When you get to that certain ‘time of life’, you may start noticing a few changes in your body, which might suggest to you that you are starting the menopause …. ‘The Change!’
The beginnings of menopause can start as early as age 35 (although age 45-50 is more common). This stage is known as the ‘peri-menopause’, and starts with symptoms such as your periods becoming lighter, or more irregular. Over time, your periods will stop completely.
Gradually, symptoms may increase to include hot flashes and night sweats, breast tenderness, vaginal dryness, headaches, insomnia, mood swings and depression. Not all symptoms may be present, and they may be of differing severity. Many people describe the onset of peri-menopause or menopause as like a bad dose of PMT!
Symptoms are caused by changes in hormone levels in the body …. Most noticeably, a lessening of the hormone estrogen.
This is why conventional treatments, such as HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) work well – they act directly to replace the missing hormones in the body.
I think we are all well aware, these days, of the potential harm that such treatments can cause. HRT has potential links with cancers, and conventional treatments do cause a whole host of unpleasant side effects, in any case…!
Natural health remedies can be a very effective alternative. And are a much safer alternative too, considering that the average amount of time it takes to go through the menopause is 2 to 3 years.
Many natural remedies for menopause do work on the same principle as conventional treatments – that is, balancing the levels of hormones in the body. This then soothes and relieves the hormone-related symptoms.
Some natural treatments for menopause, such as Black Cohosh, Dang Gui and Soya, contain substances called ‘phyto-estrogens’. These are substances that work in a similar way to estrogen in the body – and can be used to ‘replace’ or ‘mimic’ the missing hormone.
Soya is a very good food to include in the diet, for peri-menopausal and menopausal women. Try one or two small helpings of: tofu, soya beans, soya milk products, tempeh or miso, per day.
Other herbal treatments for menopause work to balance or manage hormone levels in the body – some of the best to try are Agnus Castus, Siberian Ginseng, Liquorice and Saw Palmetto.
Raspberry Leaves (usually taken as tea) is a very useful treatment for menopause, that works directly on toning and strengthening the womb, and the reproductive system.
As well as these herbal remedies for menopause, you might be surprised by how much benefit you can get just by changing your diet and lifestyle.
Studies have shown that if you don’t do a regular amount of moderate exercise, you are twice as likely to suffer from menopause symptoms! So take a stroll in your local park this lunchtime – you will feel the benefits in many ways…!
A general healthy diet, full of fresh fruit and veg, with plenty of whole grains, will also do a great deal to reduce or relieve menopausal symptoms. Avoid all the usual unhealthy suspects, such as fatty, fried foods, refined sugars and carbohydrates, cigarettes and alcohol. Instead choose from an array of foods said to be very beneficial for menopause symptoms …. Such as ‘cruciferous vegetables’: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, brussel sprouts.
Above all, take time out to relax and enjoy yourself. You might be very surprised at the health benefits that such a simple step can have! It is best to choose the relaxation remedy that seems to work best for you, as an individual….
This could be anything from yoga, meditation, art, music, a stroll in the park, hypnotherapy, acupuncture, massage…just choose the one that works for you…!
Menopause appears to be quite a daunting time for some women…but it doesn’t have to be! Natural remedies can take away troubling symptoms, and allow women to experience the menopause as a whole new lifestyle and opportunity opening up before them…
Take a little time and care, looking after your body, and it will look after you… Let the menopause give you a new lease of life…!
Find out more about all these natural menopause remedies, and how they can help you…