Natural Health: Is there an alternative to vaginal oestrogen? 

Using a natural and organic lubricant or vaginal moisturiser is an alternative to vaginal oestrogen therapy Picture: iStock 

I’m in my early 50s, and my female friends are encouraging me to use vaginal oestrogen therapy to help with lubrication. Is there a natural alternative?

You could benefit from using a natural and organic lubricant or vaginal moisturiser.

The company ‘Yes’ has formulated a certified organic range of intimate products that benefit the internal membranes. Check out its range available at health stores or at Evergreen ( evergreen.ie). Prices start at €10.65.

Daily exercise is thought to help improve oestrogen and serotonin levels (serotonin also helps to regulate mood).

Make sure you are well hydrated, as this is important for healthy skin and crucial for the health of internal organs.

Essential fatty acids are also important for nourishing your tissues, lubricating, and reducing inflammation. Low-fat diets are often a precursor to dryness — whether it be the mouth, the skin, the eyes, or the internal membranes.

Along with increasing your dietary essential fatty acid (EFA) intake through nuts and seeds (especially flax and chia seeds), oily fish, or a targeted supplement, you can also take vitamin E capsules. One of the most natural and effective (not to mention least expensive) methods to ease vaginal dryness is to insert a vitamin E capsule intravaginally. Your body's pH will dissolve the capsule, allowing the contents to act directly on the area.

Dong quai is an adaptogenic female tonic herb that helps rebalance hormones and specifically acts on the reproductive organs. Not only does the herb help with increasing lubrication in the vaginal walls, it also works to boost the sex drive.

Eating plenty of whole foods and avoiding foods labelled as ‘diet’ or ‘low fat’ is a good start. Also, it’s key not to smoke cigarettes, since this both dehydrates your tissues and decreases oestrogen levels.

I suffer from occasional bouts of neuralgia in my face - sudden and painful pain attacking my cheek and sometimes my lips too. My symptoms are worse during the winter. What natural remedy would you suggest?

Natural remedies that help reduce inflammation can help with neuralgia, especially when combined with an effective therapy such as acupuncture.

Feverfew, turmeric, and Boswellia serrata are all great anti-inflammatory options for pain relief.

Acupuncture is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practice that involves inserting hair-thin needles into specific points on the body. It can be very effective in reducing both the intensity and frequency of neuralgia pain, particularly trigeminal neuralgia (characterised by intense facial pain).

Other natural remedies worth considering include ginger root, skullcap, black or blue cohosh, vervain, valerian, and cramp bark.

Ginger has a specific action that helps reduce inflammation and relieve pain in nerves, muscles, and joints, whereas the other herbs mentioned work by nourishing the nervous system and directly addressing inflamed nerves.

Biofeedback techniques are also worth looking into. They can help the body to effectively balance and mitigate pain responses.

It is crucial that you tell your doctor of any remedies or natural therapies you are using, as some may be contraindicated with prescribed medications.

In some cases, caffeine, alcohol, and spicy foods can exacerbate these types of neuralgia symptoms, so it is a good idea to experiment with removing these from your diet and note if it is helpful.