Menopause is gateway condition, an important time of life for women. If done well, it can be a productive, safe and experience, if done improperly it can be dangerous and lead to debilitating illnesses and problems. In this article we will discuss a Holistic Approach for treating and transforming menopause from a disaster to a walk in the park. We will learn about prevention, simple treatments, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Estrogen Replacement Therapy (ERT) or Progesterone Replacement Therapy (PRT). We will discuss reducing and eliminating nearly all of the problems often associated with going through the menopause. We will also talk about some of the more important complications and risks of menopause and natural treatments available delay, eliminate or treat them.
What Is Menopause?
The cessation of menstruation and fertility usually occurring at or around 50 years of age. It often comes, but not always with a number of potential symptoms:
- Hot Flashes, Flushing and Night Sweats
- Vaginal Dryness (Vaginal Atrophy)
- Insomnia and Other Problems Sleeping
- Mood Swings Both Anxiety/ and Depression
- Osteoporosis
- Increased Risk of CAD, Stroke
- Aging
- Loss of Muscle Mass
- Skin Changes
- Weight Gain
- Loss of Memory
- Loss of Libido
Hot Flashes, Flushing and Night Sweats
- A holistic or herbal approach for treating menopause and menopausal symptom might include using herbs, individually or in combination, such as: Ginseng, Black Cohash, Chickweed, Hawthorn Berries, Dandelion, Dong Quai and/or Licorice Root
- The holistic and herbal approach for treating menopause is meant not only to treat the physical symptoms but also the mental and emotional problems many woman experience. Women suffering from menopause may experience life changing affects in all aspects of her mental and emotional stability.
- When the symptoms are problematic the menopausal woman should avoid eating or drinking hot or spicy foods, alcohol, foods containing caffeine, when they are feeling stressed, when they are in a hot place or on occasion doing nothing at all that seems to bring them on.
For more information about Natural and Herbal Treatments for Menopause, click here.
Other easy things to do:
- Dress in layers according to the inside or outside temperature needs.
- Keep a fan or air conditioning in your home or workplace.
- Many medical doctors can offer Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT; sometimes this is also referred to a Medical or Menopausal Hormone Therapy - MHT) for more information about Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, click here.
- Medical doctors may offer antidepressant or epilepsy medicines, this would be a last resort trial, especially, if nothing else works.
Vaginal Dryness (Vaginal Atrophy)
- Water-based, over-the-counter vaginal lubricant (such as K-Y Jelly)
- Vaginal moisturizer
- Herbal preparation (as above)
- Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, patches, hormone vaginal rings are alternative choices
For more information on Atrophic Vaginitis, click here.
Insomnia and Other Problems Sleeping
- Melatonin and DHEA
- A number of herbal and vitamin-mineral preparations (tryptophan, magnesium)
- Sleep hygiene
- Avoid large meals, smoking, and working right before bedtime.
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol from afternoon on.
- Drinking something warm before bedtime, such as herbal tea (no caffeine) or warm milk as these might help you to feel sleepy.
- Keep your bedroom dark, quiet, and cool, and use your bedroom only for sleeping and sex.
- Avoid napping during the day, and try to go to bed and get up at the same times every day.
Mood Swings
- Herbal and certain vitamin-mineral products such as: Dong qui, magnesium, Skullcap added to a cup of tea, Chasteberry or Passion Flower beverage. Other ingredients used to fight anxiety are: cat nip and peppermint tea.
- Anxiety is simply unresolved stress
- Bio-Identical Hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA-S)
- Depression: St. John's Wort, Ginkgo Biloba, Siberian Ginseng, Rose, Lavender and Sandalwood. The amino acids S-adenosylmethionine (SAM-E) and 5-hydroxytryptophan (5-HTP) are also know to help.
Trouble Focusing, Fuzzy Thinking, or Forgetfulness
- May be anxiety, depression– first treatment is to find the cause(s) and resolve or solve them.
- Bio-Identical Hormones (estradiol, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA-S)
Osteoporosis
- Calcium alone, but better with magnesium
- Strontium, Vanadium, Boron
- Exercise
- The questions of bisphosphonates (Fosamax, Actonel, Boniva, Zometa, Aclasta) to use or not?
- Injectable Reclast, Forteo ??? not out long enough to really know...
For more information about Osteoporosis, click here.
Prevention
Don’t forget the basic:
- Yearly mammography and bone density screening
- Pap smears and breast exam
- Birth control for perimenopausal women
- Skin cancer checks
- If you have symptoms get help...
For more information about Menopause, click here.
For more information and lots of articles on menopause go to http://www.holisticGynPS.com check out Menopause
Andropause
- Also known as the "male climacteric" including loss of libido and potency, nervousness, depression, impaired memory, the inability to concentrate, fatigue, insomnia, hot flushes, and sweating.
- It was ultimately found that men had these types of symptoms were older than 50 and also had lower than normal levels of testosterone
- Andropause symptoms decreased dramatically when patients were given replacement doses of testosterone.
- Risks also associated with impotence and hypogonadism and sterility.
For more information about Andropause, click here.
Both Men and Women
● Experienced insulin resistance, central obesity, increased blood pressure, changes in lipid distribution, metabolic syndrome, more rapid ageing, loss of muscle mass, negative skin changes, hypothyroidism, increased risk of heart diseases, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, osteoporosis and many other chronic diseases not specifically related to sex hormones (immune system failure).
http://www.PreventiveMedicinePS.Com go to Search and http://www.HolisticGynPS.Com Go to Women’s Health Issues on the top menu and click on Menopause
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