Menopause: Alternative Solutions by Michelle Dinmore Just when you get done with the PMS word, now comes the "change of life" phrase. Don't women ever get a break? You know, men sure got the easy part. Right when you start getting hot flashes and miss a few periods the big, "Oh, Oh," comes to mind. Most women rush to their doctors to find the answers, but in all reality all you get is some special name for horse urine to treat the problem. No, I'm not joking. Estrogen replacement is made out of pregnant horse urine. Ask your doctor if you do not believe me.
Anyway, I'm here to give you some alternative solutions to menopause if you prefer not to use the highly controversial HRT (Hormone Replacement Treatment), but if you are having any severe reactions to your changes, it may be wise to take it. As always, be careful with any medicine, herb, or alternative treatment and read all warnings before using them. Do not use HRT along with alternative methods unless you ask your doctor first.
One of the best and most highly recommended products on the market for Menopause today is soy. Soybeans have the natural ability to mimic estrogen. This plant estrogen is called phytoestrogen. These estrogen-like compounds are found in almost all soybean-based products like tofu, miso, and vegetarian meat substitutes. Some other foods also contain phytoestrogens like, flaxseeds, pomegranates, and dates.
Red Clover is an herb that is said to be even higher in phytoestrogens than soy. Red Clover can be used as tea, or taken in capsule form. Many people that are allergic to soybeans do well with Red Clover. Red Clover is said to be a 100% safe with no side effects, unless you are allergic to ragweed. It is also stated to help prevent certain cancers by cleansing the blood.
Wild Mexican Yam is another popular treatment for menopausal symptoms. It contains compounds similar to the hormone progesterone, which is decreased during a woman's changes. When a woman stops ovulating, her ovaries stop producing both estrogen and progesterone, so it may be a good idea when using and estrogen plant source replacement, to also use a progesterone one. Many people do okay just using the soy or Red Clover, so I'll let you decide on this one.
Certain vitamins and minerals are vital for maintaining health during this time. Calcium and magnesium are very important. With the loss of estrogen, so starts the loss of bone connective tissue. Vitamin E and lecithin are said to work together to help with hot flashes and other complaints. B-Complex helps relieve stress as well as improves circulation and cellular function.
There are a lot of good natural products out on the market today that have been proven to help many women going through their changes. You can find these items in your local health food and vitamin stores. I hope that some of the information I provided you will help you deal with this cycle that inevitably we all must one day face. Best of luck to you and your health!
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Black Cohosh is an oestrogenic which means it has the capacity to promote or mimic the action of female hormones. Other herbs that fall into this category are red clover, sage, hops, licorice. So if Black Cohosh isn't working for you, you might find that a different one of these plants works better due to your particular constitution. Margi Flint recommends sage sprays and a lot of herbalists highly recommend sage to all elders.
Blue Vervain, Vitex, Angelica and Licorice all work to balance the hormones in your body, also. Something I heard in a recent webinar makes me think that one large dose in the morning when your prolactin levels are high might be better than several small doses.
Starting with perimenopause and into menopause your body starts to shift production of hormones from the ovaries to the adrenals. This causes a huge problem for a lot of women, because well, just think about the condition of our adrenals.
So while managing the hormone swings of menopause is important, you might find that you are better served by getting in there and really supporting your adrenals. Adaptogens are key. Nettle seed is probably one I would investigate, Licorice, Eleuthro, Borage, and Ashwaganda are other adaptogens that are specifically supportive of your adrenals.
As always diet is important as the hormone production changes over, you need to make sure you are getting enough healthy fats - your Omega 3's are really important to your adrenal glands. If you are vegetarian trying to get by on Flax and EPO, I'd like to tell I think you can get enough EPA and DHA, but I don't believe it.
Eating a lot of phytoestrogenic plants can help, too. Soy (fermented, non GMO sources), beans, chickpeas, nuts and seeds are good sources.
Magnesium, magnesium, magnesium. Women in this country get too much calcium and not enough magnesium to maintain a proper ratio in their bodies. I cannot tell you how many times adding magnesium supplements to the diet has caused menstrual cramps to just disappear.
Red meat is considered a warming food in Ayurvedic circle; probably due to its high saturated fat content. There is also a link between eating red meat and a reduction in your body's production of oestrogen, possibly due to the estrogen fed to the cattle during production, so cutting back is probably a good idea. I know people who have switched to grass fed beef and noticed a reduction of symptoms as well.
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Menopause Body Oil
6 drops lemon oil
5 drops geranium oil
2 drops clary sage oil
1 drop angelica oil
1 drop jasmine oil
2 ounces vegetable oil or body lotion
Combine the ingredients. Use at least once a day as a massage oil, in a
lotion, or in a bath (add 2 teaspoons to the bathwater). If this formula is
too oily for you, add the same essential oils to 2 ounces of a commercial
body lotion instead. The best type to use is an unscented, basic lotion that
contains ingredients that are as natural as possible
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MENOPAUSE SYMPTOM RELIEF
1 C. water
2 tsp. bruised anise seeds
2 tsp. bruised fennel seeds
3 tsp. powdered red clover flower tops
Honey and/or lemon, to taste
Bring water to a boil in saucepan. Add seeds and clover and remove from heat. Steep for 10 to 20 minutes. Strain. Add honey and/or lemon. Drink cool or reheat.
Healthy menopausal women may use up to 3 cups a day. If headache, rash, stomach ache, or other side effects develop, discontinue use. As this is a natural alternative to estrogen replacement therapy, USE THIS FORMULA ONLY IN CONSULTATION WITH YOUR DOCTOR.
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