The Menopause Puzzle
A Holistic Guide to Balancing Hormones
The first time Erin woke up drenched in sweat, her heart racing like she’d just run a marathon, she brushed it off. Maybe it was just a bad dream. Or a warm night. But when the same thing happened again the next night - and the next - she started to worry. “I didn’t feel sick, but I didn’t feel like myself either,” she remembers. “I was tired all the time, couldn’t sleep, and I’d snap at people for no reason... I was stressed out.” What she didn’t realize at the time was that she was entering perimenopause - the often confusing, sometimes overwhelming transition period leading up to menopause. And she wasn’t alone.
In the United States, approximately 1.3 million women enter menopause every year, but many don't realize that the transition actually begins several years earlier—a phase called perimenopause. For most women, perimenopause lasts four to ten years, bringing with it a complex array of symptoms. That’s tens of millions of women - often balancing demanding careers, family obligations, and caregiving roles - going through significant hormonal shifts, usually without enough support or preparation.
Recent surveys show that as many as 83% of women experience hot flashes or night sweats during this time. Nearly 60% struggle with disrupted sleep, around 55% encounter mood swings or anxiety, and 44% report problems with memory or concentration. Clearly, perimenopause isn't just about hormones - it's about women's daily lives, emotional well-being, and the support systems that help them navigate this challenging yet entirely natural transition.
So let’s talk about it.
What You Will Learn
- What’s actually happening in your body during perimenopause and menopause
- The real impact of chronic stress and the “progesterone steal”
- How hormone imbalances affect everything from mood to memory to metabolism
- Why liver detoxification plays a key role in symptom relief
- Six targeted supplement strategies to support emotional balance, adrenal health, and hormone regulation
- A hormone-supportive smoothie recipe to boost daily wellness naturally
What’s Actually Happening in Your Body?
Menopause isn’t just the end of your monthly cycle—it’s a full-body recalibration. As estrogen and progesterone begin to decline, it creates a ripple effect across multiple systems.
Symptoms of perimenopause and menopause can include:
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Insomnia or poor sleep quality
- Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Vaginal dryness and changes in libido
- Joint pain and muscle aches
- Digestive issues
- Weight gain, especially around the midsection
- Irregular periods
These changes stem from shifts in hormonal regulation, neurotransmitter activity (especially serotonin and dopamine), thermoregulation, and even the gut-brain axis. It’s not in your head - it’s in your whole body.
The Puzzle Begins: Adrenal Stress and the Progesterone Steal
At the center of many perimenopausal struggles lies chronic HPA Axis dysregulation - a fancy term for what happens when your body is stuck in a prolonged stress response. When your adrenals are constantly pumping out cortisol, they start borrowing from progesterone production to keep up. This is known as the “progesterone steal.”
Lab tests can show low progesterone, but in reality, cortisol is too high from stress, inflammation and high blood sugar. With less progesterone available, estrogen becomes dominant - even if it’s not particularly high.
This imbalance can show up as:
- Mood swings
- Irritability
- Insomnia
- Cyclical migraines
- Breast tenderness
- Heavy periods
- And that’s just the beginning...
Finding the right starting piece: Stress, Estrogen, and the Liver
Let’s take a step back and map this out. The puzzle becomes clearer when we see how each system impacts the others:
- Fatigue, anxiety, poor sleep, brain fog → HPA axis dysfunction
- Chronic stress, elevated blood sugar, inflammation → elevated cortisol → lower progesterone
- Low progesterone + sluggish liver → estrogen dominance
- Estrogen dominance → mood swings, hot flashes, cycle issues
- Overworked liver → poor detox of hormone metabolites
Solving the puzzle doesn’t mean doing everything at once. It means supporting each system based on which one is most stressed. Blood sugar, adrenal health and stress, then moving to HPA balance, liver detox pathways, and emotional regulation where you need it most.
Early detection through these tests can help men manage BPH with natural interventions like diet, supplements, and lifestyle changes before turning to medications or surgery.
🧩 Puzzle Piece #1: Min-Chex® – Emotional Reset
“Min-Chex changed everything for me emotionally,” Erin said. “I stopped feeling like I was walking on a tightrope.”
Min-Chex® is one of the three primary calming (or “tranquilizing”) products in the Standard Process line, offering a balanced blend of minerals, glandular extracts, and B vitamins to support emotional regulation and the stress response. It combines the key ingredients found in both Min-Tran® and Orchex®, making it a stronger option for individuals experiencing nervousness, emotional reactivity, or low mood.
What’s in it:
- Calcium & Magnesium (from Calcium Lactate) - supports muscle relaxation and nervous system balance
- Kelp - provides trace minerals and potassium-rich alkaline ash minerals
- Niacinamide & Vitamin B6 - nourish neurotransmitter pathways involved in mood and stress resilience
- Orchic Extract - supports endocrine balance and nervous system tone
🧩 Puzzle Piece #2: Ovex® P - Supporting Ovarian Function
Next up Ovex® P, a cytosol extract supplement that supports healthy ovarian tissue. As progesterone naturally declines with age, many women experience more anxiety, trouble sleeping, and irregular cycles.
Ovex® P was developed primarily to help women experiencing heavy, prolonged, or irregular menstrual bleeding. It’s particularly effective for those whose periods last longer than five days or who bleed excessively throughout the cycle.
Ovex® P acts as a gentle support for the ovarian glands, helping promote balance in a time of biological fluctuation. It works well in combination with Chaste Tree and Wild Yam Complex to support the body’s ability to regulate cycles and smooth out hormone signaling.
🧩 Puzzle Piece #3: Ashwagandha Complex - Calming the Cortisol Storm
If adrenal stress is the root of the hormone puzzle, Ashwagandha Complex is the herb that helps put out the fire. Ashwagandha is one of the most clinically validated herbs for adrenal and thyroid support - especially relevant when women are dealing with both burnout and hormonal shifts.
This adaptogenic blend from MediHerb® includes:
- Ashwagandha - Known to reduce cortisol, improve sleep, and calm the nervous system
- Licorice root - Supports adrenal recovery
- Skullcap - Helps ease tension and promote restfulness
- Korean Ginseng - A powerful adaptogen traditionally used to support the stress response.
🧩 Puzzle Piece #4: Wild Yam Complex – Gentle Estrogen Modulation
Wild Yam Complex blends six powerful herbs - Wild Yam, Shatavari, St. John’s Wort, Sage, Black Cohosh, and Korean Ginseng - to support women through the ups and downs of menopause.*
It’s packed with plant compounds like saponins, ginsenosides, and hypericins - plus standardized extracts of St. John’s Wort and Ginseng to ensure consistency and strength.
This formula helps:
- Ease mild menopause symptoms like hot flashes and mood swings*
- Support emotional balance and a calm nervous system*
- Soothe occasional cycle-related cramps and tension*
🧩 Puzzle Piece #5: Chaste Tree - Restoring Hormone Rhythms
If your cycles are erratic or you're skipping periods, Chaste Tree (Vitex agnus-castus) can help nudge your body back into rhythm.
It works by supporting pituitary function, helping your body naturally balance luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which regulate ovulation and hormone production.
Many women report that with consistent use, Chaste Tree helps regulate their cycle, reduce PMS symptoms, and improve luteal phase progesterone levels.
🧩 Puzzle Piece #6: Ovatrophin PMG® - Cellular Support for Ovarian Tissue
As we move into the post-menopausal years, ovarian activity slows - but the tissue still benefits from support. Ovatrophin PMG® provides DNA-specific extracts that nourish ovarian tissue and help modulate immune responses that can affect hormone-related aging.
This supplement can be especially helpful for postmenopausal women who want to maintain vitality, skin elasticity, and metabolic balance.
Putting the Pieces Together
Navigating perimenopause and menopause can feel like solving a complex puzzle without a clear picture. Yet, when you take a step back and see how each element connects - your adrenal health, hormonal balance, emotional resilience, and overall wellness - you begin to form the complete picture of empowered health.
Remember, these phases are natural seasons of transformation, filled not only with challenges but also opportunities for profound self-understanding and growth. With a holistic approach - combining nutritional support, herbal remedies, stress resilience practices, and emotional nourishment - you’re equipped to reclaim your sense of vitality, balance, and strength.
You’re not alone in this journey. Millions of women have successfully walked this path, discovering greater health, wisdom, and empowerment along the way. Now it’s your turn.
Start by choosing just one piece of your puzzle to focus on today, and then gradually integrate the others. Every step you take brings you closer to thriving - not just surviving - during menopause.
Your healthiest chapter is yet to come. Let's embrace it together.
Hormone-Harmony Liver Detox Smoothie Recipe
Here’s our go-to smoothie for daily hormone support.
Ingredients:
- 1 cup unsweetened almond, oat or coconut milk
- 1 handful kale or spinach
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 green apple
- 1 tbsp ground flaxseed
- Juice of 1/4 lemon
- 1/2 banana (for creaminess)
- 1 scoop SP Complete®
- Optional: 1 tsp beet powder
Instructions:
Blend and enjoy! This combo delivers liver-supportive fiber, phytonutrients, and antioxidants that help move hormones out of the body efficiently.
References
- National Institutes of Health. (2024). Menopause. In StatPearls. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK507826/
- Society for Women’s Health Research. (n.d.). Menopause. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://swhr.org/health_focus_area/menopause/
- Statista. (2023). Share of women with select menopause symptoms U.S. 2023. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1450588/menopause-symptoms-us-women/
- Shahnazi, M., Nahaee, J., Mohammad-Alizadeh-Charandabi, S., & Tabrizi, F. M. (2013). The effects of Salvia officinalis on hot flashes in postmenopausal women. Iranian Journal of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility, 16(60), 18–25. https://www.sid.ir/en/Journal/ViewPaper.aspx?id=331014
- Geller, S. E., & Studee, L. (2005). Botanical and dietary supplements for menopausal symptoms: What works, what does not. Journal of Women's Health, 14(7), 634–649. https://doi.org/10.1089/jwh.2005.14.634
- Panossian, A., & Wikman, G. (2010). Effects of adaptogens on the central nervous system and the molecular mechanisms associated with their stress—protective activity. Pharmaceuticals, 3(1), 188–224. https://doi.org/10.3390/ph3010188
- Park MK, Kwon HY, Ahn WS, Bae S, Rhyu MR, Lee Y. Estrogen activities and the cellular effects of natural progesterone from wild yam extract in mcf-7 human breast cancer cells. Am J Chin Med. 2009;37(1):159-67. doi: 10.1142/S0192415X09006746. PMID: 19222119.
- Min-Chex® Standard Process Inc. (n.d.). Min-Chex®. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.standardprocess.com/products/min-chex
- Ovex® P Standard Process Inc. (n.d.). Ovex® P. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.standardprocess.com/products/ovex-pNatural Healthy Concepts+2Amazon+2doc.vortala.com+2
- Ovatrophin PMG® Standard Process Inc. (n.d.). Ovatrophin PMG®. Retrieved March 31, 2025, from https://www.standardprocess.com/products/ovatrophin-p-pmg
- Chandrasekhar, K., Kapoor, J., & Anishetty, S. (2012). A prospective, randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled study of safety and efficacy of a high-concentration full-spectrum extract of Withania somnifera root in reducing stress and anxiety in adults. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine, 34(3), 255–262. https://doi.org/10.4103/0253-7176.106022
- American Family Physician. (2005). Chasteberry. American Academy of Family Physicians, 72(5), 821–824. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/pubs/afp/issues/2005/0901/p821.htmlAAFP
Statement on Research and Efficacy
This article is grounded in clinical insights and credible research aimed at supporting women through the transitions of perimenopause and menopause. The protocols and products discussed—particularly those from Standard Process and MediHerb—combine time-honored herbal traditions with modern scientific understanding to offer holistic support for hormonal balance, stress resilience, and overall well-being.
Key ingredients such as ashwagandha, chaste tree, black cohosh, wild yam, and adaptogenic herbs have been studied for their impact on the endocrine system, emotional regulation, and menopausal symptom relief. For instance, ashwagandha has been shown to reduce cortisol levels and support adrenal function, while chaste tree may help regulate progesterone production and menstrual cycles. These natural compounds are often used to address common concerns such as hot flashes, mood swings, fatigue, and sleep disturbances.
While individual responses vary, these integrative strategies aim to ease the menopausal transition by working with the body’s natural rhythms. For best results, they are most effective when paired with lifestyle practices such as nutrient-rich nutrition, restorative sleep, mindful movement, and stress management. As always, we recommend working with a qualified healthcare provider to create a personalized wellness plan that fits your unique needs.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The supplements and herbal products mentioned are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Although research and clinical experience support their use, studies referenced here do not reflect the products in this article and is intended for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting any new supplement or health program, especially if you are on hormone therapy, have underlying health conditions, or are experiencing severe menopausal symptoms.