Menopause dryness is uncomfortable, and it can put a serious damper on not only your sex life but also your overall level of comfort with your body.
Even though vaginal dryness can occur in women of any age, menopause vaginal dryness is the most common sort.
This type of dryness is caused by the drop of estrogen in your body.
When estrogen levels fall, your vaginal lining becomes thinner and stiffer, causing dryness and discomfort.
You can overcome vaginal dryness, though, with a natural cure.
While you should practice an overall lifestyle that helps ease the symptoms of menopause, black cohosh is probably the most effective natural cure for vaginal dryness.
In combination with a healthy diet rich in phytoestrogens and proper care of your body - which involves avoiding harsh soaps and body washes and using lubricant when you need it - black cohosh can help you deal with vaginal dryness as well as other menopausal symptoms.
What is Black Cohosh? Unlike many of the other natural cures for menopausal symptoms, black cohosh doesn't include phytoestrogens - plant compounds that mimic estrogen in the body.
While most phytoestrogens come from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, black cohosh is actually an herb in the same family as buttercups.
It is a natural supplement, and when taken according to directions, it's very safe.
So far, no studies have shown that it interacts negatively with other medications.
How does it Help Menopausal Dryness? Actually, this is one of the tricky things about black cohosh.
Scientists and herbalists once thought that it interacted with the body in a way that is similar to phytoestrogens, which can actually bind with estrogen receptors just like the real hormone.
Now, however, we know that black cohosh doesn't affect the body in a hormonal way.
Although it's effects are non-hormonal, it has proven to be a good remedy for the common symptoms of menopause, including vaginal dryness, for many women.
Is it Safe for Menopausal Women? There have been absolutely no studies so far showing that black cohosh is unsafe for women who are going through menopause.
That said, it shouldn't be used by pregnant women, nursing women, or children.
Black cohosh has been used by women in Europe for decades, and hardly any women complain of any negative side effects at all.
In fact, therapists consider black cohosh to be so safe that it is often used for high-risk menopause patients, such as those who have a family or personal history of breast cancer.
Instead of using dangerous hormone replacement therapies on these women, therapists choose to help them overcome symptoms like vaginal dryness with black cohosh.
How to Use It to Overcome Vaginal Dryness Like many other natural remedies, the best way to use black cohosh is on a regular basis.
In fact, many women use this natural remedy to ease them into menopause.
As soon as you begin to experience vaginal dryness, it's best to start using this natural supplement as part of your daily supplement regimen.
It comes in many different over-the-counter brands, and you should follow the directions for the particular dosage that you are taking at any given time.