Hey! Just so you know - I now write and share insights over on Substack (it's like a newsletter-meets-blog platform where we can actually talk to each other!). While this post lives here, you'll find all my new work and our growing community at https://artofmenopausing.substack.com.
The Supplement Paradox: A Series About Menopause & Natural Solutions
It often starts subtly.
Maybe you're not sleeping as well as you used to. Your mood feels... off. Your energy isn't what it was. Nothing serious enough for a doctor's visit, but enough to make you wonder what's happening. So you do what most of us do – turn to Google, join some Facebook groups, and start researching natural solutions.
This is the first in a series of posts exploring the complex world of natural menopause supplements. This is what I find frustrating: everyone's advice can be simultaneously right and completely wrong.
In this series, we'll explore:
Why women turn to natural solutions (and what we're really seeking)
The magnesium maze (and why what works for your friend might not work for you)
The ashwagandha paradox (it's not what you think 🧠)
How to make peace with supplements (without losing your mind or emptying your wallet 💸)
Today, we're starting with the story I've watched unfold thousands of times – the journey from subtle symptoms to supplement shopping cart, and why it's more complex than those late-night Google searches suggest.
The journey to natural solutions usually goes something like this:
Late-night symptom searches lead to 👉🏽 wellness blogs and Facebook groups, 👉🏽 to Amazon carts filled with supplements promising relief. Magnesium for sleep, ashwagandha for stress, omega 3's for hot flashes – the list grows longer as symptoms persist.
Here's the thing – I get it. I truly do. When you're dealing with symptoms that feel too vague for a doctor but too disruptive to ignore, the world of natural supplements feels like a beacon of hope.
The bottles promise gentle, natural relief. The reviews share stories of women finding their way back to themselves. And best of all, you can take control without waiting for things to get "bad enough" for medical intervention.
But after three decades watching this scene play out – from a yoga instructor and massage therapist, behind the supplement counter to my Ayurvedic practice – I need to share something important: "natural" doesn't automatically mean "safe" or even "effective."
In fact, some of the most common natural supplements recommended for menopause can cause more suffering than relief when used incorrectly or by the wrong person.
Why Women Turn to Natural Solutions
Seeking Solutions Outside the System
"Have you tried losing weight?" asked the doctor, barely glancing up from her computer. My client Sarah sat there, her carefully documented list of symptoms – night sweats, heart palpitations, and anxiety – completely ignored.
She'd waited three months for this appointment. Two days later, she was doing what millions of women do: desperately researching natural menopause solutions online, comparing supplement reviews, and joining Facebook groups for answers.
Sarah's story isn't unique. Over my years working in natural health – from yoga, massage and managing supplement departments to my Ayurvedic practice – I've witnessed countless women's journey from frustrated patient to determined self-researcher.
They're scouring websites, following "natural menopause" influencers, joining online communities, and yes, filling their Amazon carts with promises of relief. Let's talk about why women are abandoning conventional medicine in droves – and why we need to pay attention.
It’s just Menopause
It usually starts with what I call "the dismissal dance." You know the steps: you share your symptoms, they're minimized or dismissed. Hot flashes? "That's just menopause." Mood changes? "It's hormonal." Fatigue? "Well, you're not twenty anymore."
This dismissal isn't just frustrating – it's dangerous. It leaves women feeling unheard and desperate for alternatives, sometimes leading to self-prescribed supplement regimens that might not be appropriate for their unique situation.
When Healthcare Isn't Actually Accessible
Then there's the practical reality: many women simply can't access conventional healthcare consistently. Maybe it's the three-month wait for a specialist appointment. Or perhaps it's the cost – especially for those in the healthcare coverage gap.
Taking Back Control
Here's something we don't talk about enough:
We have a deep human need for agency over our own health and bodies.
After being told to "just deal with it" or offered one-size-fits-all solutions, the ability to walk into a store and choose your own treatment feels empowering.
Natural supplements seem to offer what conventional medicine often doesn't: options, control, and hope.
The Promise of "Natural"
When conventional healthcare feels out of reach, many women turn to what seems like a more accessible solution.
Let's be honest – we've all been influenced by the compelling story that "natural" equals "better."
It's a narrative that resonates especially deeply during menopause, when many women are questioning conventional hormone therapy and seeking gentler alternatives. This isn't just marketing – it taps into a genuine desire to work with our bodies rather than in spite of them.
Finding Your Tribe
Something fascinating happens in natural food stores that rarely occurs in doctor's offices: women talk to each other. They share stories, compare notes, and offer support. The woman stocking shelves might share her own experience with different supplements. The customer behind you might chime in about what worked for her. This creates a sense of community and shared wisdom that's deeply appealing.
The Complex Truth About Natural Solutions
Understanding these drives to seek natural solutions is crucial - but so is understanding the science behind what we're actually putting in our bodies. Women turn to natural solutions for deeply valid reasons - the frustration of being dismissed by healthcare providers, the desire to take control of wellbeing, the appeal of gentler approaches.
Yet what works beautifully for one woman can create havoc for another. The truth about supplements during menopause isn't found in late-night Google searches or Facebook group recommendations. It lives in the space between conventional and natural medicine, where wisdom acknowledges complexity and honors individual experience.
In part 2 of this series, we'll explore magnesium - why this mineral affects women so differently during menopause, and what that teaches us about personalizing our approach to supplements.
If this resonates with you, there's a longer conversation happening over on my Substack where I've created a publication called:
"Art of Menopausing: Hidden in Plain Sight"
And if you're feeling overwhelmed by all the conflicting supplement advice?
Pour yourself a cup of chai, and let's chat for 30 minutes. You don't have to figure this out alone. Here's the link to my calendar, no pressure.
Hello again! I've moved my writing and community space to Substack, where I can focus more on what matters most - connecting deeply with you and sharing meaningful insights about [Ayurveda/menopause/wellbeing/sanskrit/midlife matters], without the technical fuss of website management.
Over on Substack, we're building something special - a space where wisdom flows both ways and every subscription (free or paid) is part of an energy exchange that helps keep this work sustainable. You'll find new thoughtful perspectives, deeper discussions, and a community that gets it.
Care to join me in deeper conversations? Head over to Art of Menopausing Hidden in Plain Sight. Everything's free to read, and you can choose to support this work with a paid subscription if it resonates with you.
Peace
Chitra