Menopause is the natural decline of female reproductive hormone production and the conclusion of a woman’s menstrual cycle. It usually begins sometime in the 40s or 50s. Common menopause symptoms include hot flashes, brain fog, vaginal dryness, chills, night sweats, weight gain, irregular periods, decreased sex drive, poor sleep, bone loss, headaches, and stress. If you are going through it now, you are probably thinking, “no kidding.”
As hormone levels fluctuate, there are more incidences of anxiety, mood swings, and feelings of distress. Some of the physical changes associated with menopause, especially hot flashes, can be difficult to cope with and impair sleep, leading to more stress.[i] This ends up being a cycle difficult to manage. Women who are more anxious may experience an increased number of hot flashes and/or more severe or intense hot flashes.
With the title of this blog including the word “sage,” I figured it would be great to start our botanicals for menopause symptoms with the herb sage. The genus Salvia, commonly known as sage, is the largest member of the mint family containing over 900 species throughout the world.[ii] Historically, sage use dates to over 4000 years; ancient Egyptians believed it helped with infertility.[iii] Sage has a longstanding reputation as a traditional herbal remedy used by ancient Greek and Roman, Ayurvedic, Native American, and Chinese folk medicines. For centuries, the botanical has been used for pain relief, inflammatory issues, hot flashes, digestive problems, gas, bloating, elevated blood fats, cognitive performance, and memory.[iv]
Since there are many potential plants that may be confused with common sage, it is imperative to know where your sage originates. Enter Sibelius™: Sage. Sibelius™: Sage is a unique and specific extract of the sage species common sage (Salvia officinalis). The unique and specific Sibelius®: Sage extract is derived from plants grown in the UK. The herbal extract has a unique profile when analyzed. Different varieties of Salvia officinalis grown under the same conditions, and even the same variety of Salvia Officinalis grown at the same location but harvested at a different time, do not necessarily react the same.
Research with sage shows that when taken daily over an extended period, sage reduces overall symptoms of menopause, such as flushing, night sweats, palpitations, sleep problems, and memory.[v]
Studies specific to Sibelius™: Sage shows excellent results with memory, recall, speed of attention, increased alertness, calmness, and focus.[vi] [vii]
Download our whitepaper to learn everything about Sibelius™: Sage:
Author: David Foreman
References
[i] American Psychological Association website, https://www.apa.org/topics/stress/body, Stress effects on the body, Created November 1, 2018, accessed May 12, 2022
[ii] Hamidpour M, Hamidpour R, Hamidpour S, Shahlari M. Chemistry, Pharmacology, and Medicinal Property of Sage (Salvia) to Prevent and Cure Illnesses such as Obesity, Diabetes, Depression, Dementia, Lupus, Autism, Heart Disease, and Cancer. J Tradit Complement Med. 2014;4(2):82-8
[iii] Salvia Kornati website, https://salvia.bio/sage-history/ Accessed 9/3/2019
[iv] Natural Medicines Website: https://naturalmedicines.therapeuticresearch.com/databases/food,-herbs-supplements/professional.aspx?productid=504 Last reviewed 8/14/2019, Accessed September 4, 2019
[v] Zeidabadi A, Yazdanpanahi Z, Dabbaghmanesh MH, Sasani MR, Emamghoreishi M, Akbarzadeh M. The effect of Salvia officinalis extract on symptoms of flushing, night sweat, sleep disorders, and score of forgetfulness in postmenopausal women. J Family Med Prim Care. 2020;9(2):1086-1092
[vi] Scholey, Andrew B., et al. “An Extract of Salvia (Sage) with Anticholinesterase Properties Improves Memory and Attention in Healthy Older Volunteers.” Psychopharmacology, vol. 198, no. 1, 2008, pp. 127–139., doi:10.1007/s00213-008-1101-3.
[vii] Kennedy DO et al., Effects of cholinesterase inhibiting sage (Salvia officinalis) on mood, anxiety, and performance on a psychological stressor battery. Neuropsychopharmacology 2006 Apr;31(4):845-52.