Can you answer monaj99’s question about Menopause?:

How long after a total hysterectomy did you notice the loss of hormones. I am not planning on taking any hormone replacement and am curious when the worst may be.
How long after a total hysterectomy did you notice the loss of hormones. I am not planning on taking any hormone replacement and am curious when the worst may be (as far as mood swings, I already have and have had hot flash’s) I am 46 yr young. I am not worried about any sexual problems from it just more mood swings and patience lol.

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If you’ve begun experiencing the “hormone hell” of menopause, you may be wondering just whose body you’re in! Your changing estrogen levels have sent your body’s temperature into a crazy burning/freezing cycle. You may be suffering mood swings and insomnia as well. Your menopausal hot flashes can start getting the best of you until you’ve had it! You need a solution just to get your life back to normal. But like many other women, you may be worried about hormone replacement therapy as a viable solution. A solution that works better for you and your body could be a natural remedy for hot flashes.

If you are able to control your hot flashes with a natural remedy your body will thank you. A natural remedy for hot flashes will have minimal – if any – side effects and can be relatively inexpensive. As with all medical treatments, whether natural or prescribed by your doctor, you should proceed carefully to ensure you don’t have an allergic reaction to a yet unknown allergen. A good strategy is to start with some simple changes that don’t require herbs or medications at all. Then slowly add other pieces to the puzzle until you have a solution that works for you.

First, try to avoid hot and humid weather. Since your inner thermostat has a mind of its own these days, running a bunch of errands in the heat may trigger a hot flash. The same can be said for hot tubs and saunas. Knowing your personal triggers is the first step when developing a natural remedy for hot flashes.

Common triggers for menopausal women include hot drinks, spicy foods, alcohol, stress, smoking, chocolate and foods with high-acid content. Now that you officially are not allowed to enjoy your favorite foods or indulgences you may wonder “what’s the point?” Just keep in mind that every woman will have different triggers. Some of these foods may not bother you at all. This list is meant as a guide, not as a “never do” list. It’s pretty rare to have all the items listed here as a trigger. Just knowing one or two triggers and then avoiding them will significantly help you in developing your personal natural remedy for hot flashes.

Once you discover your triggers, you are ready to proactively develop a complete game plan. Some natural quick fixes include drinking cold fluids when you feel a hot flash coming on, wearing layered clothing, and reducing your stress levels. Everyone can benefit from a few healthy stress reduction strategies. This is particularly important for women in menopause.

What helps ease stress in one woman, may just enhance it in another. Most people have a few stress reduction strategies that they utilize, but they’re more important than ever when developing a natural remedy for hot flashes that really works.

Many people exercise to help reduce stress. Even though it hasn’t been proven that exercise reduces hot flashes, many women report that it makes a significant difference in their frequency. A few other relaxation techniques you may not think of right off include acupuncture, meditation, yoga, and deep breathing exercises.

A great way to track your progress is to keep a hot flash journal. After you’ve tracked your symptoms for awhile, you’ll see which foods or drinks are triggers and what exercise and relaxation techniques seem to reduce your stress and hot flash symptoms. Hot flashes can be unbearable for some women. By employing a few of the above techniques you can develop a way to beat your misery with your own personalized natural remedy for hot flashes.



Thanks to Linda Bruton for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement

Can you answer Only Mama Knows’s question about Menopause?:

I was recently diagnosed has going through menopause. Some of my symptoms include feeling sweaty, being tired all the time, mood swings and just not being myself.

Symptoms Of Low Estrogen Levels

is the permanent termination of menstruation and fertility. This stage begins when a woman has her last period. Menopause can be defined by 12 consecutive period-free months. At this stage, ovaries no longer produce eggs as hormone production stops, and common changes become noticeable - including vaginal dryness and loss of sex drive.

Menopause is a natural stage in a woman’s life. The menopausal process occurs in four stages: pre-menopause, perimenopause, menopause, and post menopause.

Pre-menopause refers to a woman’s fertile life, which ranges from her first menstrual period to her last menstrual period. However, the term is often misused to describe the years immediately before menopause (perimenopause) and also to describe premature menopause.

Perimenopause encompasses the years preceding menopause. It describes the length of time when your periods are becoming lighter or heavier. When discussing menopause, most women refer to perimenopause because its during this stage that the hormone levels change and levels of estrogen decline. As ovarian production decreases, the follicle stimulating hormone (or FSH) increases, triggering symptoms like hot flashes, headaches, memory problems, acne, and mood swings.

Perimenopause typically takes place between 45- and 60-years-of-age and can span a 2- to 10-year period of time. Early signs of perimenopause usually occur in a woman’s mid-40s. Women who experience early menopause typically follow their mother’s pattern.

4 Menopause Information Facts

Menopause Information Fact # 1 - Do all women experience menopause in the same way? No. Menopause experiences are different among individual women, and also among women in different cultures, and in different parts of the world. Research has shown that women’s experience of menopause can be related to many things including: genetics, diet, lifestyle, and social and cultural attitudes toward older women.

Menopause Information Fact # 2 - Diet and exercise are pertinent during menopause, as inactivity can heighten the risk of weight gain, heart disease, and osteoporosis. The female hormone, estrogen, protects your heart and bones. When it drops rapidly, you will need to consciously work to compensate for its loss by adopting a healthy diet, an active lifestyle complimented with physical exercise, and by consulting your doctor concerning hormone replacement therapy.

Menopause Information Fact # 3 - To lessen menopausal sickness and lower cholesterol levels, menopausal women should consume foods that are high in plant estrogens. Ideal sources are soy products, lima beans, celery, nuts, seeds, fennel, parsley, and flaxseed oil.

In addition, adding vitamins C, D or E, herbal supplements, low-fat and high-fiber foods such as fruits, green vegetables and whole grains, will help energize your body and ease hot flashes, fatigue, insomnia and uncomfortable bloating. Lastly, lean protein such as chicken and fish can help you to lose weight. Eating five small meals instead of three large ones per day is recommended to keep your blood sugar and metabolism levels even throughout the day.

Menopause Information Fact # 4 - Because of the nature of early or premature menopause, a woman will experience another level of emotional reaction to her situation than someone who comes to menopause in due, natural course. As well, if disease or the treatment that is prescribed has contributed to the onset of early menopause, the individual’s situation is that much more challenging. Psychological issues will likely need as much attention as the physical. Be as kind to yourself as possible. Seek support. Accept help and comfort whenever offered. Breathe.

In summary:

1. How will I know when perimenopause is over and full menopause has settled in? Menopause is considered to be in full effect when you cease to have a period for 12 consecutive months.

2. Will all my perimenopause symptoms disappear when I am in full menopause? No. The experience of menopause is not so cut and dry.

3. What is the single most important thing for me to do? Cultivate an accepting attitude. Menopause is a natural aging process that all women go through. The more you allow these changes to take place, the easier it will be on you. Try not to use menopause as an excuse for bad behavior.



Thanks to John Russell for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Bleeding After Menopause

Menopause is the stage in a woman’s life when the menstrual cycle stops. This is not a disease; rather it is a natural process in a woman’s life. However, the stage when a woman has her menopause could be a very painful and mentally debilitating stage. There could be several complications.

From an Ayurvedic point of view, menses is the flow of excess pitta from the woman’s body. Menses is called as Raja in Ayurveda. For this reason, the stoppage of the menses flow permanently, i.e. menopause is called as Raja Nivrutti, which literally means retirement of menses.

Menopause is a culmination of all the three doshas of the woman’s body. The menses themselves are pitta, while the woman may gain in her weight during this time. This indicates a kapha imbalance. Since the woman may become moody and even lose her sleep during menopause, there is a strong indication of the vata dosha at play also.

Menopause can occur in women after the age of 45 years, though this widely varies from one woman to another. The average menopausal age could be taken as 51 years. It must be made clear that menopause is not an abrupt end to the menses. The decline of the menstrual flow occurs gradually as the months progress. Generally, a woman is said to have had her menopause if there has been no menstrual flow for at least one year.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Menopause

1. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)

Ashwagandha is more popularly known as Indian Ginseng for its believed aphrodisiacal properties. In the case of menopause, this herb is usually prescribed to cure insomnia and mood swings.

2. Beetroot (Beta vulgaris)

Beetroot is found to be extremely effective in making the menopausal experience less painful. It should be taken as a salad, in which the beetroots are boiled with their peel on. The peel must be removed before eating.

3. Indian Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi)

Known popularly as the jatamansi in India, this is another herb prescribed to cure insomnia and mood swings. For such benefits, this herb is prescribed to be taken along with ashwagandha.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Menopause

The complications during menopause can be reduced by bringing about changes in the dietary patterns. There are some very beneficial points that can be followed:-

4. Bitter foods are good dietary indications. The dark green leafy vegetables are mostly bitter in taste. They must be regularly incorporated in the diet as a woman is moving towards her menopause.

5. Astringent foods are also advantageous. These foods include beans, soybeans, potatoes, cabbages and poultry foods. Both the bitter and the astringent foods help in reducing the excess heat in the woman’s body that is produced during menopause.

6. Foods that are sour, salty and pungent are contra-indications for menopause. Onions, garlic, mustard and chilies are pungent foods. Tomatoes, tamarinds, vinegars and curds are sour foods. These must be avoided.

7. Consume foods that can provide some phyto-estrogens. Such foods are watermelon, berries, legumes, licorice and pomegranates.

During menopause, the need of the following nutrients increases:-

a) Vitamin D – obtained from egg yolk, milk and animal liver

b) Vitamin K – obtained from green vegetables, cereals and animal foods

c) Magnesium – obtained from nuts, bananas and dairy products

d) Manganese – obtained from cereal, bran, nuts and tea

e) Calcium – obtained from milk and milk products.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatments for Menopause

Chandraprabha is the tablet of choice that most physicians would provide for menopausal problems. This tablet helps in reducing the vata vitiation which is one of the foremost causes of menopausal problems. Along with this, Punarnavasava or Lodhrasava must be taken thrice in 15 milliliters doses for a month. In order to increase the strength of the body, Dashamoolarishta and Pradari Lauha are prescribed.

If there are hot flushes during menopause (which increase body temperature and then cause sudden chills), then Ashokarishta is given along with Useerasava.

For any irritations or infections that may occur in the vagina during menopause, Gokshuradi Guggulu is prescribed to be taken in doses of two pills twice a day.

Massaging the back with Chandanaadi taila helps to allay insomnia and mood swings which can occur due to vata vitiations during menopause.



(4) Home Remedies for Menopause

1. Licorice must be consumed in fair amounts during menopause. It has the phyto-estrogens that are necessary to correct the hormonal imbalances during menopause.

2. Have beetroot juice daily or include it in salads.

3. Another recipe is to boil a few carrot seeds in a glassful of milk. Consume this milk with carrot seeds in it on a daily basis.

4. During menopause, there is a chance of osteoporosis setting in due to loss of calcium. Hence take adequate care of your calcium intake. The foods mentioned above must be had in the proper amount to maintain calcium levels.

5. Maintain a healthy active regime. Sluggishness and a sedentary life will make the menopausal process quite difficult.



Thanks to Tom alter for contributing this article to our Menopause blog:

Menopause Hot Flash Relief