Today’s Solutions: December 19, 2025

Spirituality is all well and good, but as soon as physical symptoms come into play, “enlightenment” often seems just a tad less important. Here are four natural herbs that can help make day-to-day life during ­menopause a little more pleasant. It’s a good idea to consult your doctor on any questions you have about menopause and herbal preparations.
– Harald Gaier, British osteopath, homeopath and medical herbalist

Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa)

 
 
This plant, black cohosh, is effective in treating menopausal symptoms. It can also lessen post-operative functional disorders after removal of the uterus or ovaries.
 
 
Garlic

Garlic lowers not only blood pressure but blood glucose and cholesterol levels, as well as those of other blood lipids. The herb also prevents clot formation, has mild antibiotic and antifungal properties, strengthens the immune system and protects the liver.
 
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

 
During and after menopause, women often experience dry skin, eczema, hair loss, painful breasts and slower healing caused by lower estrogen levels. Evening primrose oil can ease these symptoms, making a new stage of life more manageable.
Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata)

 
Hawthorn’s anti-arrhythmic properties help control cardiac arrhythmia. The plant is able to dilate coronary arteries (which provide blood to the heart), lowering the risk of heart attack and increasing blood flow to the heart. Hawthorn can also lower systolic blood pressure—the first, higher, of the two numbers in a blood pressure reading—which is of particular value for those over 50, who run the highest risk of elevated systolic pressure. This herb also corrects blood pressure that is too low.
Find out more at wddty.com and drgaier.com.

Print this article
More of Today's Solutions

New method uses sound waves to map soil health, stop famine, and restore farm...

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Across the world, soil scientists are trading in their shovels for something unexpected: seismic sensors. In a breakthrough ...

Read More

This simple 15-minute mindset exercise can ease anxiety, science shows

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A growing body of research is revealing how a short, simple activity that is done in just 15 ...

Read More

3 habits of the happiest people

Think of the happiest people you know. Do you find yourself often wondering what they are doing to maintain a general level of joy? ...

Read More

Changemakers of the week: GRuB and SparkNJ

Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, the ones that ...

Read More