Technically, the term menopause refers to the time in a woman’s life directly after her periods stop. However, it is also used to describe the long-term, wide ranging physical and emotional symptoms associated with this chapter in a woman’s life. The average age of women go through the menopause is around fifty, but symptoms can start anytime between the early forties and mid sixties.
Some women can experience early onset menopausal symptoms in their thirties. This is a known as premature ovarian failure.
The menopause occurs when a woman’s ovaries become depleted of functioning eggs and they cease to respond to the hormones released by the brain. This causes the ovaries to stop producing the female sex hormones, oestrogen and progesterone. When levels of these hormones in the body begin to fall, they cause symptoms of the menopause. This is because oestrogen and progesterone have profound effects on a variety of organs such as heart, bones, breasts, uterus, urinary system, skin, brain and many others.
Perimenopause
The following are symptoms of pre-menopause period (called the perimenopause) and can be experienced between two and six years before periods finally cease:
Menopause
Other than the ending of monthly periods, eight in ten women experience some of the following menopause symptoms:
If symptoms are particularly distressing or persistent, please see your doctor.
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Homeopathy has been traditionally used to help relieve the symptoms of menopause, and useful remedies include Pulsatilla and Sepia. (Always read the label on a product.)
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Bach Original Flower Remedies such as Rescue Remedy provide support at emotionally demanding times to restore calm and manage your daily stresses. The following remedies can also help to balance your emotions (always read the label):
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Beech and Impatiens are great for if you’re feeling intolerant, irritable and frustrated.
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Mustard will provide support if you’re feeling down in the dumps for no reason.
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Hornbeam and Olive will help if you find yourself feeling overly tired in everyday situations and suffer from exhaustion.
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Cherry Plum helps when you feel irrational and feel like you want to want to explode.∏
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Reflexology can support the menopausal woman physically and emotionally by addressing any imbalance and bringing benefits to the whole body.
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Body balance work like yoga and shiatsu can relax and uplift your mood.
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Acupuncture can alleviate some menopausal symptoms by rebalancing the body.
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Aromatherapy oils can help with a variety of different symptoms associated with the menopause. Lavender and Chamomile calm nerves. Cypress, Rose and Sage are also thought to be helpful.
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Taking regular exercise can help lift menopausal symptoms because when you exercise, the adrenal glands are stimulated to convert the male hormone androstenedione into oestrogen. Exercising for thirty minutes, four or five times a week will keep your oestrogen levels higher.
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Get a natural oestrogen boost. There is some evidence that naturally occurring oestrogen compounds such as phytoestrogens can help ease symptoms of the menopause. They are found in foods such as soy beans, soy milk, miso and tofu.
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Eating a balanced diet that contains lots of dairy products, fish, eggs and leafy green vegetables that provide lots of calcium and vitamin D. These are good for helping prevent osteoporosis and other menopausal symptoms.
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The herb Black Cohosh has been used traditionally to help alleviate menopausal symptoms including low mood, night sweats, hot flashes, mild anxiety and irritability.
*A vitamin supplement must not be used as a substitute for a balanced diet and health lifestyle.
∏ On no account should prescribed medication be discontinued, except under a doctor’s supervision.
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