Natural menopause & hot flushes herbal & homeopathic remedies

Menopause
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION - REMEDIES - MENOPAUSE

· General Description · Symptoms · Causes · Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies · Helpful Dietary Habits · Dos and Don'ts

The ending of a woman’s fertile (when ovulation occurs) years evolves in stages beginning with the pre-menopause, a phase involving menstrual irregularities. This time of change is also called perimenopause by many women and their doctors. It can begin several years before your last menstrual period. Perimenopause lasts for 1 year after your last period. It continues with the menopause, the year following the apparent cessation of periods, followed by the post-menopause, which lasts the rest of your life. Menopause begins when your ovaries no longer function, when estrogen secretion slows, and then stops, and monthly menstruation becomes irregular, and then ceases. In the years preceding menopause, i.e. pre-menopause, your ovaries are producing less of the female sex hormones estrogen and progesterone, while ovulation (the monthly release of an egg) also becomes less frequent. This hormonal fluctuation can result in a variety of uncomfortable symptoms, including hot flashes and night sweats and unusually light or heavy periods. A woman has officially passed the menopause when she hasn’t menstruated for a year. Another type of menopause, known as surgical menopause, occurs if both ovaries are removed for medical reasons. This may be done at the time of a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).

Menopause is different for each woman. For example, hot flashes and sleep problems may trouble your sister. Meanwhile, you are enjoying a new sense of freedom and energy. And your best friend might hardly be aware of a change at all. Although menopause by itself is not a disease and cannot be prevented, many hormonal changes occur during menopause and living without the protective effects of estrogen increases a woman's risk for developing serious medical conditions, including osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease. There are a variety of treatments available, however, to help ease the symptoms of and reduce health risks associated with menopause.

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Women may have different signs or symptoms at menopause. That is because estrogen is used by many parts of your body. So, as you have less estrogen, you could have various symptoms. Although menopause itself is the time of a woman's last period, symptoms can begin several years before that (in a stage called peri-menopause). Also, menopause and peri-menopause affect every woman differently. Here are the most common changes you might notice at midlife. Some may be part of aging rather than menopause.

Change in your period - This might be what you notice first. Your periods may no longer be regular. They may be shorter or last longer. You might bleed less than usual or more. These are all normal changes, but to make sure there isn’t a problem, see your doctor if: Your periods come very close together You have heavy bleeding You have spotting Your periods last more than a week Your periods then stop permanently

Hot flashes - Many women have hot flashes around the time of menopause. They may be related to changing estrogen levels. Hot flashes may last a few years after menopause. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow, accompanied by heart palpitations, dizziness, and headaches. Flashes can be very mild or strong enough to wake you from your sleep (called night sweats). Most hot flashes last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Problems with your vagina - Changing estrogen levels can cause your genital area to get drier and thinner. This could make sexual intercourse uncomfortable and there may be bleeding after intercourse. Or, you could have more vaginal infections. Problems with your bladder - You could have more urinary infections also. Some women find it hard to hold their urine long enough to get to the bathroom. Sometimes urine leaks during exercise, sneezing, coughing, laughing, or running. There is also burning during urination and problem of incontinence including urinating at night. Sleep/ Night sweats - Around mid life, some women start having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Maybe you cannot fall asleep easily, or you wake up too early. Night sweats might wake you up. You might have trouble falling back to sleep if you wake during the night. Sex - You may find that your feelings about sex are changing. You could be less interested. Or, you could feel freer and sexier after menopause. After 1 full year without a period, you can no longer become pregnant. But remember, you could still be at risk for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), such as gonorrhea or even HIV/AIDS. You increase your risk for an STD if you are having sex with more than one person or with someone who is having sex with others. If so, make sure your partner uses a condom each time you have sex. Mood changes - You might find yourself more moody or irritable around the time of menopause. Scientists do not know why this happens. It is possible that stress, family changes such as growing children or aging parents, a history of depression, or feeling tired could be causing these mood changes. Your body seems different - Your waist could get larger. You could lose muscle and gain fat. There is weight gain and change in weight distribution with increased fat in the central, abdominal area. Your skin could get thinner and there may be loss of skin tone leading to wrinkles. You might have memory problems, and your joints and muscles could feel stiff and achy. Hair loss or thinning on the head, more hair growth on the face are some other physical symptoms.

What about My Heart and Bones?

Two common health problems can start to happen at menopause, and you might not even notice. Osteoporosis - Day in and day out, your body is busy breaking down old bone and replacing it with new healthy bone. Estrogen helps control bone loss and losing estrogen around the time of menopause causes women to lose more bone than is replaced. In time, bones can become weak and break easily. This condition is called osteoporosis. Talk to your doctor to see if you should have a bone density test to find out if you are at risk. Your doctor can also suggest ways to prevent or treat osteoporosis. Heart disease - After menopause, women are more likely to have heart disease. Changes in estrogen levels may be part of the cause. However, so is getting older. As you age, you may gain weight and develop other problems, like high blood pressure. These could put you at greater risk for heart disease. Be sure to have your blood pressure and levels of triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, and LDL, HDL, and total cholesterol checked regularly. Talk to your health care provider to find out what you should do to protect your heart. Other diseases that may result after you are through menopause include Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration (a serious eye disorder and the leading cause of blindness in the Western world), glaucoma, and colon cancer.

Diagnosis In general, menopause is considered complete when a woman has not menstruated for at least 1 year. A healthcare provider will perform an examination that includes a pap smear, blood tests looking at hormone and cholesterol levels, and, possibly, a bone density measurement. It is important to have a thorough discussion with the healthcare provider regarding the benefits and risks of different options for reducing symptoms and health risks. If vaginal bleeding resumes unexpectedly once menopause has occurred, your doctor may consider a test called an endometrial biopsy. In this test (performed in the office), a gynecologist takes a sample of the uterine lining (the endometrium) and examines them under the microscope for abnormal changes.

Menopause refers to a natural stop in a woman’s menstrual period and fertility. Menopause happens because the woman's ovary stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone. There is a gradual reduction in the amount of estrogen produced in the ovaries. Estrogen, a female hormone produced primarily by the ovaries, is essential for the reproductive process and influences menstrual cycles, pregnancy, some aspects of mood, and the aging process. In the years leading up to menopause, the ovaries become less functional and produce lower amounts of estrogen and progesterone (another female hormone). Although menopause is part of the natural aging process in all women, it may be caused by surgical removal of both ovaries. Surgery to remove your uterus (called a hysterectomy) will make your periods stop, and that’s menopause. But you might not have menopause symptoms like hot flashes right then because if your ovaries are untouched, they still make hormones. In time, when your ovaries start to make less estrogen, menopause symptoms could start. But, sometimes both ovaries are removed (called a bilateral oopherectomy), usually along with your uterus. That’s menopause too. In this case, menopause symptoms can start right away, no matter what age you are, because your body has lost its main supply of estrogen. Surgical menopause tends to cause a more abrupt onset of symptoms.

Risk Factors

The following risk factors may also hasten the onset of menopausal symptoms:

Radiation, and/or chemotherapy - Menopause can also be caused by ovarian failure from cancer therapy, such as chemotherapy or radiation treatments Premature ovarian failure Hypothyroidism - Diminished production of thyroid hormone Insufficient production of hormones by the adrenal glands Hereditary - Some researchers speculate that the timing of menopause onset may be hereditary, but the evidence to support this claim is limited

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While menopause is a natural and expected process for every woman, the associated symptoms can be difficult and trying on both physical and emotional levels. Many women are now turning to the use of natural herbal and homeopathic remedies to counteract these symptoms and nature has a medicine chest of ingredients that suit this purpose. Black cohosh is one such herbal ingredient that is well know for its ability to support estrogen balance in the body and treat a number of menopause related symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, and vaginal dryness. Other highly successful ingredients for the treatment of menopausal symptoms include pasque flower which supports female health and sooths the nervous system, and Dong Quai which works to support the balance of female hormones while treating many of the symptoms related to PMS and menopause.

Herbal & Homeopathic Remedies Useful In Menopause

Angelica Sinesis a powerful Chinese tonic herb which has an adaptogenic effect on the female hormonal system. Our remedy contains Angelica Sinesis in its 100% pure form. Angelica Sinesis has been studied for its ability to support the female menstrual cycle.   Cimicifuga racemosa (Black cohosh) - This herb is a supportive ingredient for the nervous system and has been used over the ages as a remedy to provide support for female gynecological health. Cimicifuga racemosa has as its main constituent's triterpene glycosides, cinnamic acid derivatives, chromone, isoflavones, tannins and salicylic acid. This ingredient has also been researched for its ability to support routine temperature regulation in the female body. Black Cohosh has also been studied for its ability to routinely support estrogen balance in the body.   Calendula officinalis is used for its benefits for the menstrual cycle. In naturopathic medicine this herb is often recommended to maintain regular periods and to soothe common menstrual cramps and research has highlighted the role of Calendula in cellular health.   Belladonna (30C) is very useful for the maintenance of regular periods and balanced mood.   Pulsatilla vulgaris (Pasque flower) - This herb has a natural tonic effect on the nervous system and is also a soothing and supportive herb for the female reproductive organs.   Artemisia vulgaris is a traditional herb commonly used for supporting menstrual health, especially during the perimenopausal period. Considered by the ancient Anglo-Saxons to be one of the nine sacred herbs, Artemisia vulgaris was traditionally recommended for maintaining regular normal menstruation, soothed nerves and trouble-free periods.   Calc. carb (30C) is used to support normal menstrual flow. It is also often recommended for women who experience common tender breasts during menstruation.   Capsella bursa-pastorisis another female tonic herb which also has added benefits in supporting overall hormonal health as well as a variety of other health supporting properties.   Viburnum opulus is also known as Cramp Bark and is known to ease common nervous tension as well as relax the uterus, thereby also soothing common menstrual cramps. This herb has been studied for its anti-oxidant properties.   China (30C) is also known as Cinchona and is used to maintain healthy levels of iron in the blood and is also recommended to support physical stamina and energy.   Sepia (30C) is recommended to maintain hormonal balance, regular normal periods and balanced mood.

The right diet can help a woman battle many of the risks and discomforts associated with menopause. A low-fat, low-cholesterol diet, for example, may diminish the risk of heart disease in menopausal women by providing the following benefits: Less of a rise in LDL cholesterol and triglycerides (both are bad forms of cholesterol) At least short-term lowering of blood pressure Diminished weight gain
Soy - Soy foods contain compounds called phytoestrogens that are related in structure to estrogen, that appear to reduce hot flashes, improve cholesterol, and may decrease bone loss. The North American Menopause Society (NAMS) recommends including soy foods in the diet, rather than soy supplements or other substances with phytoestrogens, to help reduce menopausal symptoms. Soy is known to affect the menstrual cycle in premenopausal women. Societies with high consumption of soy products have a low incidence of hot flashes during menopause. As a result of these studies, doctors often recommend that women experiencing menopausal symptoms eat tofu, soy milk, tempeh, roasted soy nuts, and other soy-based sources of phytoestrogens. Soy sauce contains very little phytoestrogen content, and many processed foods made from soybean concentrates have insignificant levels of phytoestrogens. Flaxseed - Flaxseed contains omega-3 fatty acids and plant-based estrogens (phytoestrogens) called lignans that may help reduce symptoms of menopause, protect against breast cancer, and prevent heart disease. Calcium - The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and NAMS recommend that postmenopausal women consume between 1,000 and 1,500 milligrams of calcium per day to boost bone mass. Foods rich in calcium include dairy products, green leafy vegetables, black strap molasses, almonds, and dried beans. If adequate amounts of calcium are not being obtained through the diet, calcium supplements may be necessary. Avoid eating raw BRAN, which inhibits calcium absorption, and cut down on tea and coffee, which promote the excretion of calcium. Tea and coffee also stimulate the production of stress hormones that trigger hot flashes. Vitamin D - Vitamin D, along with calcium, is essential for building and maintaining healthy bones throughout life. In fact, calcium can be absorbed into the body only when vitamin D is present. As levels of vitamin D diminish with age, calcium deficiencies can arise, increasing the risk for osteoporosis and bone fractures. The recommended dietary intake for vitamin D is currently 400 IU per day for women between the ages of 50 and 70 years and 600 IU for those older than age 70. Sources of this vitamin include sunlight, fatty fish, dairy fortified with vitamin D, and supplements.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids - Studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids (in the form of fish oil or flaxseed) help to improve cholesterol levels and decrease the risk of heart disease. At least three times a week, eat fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines, halibut, herring and anchovies, that are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Eat small meals - Rather than overload your system by eating heavy meals thrice a day, go for 5-6 smaller meals which will go a long way in regulating your body temperature. High fiber meals may also help lower a woman's risk of high cholesterol and heart disease. Limit you intake of salt and salty foods to reduce bloating and fluid retention. Go heavy on fluids - Never forget to refresh yourself with cool water juice, especially after exercising. This will also keep the body temperature in check. Things to avoid - Cut down on caffeine – Caffeine containing beverages stimulate production of the stress hormones that trigger hot flashes.
	- Limit your alcohol – Some women find that alcohol is another hot flashes trigger. - Spicy foods and hot drinks should also be avoided.

		Slowing the rate of bone loss (through weight-bearing exercises, such as walking, jogging, bicycling, jumping rope, swimming or dancing, at least 3 days each week for around 20 minutes)
		Lessening or preventing hot flashes and night sweats
		Boosting mood, such as preventing depression and taking care of other emotional problems
		Preventing vaginal problems
		Enhancing memory and concentration (exercising boosts brain concentrations of the neurotransmitters norepinephrine and serotonin)
		Improving cholesterol
		Maintenance of general health and strength, particularly for elderly who are better able to maintain independence if they exercise
Take medicine if your doctor prescribes it for you, especially if it is for health problems you cannot see or feel—for example, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or osteoporosis. Get regular pelvic and breast exams, Pap tests, and mammograms. You should also be checked for colon and rectal cancer and for skin cancer. Contact your doctor right away if you notice a lump in your breast or a mole that has changed. Make sure you are getting enough sleep. If insomnia is a problem then cut down of caffeine, make sure you get a daily dose of exercise and try a few deep breathing relaxation techniques. Look after yourself. Find a quiet place that you can unwind, relax and come to a place of peace. Whether it is a quiet room in which to meditate, read, pursue a hobby, or simply your bathroom where you can de-stress in a hot bath.
Ways to get away from hot flashes
Try to keep track of when hot flashes happen—a diary can help. You might be able to use this information to find out what triggers your flashes and then avoid those triggers. When a hot flash starts, try to go somewhere cool. Carry a small, battery-powered fan with you to cool the hot flashes. If night sweats wake you, sleep in a cool room or with a fan on. Dress in layers that you can take off if you get too warm. Wear sweaters and vests, then peel a layer off when a hot flash threatens. Add a layer when the hot flash passes because your body temperature actually falls a little below normal and can leave you feeling chilled. Use sheets and clothing that let your skin “breathe.” Wear lightweight clothing made of natural fibers like cotton and wool which will give your body more ventilation and keep it cooler by wicking moisture away from your body and cooling it naturally. Synthetic fibers trap heat and perspiration during a hot flash, making this symptom even more unbearable. Have a cold drink (water or juice) when a flash is starting. Anyways, you should drink lots of water throughout the day. Make a cooling aromatherapy facial mist to relieve hot flashes. Combine 200ml rosewater, 5 drops lavender essential oil and 1 tablespoon witch hazel in a plastic spray bottle. Store it in the fridge and use it to spray your face whenever required.
For overcoming sexual problems Vaginal dryness from a lack of estrogen decreases interest in intercourse during menopause. Use a water-based vaginal lubricant (not petroleum jelly), vegetable oils or a vaginal estrogen cream or tablet to help with vaginal discomfort (see FemaLube). You may also break open a couple of vitamin E capsules and massage them on as a lubricant. Studies suggest that oil-based moisturizers do not work as well and can actually increase irritation if used long term. Make it adventurous – You may want to try new positions in intercourse to find the most comfortable one. Touching is extremely important at this time. More hugs and mutual massages for closeness and sensual pleasure are strongly recommended. Go for Kegel – You can strengthen your anal, vaginal, and urinary muscles with a special exercise called a Kegel. You can basically improve pelvic muscle tone through Kegel. Stronger muscles can help you relax and use these muscles with less pain and more pleasure during intercourse.
Holistic approaches that may be helpful
Acupuncture - Acupuncture may be helpful in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. Acupuncture enhances the release of endorphins (opiate-like hormones), and preliminary studies suggest that it may improve mood, including feelings of sadness and fear, in menopausal women. It may also help to balance hormones and relieve hot flashes. Yoga - Yoga aids flexibility and has an added benefit of improving diaphragmatic breathing which induces relaxation and reduces stress.
And lastly, remember Many women report a greater sense of freedom to enjoy sex after menopause, simply because they no longer need to worry about getting pregnant or using birth control devices. In addition, the hormones that trigger menstruation will appear in reduced supply. This will change the hormonal balance in your body, with hormones that tend to intensify sexual desire predominating. So, be happy and make lots of love, even when you are going through menopause. Studies suggest that women who continue to have intercourse on a regular basis (once a week or more) have fewer or no hot flashes compared to women who have sporadic sex. Frequent sex helps moderate dropping estrogen levels, which in turn reduces the occurrence of hot flashes. Additionally, high estrogen level will maintain a healthy interest in sex and regular sexual activity indirectly stimulates failing ovaries.