Women are forced to deal with a constant hormonal change throughout their lives. These can be sudden and dramatic, like puberty. They can also be slower, like the onset of menopause. Even from month to month, the menstrual cycle causes rising and lowering amounts of hormones. Women want an answer to these problems, and in today's world, women want something more natural than hormone replacement pills.

Estrogen hormone replacement therapy was initially conceived of as a fountain of youth, marketed as a method to be 'forever female'. They relieved PMS, symptoms of menopause, and in some cases helped avoid osteoporosis, but eventually it was discovered that they were not the perfect solution.

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.

Other herbs used in traditional medicine by Native Americans help as well. For example, red clover decreases frequency and severity of hot flashes, and black cohosh relieves cramps, bloating, and other PMS complaints. Both of these herbs have been used in natural HRT alternative treatments.

Natural wild yam extract was among the first substances studied by researchers trying to develop the first oral birth control pills. The chemicals in the wild yam act as natural estrogen. It makes sense then that women seeking natural, herbal hormone replacement therapy would return to the wild yam and use it.

In addition, many natural extracts and compounds work as diuretics to help reduce fluid retentions and others reduce spasms and help with cramping. Most effective products will contain a mixture of natural extracts that work together for maximum relief. Sources of plant-based estrogen may work as well for some women as the prescription ones with less risk. Always discuss alternative therapies with your doctor, but there are many effective alternatives to hormone replacement therapy to discuss and use.