what is menopause

WHAT DO YOU MEAN: PERIMENOPAUSE?

Something you've probably heard a lot about in the news these days is perimenopause, which is a prelude to menopause and can last several years. These are the years when estrogen production from the ovaries starts to decline and symptoms, such as hot flashes, may begin to appear. This is a wise time to check with your naturopathic doctor so that you're prepared for menopause. By enhancing your endocrine system you can ease into menopause without trouble.

Although the presentation and severity of menopause can vary greatly from woman to woman, the most common menopause symptoms are hot flashes, depression, insomnia, vaginal dryness, irritability, mood swings, lowered libido, risk of osteoperosis and headaches.

Most women report that they experience hot flashes during pre- and perimenopause. Hot flashes typically begin to occur when women start to have irregular periods, and usually end one or two years after menstruation has ceased. Sometimes women will experience flushing or warmth in their faces and upper bodies, others might actually have sweating and chills. Hot flashes can occur at any time of day or night. While it is not entirely clear what causes hot flashes, some researchers suggest it might have to do with mixed signals from the hypothalamus, a region in the brain that regulates body temperature and sex hormones. The hypothalamus may be reacting to decreasing levels of estrogen, and this may explain why hot flashes cease when estrogen replacement is given.

Getting prepared for Menopause
In our western culture, women are under pressure to perform like “supermom”, and are pulled in many directions. The go-go lifestyle the stress and lack of adequate rest can lean one to run their ‘battery’ low. The battery I am referring to is the adrenal system in our bodies. When a women enters menopause and the ovaries do not produce hormones anymore, the adrenal glands and fatty tissues are responsible for producing a weaker form of estrogen called estriol. If you enter menopause with an exhausted adrenal system, you are more likely to experience menopausal symptoms and difficulties. By enhancing your adrenal status prior to menopause, you could likely sail into your new phase of life with vim and vigor. Your naturopathic doctor can help you boost your adrenal system.

Eating a well balanced diet is also fundamental to healthier menopausal years. It is important to get the most nutrition from your food choices that you can. Don’t forget to eat healthy fats, they are the basic building blocks to sex hormones (soft boiled eggs and omega 3 oils are wonderful choices). Think of putting the colors of the rainbow on your plate. All the varied phytonutrients will nourish the many cells in your body and give them the vitamins, minerals and enzymes to function at their best. Aim for 5-9 servings of fruits and vegetables daily (1/2 cup is considered one serving). Consider taking a ‘green’ drink from your local health food store or naturopathic office to help you get your veggie servings. Now is also a great time to consider a good bone nutrition program is you haven’t already to protect against osteoperosis.

Suggested Lifestyle Changes for Menopause Treatment
Menopausal symptoms may be inevitable, but there are natural methods to reduce their severity.

Mental attitude has a lot to do with how well a woman adjusts to menopause. If it is seen as a tragic end to youth, fertility and sexuality, it can cause significant disruptions in one's day-to-day life, and create the temptation to "solve" the problem with unproven therapies that promise eternal youth. If menopause is seen as simply the natural transition to the next phase of life, it can be readily accepted and more easily handled. The risks and benefits of estrogen replacement therapy should be carefully considered, and many women do quite well without any medical intervention for menopause treatment. Following an anti-inflammatory diet, getting adequate aerobic exercise, and relaxation practices can help address the many practical problems that menopause can bring. Menopause is not a disease, and there is no reason for it to decrease interest in or enjoyment of sex. Vaginal dryness can make intercourse more difficult, however, and an over the counter product such as Replens Vaginal Lotion, as well as lubricants such as Astroglide can help. Your doctor can also prescribe a topical estrogen cream which will restore normal vaginal tissue. Your naturopathic doctor can also help balance your endocrine system.

Nutrition and Supplements - Herbs for Menopause
Try the following natural remedies and herbs for menopause:

Soy foods & red clover. The isoflavones in soy foods and clover help balance hormone levels and have some estrogenic-like activity. There is ongoing research about the safety and efficacy of isolated soy isoflavone supplements. They bind the estrogen receptors throughout the body and effedtively relieve menopausal symptoms.We currently recommend using natural soy foods rather and/or supplements. Choose from tofu, soy milk, roasted soy nuts or tempeh.
Flaxseed. Substances called lignins in flaxseed are important modulators of hormone metabolism. Grind flaxseed daily in a coffee grinder at home and use 1 to 2 tablespoons a day.
Dong quai. Dong quai (Angelica sinensis) is known both in China and the West for its ability to support and maintain the natural balance of female hormones. It does not have estrogenic activity. This is one of the herbs for menopause that should not be taken if a woman is experiencing heavy bleeding. It is often used as an Adaptogenic herb in combination with other menopausal herbs.
Black cohosh (Cumicifuga racemosa). One of the best-studied traditional herbs for menopause, black cohosh is used to help alleviate some symptoms of menopause, including hot flashes. Black cohosh seems to work by supporting and maintaining hormonal levels, which may lessen the severity of hot flashes. While any therapy that influences hormonal actions should be a concern, black cohosh does not appear to have estrogenic activity and thus may be safe for women with a personal or family history of breast cancer.
Vitamin E. A daily dose of 400 IUs of natural vitamin E (as mixed tocopherols and tocotrienols) can help alleviate symptoms of hot flashes in some menopausal women.
B vitamins. This group of water-soluble vitamins may help women deal with the stress of menopausal symptoms. B6 in particular increases progesterone levels and enhances serotonin production leading to a sense of calm.
Evening primrose oil, black current oil, or fish oil (EPA-DHA). These are sources of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA) and alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), essential fatty acids that can help influence prostaglandin synthesis (decrease inflammataion) and help moderate menopausal symptoms.
Homeopathics. Your Naturopathic doctor can prescribe an individualized remedy for how you are experiencing menopause.
Vitex (chasteberry). Vitex offers many benefits to women who are menopausal. It helps to relieve many of the uncomfortable symptoms of this transition time, including hot flashes, irregular cycles, depression, and flooding. Vitex is also an indispensable remedy for women with uterine fibroids, fibrocystic breasts, or endometriosis, polycyctic overies, infertility and PMS.

Acupuncture for menopause
An amazing traditional treatment option for balancing the meridian system prior to and during menopause. Boosting your kidney chi energy and regulating the spleen and stomach energies are common approaches to treating premenopausal imbalances or menopausal symptoms. Visit your Naturopathic Doctor for an individualized Chinese diagnosis and treatment protocol.

Visit your Naturopathic Doctor for more individualized and detailed health care regarding your menopausal years.