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Given the concerns of HRT and the risks recently disclosed by a NIH study, many women who are presently on HRT want to get off it. To do so requires a weaning off period. This will decrease the risk of rebound symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats and irritability.
An appropriate method to stopping HRT is to simply gradually reduce the dose. This can be done over a three to six month period. To ease the transition, women might want to consider initially loading up with phytoestrogens such as (soybeans, barley, corn, alfalfa, and oats). Particularly isoflavones such as (roasted soy nuts, soy flour, soy grits, yellow, green vegetable or black soybeans, regular soymilk, tofu, fermented soy like tempeh, palm, sesame oil, figs, corn, peas, rice bean, legumes) one month prior to the start of the weaning off HRT process. Isoflavones alone in sufficiently high doses can reduce hot flashes and night sweats. Therefore loading up on isoflavones reduces the breakthrough menopausal symptoms related to decreasing hormone levels. Isoflavones should be continually taken during the weaning off period and afterwards to maintain general well being. If you are going to use soy try using as much fermented soy as you can rather then nonfermented.
If you are on estrogen only or taking two separate prescriptions (one for estrogen, one for progestin), cut your estrogen prescription in half each month for one or two months. Then cut back to every other day for a month. Then cut back to twice a week for one month, and finally to once a week before you stop. As you decrease your estrogen, begin to increase your intake of natural estrogen substitues like soy isoflavones, black cohosh, or vitamin E to help cushion the estrogen withdrawl that will occur when you stop using prescription HRT. If you are taking a separate prescription for synthetic progestin and are on a two or three-week cycle with a rest period, you should finish your cycle with a rest period, you should finish your cycle then switch to the natural bioidentical progesterone. If you're on a continous program where you are taking progestin every day of the month, you can immediately substitue the progestin for natural bioidentical progesterone.
If your HRT prescription is a single pill combination of estrogen/progestin, cut your prescription dosage in half each month for one to two months. Then cut back to every other day for a month. Then cut back to twice a week for one month, and finally to once a week for a month before you stop. As you decrease your prescription, begin to increase your intake of phytoestrogens to help cushion the estrogen withdrawal that will occur when you stop using prescription HRT. Once you are completely weaned off your prescription and onto natural plant phytoestrogens, you should then add natural bioidentical progesterone to your regimen to support bone health, better sleep quality, and improve your mood.
Natural Alternatives for Menopause and Stopping Hrt
Bioidentical Progesterone Cream with Phytoestrogens
Contains both progesterone and phytoestrogens which work together to provide women more effective control of their menopausal symptoms.
Menopause Formula (PhytoBalance)
PhytoBalance contains eight of the most tested and proven herbs that reduces hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, irritability, and depression associated with perimenopause and menopause.
Recommended Herbs for Stopping Hrt
Menopause-Condition Treatments
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