The menopause years
Five herbal formulas that women have turned to through the change for centuries. Hormone-free, made at full strength, and honestly a lot easier to take than the old pot-of-brown-soup method. Stuck on which one? Have a go at the little quiz underneath. Takes seconds.
Which sounds most like you right now?
Not sure? Drop us a line
5 formulas
Best seller
Free and Easy Wanderer Plus
4.8 · 26 reviews
Think of it as Xiao Yao San's cooler cousin. Tree peony bark and gardenia went in during the Ming dynasty, and it's been a frazzled-day favourite ever since.
Key herbs: Bupleurum and white peony, plus tree peony bark and gardenia
Classic
Six Flavour Rehmannia
4.7 · 6 reviews
Six herbs, nine centuries, and still one of the most used formulas anywhere. Steady, nourishing and very gentle.
Key herbs: Rehmannia, cornus, Chinese yam, poria
Cooling
Anemarrhena & Phellodendron Rehmannia
4.8 · 8 reviews
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan with two cooling herbs on top. Herbalists tend to reach for it when you're running a bit hot.
Key herbs: Rehmannia and cornus, with anemarrhena and phellodendron
Two herbs
Dong Quai & Astragalus
4.5 · 2 reviews
Astragalus and dong quai, five parts to one. Simple, nourishing and a lovely one for topping up.
Key herbs: Astragalus, dong quai
Most loved
Peace Through the Change
5.0 · 12 reviews
Written specifically for the menopause years, with twelve herbs including rehmannia and mulberry leaf. Twelve five-star reviews and counting.
Key herbs: Rehmannia, mulberry leaf, night-joining vine, poria
Side by side
| Compare | Geng Nian An | Jia Wei Xiao Yao San | Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan | Liu Wei Di Huang Wan | Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Herbs | 12 | 8 | 8 | 6 | Just 2 |
| Best known for | This stage of life, full stop | Those short-fused, frazzled days | Settling warmth | Replenishing | A top-up when energy's low |
| How it feels | Nourishing and calm | Cooling | Cool | Gentle, steady | Warming |
| First recorded | A modern recipe | 1500s, Ming dynasty | Built on Liu Wei, a later version | 1119, Song dynasty | 1247, by Li Dongyuan |
The thinking behind it
Here's something we love. Around two thousand years ago, a classic Chinese medical text described a woman's life as a series of seven-year cycles. Seven, fourteen, twenty-one, and so on. At forty-nine, it said, the body's "heavenly water" naturally starts to run dry, and a new chapter begins.
That idea still shapes how herbalists see the menopause today. Not as something going wrong, but as a shift. Cool, moistening Yin tends to run lower, so a bit of warmth can creep in. The mind can feel less settled. Reserves need topping up.
So the formulas on this page mostly do one of two jobs. They replenish what's running low, or they settle the warmth that comes with it. Some, like Geng Nian An, do a bit of both.
What's inside
A few herbs turn up in formula after formula on this page. Each one comes with a story.
熟地黄
Di Huang, "yellow of the earth"
In its prepared form the root gets steamed and dried again and again until it turns almost black and sticky. Old texts call for nine rounds. Patience, basically.
Found in: Geng Nian An and both Di Huang formulas
牡丹皮
Mu Dan Pi, from China's "king of flowers"
The tree peony was so prized in old China that people travelled for miles just to see it bloom. Herbalists were more interested in the bark, which is known for its cooling nature.
Found in: Geng Nian An, Jia Wei Xiao Yao San and both Di Huang formulas
当归
Dang Gui, "ought to return"
One story says the name comes from wives waiting for husbands who ought to come home. Whatever the truth, it's been a cornerstone of women's formulas for centuries.
Found in: Jia Wei Xiao Yao San and Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang
黄芪
Huang Qi, "yellow leader"
Called the leader because it was rated top of the tonic herbs. In Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang it does most of the heavy lifting.
Found in: Dang Gui Bu Xue Tang
Just so we're clear, this is about how these herbs have traditionally been used. Our tablets are food supplements, mind. Not medicine.
Looking after yourself
No supplement works in a vacuum. The NHS menopause advice covers most of this too, and it's worth a read.
Verified Loox reviews
"Absolutely brilliant"
"Love this product. Been in my routine for years now."
"I'm in my early 60's and appreciate the long term support of them."
Have a go at the little quiz up top. If you're still not sure, most women start with Geng Nian An, since it was written for this stage of life. And you can always drop us a line. We're happy to talk it through.
We'd be lying if we said we were neutral on that one. What we can say is ours are 5:1 strength, made from DaoDi herbs, hormone-free, and based on recipes that have been in use for hundreds of years. Our reviews say the rest.
No, and we'd never suggest swapping one for the other without talking to your GP. Some women prefer a herbal route, some use both. That's a conversation for you and your doctor.
No. They're plant-based herbal formulas with no added hormones, which is exactly why a lot of women come to us.
Some of our customers do, often on the advice of their acupuncturist. If you're thinking about pairing any of our formulas, have a quick chat with us first and we'll help you work it out.
Check with your GP or pharmacist before starting, honestly. That goes double if you're on HRT, blood thinners or anything for blood pressure.
Ten days. There are 60 tablets in a bottle and the usual serving is three in the morning and three in the evening. If you're planning to stick with it, the 6-bottle pack works out cheaper.
Learn with Aura
Just so we're clear: food supplements aren't a replacement for a varied, balanced diet and a healthy lifestyle, and they aren't meant to diagnose, treat or cure anything.
