Menopausal Syndrome-Facts, Causes, Symptoms, Complications and Its Management with Unani Herbal Medicines: An Overview

Abstract

Abstract
Menopause is generally defined as cessation of periods for 12 months or as time of cessation of ovarian function resulting in permanent amenorrhoea. Menopause normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years; the average being 47 years. Menopause is thus a gradual and natural transitional phase of adjustment between the active and inactive ovarian function and occupies several years of a women’s life and involves biological and psychological changes adjustment. During reproductive years, women is protected by female hormones, i.e. estrogen and progesterone. With menopause, women enter an estrogen deficient phase in their lives, which accelerates the ageing process resulting into greater vulnerability to psychosomatic problems. Hot flushes, sweating, change in mood and libido is some of the important outcomes affecting the quality of life (QoL) in menopausal women. QoL covers physical, functional, emotional, social, and cognitive variables in up to 85% of menopausal women. Long term use of hormone is associated with increased risks for venous thromboembolism, coronary events, stroke and breast cancer. In classical unani text, though menopausal transition is not mentioned as such but its clinical features can be correlated with complications occurring due to Ehtebase haiz (Amenorrhoea) and documented many drugs which are in use to relieve the signs and symptoms related to menopausal syndrome such as Soya, Asgandh, Alsi, Branjasif etc. This review paper focuses on herbal preparations which are useful in menopausal syndrome.
Keywords: Menopause, complications, prevention, herbal medicine