Hot flashes that arrive without warning, at any time of day. Nights that get cut in half, even when you've gone to bed exhausted. A mood that rises and falls for no apparent reason. If this sounds familiar, it's not a coincidence, nor just “getting older" without further explanation: it's menopause, a specific hormonal process that affects several body systems at once.
What's really happening in your body
During perimenopause and menopause, estrogen and progesterone levels decline progressively and, above all, irregularly. This drop doesn't just affect the menstrual cycle: estrogens also help regulate body temperature, sleep quality, and the production of neurotransmitters linked to mood. That's why symptoms rarely arrive one at a time.
Hot flashes, for example, occur because the hypothalamus —the area of the brain that regulates temperature— becomes more sensitive to small hormonal fluctuations and reacts as if the body were too hot, even when it isn't. Hence the sudden heat, the sweating, and sometimes the chills that follow.
Why nights get interrupted
Insomnia at this stage isn't always about being unable to fall asleep, but about being unable to stay asleep. Nighttime hot flashes are a direct cause, but the drop in progesterone also plays a role—a hormone with a mildly calming effect on the nervous system. When it declines, it's harder to relax before sleep, and sleep becomes lighter and more fragmented.
Three plants with centuries of tradition behind them
Before modern hormonal research existed, different cultures already turned to certain plants to support this stage. Today we know more about why they were used:
- Sage: is probably the most studied plant in relation to hot flashes, and has traditionally been used to help moderate the sensation of sudden heat.
- Wild yam: contains plant compounds structurally similar to certain hormones, which explains its traditional use in supporting female hormonal balance.
- Schisandra: originating in traditional Chinese medicine, where it was known as the “five-flavor plant." It has historically been used to help the body adapt during periods of change and stress.
GABA is often added to this combination, a neurotransmitter the body produces naturally on its own, linked to a feeling of calm in the nervous system.
It's not about “toughing it out," it's about support
Menopause is a natural process, not an illness, but that doesn't mean it has to be experienced without any kind of support. Understanding what's happening in the body —and why— is the first step toward no longer experiencing each symptom as an isolated event, and starting to see it as part of one single transition that, with the right information and support, can be navigated with more stability.
If you'd like to learn more about how sage, wild yam, and schisandra combine in a daily supplement, get to know BALANCE, designed specifically for this stage.
BALANCE
Fewer hot flashes, more emotional stability.
WHAT IS BALANCE?
A daily supplement with sage, wild yam, and schisandra, plants traditionally used during menopause, together with GABA, in a plant-based, gluten-free formula.