Menopause is more than the normal cycle of life in which menstrual cycles cease. It’s a rite of passage that can be empowering, freeing us from monthly periods and the need for contraception. It can also be a catalyst for positive change, a chance to start over in midlife.
Menopause can be natural, premature (occurring before age 40), or surgically induced. It may occur quickly or take several years. Smoking cigarettes, illness, and genetic tendencies can bring menopause on earlier. Here’s how to handle it gracefully:
HERBS FOR MENOPAUSE
Plants are sometimes referred to as being phytoestrogenic or phytoprogesteronic. This means that the plants have molecular structures similar to hormone molecules. The molecules of these plants can occupy the receptor sites in the body that would normally be taken up by hormones. Therefore, plants can in some cases can both increase and decrease hormonal levels in the body. Some herbs can even provide the raw material so that the body can produce its own hormones. Herbs to help menopause include the following:
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Sugar raises glucose levels, which then crashes, leaving us on an emotional roller coaster. Keep blood sugar levels stable by eating smaller, more frequent meals. Alcohol consumption can contribute to fatigue and headaches, so avoid drinking excessive alcohol as well. Eat less animal fat to keep estrogen and prostaglandin levels lower. Remember too that many commercially raised farm animals are fed estrogen-type drugs to promote earlier maturity, weight gain, and higher yields of milk and eggs. This can definitely raise our own levels of estrogen unfavorably, so be careful with your consumption of these foods.
• ALFALFA can raise or lower estrogen levels by providing the raw material to create estrogen or by binding to estrogen receptor sites and decreasing its production. (Avoid using this if menstrual bleeding is excessive.)
• BLACK COHOSH contains phytoestrogens, which bind to estrogen receptor sites. Because it’s a muscle relaxant and a sedative, it helps improve edema, hot flashes, heart palpitations, depression, and headaches. A study reported in the International Journal of Cancer in 2007 showed that Remifemin, a specific formulation of black cohosh, also lowers the risk of breast cancer by up to 60 percent!
• MOTHERWORT is a bitter member of the Mint family. It cools and lessens frequency of hot flashes, emotional upheaval, heart palpitations, and night sweats, and also calms uterine pain associated with stress. It nourishes vaginal walls and decreases vaginal dryness.
• NETTLES as a food, tea, or juice is rich in minerals, tonifying the bones and muscles. Nettles also break down fat and build the blood. Their vitamin K content can curb excessive bleeding.
• RASPBERRY LEAF is rich in calcium, magnesium, and iron and aids in regulating menses and reducing hot flashes.
• RED CLOVER BLOSSOM contains phytoestrogens including diadzein and genestein as well as the estrogenic isoflavones biochanin and formononet, helping to calm hot flashes and night sweats.
Look for these herbs in your unsprayed fields and gardens. Learning to include them as teas and tonics three times daily is easy! (See page 13 for how-to instructions.)
SUPPLEMENTS FOR MENOPAUSE
Vitamins that can help a woman through changes include vitamin A or beta-carotene (10,000 IU of either daily) to nourish mucus membranes. Hot flashes can deplete B vitamins. Taking 50 mg of a B complex daily will boost your energy, strengthen the kidneys, and reduce nervousness. Vitamin E (400 IU daily) can reduce hot flashes, balance mood swings, and prevent vaginal dryness.
Vitamin C with bioflavonoids support immunity, nourish the adrenal glands, and are needed for collagen production so that skin remains elastic. They can ease some of the problems of heavy and irregular bleeding, relieve hot flashes, and increase vaginal lubrication. Take 500 mg twice a day. Calcium (1,000 mg) and magnesium (500 mg) are important for bone health and promote calmness and good sleep.
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Minimize your intake of alcohol, sugar, caffeine, carbonated beverages, fried foods, and high-fat products as excessive consumption can worsen hot flashes.
If menstrual bleeding is excessive, an iron supplement can help prevent anemia. Evening primrose oil aids estrogen production and can decrease menstrual flooding. A fish oil supplement can help keep the skin moist. Of course, you can also focus on eating foods rich in these nutrients, like leafy greens.
ESSENTIAL OILS FOR MENOPAUSE
Essential oils of basil, geranium, grapefruit, lavender, lemon, and peppermint help relieve hot flashes and can be used as inhalations, in the bath, or in massage on a once daily basis (see Aromatherapy on page 23 for other ideas). Clary sage and cypress can help counteract vaginal atrophy. Use Clary sage to scent some olive oil and apply it to vaginal tissue. Clary sage can also help irregular menses and lift depressed spirits when diluted and applied to the skin. Oils that have estrogenic activity include Clary sage, sage, anise, fennel, angelica, coriander, cypress, and niaouli.
BEST FOODS FOR MENOPAUSE
Eat foods that build blood and strengthen the liver, such as barley, beets, beet greens, black beans, black sesame seeds, deep sea fish, green leafy vegetables, jujube dates, goji berries, millet, mulberries, mung beans, pomegranates, string beans, sweet potatoes, walnuts, and wild rice. Seaweed is mineral rich and helps promote vaginal elasticity.
SOOTHING PRACTICES FOR MENOPAUSE
Personality changes may occur with menopause. Take more time to yourself. Many women have spent their lives pleasing others, often not taking care of themselves in the process. A personal retreat can be wonderful and soul enriching. Take a class or learn about what has always been a passion you had to put off.
Stretching helps maintain flexibility. Kegel exercises help keep reproductive organs in good tone.
Simplify your life. Let go of activities that get in the way of keeping yourself in good spirits and health. Menopause can also be a good time to clean your karma. Are there people in your life to whom you owe an apology, a letter, perhaps flowers? Are there people who you need to confront to clear the energy—a parent or an old lover? This may be a good time to record your life story on paper. Complete any unfinished business. Enjoy this time of changes and growing wisdom.
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Avoid washing with drying soaps as these may further dry the vaginal tissues.
GOOD TO KNOW!
Hot flashes feature warmth that is intense and often accompanied by heart palpitations, anxiety, faintness, flushing, headache, and night sweats. The average hot flash lasts about three minutes, but anything between half a minute and an hour can occur. It may be helpful to keep a record of what is going on and under what conditions hot flashes occur.
When hot flashes occur, ride the wave. Wear cool clothes and dress in layers so you can dress and undress as need be. Use a fan to cool yourself. Try pinching the fleshy area between the nose and upper lip to cool off.
Drink lots of cool beverages. Consume cooling foods like cucumbers, celery, melons, lemon, and fresh chickweed salad, which are considered refrigerants, literally cooling the body. Make your own dressing with extra virgin olive oil, as commercially heated oils congest the liver, causing it to become overheated and thus result in hot flashes. Avoid hot and spicy foods. If hot drinks bring on hot flashes, drink your teas at room temperature.
Spritz your chest, neck, and face (with glasses off and eyes and mouth closed) with water scented with essential oils such as cooling peppermint or lavender when you feel the heat come on. Avoid oil-type massages if you are suffering from hot flashes. Instead get shiatsu or other bodywork that is done without heavy oils, as oil massage is heating to the body.
A hydrotherapy technique for hot flashes is to walk or stand in a tub filled with 6 inches of cold water. (You can also add 3 drops of essential oil of peppermint or some lemon peels from your last salad dressing project.) Then dry your feet, put on your shoes, and go for a short walk.
Herbs to use as tea or tincture three times daily to curb hot flashes are motherwort and sage, both of which are astringent.
Finally, express your feelings in a healthy way. Bottled up emotions can cause you to heat up and blow your top!
This Natural Menopause Treatment article is taken from :
The Country Almanac of Home Remedies - Brigitte Mars
