50% reduction in numbers of hot flushes in menopausal women over an eight-week period.⁵

A study published in the journal of Phytomedicine found that Sage effectively reduced sweating supporting its traditional use as a natural antiperspirant. This highlights its potential to provide relief from one of the most disruptive symptoms of menopause. 

In addition to its benefits in alleviating hot flushes and sweating, a study published in the journal of Psychopharmacology found that Sage extract showed improvements in mood, anxiety, and brain performance. These properties make Sage ideal for many women going through the menopause facing low mood and brain fog. ⁶

What are phytoestrogens and how do they work?
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring compounds found in plants that are chemically like oestrogen and thus mimic oestrogen, often without side effects. 

Plant oestrogens have a balancing effect on the body binding to oestrogen receptors, and act like adaptogens. If you have too much oestrogen, as is the case in many female hormonal concerns, they help to achieve balance. If you have smaller amounts of oestrogen, they also achieve balance by binding to the oestrogen receptors mimicking the effects of oestrogen. 

Phytoestrogens consist of more than 20 compounds and can be found in over 300 plants such as Sage Leaf, Red Clover, Soya, Legumes, and Hops.⁷

Extensive research has to date pointed to the multiple benefits of phytoestrogens which may help with menopausal symptoms including hot flushes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. These plant oestrogens may also help in maintaining bone density, protecting the heart and the brain.

How much Sage Leaf should you take during menopause?
he recommended dose of Sage is between 300mg and 1200mg , which should help to reduce menopausal symptoms.

Are there any side effects taking Sage?
Sage supplements are generally recognised as safe when taken at the recommended doses and from reputable manufacturers. In some cases, mild side effects such as headaches and restlessness may be experienced. 

Which is the best Sage supplement for menopause?
In addition to Sage Leaf, there are several other sources of phytoestrogens including red clover and hops. If you require a Sage supplement for menopause symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats, I recommend DoSe Sage Complex. 

Unlike many supplements, Sage Complex contains a comprehensive blend of phytoestrogens from Sage Leaf, red clover, hops, dong quai, and kudzu. The formulation also contains herbs that support the adrenals to help with the symptoms of anxiety and a lack of energy often experienced during menopause. Sage Complex is ideal for use during perimenopause, menopause, and post-menopause. 

By harnessing the power of this natural menopause supplement, you can manage common symptoms like night sweats, insomnia, and vaginal dryness. Discover how Sage Complex can help balance hormones, reduce discomfort, and improve your energy and well-being during this transitional phase of life. Say goodbye to menopause symptoms with Sage Complex and get ready to reclaim your vitality and feel like yourself again.

References:

1. National Institute on Aging. What is menopause?
2. Carlson K. & Nguyen H. 'Genitourinary syndrome of menopause'
3. Iqbal, J. & Zaidi, M. 'Understanding oestrogen action during menopause'
4. Moradi, M., Ghavami, V., Niazi, A., Seraj Shirvan, F. & Rasa, S. 'The effect of Salvia officinalis on hot flushes in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis'
5. Bommer, S., Klein, P. & Suter, A. (2011) ‘First-time proof of Sage’s tolerability and efficacy in menopausal women with hot flushes.’ Advances in Therapy
6. Kennedy, D.O., Pace, S., Haskell, C., Okello, E.J., Milne, A. & Scholey, A.B. 'Effects of cholinesterase-inhibiting Sage (Salvia officinalis) on mood, anxiety and performance on a psychological stressor battery'
7. Sabry, M. et al. 'Estrogenic activity of Sage (Salvia officinalis L.) aerial parts and its isolated ferulic acid in immature ovariectomized female rats'