| A natural approach to dealing with menopause | | | | Women in menopause should limit or eliminate alcohol |
| symptoms is on the minds of many women these | | | | and spicy foods as both can increase the incidence of |
| days. After all the bad press regarding hormone | | | | hot flashes and night sweats. Alcohol can also |
| replacement therapy (HRT) many women now fear | | | | contribute to depression, anxiety, headaches and |
| using HRT. When the results of the Women's Health | | | | insomnia. |
| Initiative were released relaying the many serious | | | | Eating a diet filled with plants containing |
| health consequences of use, many women on HRT | | | | phytoestrogens can also be helpful. Phytoestrogens |
| decided to go off the hormones that they had been | | | | are naturally occurring plant based substances that |
| using for years. Many decided that they would never | | | | are related to our body's own natural hormones. |
| go on them. | | | | Some of those helpful plants are beans, seaweed, |
| The symptoms of menopause and perimenopause | | | | pomegranate, berries, flaxseed (must be ground, or |
| can vary from woman to woman, from mild to | | | | oil is ok), root vegetables. |
| severe and life disrupting. One woman may have mild | | | | For some serious help with menopause symptoms |
| occasional hot flashes, another may experience | | | | you may want to try herbal support. Herbs can be |
| severe hot flashes every fifteen minutes | | | | especially effective at reducing hot flashes and night |
| accompanied by heart palpitations and feelings of | | | | sweats. Many women find relief with black cohosh or |
| severe anxiety. | | | | false unicorn root. Red clover is also a very good |
| Some of the symptoms of menopause are: | | | | herb and is also helpful for keeping bones strong, |
| - Hot flashes | | | | another concern in menopausal women. |
| - Night sweats | | | | Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are also |
| - Insomnia | | | | two proven natural remedies for menopause |
| - Depression | | | | symptoms. In Traditional Chinese Medicine each |
| - Irritability and mood swings | | | | person is considered as a unique individual with a |
| - Heart palpitations | | | | unique set of symptoms and constitution. The herbs |
| - Feverish feelings (hot then cold) | | | | and acupuncture treatments given for one woman |
| - Dryness | | | | will differ from the next, as each person's symptoms |
| - Headaches and migraine | | | | and constitution will not be the same. Herbal formulas |
| - And many more | | | | are often created specifically for an individual and |
| With a large number of women currently entering | | | | contain herbs that are chosen to work synergistically |
| menopause years and the years leading up to | | | | with one another to enhance the overall treatment |
| menopause, known as perimenopause, what can be | | | | success. |
| done if hormone replacement is not their choice? | | | | In the hands of a skilled acupuncturist and herbalist |
| How can we help these women? | | | | many women can achieve success and relief from |
| Changes in lifestyle can be helpful. One thing to do is | | | | menopause symptoms. |
| make sure that exercise is a regular part or your | | | | It is advised that before you start on any herbal |
| weekly schedule. Exercising for an hour 4 or more | | | | regimen that you seek the advice of a medical |
| times a week can greatly reduce hot flashes, | | | | professional or licensed or professional herbalist as |
| anxiety, depression and mood swings. | | | | many herbs can interact with medications. |