Menopause: Natural relief and remedies for Menopause symptoms

Menopause is something that every women goes through. The symptoms vary from women to women. Hopefully the following will assist to help you understand menopause better and provide natural menopause remedies

 

A recent survey in the UK revealed that 50% of women don’t both seeking help from a healthcare professional to relief their menopause symptoms even though many said it is having a significant effect on their work life, social life, home life and sex life.

Some of the reason given is it’s a stage of life that they have to put up with or their GP will prescribe hormone replacement therapy and a lot of women expressed a concern about breast cancer and other side effects.

The Australasian Menopause Society provides a lot of useful information and well worth reading for a deeper understanding.

 

What is Menopause?

Menopause marks the end of reproductive life in women. Ovulation stops, production of female sex hormones oestrogen and progesterone also stops. This usually 45 and 55 years of age but it can happen as early as 40.

The menopausal transition period(perimenopause) is usually when the common known symptoms of menopause occur. Irregular period, shorter/longer cycles, hot flushes, night sweats, aches and pains, fatigue, irritability, sore breasts, dry skin, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, urinary frequency, sleeping difficulties, unwanted hair growth, thinning of scalp and pubic hair, anxiety, forgetfulness, and trouble concentrating or making decisions are some of the symptoms.

Transition period can be anyway between 5-10 years before their final menstrual period. Some women experience severe symptoms, others only mild symptoms, some have no symptoms. Every woman is different.

 

Oestrogen and Progesterone

Oestrogen and Progesterone complement each other during of reproductive years.

Without Progesterone, estrogen may become the dominant hormone and this can lead to the symptoms seen in the menopausal transition period.

Beside playing a key part shaping the body and preparing it for pregnancy, Oestrogen helps maintain healthy bones and protect the heart and blood vessels by helping to lower cholesterol levels and improve the flow of blood through the blood vessels.

 

Natural Menopause Remedies and Natural Alternatives for Menopause

Exercise and keeping fit.

A healthy, active lifestyle can help counter ageing effects such as muscle loss, decreased bone density and decreased joint mobility. It also helps release endorphins that make you feel good. Exercise can help reduce stress and anxiety.

 

Changing your eating habits

Your diet can contribute or ease symptoms. It is also important to replace the vitamin & minerals that your body is lacking.

BBC Worldwide suggests the following,

Stop eating foods that are likely to trigger or worsen hot flushes such as coffee, alcohol and chocolate and spicy foods, especially at night.

Avoid snacking on sugary foods. Choose fresh fruit with a few nuts instead. Often a sharp rise in blood glucose level followed by a sharp dip which leaves you feeling tired and drained.

Eat protein based foods such as turkey, cottage cheese, oats and legumes. Such foods contain the amino acid tryptophan. Tryptophan helps product serotonin. Serotonin helps moods and may help control sleep and appetite. Eat breakfast and do not miss meals, this helps maintain balanced blood sugar levels.

Increase intake of food containing of calcium, magnesium and vitamins D and K to maintain integrity of the skeleton.

Void high amounts of phosphorous – found in red meat, processed foods and fizzy drinks. Too much phosphorous accelerates the loss of minerals such as calcium and magnesium from bone.

Eat Alkaline foods – vegetables, fruits, seeds, nuts and yogurt to help loss of calcium.

Foods high in magnesium and boron important for the replacement of bone and thus help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis. Apples, pears, grapes, dates, raisins, legumes and nuts are good sources of boron.

Linseeds, tofu, tempeh and miso, pumpkins seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb and green beans contain phytoestrogens. By acting in a similar way to oestrogen, they may help in keeping hormones a little more in balance

Supplement the contain calcium, magnesium, vitamin E, vitamin D and zinc are also a good Idea.

 

Herbs traditionally used during Menopause.

 

Wild Yam is an antispasmodic and used for menstrual cramps, relaxing muscles, soothing nerves, relieving pain, poor circulation and neuralgia, abdominal and intestinal cramping. It has been traditionally used for in women’s reproductive health, including premenstrual syndrome and menopausal problems. Wild yam contains alkaloids, steroidal saponins, tannins, phytosterols and starch.

 

Chaste Tree is believed to help keep the body’s hormones balanced by interacting with a certain dopamine receptor. The flavonoids (plant chemicals) in chaste tree produces an effect similar to the hormone progesterone, although the plant contains no hormonal compounds. Chaste tree acts on the pituitary gland in the brain, normalizing the release of both follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH).

 

Black Cohosh is also believed to have an effect similar to the female hormone estrogen. Traditionally used by Native Americans for a wild range of female problems including, PMS and menopausal symptoms.

Spectrum Herbal Menopause Support contains both Chaste Tree and Wild Yam