Can Acupuncture Help Control Menopause Symptoms

Different cultures and nationalities have different methods in treating various illnesses. Something that is interesting to note is that Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Acupuncture are becoming more and more popular in helping to control menopausal symptoms.

Traditional Chinese Medicine views menopause as a time for a woman's body to shut down the natural reproductive cycle in order to conserve her life energy, so that while she ages, she can retain all her resources.

A difference in Eastern culture, in comparison to Western culture, menopause is quite uneventful. The reason it is so different between cultures is that western women live a more fast-paced life, have more stress, and eat a poorer diet, thus exacerbating the symptoms of menopause.

Another believes in Traditional Chinese Medicine is that menopause is not a syndrome, but that the imbalance of hormones is wreaking havoc on the female body.

Acupuncture works through the belief that there are over 2000 acupuncture trigger points in the body. These triggers are all linked together in a group of 20 different pathways. Each pathway is responsible for conducting life force between the surface of the body, and the internal organs. It is believed that once the pathway is able to keep the life force flowing between these links, the body and the mind stay healthy.

Using acupuncture to control menopause symptoms varies from woman to woman. The acupuncturist will access which of the symptoms of menopause the woman is suffering from and then use the pathways to relieve her symptoms. Only certain pathways are used to relieve the individual symptoms a woman is experiencing. Every menopausal woman is treated as unique based on her symptoms.

Acupuncture is administered by the use of thin, solid needles that are inserted in targeted trigger points. The purpose of the needle is to help stimulate the pathways to encourage life force production. This could be done by placing the needles to the shoulders, arms, legs, and even the feet. When the needles are inserted correctly, there should be no pain, or bleeding, however, you may experience a slight tingling, or numbness that dissipates quickly. Treatment is known to be very relaxing and usually lasts about thirty minutes. It is also wise to remember that each woman and her symptoms are different. Using acupuncture as a means of treatment is usually a long, ongoing therapy. You may feel the effects right away or it may take months for you to feel the advantages of using acupuncture to treat your symptoms.

If you plan on using acupuncture to treat your symptoms of menopause, make sure that you visit a licensed acupuncture therapist to determine the most realistic, and productive course needed to treat your symptoms.

Can acupuncture help relieve the symptoms of Menopause? Yes, it can. It has been proven to relieve symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia, vaginal dryness, stress, and anxiety.

As with any treatment, make sure you research every method available and speak to your physician to make sure that you are getting all the treatment needed to maintain your hormonal imbalance during the transition of menopause.

Menopausal Symptoms

All women are different and as a result, may display menopausal symptoms over a relatively short time span, or for ten years or more. As a general rule of thumb, some have suggested that a woman's mother can be a benchmark to help determine one's own menopause symptom time line. Having noted this, sisters often display wildly varying symptoms, both in overall length and individual bout severity.

Menopausal symptoms are naturally occurring biological events and part of the natural progression in every woman's life that comes with age. Knowledge of menopausal symptoms in advance will help to ease the transition period. In itself, knowledge will not ease menopausal symptoms but will help to prepare one mentally for the ordeal. Knowledge can help to make one aware of and implement changes to diet and exercise, as well as appropriate treatment plans in advance of the onset of menopausal symptoms.

Individual menopausal symptoms are frequently categorized as either mild, moderate, severe, or very severe. About 15% of American and European women display symptoms in the very severe category.

Fortunately, a significant percentage of women only endure mild to moderate symptoms. Many women elect to control these symptoms themselves without resorting to hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or bio-identicals. Knowledge of menopausal symptom triggers or catalysts, coupled with specifically designed diet and exercise plans and an attuned vitamin and mineral regimen can go a long way to ameliorating menopausal symptoms.

Early changes to diet and exercise are especially important. One of the chronic manifestations associated with menopause is weight gain, especially around the middle. Research indicates that belly fat (as it is sometimes unflatteringly referred to) is one of the more common menopausal symptoms and directly linked to decreased oestrogen levels and hormone imbalance.

Early modification of diet and exercise can help to abate weight gain around the waist in post menopausal women. This is significant for a number of health related reasons. Women who gain weight above the hips are put at greater risk of developing heart disease and certain types of cancer. Pre menopausal women frequently have a problem with weight gain in the hips, thighs, and buttocks. However, following menopause weight gain frequently shifts to the waist. Again, this shift has been directly attributed to decreased oestrogen levels and hormonal imbalances.

Maintaining the same waist measurements as prior to the onset of menopause is difficult if one is unfortunate enough to display another common menopausal symptom - menopausal food and/or beverage cravings.

Menopausal food and beverage cravings are especially insidious as they tend to override one's own natural inclination to limit or avoid personal food or beverage favorites. Menopause food and beverage cravings are directly related to hormone changes and reduced oestrogen levels. Women experiencing these cravings may feel as though they have little or no control over these guilty pleasure indulgences. If a more than 5% weight gain can be attributed to menopausal food cravings corrective measures should be considered.

Hot flashes and night sweats are most likely the most common menopausal symptoms. Hot flashes and night sweats can vary in bout length and severity depending on the individual woman. Unless intervening action is taken, hot flashes and night sweats may increase (following the onslaught of menopause) as oestrogen levels continue to decrease.

Hot flashes and night sweats can be partially negated with the application of appropriate lightweight clothing and bedding. Layers are better than single heavy layers. Wicking wear has come a long way in the past decade as new non-absorbent fabrics have become available to manufacturers.

Hot flashes and night sweats are the most immediately irritating of menopausal symptoms. Hot flashes have been described as a warm to hot internal burning sensation that builds quickly to intensity in the face, neck, and upper chest area. Individual bouts can last for upward to 20 minutes and can be displayed as frequently as every one to two hours.

Night sweats can be even more debilitating long term as they can adversely affect sleep patterns. Women experiencing moderate to severe night sweats find it very difficult to get a full, restful night's sleep. A minimum of six to eight hours of uninterrupted REM sleep is necessary to achieve a good night's sleep. Waking up every hour to two hours with night sweat bouts is not conducive to this process. Hot flashes and night sweats have been directly linked to hormone imbalance and reduced oestrogen levels.

Other common menopause symptoms include irregular periods, loss of or decreased libido, vaginal dryness, fatigue, hair loss (or gain), sleep disorders, difficulty concentrating, memory loss or lapses, dizziness, incontinence, bloating, increased allergy sensitivity, brittle or easily broken fingernails, changes in body odor, racing heart beat, depression, anxiety, irritability, panic attacks, breast tenderness, migraines, aching joints, burning sensation in mouth or tongue or bad taste in the mouth, electric shocks, digestive irregularities, gum problems, bleeding gums, muscle tensions, itchy skin, and tingling extremities.

Natural Menopause Relief Secrets - 4 Natural Remedies For Menopause Symptoms

It should be understood that menopause is not a disease. Menopause is only a stage in the life cycle of a woman. Too many women, who are going through menopause, bear this in mind. Your body is beautiful. Everything, every creature is beautiful. Menopause can be a liberating experience, and I know of many menopausal women who are happy and are enjoying it. What you need is an understanding of yourself and a stronger faith in God.

The secret to living an enjoyable and meaningful life after menopause is to take care of the body early in life. Women and everyone in general should take care of their bodies early in life so that it can serve us better at age.

Some of the natural remedies to the symptoms of menopause are as follows:

Water
Water is natural but does more work in the body than many know. The importance of water for proper functioning of the body cannot be over emphasized. Early in the morning, on rising from bed, drink three to four cups of water. It is not enough to do this for a month or two. Make it a habit. If you are able to do this continually for a year, you will see what a transformation will come upon your body. The young women should keep this in mind rather than wait until old age sets in. As for those nearing menopause, water is a great help. If you take water adequately as described above, you will soon notice a reduction in hot flashes and internal heat.

Take Bitter Leaf
Bitter leaf is one of the best woman friendly plants. It is good for the body either before, during or after menopause. Bitter leaf takes care of such symptoms as hot flashes, internal heat and rheumatism. With bitter leaf around, women do not need to take artificial oestrogen which in any case has its own negative side effects. Bitter leaf does not supply oestrogen but helps the body to produce the amount of oestrogen needed for life. Squeezing the fresh leaves of bitter leaf in water and taking a glass every morning and night is advisable. This is not only good for those who are already experiencing the symptoms of menopause and those who have attained menopause. The use of bitter leaf has proven to be one of the best reliefs for menopause.

Take Honey
Menopausal women should take plenty of honey. A lot has been said about honey. Those who take honey regularly will remain fresh, healthy and strong till old age. They will go through menopause without falling victims of the symptoms. Mix four desert spoons of honey with half glass of water and drink twice daily.

The Use of Wonder Tincture
Wonder tincture is another effective natural preparation that eases the symptoms of menopause.

Menopause Treatments - Holistic Treatment As Alternative to Conventional Treatment

Menopause symptoms are difficult to deal with that is why women are constantly trying to find ways to cure these symptoms. The conventional treatment of menopause symptoms is through HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy while the alternative treatment is through the holistic approach or holistic treatment. Other menopause treatments are still being studied and hopefully in the future, there would be a lot of credible results that can help women in their quest of curing the menopausal symptoms.

Usually, the menopausal age starts at the age of 51 years old. But younger women who are in their 20's and 30's are already experiencing some of the menopausal symptoms like hot flashes and night sweats. They're already experiencing these symptoms due to the presence of Zenoestrogens, their constant exposure to new toxins and their genetic predispositions.

Night sweats and hot flashes are the result of varying levels of estrogen and the balancing of a woman's hormones. When the ovaries shrink and the level of the estrogen in the woman's body varies, the body's reaction is to increase its temperature and sweat to cool the skin. The sweating is usually severe at night, thus having the name "night sweats".

Modern medicine explores the holistic treatment for menopause because modern medicine is open to new approach that could help treat the symptoms of menopause.

Studies are being made regarding the holistic treatment and what it could contribute to the menopausal symptoms. It should be noted that not all plant-based alternatives are being studied. Some plant-based alternatives that were studied yielded positive results and are proven to be safe and effective while some alternatives are still being researched.

The holistic treatment of menopausal symptoms can be as effective as the HRT, but the actual shifting from using HRT to the holistic treatment is difficult to attain because there are still a lot of people who are not convinced about the effectiveness of the holistic treatment. Some people are still having doubts about shifting from HRT to the holistic treatment because not even one credible personality or group is publicly endorsing the product saying "yes, it is safe and effective".

Extensive research should be done to point out which holistic treatment is effective and which is not because not all holistic treatments are effective.

The only way to see if the holistic approach is effective is by doing trial and error, personal research, reading available researches and its results, recommendations from trustworthy people, and having a money-back guarantee from the manufacturers.

The US government is implementing new laws to protect the people. They are requiring manufacturers to put labels, expiration dates and have at least one of its active ingredients to be tested in the laboratory.

Menopause treatments are a great help to women who are undergoing menopause because the symptoms are difficult to deal with and women are greatly affected by it.

Menopause Symptoms - Natural Remedies and Treatment

Menopause is a normal phase in every woman's life. It is caused by the fact that ovulation does not occur anymore and as a consequence, menstruation stops. This of course implies the fact that a bunch of hormonal changes take place. They begin long before the first menopause symptoms are being felt because the body prepares well in advance. Menopause symptoms are not the same in all women, but they can differ greatly from one woman to another depending on various factors and individual characteristics. The age at which menopause occurs also varies from woman to woman.

The first menopause symptoms are usually experienced at around 51 years, but there are women experiencing a much earlier or late menopause. Lower estrogen levels in the body lead to a bunch of symptoms and to changes in the way a woman looks. The skin and the hair condition might not be as good as they used to be. Besides this, there are also other menopause symptoms that a woman in menopause will experience. Some of them are easier to cope with, others are more difficult. Here's a list with the most common menopause symptoms, but it is not compulsory that all of them are experienced at once or by every women. Some women might not have at all certain symptoms.

1. Hot flashes - Some women feel extremely hot, while others extremely cold at normal temperature levels. Night sweats are also common.

2. Vaginal dryness that can cause pain during lovemaking.

3. Sleep problems.

4. Bladder problems - Frequent infections, urinary incontinence.

5. Irritability, depression, anxiety, loss of sexual appetite, mood swings, etc.

Menopause can be dealt with using natural remedies that usually don't have any side effects. They provide relief and make the woman's life easier. However, some herbs might interact with prescribed medication, so it might be best to ask for medical advice. The following are efficient natural remedies against menopause symptoms.

1. Foods with high content of estrogen: cabbage, corn, apples, cucumbers, peas, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, soy, sesame seeds, olives and olive oil.

2. Black cohosh - It ameliorates all the menopause symptoms.

3. St John's Wort - It is recommended for irritability and mood swings.

4. Flaxseed oil - Reduces hot flashes and pain in the chest area.

5. Natural creams and lotions made out of essential oils in order to reduce dryness of the skin or vaginal dryness. For instance, one ounce of almond oil mixed with no more than two drops of geranium oil and with a capsule of vitamin E makes a perfect lotion against vaginal dryness.

6. Adequate diet that will provide plenty of vitamins and minerals.

Menopause Symptoms and Perimenopause - Causes, Treatment and Relief

Menopause Symptoms are one of the most commonly found healthcare issues among women across the world. It is believed that in most nations, irrespective of their socio-economic conditions or ethnical differences, more than 50% women are likely to be suffering from some form of menopausal condition at any time. There is no defined age when these indications can arise. However, their onset is usually in the early 40s where general guidelines suggest that a woman officially enters the menopausal phase past 45 years. These symptoms begin during the perimenopause period. This is the time when menopausal indications become more regular and the female's body is slowly shaping towards menopause which essentially means a decreased ability to conceive and faster aging due to significant dip in the concentration of progesterone and estrogen. These are the two, primary female hormones and when their levels start falling, the overall health of a woman is affected, including her ability to procreate, reproduce and retain youthfulness apart from her psychological composure.

Understand Common Menopause Symptoms:

1. Menstrual Irregularities

This problem can arise in the form of heavy periods, delayed periods or painful periods. Dipping volumes of estrogen are the primary cause for this. It is perhaps the most common and yet, the most confusing of all symptoms. This is because menstrual irregularities can arise due to a wide range of reasons. This includes stressful lifestyles, exposure to environmental pollutants, smoking, drug/alcohol abuse or the overuse of birth control pills. Even obesity and conditions like PCOS can cause menstrual cramping and bleeding apart from inducing absence of menses in some women. Some females are prone to having untimely periods from their teenage years. As a result, it is usually very hard to diagnose menopausal progression based upon this symptom alone. Thus, other indications listed below are cross-checked.


2. Hot Flashes

Also referred to as temperature flushes or cold flushes, these are a typical symptom of women gradually progressing towards menopause. These are essentially sensations of sudden warmth that rushes through the body for a moment. This is often followed by a similar surge of coldness in the face or upper back. These temperature flushes are a result of rapid fluctuations in the hormonal system. Decreasing estrogen levels are believed to induce hot flashes.


3. Night Sweating

Night sweating occurs in the late evenings or night while hot flashes are more likely to happen during the daytime. However, night sweats can be more intense and discomforting, hampering sleep. This is a state of extreme precipitation, often accompanied by some degree of anxiety, during the night.


4. Lowered Libido Levels

Menopause is medically referred to as the body's way of indicating that the woman is now past her prime of sexual and reproductive health. This also includes the psychological part of sex. Lowered libido refers to a decreased liking for sexual activities, physically and mentally. The patient might not be aroused in the manner before and might complain about decreasing sexual desire.


5. Extreme Mood Fluctuations

Women are prone to suffering from hormonal mood fluctuations. However, with the onset of menopausal bodily changes, the mood swings become increasingly pronounced and intense. This includes sudden onset of bouts of crying, anxiety, depression, happiness or a fatigued feeling. In extreme cases, the condition might seem akin to a psychological disorder.


6. Vaginal Dryness

Along with falling libido levels, the compromised sexual health of the female is further impaired with physical deterrents to sexual activities such as vaginal dryness. With estrogen levels falling appreciably, the vaginal tissues start losing their flexibility, becoming increasingly dry. This makes intercourse painful along with making the entire area irritating and itchy. With increased dryness, the incidence of vaginal infections is also raised.

Infertility: A Quick Natural Solution

Infertility and early menopausal symptoms (or the sudden absence of your period) can be due to some form of hormonal imbalance. For example, your estrogen vs progesterone levels can be out of sink and ovulation can be halted because of it. Without ovulation, of course, you cannot be fertile. This may well be OK with you, but a healthy production of estrogen (and progesterone in the 2nd part of the menstrual cycle) are very important for women and provide a natural protection against an array of diseases.

If you find you are infertile and your periods are missing, and you are too young to be 'accepting' menopause as a natural stage (roughly speaking menopausal symptoms usually begin in the late forties or early fifties), you may want to carry out some tests to make sure you know the cause of these problems. But when you know you are only suffering from some form of hormonal imbalances, or you are deficient in ovulation-stimulating hormones (for example), you will be faced with a few choices: pharmaceutical treatments and natural alternatives; I was very impressed at how, a simple homeopathic treatment immediately restored my menstrual cycle when no other supplement (including Vitex) could.

If you are infertile but still have a menstrual cycle, a homeopath may prescribe Folliculinum 3x once or twice a day, depending on your specific condition, to be taken on the 1st day of your period for 14 days. If you do not have a menstrual cycle, start any day and take it for 14 days.

After that, on the 15th day, you may be prescribed either (Homeopathic) Progesterone (3x or 6c, depending on your specific symptoms) once a day or Sepia (30c) once a day, for 14 days, thus imitating the menstrual cycle (14 days of estrogen-based 'stimulation' + 14 days of progesterone-based stimulation [or, in the case of Sepia, rectifying other imbalances if your physical condition so require] = 28 days).

In my case only after a few soft tablets of folliculinum 3x, I immediately started to ovulate and, from that point onwards, my whole menstrual cycle was restored. I was delighted that something so simple made such a difference in my life.

At the same time, not only did I restore my menstrual cycle and forgot all about some unexplained early menopause (ridiculously early!), but my skin, hair and overall body looked and felt better.

Homeopathic remedies come in many dosages; understanding the right dose is essential for an effective treatment. If you use the wrong dose, your treatment will not work.

Sage Helps Menopausal Women Rid Of Headaches and Harmful Toxins

If you are getting chronic migraines as a side effect of menopause then you may want to consider making some long term adjustments in your daily schedule. Yes you can take a pain killer every time you feel the onset of a headache, but why not get to the root of the problem? You are getting these headaches because of unbalanced chemicals in your body. You can't have an effect without a cause. Finding out the cause of your headaches and nurturing the problem will free you from those chronic migraines WITHOUT adding chemicals to your body. Pain killers only temporarily solve the problem; while taking a daily supplement for your menopause would help you avoid all the side effects associated with the life stage. One particularly helpful ingredient to look out for is Sage. Sage is ideal for menopausal related headaches.

Sage is a natural antioxidant that is frequently used for menopausal relief. It was originally used by the Ancient Egyptians to help with infertility problems. They also used the antioxidant to help cure illnesses. Now not only is sage used to help treat menopause symptoms but it is used as a wonderful cooking spice. It is a grayish green colored plant that smells of the earth when crushed. It is capable of growing in a range of climates but is originally from the Mediterranean and Spain.

The term sage literally means "to save" in Latin. Its cleansing nature helps rid the body of harmful toxins. This is what helps take away headaches. Headaches are one of the common side effects of menopause. Aside from treating headaches it can help with the anxiety, night sweats, and fatigue associated with menopause.

Women tend to start seeing symptoms of menopause in their late 30's to 40's and the stage could last for up to 10 years. It is smart to start taking a relief supplement on the onset of menopause in order to keep your body as balanced as possible in preparation for the chemical changes that are about to happen. If you prepare your body for menopause you can potentially escape the unwanted side effects.

You can find relief formulas with sage in the formula easily online or in vitamin stores. Sage works best when paired with other high quality extracts that work in conjunction with each other to relieve symptoms. Some other ingredients that work well are black cohosh root, dong quai, and false unicorn root.

Menopause Bloating - The Easiest Methods to Say Goodbye

Menopause is not a health complication, but a normal natural phase of a woman's life. Resulting due to the hormonal imbalance due to their stopped secretion from the ovaries, these changes are linked to dozens of other uncomfortable symptoms in the life of a woman which have come up due to the end of her reproductive cycle. Today researchers have come up with various treatments and other options which if followed nicely can help relieve the unpleasant symptoms to a great extent if not completely. The more common symptoms a women experiences during the onset of menopause include; hot flashes, vaginal dryness, bloating, sleeplessness and many others.

The sudden decrease of hormones like estrogen the major cause of this life transition is often recommended to be tackled with therapies like Hormonal Replacement Therapy(HRT) and estrogen replacement therapy (ERT), which although must be considered only under severe cases for the side-effect they can cause can be truly detrimental on a women's health.

The scientists and research findings now starting to pay more attention towards this not so talked and discussed about issue in the past have now come up with natural relief methods like diet, herbal medicines, nutrition, vitamins and still others which relieve most of the pharmacological effects of menopause- especially including one of the major ones- menopause bloating.

Today there are a numerous natural relief options available which although safe must be first consulted thoroughly so as to avoid any complication or after-effect moreover.

The most common of all menopause symptoms- menopause bloating can now be said goodbye to with ease by following some simple steps like;

Being positive- The acidity and gas trouble is temporary and like others it will also go away easily if tackled and taken positively.

The diet- The intake of food very much responsible for this discomforting trouble can help to reduce or elevate the problem further. Eating foods like banana, cheese, eggs, yogurt and grapes says goodbye on the other hand eating apple, pear or broccoli makes the trouble intensified.

Lactose intolerance- Lactose intolerance increases with age. It is a more common problem which can be reduced by avoiding foods rich in lactose and thus eliminating its effect altogether.

Herbal tea- Including herbal remedies like teas may help you feel better and can considerably reduce the gas effect.

Eat frequently- Women eating 5 to 6 small meals rather than 3 are often less vulnerable to such discomfiture during menopause and can get off through this phase rather easily.

Get natural- Eating natural Foods like whole grains pasta, flaxseed, whole wheat bread and brown rice are very helpful to avoid bloating.

Avoid processed and canned food- Being loaded with salt avoiding such processed and canned foods can help relief the bloating problem and make the transition in a women's life get easier and more hassle-free.

Drink plenty of water- Drinking at least 8-12 glasses of water each day, to flush out toxins, also relieves the constipation more easily.

So, all in all, making the recommended changes in your eating habit and lifestyle is sure to make you feel your old self again and ward off the menopause and its related symptoms more easily and pain-free.

Menopause and Hot Flashes and Evening Primrose Oil--Does It Work?

Numerous studies have been conducted concerning alternative treatments for menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose is one of the natural products that have been studied. According to surveys, control of hot flashes is the number one reason that women seek treatment during the years leading up to and following menopause.

Because so much scientific research has been conducted concerning the safety and effectiveness of non-hormonal treatments for control of hot flashes, several research groups have gone to the effort of compiling the published data. You might call these the "studies of the studies". You might wonder why all of this is necessary. There are several reasons, but the primary one is that hot flashes respond to placebo. The majority of studies confirm that women taking placebo experience about a 20% reduction in hot flash symptoms. So, researchers interested in promoting a specific product can honestly say things like "women using product X reported a reduction in hot flash symptoms."

A recent search for studies published at Pub Med, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, concerning menopause and hot flashes and evening primrose returned 20 results. Evening primrose oil is claimed to provide a variety of health benefits, including the control of hot flashes, but finding contemporary medical literature to support these claims is difficult.

In 1994, researchers at the Keele University in England enrolled 56 menopausal women suffering from hot flashes at least three times a day to complete a six month study of the effectiveness of evening primrose for control of hot flashes. Only 35 women completed the study. 18 of them took 500 mg of evening primrose oil with 10 mg of vitamin E twice a day, while 17 took a placebo. After analyzing the dairies of the participants, researchers concluded that evening primrose offered no benefit over placebo in treating menopausal hot flashes. On the average, the women taking placebo experienced 0.7 less hot flashes per day, while women taking evening primrose experienced 0.5 less per day.

One of the "studies of the studies" was completed in 2002 by researchers at Columbia University in New York. These researchers used a number of different sources to accumulate information relating to menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose was again mentioned. In total the researchers selected 58 different studies that were randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. They came to the following conclusions. Dong quai, evening primrose oil, vitamin E and acupuncture do not affect hot flashes.

On the other hand, the researchers believed that black cohosh showed promise for the control of hot flashes, but they were wary to recommend it, because safety data concerning the herb had not been accumulated at that time. Since then, studies have shown that black cohosh has no negative side effects and has no estrogen like affects on breast or uterine cancer cell lines. Black cohosh is currently recommended by most practitioners, whereas evening primrose is not believed to be effective. For more information about menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose and black cohosh, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Ways to Deal With Menopause Naturally

Nature has its way to deal with menopause. There are certain occasions that a woman who is in this stage of her life does not respond well to medical treatment in alleviating the symptoms. The best alternative way is to treat it with nature's help.

Studies show that one of the most typical symptoms of menopause that afflicts 80% of women is hot flashes. It's that sudden, extreme, hot feeling on the face and body usually accompanied by a feeling of lethargy, headache, rapid heartbeat, nausea, dizziness, insomnia and intense perspiration. A woman who is experiencing hot flashes may sweat profusely with flushed cheeks even under a cold temperature.

Hot flashes are one of the early warning signs that menopause is about to come to a woman. The symptom may go on for several years and is brought by the hormonal imbalance in menopause, and is very evident during the first two years of menopause. Episodes of hot flashes can last from a few seconds to an hour and usually between 6 to 8 in the morning and six to ten in the evening.

Although hot flashes in a menopausal woman are generally mild to moderate, there are women who experience extreme flashes. In this instance, they are forced to seek medical help to alleviate the condition. Ordinarily, an obstetric gynecologist will prescribe a drug to remedy the condition, but some women do not respond well to the drug. And so, the symptoms persist.

This is where Mother Nature comes in. To ease the uncomfortable and distressing feeling of hot flashes during menopause, a woman should take foods that are rich in phytoestrogens, or more commonly referred to as 'dietary estrogens'. Foods belonging to this group of non-steroidal plants include soy beans, tofu, oats, wheat, berries, dried beans, lentil, rice, apples, carrots, beer, fennel, and ginseng among others. These foods are quickly absorbed by the body and excreted in the urine.

The phytoestrogens foods do not only help ease hot flashes but also have some beneficial and protective effects against hormonal-related cancers, cardiovascular diseases, and osteoporosis. These foods can also be useful in treating other symptoms of menopause such as depression, anxiety, dryness of the vagina, and loss of sex appetite.

There are also some foods to avoid as they are triggering hot flashes. These are coffee and other drinks with caffeine, chocolate, hot and spicy food, alcoholic beverages. It will be wise to stay away from these food as much as possible while in the menopausal stage.

Herbal medicines can serve as a good alternative to treating the symptoms of menopause. Clinical studies have shown that black cohosh root (Cimicifuga Racemosa) can soothe hot flashes, vaginal dehydration, and insomnia or sleep disturbances. To regulate excessive bleeding during the menopausal stage, a Chinese herb, dong quai (Angelica Sinensis), is effective. To enhance sleep, a castor oil pack over the liver area may prove to be beneficial.

You see, it is in a woman's nature that she will undergo the stage of menopause and experience its symptoms; but nature will also provide the means to ease her condition and take the pressure off her.

This is the way to deal with menopause, naturally.

Beat Menopause Naturally

You may be nearing the menopause, you may have already reached it, or you may even be coming out the other end and wondering how to protect your heart, bones and memory in the long term. You probably don't know which way to turn as there is so much conflicting advice out there.

Should you just put up with the symptoms, should you go on Hormone Replacement Treatment (HRT) although you may not want to, or should you try some of the many natural and herbal supplements available and if so which ones?

The most popular treatment for the menopause over the past 20 years has been HRT. But now that several major international studies have been aborted due to the increased risk for participants of serious medical conditions such as heart disease, stroke, thrombosis, breast cancer and ovarian cancer many women are understandably looking for an alternative. And the good news is science now clearly shows that it is possible to overcome the symptoms of the menopause without resorting to HRT.

The Alternative Way

Many years of running the Natural Health Advisory Service led me to realise that when it comes to menopausal symptoms falling levels of oestrogen is not the only trigger and other factors such as dietary and lifestyle inadequacies must also be taken into account. Pregnancy and breastfeeding as well as physical and mental stress all take their toll on wellbeing. Add to this the fact that levels of some nutrients drop naturally as the years go by and it is not surprising that by the time many women reach the menopause they are effectively firing on two cylinders instead of four. As a result if they are not in a good nutritional or psychological state the more severe their menopausal symptoms are likely to be.

Once we take into account that menopausal symptoms are not all to do with falling levels of oestrogen and that physical and mental factors also have a part to play it follows that all three areas must be addressed. So it's no coincidence that our Beat Menopause Naturally Programme encompasses all these factors with consistently fantastic results.

Key elements include:
- A healthy diet rich in phytoestrogens
- The use of scientifically based supplements
- Daily relaxation
- Regular exercise

Diet Matters

A diet rich in phytoestrogens - substances similar to human oestrogen which occur naturally in plants- has been shown to have a beneficial effect on menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes as well as helping to protect against heart disease and osteoporosis. For example, research shows that Japanese women who eat a lot of soya, which is rich in a type of phytoestrogen known as isoflavones, do not generally suffer from hot flushes and other symptoms. In contrast 80 - 85 per cent of women who eat a typically western diet do tend to experience symptoms.

The richest sources of phytoestrogens are soya products, eg soya milk, tofu and soya flour. Other sources include organic linseeds ( aka flaxseeds), lentils, chick peas, mung beans, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds, green and yellow veg. You need to eat at least 100mg of phytopestrogens a day to help alleviate symptoms, which for best results should be taken at regular intervals.

Supplimentary Help

At the time of the menopause supplementing our diet with nutrients that time and nature have taken away as well as boosting oestrogen levels with standardised supplements can help alleviate hot flushes and night sweats and other symptoms. At the Natural Health Advisory Service we successfully use a selection of scientifically based supplements. These include: Gynovite - a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. Two clinical trials have shown that it influences hormone balance and bone density positively.

Novogen Red Clover - an isoflavone rich supplement. A recent conducted by Tufts University School of Medicine and New York University School of Medicine, showed that menopausal women who took a single tablet of red clover daily experienced a reduction in the intensity and number of hot flushes. The other good news is that Novogen Red clover does not cause thickening of the lining of the womb, which is a complication commonly associated with HRT. The women in the study also reported no side effects or weight gain from taking the red clover.

Phyto Soya Capsules - a standardised supplement, which contains an extract of non-genetically, modified soya. This was found to be effective by nearly three-quarters of women who sampled it in a recent French trial.

Omega 7 - derived from the Sea Buckthorn Berry delivers Omega 3,6,7 and 9 fatty acids. In a recent clinical trial it was found to enhance and regenerate the mucous membranes in the vagina. Phyto Soya Vaginal Gel has also been shown in clinical trials to significantly improve the condition of the vaginal tissues. Vaginal dryness is a common side-effect of the drop in oestrogen levels at the time of the menopause.

Natural Vitamin E, Dong Quai, Sage Leaf and Ginseng are other supplements that help to control hot flushes.

Relax It

Several studies have shown that relaxation can help reduce the intensity of hot flushes. Try to take time out for yourself on a regular basis every day. You may also like to try yoga, massage, Pilates and visualisation.

Move It

As well as increasing energy levels, regular exercise can help to relieve symptoms of depression, anxiety and insomnia. It can also help to boost confidence self-esteem and wellbeing. You should aim to exercise for at least half an hour, five times a week. Any activity that puts weight through your bones such as jogging, brisk walking, racquet sports, weight lifting, skipping or even squeezing tennis balls are the best options. They help to stimulate the regeneration of bone tissue and reduce calcium loss helping to protect against osteoporosis.

The fact that there are so many scientifically based self-help options to help alleviate the symptoms of the menopause and preserve the health of both your heart and your bones, is extremely good news. There is no substitute for learning to meet the needs of your body especially at the time of the menopause.

Herbal Remedies For Pre Menopause Symptoms

There are several herbal remedies to help you through pre menopause symptoms. The key is to know what your system requires and how much. As an alternative medical professional I'd inform a consumer to test!

The initial symptoms of peri menopause can begin as young as mid-thirties. This is often adult acne or fat gain. Often the Thyroid will test normal this is why you need to obtain a full Thyroid panel that includes free T4 and free T3. This test is done with a blood test. The other issue is to ensure your health professional is studying the functional medicine outcomes or metabolic labs readings and not the typical lab details that most physicians go by.

Hot flashes and night sweats are the result of multiple issues throughout pre menopause. One thing being the decrease of estrogen and the other the surge of cortisol into the blood stream. So is it possible to do something about it naturally?

Both of these herbs or hormones are available through a herbal health care practitioner and some stores. Rely on a health practitioner initially - they've the most beneficial level of quality and this is your well being and future life we're talking about here. Also a accredited specialist will possess the knowledge, training, and expertise that you might want when we're discussing how to overcome pre menopause symptoms. These signs of pre menopause are common but they are not normal.

Remember - 1st get tested! You want to have your hormones tested through saliva. Blood tests for hormones are erroneous. The saliva shows what is available in the cells of the body to use. The blood only shows what the body can't utilize because hormones in the blood serum are protein bound.

So you will need two tests. The Thyroid test done with a blood serum and the hormone test done with a saliva test kit.

You likely will require items like melatonin, and DHEA but test first don't guess.

Yet another excellent herb is Cohosh and it comes in a variety of colors that perform in different ways in the body. It pays to understand which one is effective for you. Blue Cohosh or Black Cohosh are the most typical. Ensure the formula is organic and doesn't include a lot of other things that you might not want.

Many non-prescription varieties include soy and if you're having soy in what you eat you may want to stop additional sources or choose a different product. Pre menopause symptoms are simple to take care of with natural herbs.

Menopause Weight Gain - Insulin Resistance and Stress

Women approaching menopause can expect considerable physiological changes. When it comes to menopause weight gain alone, it has been calculated that the average American woman may gain as much as ten to fifteen pounds within the entire duration of the menopausal stage. Menopause weight gain is just one of the many possible menopause changes which a woman will need to adapt to in advancing years.

Weight gain, as with all of the symptoms associated with menopause is due to fluctuating estrogen levels or hormonal imbalances.

Medical research continues to draw a correlation between the changes in hormones during menopause and increased weight gain. Changes to the hormonal structures within the body can result in insulin resistance and stress. These two factors can weigh heavily in the body's ability to burn calories, overall metabolic capacity, and the accumulation of additional pounds.

Insulin Resistance

Insulin is the hormone that is responsible for regulating the absorption of glucose and regulating the body's overall metabolism. However, during menopausal years the body may inhibit insulin from doing its job. When this occurs, one may become insulin resistant and all of the calories ingested are transformed into fat. It's as though the body's own metabolism has turned into a food 'express lane' where foods turns instantly to fat, bypassing the normal routine of providing nutrients to cells. The upshot of this is unwanted menopause weight gain while the body's cells still hunger for nutrients.

Insulin resistance is even worse for women who strictly adhere to a low-fat, high-carbohydrate diet. All the while, advocates of this type of diet plan labor under the belief that the avoidance of fat will spare them from menopause weight gain. However, the body's resistance to insulin turns carbohydrates directly into fat, thus negating the effectiveness of this type of diet plan.

Researchers have also concluded that the long-term dependence on low-fat, high carbohydrate foods coupled with the addition of refined and processed foods (like pasta and breads) contribute to insulin resistance. In short, this kind of diet pattern also leads to the blocking of insulin. When the (previously described) life-long eating patterns converge with menopause a woman may find that she is (often for the first time) gaining pounds which she is unable to shed, easily.

Increased Stress Levels

Stress can be the root cause for many of today's eating disorders and conditions. As for menopause weight gain, an increased level of stress can prompt the body into thinking that one is experiencing what the experts refer to as the 'famine effect'. This phenomenon is your body's misinterpretation of stress and as a result, the body's metabolism is slowed in anticipation of a prolonged shortage of food. When this happens, all of the ingested calories are stored as fat, thus causing additional weight gain.

Unfortunately, the combination of menopause and stress make it doubly hard to maintain recommended weight levels. Most women experience an increased level of stress during menopause. Simply put, menopause puts one at an elevated risk of gaining unwanted pounds during this time.

Solutions

As always, eating a balanced diet during menopausal years is still the best solution to avoid unhealthy weight gain. Avoid fried foods, high carbohydrate foods and refined or packaged foods. Add fresh fruits, vegetables, foods rich in natural grains, beans and legumes, low fat yogurt and other low fat soy and dairy products to your grocery cart.

Natural Remedies For Menopause - Nutrition and Supplements

Natural remedies for menopause is a subject which has been very much in the news lately. Are you confused by all the information you have heard about the different therapies available to help manage your perimenopause and menopause symptoms? Well, you are not alone. Here you will find everything you need to help find natural remedies, make sense of the different types available, and decide whether they're right for you.

With all the variety of options, different treatments available, and conflicting reports, it can be frustrating. How do you choose? Keep reading and we will get through the maze together.

Why Do We Need Natural Remedies?

Menopause is a natural biological process, not a medical illness. However, the symptoms of menopause can disrupt your sleep, cause fatigue and depression in addition to weight gain, hot flashes, as well as loss of interest in intimacy. So, of course we want real relief and it only makes sense to turn to natural remedies. Many options and alternatives for natural remedies for menopause are available and we need to make use of them.

Menopause is not a disease, but we should not ignore treatment if severe symptoms are making us cranky, bloated, depressed or in any way physically or emotionally uncomfortable. Many safe and effective options are available to us including lifestyle adjustments and hormone therapy. We owe it to ourselves to learn about them all and decide which one or which combination may be right for us.

Natural Remedies: Nutrition And Supplements

Here are just a few natural remedies which have been studied extensively and appear to work well during perimenopause and menopause:

• Soy foods. These can help your body stabilize hormone levels and also have a minor estrogen-like effect in the body. Always try to choose soy foods instead of supplements. If you are afraid you won't like tofu, try other soy products like soy yogurt, soy ice cream, or even make some hot chocolate or a smooth with soy milk. You might also like roasted soy nuts or, if you are really brave, try some of the mock-meats made from tempeh.


• Flaxseed. Use a coffee grinder to grind flaxseed daily, or for convenience try flax oil capsules.
  


• Black cohosh (Cumicifuga racemosa). This is probably the herb most of us who have studied natural menopause remedies have heard of first. It has been one of the most studied and widely available. Many women report it is especially helpful in alleviating their hot flashes. However, black cohosh does appear to influence the natural hormones in our bodies, and shouid always be discussed with your doctor before you include it in your supplement regimen.


• Vitamin E. Daily use of vitamin E has been shown to help hot flash symptoms in some women who are going through perimenopause or menopaues.


• B vitamins. Long known as supporting our bodies during periods of stress.


• Evening primrose oil or black currant oil. These products have essential fatty acids which have been shown to help our bodies metabolize fat and may help with other issues during menopause.

Do You Have Estrogen Overload?

The answer is most likely yes, as more than 50% of women over 35 years of age experiences hormone imbalance and it is often attributed to estrogen overload. Many suffer in silence because they think that their misery is a normal part of their menstrual cycle or of aging.

If you regularly experience 3 or more of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from estrogen overload:

• Migraines, Mood Swings, Cramps, Uterine Fibroids, Depression, Osteoporosis, Insomnia


• Allergies, Memory Loss, Acne, Hot Flashes, Breast Tenderness, Irregular Periods, Miscarriage, Low Sex Drive


• High Blood Pressure, Facial Hair, Thinning Hair, Unexplained Weight Gain, Inflammation, Fatigue

These ailments are now so commonplace; many doctors don't attempt to make the link to the probability of excess estrogen in the body.

Menopause is often thought of as a time of declining estrogen, but it is actually common for women to experience surges of abnormally high estrogen levels in the menopausal years as well as earlier in life.

This misconception has led many millions of women to engage in Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) to restore "lost" estrogen and hopefully address the above list of conditions. This additional estrogen may only worsen the problem and even set the stage for the development of deadly disease.
Our bodies are continually bombarded with something called "xenoestrogens".

The term "xeno" means foreign and these act on our bodies to produce estrogen overload symptoms. They're in our food supply from hormones and pesticides, processed foods, plastics and pharmaceuticals as well as personal products to name a few.

"Combined xenoestrogens can have an effect that is 100-1,000 times more potent than the strongest estrogen made in the body." - Eldred Taylor

What you need to know:

• Estrogen production drops 40% at menopause, but progesterone drops to 90-100%.


• Menopause problems are caused by lack of progesterone, not estrogen.


• "Synthetic progesterone" is not doing any good - the liver changes it in the body. So estrogen rages on, unopposed." - Tim O'Shea, The Doctor Within

Phytoestrogens" are the ideal "weak" estrogen (from plants) that can prevent unwanted xenoestrogens from carrying their harmful message. "Breast cancer now strikes 1 woman in 8, up from 1 woman in 30 in 1960 before HRT was popularized." ~ Dr. Michael Lam, M.D.

Estrogen and progesterone are the dynamic duo of female health.

During the menstrual cycle, estrogen must be counterbalanced by another hormone called progesterone. Together, estrogen and progesterone are the dynamic duo of female health.

Studies show that the average woman has more than the amount of estrogen needed to maintain the critical balance with progesterone throughout her lifetime. So the odds are that even though your body will produce less estrogen as you age, you should still have more than you need.

So the bottom line is. reduce estrogen dominance. In fact, you probably don't need more estrogen, you need more progesterone to restore a healthy balance and keep estrogen's "pro growth" tendencies in check.

To start reducing your estrogen dominance risk you can avoid high-fat and highly processed foods, increase fibre to 30 grams/day, reduce alcohol, reduce stress, consume a natural, organic, whole foods diet consisting of raw fruit, vegetables and whole grains and get regular exercise.

You'll feel better, look great and get more enjoyment out of life when your body is balanced naturally.

Prescription Menopause Medications That Bring Relief

There are many prescription menopause medications that can help to relieve the symptoms of this phase of a woman's life. Some of those symptoms that cause such distress include hot flashes, fast heartbeat and high blood pressure, vaginal dryness, mood swings, trouble sleeping, fatigue, anxiety, depression, irregular or heavy periods and many others. The reason they happen is because of hormone changes or lack of hormones associated with the onset of menopause.

Hot flashes are probably one of the most irritating symptoms that take place during the change of life. This is when a wave of heat comes over the woman, usually in the face and chest area, which causes flushing, sweating, heavy breathing and the feeling of being thrown into a furnace. The heart may race and hot flashes can last from 3 minutes up to 30 minutes. They can come up at any time throughout the day and sometimes even at night.

Some antidepressants seem to make good headway when it comes to minimizing the symptoms of menopause. Effexor has been known to reduce hot flashes and help with depression. Prozac is another medication that relieves hot flashes along with anxiety or mood swings that some women are plagued with during this phase of life. Zoloft, Aventyl, Norpramin, and Tofranil are often prescribed to the menopausal woman in order to deal with depression. They may help hot flashes and the symptom of confusion that often accompany the change of life.

Women who have never had high blood pressure before may suddenly be stricken with this disorder during menopause. Clonindine is frequently prescribed for it in these women because it also seems to help with hot flashes. However, this drug does have side effects like insomnia which could induce another menopausal symptom, sleeplessness. Conversely, it also has a tendency to make you drowsy throughout the day.

In the 1970's synthetic estrogen and progesterone drugs given to menopausal women were found to be linked with endometrial cancer, then to breast cancer, heart disease and strokes. This spurred a search to look for alternative methods to treat menopausal symptoms using more natural ingredients.

The result was the creation of Bio-Identical Hormones for use in treating menopausal symptoms. These are hormones that are molecularly identical to the hormones that are produced in the body. Physicians can write a compounded prescription that is tailor made to the women and balances all three hormone categories within the body: estrogen, progesterone, and androgen. Although there isn't any actual medical proof that these things work, women who use them will tell you that they do.

You may also wish to try out some over the counter menopause medication. Some of these natural products are quite effective at dealing with your symptoms without the side effects you might get from prescription menopause medications.

Natural Hormone Balance - Help With Troublesome Menopause Symptoms

It is possible to manage problematic symptoms of perimenopause and menopause that occur with or without hormone replacement therapy (hrt). The first step should be to order a blood test to check your hormone levels and other indicators of health. I am not a doctor, but I have been fortunate enough to have the care and advice of a doctor who is an expert in female hormones, Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet. I had endured the frustration and grief of uninformed medical care long enough to be ecstatically grateful for the power of her knowledge.

The good doctor was visiting my hometown of Anchorage, Alaska and she gave a lecture to a stunned audience of women (including me) who learned that they knew next to nothing about the hormones that have all but ruled their adult lives. Encouraged by the enlightenment we asked, "Who in town can we see to get help with our raging hormones? Now that we know that our stubbornly overweight, fatigued bodies, and lagging sex drives have the hope of hormonal balance and much needed relief from what ails us, how do we proceed in our common quest to feel good again?"

Alas, the best answer turned out to be an hour-long phone consultation with Dr. Vliet--Anchorage to Tucson. Dr. Vliet had warned us in her lecture that our doctors would probably not know how or why to order appropriate bloodwork to measure our hormone levels, and they wouldn't know what to do with the results once they got them. This is exactly the woeful ignorance I encountered when I tried to implement her long distance course of diagnosis and treatment. Just as she predicted, I was offered antidepressants, the same old worn out diet ideas, and marriage counseling for my low libido. (It's not his fault.)

Armed with Dr. Vliet's recommendations, I stood my ground until my doctor agreed to let me have the appropriate labwork done. On my next visit, with lab results in hand, my doctor admitted that she did not know how to proceed from there but would be happy to follow through with whatever course of treatment Dr. Vliet suggested.

After sending Dr. Vliet my lab results and pages of health history I had the phone consultation. Her expertise is such that she quickly knew that all was not well. She recommended a pelvic ultrasound that revealed multiple conditions indicating an imminent need for a total hysterectomy. My annual pelvic exam had turned up nothing. The symptoms I had sought help with over the previous few years had not been relieved, and had only worsened because the attempts made by my doctors and other caregivers were essentially shots in the dark. They didn't even know how to be informed about my true hormonal condition.

Post-operative use of an estradiol patch and testosterone got me through my instant menopause. Labwork several months later showed significant improvement in my hormone levels. Thanks to the bioidentical hormone replacement therapy, my outta wack pre-operative levels were significantly improved and I have left behind my plague of perimenopausal symptoms.

Now let's be clear: menopause is not a disease; it is a natural state. Some women sail through the change of life. Hormonal imbalance is another story. That's what I am talking about. Now that my pathologies have been addressed, the goal is to achieve natural hormone balance through a healthy, active lifestyle.

To achieve optimal hormone balance it makes sense to work with your body's amazingly complex and responsive hormonal network. Rest, moderate exercise, a self-respecting diet, and doing things that bring joy--this is what we need to feel good. Informed, natural supplementation can also be helpful to our overtaxed bodies.

My hope is that by sharing my story I can help others get help. For a wealth of information visit Dr. Vliet's website at http://www.herplace.com/

Get informed and don't let anyone tell you that drugs are the only answer. They are sometimes appropriate but there are lots of other alternatives that may yield sounder, longer lasting results.

Perimenopause Treatment - Beware of HRT

It might be tempting to get a quick fix for hot flashes, but consider a different perimenopause treatment besides hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT may be inexpensive and easy, but its long-term risks outweigh the benefits - not to mention that it will likely further aggravate the symptoms of menopause! This outcome occurs because HRT causes estrogen dominance, a condition where there is far more estrogen than progesterone in the body. On the other hand, products that are natural for menopause-related symptoms will provide relief from your symptoms without causing estrogen dominance.

How is estrogen dominance related to traditional perimenopause treatments?
Estrogen dominance was a term coined by Dr. John Lee, the first doctor who published shocking findings on the dangers of HRT. His research was premised on the fact that a woman can experience serious health problems if she has normal or excessive estrogen, but little or no progesterone to balance out estrogen's effects on the body. Progesterone inhibits estrogen's effects on the body, e.g. when estrogen increases fat accumulation and weight gain, progesterone burns fat for energy. For these reasons, Dr. Lee suggested that giving progesterone supplements would benefit menopausal women more than estrogen-only HRT. However, his work was shunned by the medical community despite mounting evidence against HRT and the damage it causes. It's easy to see why - when Dr. Lee's research first came out in the 1980s, everyone was still caught up in the hype of estrogen HRT pushed by pharmaceutical companies.

Despite what you might be led to believe, HRT promotes unopposed estrogen. Women these days are very susceptible to becoming estrogen dominant, even when they are menopausal. The beauty products and cosmetics we use are laden with xenoestrogenic preservatives - manmade chemicals that behave like estrogen when they enter the body. Cows and chickens are also fed estrogen so they can grow and fatten up faster. On the other hand, we aren't exposed to the same levels of progesterone. Taking HRT will only skew the balance of estrogen and progesterone, causing estrogen dominance and increasing the risks of various health problems.

Risks of estrogen dominance caused by medications for perimenopause
Below are just some of the risks faced by menopausal women when they take HRT.

Increased menopause symptoms
While restoring your estrogen levels might reduce hot flashes initially, it may also cause increased weight gain, poor sleep patterns, headache, anxiety, and depression if left unopposed.

Fibrocystic breasts and breast cancer
Researchers from Harvard University discovered that the longer your exposure to estrogens, the greater your risk of fibrocystic breasts (breast cysts) and breast cancer. In their Nurses' Health Study, a study that tracked the health of 70,000 women for almost 20 years, they discovered that menopausal women who used estrogen had a 30% increased risk for breast cancer than women who didn't take HRT. The risk for breast cancer was 40% more among women who took estrogen and progestin (a manmade progesterone). Those who were taking HRT for over five years had an elevated risk that increased with their age. The Nurses' Health Study supports early evidence that HRT plays a significant role in the onset of breast cancer, even if progestin is added to balance out the estrogen.

Blood clots
Studies show that an increased risk of blood clots among menopausal women is triggered by two things: cigarette smoking and the use of synthetic estrogens.

Gallstones and liver problems
If you have a liver disorder, then you should definitely avoid HRT; estrogen affects the function of the liver enzymes. Research shows that women taking HRT have twice the risk of developing gallstones that require surgical removal.

Uterine cancer
Four to eight out of every one thousand menopausal women will develop uterine cancer because of HRT. Although the risk of uterine cancer is decreased when progestin is added, research shows that progestin will place you at risk for breast cancer. Other risk factors like cigarette smoking, a family history of uterine cancer, and abnormal uterine bleeding will also increase the likelihood of HRT-related uterine cancer despite the presence of progestin.
Unlike the symptoms of menopause, which are temporary, the side effects of HRT may last a lifetime. Avoid these risks and consider making lifestyle changes or using natural progesterone or phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) for perimenopause and menopause relief.

Common Signs of Fibroids After Menopause

Most of you would not have heard of growth of fibroids after menopause. In fact fibroids are known to shrink and automatically and eventually disappear with the onset of menopause. However in some women the uterine tumors actually start growing after menopause. A fibroid that grows fast is basically a clear indication of the uterine tumor turning cancerous. Although most fibroids are benign, in case of women whose fibroids grow rapidly after menopause the risk for developing cancer increases substantially. It goes up from 1 in a 1,000 to 1 in a hundred.

The purpose of this article is to share with you information on some of the common symptoms which will indicate the growth of fibroids after menopause. These symptoms should put you on alert. Please consult a doctor immediately upon noticing any of the following symptoms. Please do not be under the impression that since you are in the post-menopausal stage the chance of your suffering from fibroids is remote.

a) Pain: The pain which you'll experience will be something similar to menstrual cramps. It will be particularly noticeable during sexual intercourse. Lower back pain and constipation are some of the other things which may occur depending upon where the uterine tumor is located and which organ it is pressing down on.

b) Pelvic Pressure: As the uterine fibroid grows in size it can cause immense pressure your pelvic region. Some of you may even be able to feel a hard spot through the skin when you examine the area. Fibroids which are large in size can even distort the shape of the uterus and press on the organs near the uterus.

c) Pass urine frequently or Difficulty in Urination: Large sized tumors can press the urinary bladder and cause problems related to urination.

d) Abdominal Bloat: you will experience a feeling of your abdomen being bloated almost all the time. This too would be very similar to the bloating which most of us would have experienced just before the onset of our menstrual cycle.

Excess estrogen is known to trigger the growth of uterine tumors in most women. However with the onset of menopause there is a decrease in the amount of estrogen naturally produced by the body. This should automatically make the tumors shrink in size and disappear altogether. When this does not happen and there is growth of fibroids after menopause it is a cause of concern which must not be ignored.

Herbs to Control Male Menopause

Although it is not regularly discussed, male menopause is a real medical condition experienced by men from their 40s to 60s. Men, just like women, suffer the effects of lowering levels of hormone production in the human body. These symptoms include depression, thinning hair, diminishing sexual ability, irritability, and feelings of doubt. While these symptoms may seem overwhelming, there are several treatments that can help alleviate these symptoms.

Plunging levels of testosterone is the main cause of these symptoms. DHEA is a hormone that is naturally produced by the adrenal glands. It is converted into testosterone by the pituitary glands. DHEA supplements have been safely used by athletes for years to burn fat, and it is a safe way to boost sagging levels of testosterone for men suffering from male menopause. DHEA is widely available in most health food stores.

Amidren is a supplement designed specifically to treat the symptoms associated with male menopause. Amidren is a five stage male hormone modulation formula. The main purpose of Amidren is to raise hormone levels while still retaining hormonal balance. There are no side effects associated with Amidren, but it is recommended that you consult your doctor before starting Amidren. This product is not available in stores, but it can be purchased online from several outlets.

Black cohosh supplements can be used to treat depression, anxiety, and night sweats that are the result of male menopause. Black cohosh reduces the lutenizing hormones that result in night sweats. Some people who take black cohosh experience headaches and an upset stomach. It is not recommended to take black cohosh for longer than six months because black cohosh may alter liver enzymes and impact regular liver function.

Ginseng is one of the best herbal treatments for male health. It is often used to help people cope with stress. However, it has also been proven to help enhance male sexual performance. In fact, ginseng has long been used in Eastern medicine in order to treat diminishing sexual ability. Ginseng can be easily found in most grocery stores and health food stores. You can also purchase fresh ginseng root and ginseng root tea in many markets. Ginseng is safe for regular use and there are no side effects associated with ginseng usage.

If you are interested in an herbal treatment for male menopause, consider seeking the advice of your doctor or homeopath. They can best direct you in order to find the best treatment for you.

Information on Menopause in Thai

The amount of information that is available on menopause on the internet is phenomenal.
Many web sites will offer you the choice of language in which you want to view the site.
This includes Thai. Some sites will actually have their materials available in two languages such as Thai or English. Menopause for Thai women occurs in much the same way as for women all over the world. The information provided below is in English but can also be found in Thai.

Symptoms of Menopause

*Information about menopausal symptoms in women is virtually the same as any other sites or countries.*

Menopause is the end of a woman's period and fertility. Estrogen production as well as progesterone production is low during menopause. The symptoms that may occur include hot flashes and night sweats, headaches, sleeplessness, erratic moods, and vaginal dryness. Your sex drive may drop and intercourse may become uncomfortable.

Sexual problems for men over 50 are not as uncommon as one might think. Problems with erections may occur. A man should be evaluated to be sure that something more is not causing the problem. Most men can be helped.

It is highly recommended that you go to a women's health center, physician or a nurse practitioner for advice and support. A variety of treatments will be presented for your consideration. You and your medical professional can decide together which of these treatments might best meet your individual needs.

Treatments

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a popular treatment. It is very effective but its use may have some serious risks to the patient. There is an increased occurrence of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancers, especially for those women who take it more than 5 years. Do the benefits outweigh the risks?

An herbal product used in Thailand is derived from the White Kwao Krua plant. This plant is very high in phytoestrogens-naturally occurring plant estrogens. It is used to help relieve menopausal symptoms. It helps to balance hormone levels in both men and women. There are other herbs specific to Thailand that may also benefit menopausal symptoms

Herbs used in the United States may include Black Cohosh, Red Clover, and Dong Quai to name just a few. Herbal supplements of the highest quality are made with standardized herbal extracts. They are tested extensively including the interaction of the ingredients and the metabolic path of the ingredients at the molecular level.

They are manufactured to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. This is to guarantee the consumer that they are getting the same quality not only from capsule to capsule but from bottle to bottle. The safety, purity, and effectiveness are guaranteed as well. Do not add anything to your regimen without talking to your doctor. Some herbs may affect the performance of prescription drugs you may be taking for other conditions.

Conclusion

It must be noted that although the information contained in this article is English. It did come however from a translated version of an article written in Thai. To obtain information in Thai (or any language) go to your search engine and type in Thai Menopause; you will get a long list of sites.

Increasing Female Libido - 3 Natural Remedies

Problems with the male sex drive are easy to identify and treat, but handling the multidimensional female libido is a lot trickier. Although low estrogen and testosterone levels during menopause have a hand in bringing your sex drive down, other factors like stress can impact the way you enjoy sex. If getting away from stress isn't increasing female libido, there's still hope. For the next all-night love fest, try one of these herbal aphrodisiacs and rediscover your sexuality once more.

Maca's Female Libido Enhancing Qualities

Maca, a plain-looking root crop from Peru, was once used by the Spaniards as a medium of exchange. Although it certainly didn't glitter as much as gold, maca's ability to increase one's sexual appetite proved to be just as valuable and desirable. Today, maca is still widely used as an aphrodisiac and a fertility enhancement herb. Although scientists are still trying to identify its mechanisms of action, it seems that maca's macamide and macaene content are responsible for regulating amounts of steroid hormones like testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. Some researchers also believe that its amino acid and nutrient content may also play a hand in its libido enhancing effects. The neurotransmitters noradrenaline and dopamine need amino acids like phenylalanine, tyrosine, and histidine to send the right signals and trigger sexual arousal, and it so happens that these amino acids can be found in maca.

Maca is available in powder form, making it easy and convenient to take; simply mix in with hot or cold water, or sprinkle over your food. Begin with 翹th teaspoon together with your breakfast and with your dinner. If you don't notice any changes after a week, increase the dosage to 翻 teaspoon for a week. Reduce the dosage slowly once you start noticing improvements or experiencing symptoms like breast tenderness. It is suggested that progesterone supplements be used with maca because the latter might cause estrogen dominance. Talk to your physician before using maca powder for your sex drive.

Gingko biloba to Increase Female Desire

It's a well-known fact that good blood circulation and oxygen flow to the reproductive system plays a role in sexual well-being. Gingko biloba extract can do this as well as increase levels of testosterone, the hormone responsible for sex drive and desire. Perhaps the most useful effect of gingko is that it can improve mood and reduce stress, the biggest libido killer in women. Gingko biloba can be taken in tablets or capsules, but studies show that tablets contain a higher concentration of active ingredients. Gingko biloba extracts are available in 40, 60, and 120mg doses. Although clinical trials have yet to establish an optimal dose for increasing sex drive, some evidence suggests that 240 mg daily provides more benefits for menopausal women.

Ashwagandha for Sexual Invigoration

The powerful Indian herb ashwagandha is used to treat a number of ailments - brain fatigue, depression, and now low female sex drive. Ashwagandha is what herbalists called an adaptogen - a plant that can treat any sort of illness by building the body's natural defenses against various stress sources. This herb is also thought to manipulate the air and space energy of the body, creating a renewed vitality and restored sexual vigor. Like gingko biloba, ashwagandha has stress-fighting features. As an adaptogen, this herb can normalize the body's function despite being hounded by stress, eliminating the primary cause of diminished female sex drive. Ashwagandha extracts are available in capsule form and can be taken twice a day with meals, or as directed by your physician.

Approaching Menopause in a Healthy and Natural Manner

As a woman ages beyond her reproductive phase in life; she enters into a phase of life in which there is a decrease in hormonal production; which marks the onset of menopause. This hormonal decrease affects many different body functions for which the hormone functions in the body for. It is therefore important to understand how to control the effects of these effects of menopause to ensure that aging in the woman is seamless into her golden years.

The easiest way to control and guide the body through a healthy menopause cycle is through diet. A woman's diet is a large determinant in how healthy they will be during these years. Certain dietary restrictions and supplements can help provide the body with different its' many different requirements that may be lacking due to the onset of menopause. Some great foods to try out during this time include; flax seeds, soy, sesame seeds, fresh sea fish; for their high omega 3 fatty acids; and red clover tea. Heating of flax seeds should be avoided as it destroys their nutrient value. Other foods that should be included in the diet include; olive oil, sunflower seeds, garlic, oats, black eyed peas, and beets; due to the beneficial estrogenic value that they possess.

Addition of herbs into the diet is also another great way to ensure that the body's nutritional needs are met, and that the effects of menopause are dealt with in a natural and healthy manner. Herbs such as Black Cohosh, Ginseng, and Yam are also great foods to make use of, especially for the control of; moodiness, dry flashes, vaginal dryness and pain that may be felt during this time.

Other than being conscientious of one's diet, it is recommended that regular exercise be included in the routines of women with menopause; as research has shown that it offers some relief from the various menopausal symptoms that may be felt at this time. Light exercise is preferable, and one can try; yoga, swimming, jogging, or any other exercise that gets the heart pumping faster. Exercise not only helps a person get the relief needed through the different stretches of muscles included; but it also allows for the release of endorphins into the body; which is recommended as the ideal solution to offer a boost in overall mood and help with the moodiness that menopause brings. The body is also able to take in more oxygen, which helps with the relief of stress that might be building up in the body.

Homeopathy has also been shown to be a highly effective solution for dealing with menopause naturally. The main aim of the treatment is to achieve symptomatic relief for the woman. One of the more common ones is Cimicifuga; which helps deal with; hot flashes, mood swings, sweating at night, and vaginal dryness. For those women who experience migraines and extremely hot flashes during the day and night, Lacheisis is the most preferred alternative.

There are numerous ways in which one can deal with menopause. It is strongly recommended that natural methods be used prior to trying any other medications; as natural methods are generally safer and do not have grave side effects accompanying them; as other methods may.

The Inconvenience Of Menopause Spotting

Probably most of you who are reading this are women and will know already what menopause spotting is. But if you don't, spotting is when spots of blood appear between periods.

Staining your best underwear or feeling as though you have wet yourself, is not, I repeat NOT a pleasant experience, but it is unfortunately one that we all have to go through. At the time of writing, I am supposed to be booking myself in to have a smear test, but because I have been 'showing' on and off for two weeks, I dare not make an appointment in case I bleed on the day.

Menopause spotting is one of the symptoms of menopause that we can do absolutely nothing to improve, other than wear our oldest underwear and sanitary protection. It's also one of the first symptoms that a woman experiences when she is starting menopause. Erratic and irregular periods can come under the same banner.

If you're at an age when your menopause is likely to begin - around the age of 51 - you may well be expecting your periods to become irregular. But for some women, who start menopause in their thirties and younger, it can come as a shock when they begin to see signs of bleeding between periods and often causes sleepless nights before they eventually consult a medical professional.

It's always worth paying your doctor a visit if you're bleeding between periods, as there is a test that can determine whether you have started or are about to start menopause. The test is called the FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) test and is relatively simple to carry out, so if you suspect you may be entering menopause, get yourself checked out to confirm your suspicions.

Although I was expecting my periods to become irregular when I reached 50, I wasn't aware of how much the spotting would vary in color and texture. From bright red to brown and everything in between. But this is perfectly normal and all part of the 'change'.

Likewise, spotting just prior to a period may be normal for some women, while others - like me - will have no warning signs at all and their period will suddenly begin. It could be that you will have periods regularly for a few months and then have no periods for the following few months, before starting normally again a month later.

The reason that we experience menopause spotting and irregular periods is due to pesky little hormones preparing to cease production. And, unfortunately, these hormone levels can fluctuate for the next ten to fifteen years, so it's probably advisable not to buy any new briefs until it's all over!

On a serious note, you know your body better than anyone and if you experience a change in the strength of flow of your period, for example, where several sanitary towels or tampons are soaked through in just a few hours, it would be advisable to visit a doctor and explain your symptoms.

Every woman varies with the timing of her monthly menstrual cycle and whilst some women can pinpoint to the exact day when they will begin bleeding, others may vary from month to month.

Once you have had an entire year with no period and no spotting, you have gone through menopause and you can celebrate by wearing your good underwear again. There should be no signs of any bleeding after this stage and once again, it would be worth checking out if you experience anything to the contrary. Keeping a diary of your last period will keep you informed of what stage you're at.

Golden Moment: Pregnancy at 50

"Whether your pregnancy was meticulously planned, medically coaxed, or happened by surprise, one thing is certain -- your life will never be the same" Catherine Jones

Across culture, the news of women becoming pregnant at 50 received varied reactions from families, friends and community. Some cultures found it medically awesome, amazing and miraculous; some found it critically dangerous and shameful, while others found it amusing and ridiculous. Whatever reaction and reception the news generated, there is one common basis of such reaction: The risk and wonder of pregnancy at 50.

The physical, emotional, psychological and social make up of a 50- year- old woman indicates disadvantages which outweigh the advantages; pregnant women in their 50's are courting higher risk.

High Risk in pregnancy refers to the increased possibility of morbidity and mortality for a mother and the fetus conceived. Study shows that increased incidence of gestational diabetes, hypertension, and fetal mortality due to low birth weight and premature birth count as among the many risks faced by a pregnant 50's and the child she bears. Death before and during conception is also common; causes of death among pregnant 50's are hemorrhage, pregnancy-induced hypertension and pulmonary embolism (obstruction of the veins leading to elevated blood pressure in the arteries of the lungs). Common cause of death or problem with the fetus conceived would be deformity, pre term labor and if the infant survives until delivery, the risk of congenital disability is higher.

Oppose to menopause

Pregnancy at 50 opposes the common idea collectively believed by many, on the impossibility of conception during menopause. Menopause is the stage when the release of the egg in a woman's ovaries began to slow down, and eventually end or stop, although ovulation does not immediately stop, making it possible for pregnancy to take place. Contrary to the common belief, conception is still possible at the onset of menopause.

At 50 years old, few women expect to bear a child, but when pregnancy is inevitable, a woman pregnant at 50 faces a lot of issues and challenges. First, is the physical changes that she should deal with: physical discomfort, hot flashes, night sweats, irregular periods or menstruation, loss of libido, and many other physical changes that may lead to the second challenge: the emotional and psychological adjustment. Most women who are in the menopausal stage likely struggle with emotional and psychological issues such as mood swings, irritability, fatigue, disorientation, mental confusion, disturbing memory lapses, anxiety and depression, among others, which may also affect social relationship within the family and her social circles. Bearing a child in this condition may not be favorable to the woman and the child in her womb. The best way to deal with the inevitable is to seek help and appropriate treatment for menopause. Herbal remedies and natural approaches to treat discomfort due to menopause is a wise option, considering the pregnancy and the harmful effect of artificial treatment to the fetus. Eating healthy foods and regular but light exercises are habits that should be strengthened or to be started in a pregnant woman's regular routine. Staying connected to significant people and circles of friends help a lot during this period.

Golden Egg laid in Golden Years

For women in their 50's who planned and chose to be pregnant, the moment of conception is the happiest event in their life. The rare chance to conceive in their 50's made the pregnancy a miracle and a triumphant moment; an amazing event treasured along with the golden experiences accumulated for 50 years. At best, it can become the peak of a woman's lifetime achievement.

Gynecologist sometimes remind the 50-year-old-aspiring-to-be-mother of the fact that her remaining ova or egg count to approximately 100 or more only, so as not to give her false hope. That means, chances are so slim, regardless of the many assisted reproductive technologies that abound. To realize the dream of having a child in that golden year, a woman should spend golden effort so diligently and expensively to take care of that golden egg which will produce so much happiness to the 50 -year old-aspiring mother. So, when conception happens at the age of 50 -whether naturally or artificially induced- there will be cause for celebration to mark the precious, golden moment.

All About Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy Including Compounding

Until recently, traditional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was the treatment of choice for menopause related symptoms, but this changed once the serious risks of long term HRT use were exposed. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) has become the default treatment of choice for women who consider the risks of HRT to be too great. BHRT is a plant based product that chemically matches natural hormone produced in the body while traditional HRT is made from the urine of pregnant horses and wasn't an exact chemical match. Obviously this makes BHRT sound very attractive, but BHRT isn't without controversy. The FDA has approved many BHRT drugs for menopause treatment, but doesn't endorse or recognize the term "bioidentical" as anything other than a marketing term. The process of compounding is the biggest controversy in the production of BHRT drugs and one we'll discuss at length.

Why BHRT?

The surge in popularity of BHRT corresponds exactly with the fall of HRT which started in 2002 with the halting of ground breaking study conducted by the Women's Health Initiative. This study was a 15 year study on estrogen and estrogen and progestin combined, the common hormone treatment used to treat menopause related symptoms. This study was halted prematurely when serious health risks such as heart attacks, strokes, breast cancer and blood clots were found to be associated with both types of long term HRT use.

Not too surprisingly, once these risks were exposed, both doctors and women quickly moved away from HRT and were left looking for effective safer options; this is where BHRT steps in to fill the void.

Potential Risks of Compounding

Compounding - a compounding pharmacist mixes up a hormone blend of "bioidentical" hormones according to an individual woman's needs, which is indicated by a blood or saliva test done by a doctor.

There are several reasons that detractors say compounded bioidentical hormone therapy (CHRT) may not be the best option including:

• The reliability of saliva testing is unproven


• CHRT is not FDA approved


• There has not been significant long term testing on BHRT showing that it's any safer than HRT


• The term "bioidentical hormone replacement therapy" is nothing but a marketing term


• A lot of false and misleading claims have been made about both CHRT and BHRT


• Unlike with commercially prepared medications, the compounding process may increase the risk of human error in the compounding process

Although the FDA has approved BHRT drug for use, CHRT drugs are not FDA approved. This is due to the fact that these compounded medications are made on a case by case basis so each blend is different; this makes the standardized scientific testing required for FDA approval impossible, so it's unlikely that CHRT will ever get FDA approval.

In addition, in an effort to educate the public, the FDA has started cracking down on false or misleading claims. Manufacturers and suppliers of traditional HRT medications obviously don't like the fact that CHRT and BHRT are being touted as safer alternatives when actually no evidence suggests that this is true. The truth is that there is simply not enough information available at this time to say the BHRT is any safer than HRT; unfortunately a lot of people are overlooking this important fact. When you consider how long the hazards of HRT were hidden or overlooked, this is a significant oversight.

How To Cure Vaginal Dryness In A Natural Way?

A common problem associated with menopause is the vaginal dryness. It is a female problem that comes with aging. In the cycles of perimenopause and pre menopause, you would find that dryness is setting in vagina which would reach its maximum form when the menopause sets in completely.

The main reason of this discomfort and problem in the area is the change in the level of the hormones in our body. It has its worst effect on our lives because the sexual life in the post-menopausal period becomes troublesome because of this and also it increases the risk of various vaginal and urinary tract infections.

There are various creams and lotions available in the market along with tablets which would offer you relief from this problem, but there are excellent natural remedies also that can be used for treating the dryness and these can be easily found at home and therefore can be used easily.

Those of you who are suffering from this problem should consume aloe Vera extract, Ashwagandha and saffron mixed with warm milk which would help you retain the natural lubrication of the vaginal tract. If you consume this mixture regularly then your vagina would remain naturally well lubricated for a long time and you would not suffer from the vaginal dryness problem.

Along with this mixture mentioned above, you should also drink adequate glasses of water so that your body is properly hydrated which would in turn keep it hydrated too. This is the best and the most useful natural remedy for preventing the occurrence of dryness.

Another excellent home remedy is making a decoction of fenugreek seeds in boiled water. You need to have this twice every day and you would find the problem vanishing. Also you should consume omega fatty 3 acids which are naturally found in fishes and flax seeds which would help to keep that area well hydrated.

Rice, barley, flax seeds and various other cereals along with yogurt should be a part of your regular diet, if you want to stay away from this problem.

Along with these changes in the diet you should also apply comfrey salves in the affected area after you take a bath. Allantoin is the chemical that is present in this herbal remedy which is useful for soothing the irritation in the affected tissues and would trigger the growth of healthy tissues.

You can also use marigold based creams for preventing the onset of this problem and also as a cure when it sets in. It is often found that women who suffer from stress also suffer from the problem of dryness.

Thus if it is found that you have a stress dryness then you should consult an Ayurvedic practitioner and have a recommended dose of ginkgo to cure the problem of anxiety and it will cure the vaginal dryness.

Does Premenopause Exist? Yes! And It's Called Perimenopause

A woman's body is truly a miracle. As a woman, you are able to hold a new human life inside of you and nurture that life as it grows, enters the world, and matures from infancy to adulthood. To accomplish this wonderful task, the female body has the most complex reproductive system on the planet. Throughout her life, a woman's amazing reproductive system goes through many transitions or stages.

As your body makes the transition from your reproductive years to menopause, you'll notice some subtle or not so subtle changes in your health, as well as some obvious signs that menopause is on its way. The casual name for the time before menopause is "premenopause," but medically speaking, the correct term is peri menopause or perimenopause. The prefix "peri" means "around," "about," or "near," which is perfectly descriptive of the events of premenopause.

Perimenopause or premenopause occurs anywhere from two to ten years before menopause, plus one year after your final period. The symptoms of perimenopause are caused by changing hormone levels in your body. Primarily, your reproductive hormones of estrogen and progesterone are rising and falling at an uneven rate during premenopause, resulting in longer or shorter menstrual cycles and possibly skipped periods. Symptoms of perimenopause are vast and may include:

繚 Hot Flashes

繚 Insomnia (with or without night sweats)

繚 Fatigue

繚 Menstrual Irregularity

繚 Decreased Sex Drive

繚 Brain Fog/difficulty concentrating

繚 Emotional changes - Irritability, Anxiety, Depression

繚 Mood Swings & Crying spells

繚 Hair loss/thinning

繚 Skin and nail changes

繚 Urinary infections and urinary urgency

Premenopause or perimenopause is a completely natural transition as your body prepares for a new phase of your life. To ease the symptoms of perimenopause, many women concentrate on making healthy lifestyle choices as a natural alternative to potentially harmful traditional treatments. These choices include sticking to a healthy diet, getting regular exercise, staying at a healthy weight, taking natural supplements to help alleviate menopausal symptoms, meditation and yoga for stress, drinking plenty of water, and quitting smoking.

While each woman's reproductive system is extraordinary, you are not defined by your reproductive system alone or menopause for that matter. Youth-obsessed Western society often devalues a woman who is perceived to be past her prime and encourages her to hide or deny her age. This could not be further from the worldview. In other cultures around the world, a young woman may be pretty, endearing in a way, perhaps full of potential, but true beauty comes when a woman has lived and developed her character. When her face and bearing reflect the wisdom and compassion acquired by experience, a woman radiates the power of the feminine. Astonishingly to Westerners, studies have shown that the midlife transition is eagerly anticipated and produces fewer symptoms in cultures where women gain higher social status after menopause.

As women in mid-life today, we are privileged to be at a different point in our lives than the generations that came before us. We've never been in a better place or at a better time to choose for ourselves, to make positive changes in our lives. My hope is that this gives you a new perspective, a new way of thinking about your menopause experience, midlife, and your value to society. Discard thoughts and behaviors that hinder your growth or limit you. Nurture your inherent strength and goodness. Begin by being good to yourself. At this wonderful time in our lives we each have the power to choose what the years ahead will look like. Begin today, take a few small steps, be bold - make the necessary changes that will allow you to take control of your life and your menopause experience. It can truly be the richest time of your life!