Horses Urine

After the recent scares in the media about the risks associated with HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) there is a strong case for using alternative medicine to balance the body in menopause, especially when you get to supply your body with plant hormones rather than ones derived from horse’s urine. Recent research has highlighted the side effects of taking HRT to include breast cancer and heart disease. HRT has also been linked to gallbladder diseases.

Menopause is the point at which a woman stops ovulating and menstruation ceases, indicating the end of fertility. Many years before the menopause, levels of estrogen production slow down. This can start fifteen years before the menopause and is called the ‘circadian’. Apart from being a sex or reproductive hormone, estrogen acts on many organs and systems in the body. Cells in the vagina, bladder, breasts, skin, bones, arteries, heart, liver, and brain all contain estrogen receptors and require this hormone to stimulate these receptors for normal cell function. Estrogen is required to keep the skin healthy and contributes in the bone formation process.

Many women experience few if any symptoms during this time but others may suffer from some or all of the following; anxiety, hot flushes, dry skin, fatigue, feelings of bloating, headaches, heart palpitations, insomnia, irritability, decreased interest in sex, loss of concentration, vaginal dryness and weight gain.

Twenty five per cent of women go through the change without as much as a night sweat so not all menopause experience has the commonly known symptoms so it is possible to just sail through if you are in that lucky quarter.

The Menopause Vitamin E

Supplementation with vitamin E has been known to be effective since 1954 and reports from several authors say vitamin E eradicates most of the menopausal symptoms. Gamma-oryzanol, a nutrient derived from rice bran has been shown to be effective in treating symptoms of menopause. A daily dose of 20 milligrams reduced symptoms by 50% in 67% of the women studied.

When the menstruation stops altogether most of the acute problems a woman will face are over and a new balance between hormones is established. This is the stage when she may be vulnerable to potentially serious health problems such as cardio vascular disease, osteoporosis and vaginal atrophy.

Take StarGate Nutrition Calcium – Not Calcium Carbonate

Osteoporosis in particular is a major problem for women with an estimated 80% of all the 250,000 hip fractures that occur in the US being due to osteoporosis. Over 40% of women post menopause have alkaline somach fluid. Normally the stomach is slightly acidic which helps the absorbtion of calcium into the body. Calcium carbonate is actually not good for you as an isolated chemical. The calcium will end up in your heart and the carbonate in your bowl as cancer. You need to be taking a food state form of calcium as found in StarGate Nutrition Vitamin products.

Many GPs have recommended hormone replacement therapy HRT to control sever symptoms caused by estrogen deficiency in menopausal and post menopausal women. Basically a molecularly similar estrogen is taken by the woman but this estrogen is synthetic and only close to the natural estrogens produced in the body.

No Word For Menopause In Japan

Japanese women generally experience far fewer symptoms of menopause than western women. An article in The Lancet reported that the reason may be that Japanese women consume more phytoestrogens or plant estrogens. Plant hormones are very similar in chemical design to human hormones and may provide a safe alternative to the HRT that is being offered to women up to now. These estrogen like compounds are found in foods such as soybeans, tofu, miso, flaxseeds, pomegranates and dates. When these plant estrogens are eaten they act like the estrogens produced in the body. Plant hormones can be used in childbirth to start the contractions of labour!

Half of all postmenopausal women between the ages of forty five and seventy five show signs of some degree of osteoporosis. There is a connection being drawn to the possible cause of such high levels of the condition in these women. Forty per cent of all post menopausal women have a change in their stomach pH balance. In these women there stomachs become alkaline as opposed to being acidic. This cause’s poor absorption of calcium as it needs to be converted from the form we ingest, which is calcium carbonate, through the acidity in our stomachs to calcium citrate. This is the form of calcium the body finds most absorbable. Therefore you need to be taking calcium in the same form found in StarGate Nutrition products.

StarGate Nutrition The Vitamin Shoppe nutrient material has been designed to be 16 times more effective.

IT’S TIME TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

• Vitamin C is not Ascorbic Acid
• Vitamin E is not Alpha Tocopherol
• Vitamin A is not Retinoic Acid

What you believe are vitamins, are in fact synthetic chemicals This is one of the reasons, why you should be enhancing your health through the consumption of a multivitamin and mineral in a food matrix.

StarGate Nutrition Vitamin nutrient material has been designed to be;

• 16 times more effective,
• 5 times more utilized and
• 6 times more retained than the vast majority (99%) of nutrient material on the nutrition market.
• We have studied our material through independent laboratories using a number of biological studies to see its effectiveness over a number of development years.

Our vitamin C technology is based and confirmed by over 77 scientific papers and by a number of medical and nutrition Professors and prestigious institutions.

We use 100% natural ingredients and deliver on optimum quality to our customers who are looking for vitamin they can trust to be real.

Our vitamins work in harmony with your biology.

This may go some way to explaining why there is such and increase of osteoporosis in post menopausal women and perhaps that we should readdress the need for HRT to combat osteoporosis and instead focus on bringing the stomach back to acidity or giving these women calcium citrate supplements. You can make calcium citrate by crushing up a calcium carbonate and mixing it cider vinegar.

Chinese Medicine

In Chinese medicine menopause is looked at as a period in which the energy of the kidney is declining. For the Chinese doctor the kidney has a corresponding emotion, tissue, sensory organ and element. These are respectively, fear, bone, ear and water. The adrenal glands on the top of the kidney are responsible for producing the hormones that the ovaries used to produce.

Chinese herbal medicine is one of the best ways of treating the menopause as the approach is holistic and this appeals to the condition as it very much a mind body spirit imbalance. The herbal formulas that the Chinese doctor will give will replace the estrogens that you are now not producing with plant estrogens. One of the formulas in Chinese medicine acclaimed for its beneficial effects for the menopause is called four things soup.

Ralph Quinlan Forde – CEO www.stargatenutritionvitamin.com the author and Holistic Medicine Consultant has contributed to the following publications over eight years, The Independent on Sunday, The Sunday Herald, IVENUS, Tescos Magazine, The Irish Examiner and The Sunday Tribune. He is also the founder of www.medicinebuddhafoundation.org. His book The Book of Tibetan Medicine is now in 11 languages http://thebookoftibetanmedicine.blogspot.com

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Natural Remedies for Coping with Menopause

* Menopause Defined

Menopause is defined as the time in a woman’s life when she has not menstruated for one year, indicating the end of fertility. Menopause typically occurs around the age of 50, but some women menstruate well into their 50s, while others experience menopause sometime in their mid-40s.

Perimenopause refers to the period of hormonal changes leading up to menopause; it can begin as early as the late 30′s. Women in perimenopause may experience such symptoms as irregular periods and hot flashes.

Menopause is not a disease — rather, it is a natural part of the aging process. The hormonal changes which accompany menopause are often responsible for a number of unpleasant physical symptoms, and women may experience some emotional distress as well.

However, it is important to remember that not all women have difficulty coping with the physical changes that occur during this time. Menopause does not signal an end to sexuality or femininity; in fact, many women embrace their new-found freedom from worries about becoming pregnant and the discomforts of menstruation.

For women who do experience uncomfortable symptoms during menopause, there are many options for treatment. While some women opt for hormone replacement therapy, a growing number of women are finding that lifestyle changes and natural remedies are highly effective in easing this mid-life transition.

* Causes of Menopause

As you approach middle age, your ovaries begin producing increasingly lower levels of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate menstruation and fertility. Fewer eggs are produced, and ovulation becomes less regular during this time.

Throughout this process, your periods may become unpredictable; eventually, your ovaries will shut down completely and menstruation will cease altogether.

Although some women menstruate every month until their final period, it is much more common to experience a gradual cessation of menstrual periods. This process can take several years, and it is not possible to predict which period will be your last.

* Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause symptoms vary from one individual to another; not all women experience the same indicators of the change of life, but the following are the most commonly recognizable signs:

- Irregular periods;

- Vaginal dryness;

- Hot flashes;

- Mood swings;

- Anxiety or depression;

- Sleep disturbances;

- Thinning hair;

- Increased abdominal fat;

- Decreasing fertility.

* Diagnosing Menopause

In the majority of cases, a description of the symptoms should be enough for your doctor to determine that you are going through the process of menopause.

Hormone tests can detect decreasing levels of estrogen and progesterone and confirm the diagnosis; in addition, hormone testing can rule out any other condition, such as impaired thyroid function (which can produce many of the same symptoms as menopause).

* Treating Menopause

In the past, many doctors treated women for menopause using hormone replacement therapy to replenish estrogen levels. However, amid increasing concerns about the dangers of hormone therapy (which include increased risks of heart disease and caner), women are more and more frequently turning to lifestyle adjustments and herbal remedies to treat their menopause symptoms.

- Lifestyle Changes and Home Remedies for Menopausal Women

Some simple adjustments in your day-to-day habits can alleviate many of the unpleasant symptoms and discomforts of menopause:

> Keep hot flashes under control. Dress in layers, so you can remove one or two when hot flashes strike. Exercise regularly, eat right, and try to identify and avoid things that cause them. Common triggers are alcoholic beverages, foods that are spicy, hot coffee or tea, hot rooms, and hot weather.

> Get plenty of sleep. Exercise during the day, but not too close to bedtime; this can increase melatonin levels necessary to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. Avoid caffeinated beverages if you have trouble sleeping.

> Eat right. Good nutrition is more important than ever as you grow (gracefully) older, and getting plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lots of calcium can counteract many diseases associated with aging.

> Exercise regularly. Exercise reduces stress, helps to balance the neurotransmitters that regulate mood, controls hot flashes, and helps to prevent many age-related diseases. These include heart disease, diabetes, and osteoporosis.

> Don’t smoke. Smoking is never good for you. It increases stress levels, brings on hot flashes, and

contributes to heart disease, cancer, and osteoporosis. It is never too late to quit smoking.

> Combat vaginal dryness and discomfort with over-the-counter lubricants.

* Herbal Remedies for Menopause

Herbal treatments and natural supplements can effectively ease menopause symptoms safely, without the health risks associated with conventional medications. Many effective natural menopause treatments contain one or more of these herbal extracts:

- Ginseng increases the production of estrogen and protects against hot flashes;

- Dong quai helps to maintain reproductive system function, boosts heart health, and increases the efficacy of other herbs;

- Damiana increases libido and calms hot flashes;

- Black cohosh is a natural pain reliever;

- Aloe gel relieves vaginal dryness naturally;

- Sarsaparilla improves sexual desire;

- Calendula relieves vaginal dryness

- St. John’s Wort relieves mild depression.

In addition, many women find that soy products are extremely helpful in reducing hot flashes. Phytoestrogens are also helpful for relieving menopause symptoms, and they are often available in supplement form.

With herbal remedies and adjustments to your lifestyle, you can cope with menopause and enter the next phase of your life without undue distress or difficulty.

Visit http://www.HealthRemedies.com and receive FREE shipping on any order by entering the discount code FREE upon checkout. Valerie Balandra NP takes a naturopathic and functional medicine approach to help her clients achieve optimal health.

www.healthremedies.com
HealthRemedies are worldwide suppliers of Natural Health Remedies, which are being used in Natural Cures worldwide. They also provide Online Lab test facility.

Natural Remedies

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Nature has a system and a plan for everything. The human body is made up of complex internal systems that keep the body running efficiently. Women have periods in their lives when some of their systems change. With the onset of puberty the body grows and certain physical attributes are formed. The breasts develop and the girl’s overall shape changes. Each month her body goes through a cycle for reproduction. This continues for most of her life. But nature has set safeguards in place to prevent reproduction after a certain age. At this stage in life a woman goes through menopause. She is no longer able to have children naturally. In this article we will cover the facts about this change in life that occurs to all women.

When does menopause occur naturally?

The age that menopause can occur varies. If it is occurring naturally it usually begins occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. Western women, on average, go through it around 51 whereas in other Eastern countries the age is 44 years old. But do not let age by your only guideline. There are women who go through “the change” far earlier due to reproductive problems. There are other factors that can bring it on faster such as smoking. It is important that if you are experiencing irregular periods, hot flashes or any other perimenopause symptom, to consult your physician as soon as possible. There could be other medical problems happening. Plus you will want to review your options for easing some of the symptoms that come along with the cessation of menstruation.

Do all women experience the same symptoms?

No, not all women experience the same symptoms. Some may have a few mood swings and generally have an easy time during the transition period. Others may have many of the symptoms and be experiencing a much harder transition into menopause. If you are having a tough time coping with the symptoms and the emotional ups and down’s, you need to contact your physician so that he or she can help you find some relief. There are a wide range of products that may be able to help you find the correct balance so that you can function properly.

How can the symptoms be alleviated?

The symptoms of menopause can be relieved in several ways. One of the most common ways of treating the symptoms is to go straight to the source of the problem: the hormone fluctuation and decrease in production. Doctors will prescribe hormone replacement therapy to help the menopausal woman get through. The hormone replacement therapy is used not only to help alleviate the hot flashes and such but it is also used to help treat osteoporosis. The type of hormones used depends on whether or not there is a uterus present. If the uterus is present then the hormones used will be estrogen and progesterone. If the uterus has been taken due to a hysterectomy then estrogen alone is usually enough.

Are there risks in using hormone replacement therapy?

For a long time there were no known risks associated with using hormone replacement therapy. But that was in part because the studies did not have data on the long term effects. Today health officials know that there are some risks associated with the different types of hormone replacement therapy. They now know that there is an elevated risk of developing breast cancer. There is also the risk for developing cardiovascular problems. Women also have to be aware that risks could include high blood pressure, increased risk of uterine cancer and even blood clots.

Author Sites: Aromatherapy Information , Natural Cures and Old Home Remedies

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Estrogen Therapy Has Been Used For 60 Years

Did you know that estrogen was first offered as a prescription therapy for menopause symptoms 60 years ago?  Menopause is a natural part of a woman’s life cycle; yet it often comes with very uncomfortable symptoms.  Not all women suffer with menopause, but some experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal discomfort, to name a few.  In 1949 estrogen in the form of “premarin” was a welcome solution.

In 2002, women were shaken by the publication of a study by the National Institute of Health.  This study found that women receiving a particular form of estrogen/progesterone therapy had an increased risk of breast cancer, heart attack, stroke, and blood clots.  Since then there have been four significant changes in our use of estrogen:

1. We weigh the serious risks against the benefits of estrogen use;
2. We use lower doses for shorter periods of time;
3. Our interest in bioidentical hormones has increased; and
4. More women explore alternative ways to manage symptoms.

Why is Estrogen Therapy Widely Used?

For many women the benefits of estrogen therapy continue to outweigh the risks.  Key benefits of using estrogen are relief or protection from:

• Hot flashes,
• Night sweats,
• Insomnia,
• Moodiness,
• Vaginal dryness,
• Urinary tract infections,
• Depression,
• Memory problems,
• High cholesterol,
• Osteoporosis, and
• Colon cancer.

What are the Risks of Estrogen Therapy?

On the negative side of the equation, women have to consider side effects such as breast tenderness, vaginal bleeding, vaginal discharge, bloating, nausea, headache, moodiness, hair loss and aggravated endometriosis.  There are also serious risks to consider:

• Blood clots,
• Stroke,
• Heart attack,
• Breast cancer,
• Increased triglyceride levels,
• Gallbladder disease,
• Increased risk of dementia when started at age 65 or over , and
• Uterine cancer for women with ovaries (An estrogen/progestin combination is a solution).

Are Bioidentical Hormones Safer?

Some women feel safer with bioidentical hormones. These hormones are made from yam or soy and have the same chemical makeup as human estrogen.  Some can be prescribed and are approved by the U.S. Federal Drug Administration.  Others are unregulated and available over the counter.  Overall, there has not been enough scientific study of bioidentical alternatives for us to know how safe these treatments are.  They may have the same risks as other estrogen medications.

Deciding to Explore Estrogen Therapy

Women with the following medical histories and conditions should not take estrogen:

• Personal or family history of breast cancer,
• History of hormone-sensitive cancer,
• Unexplained uterine bleeding,
• Liver disease,
• Blood clots,
• Cardiovascular disease, and
• Gallbladder disease.

If you don’t have any of the above conditions and you are very stressed by menopausal symptoms, consider estrogen therapy options.  You may also want to explore lifestyle changes that reduce side effects and enhance the positive effects of medication.

Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!

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I know as a woman when you think of testosterone you think of its relationship to men but it serves a very important purpose for us as well. What most people don’t know is that the testosterone hormone is one of the six hormones that the female reproductive organs produce. In this article I will outline some very important roles testosterone plays regarding menopause. It is my intention to provide with you lots of factual information so that you are more comfortable with the topic.

Testosterone therapy may be beneficial to women in many different ways. Studies show that when women lose their libido, testosterone therapy may help as this is one of the signs that their body has a testosterone deficient present. Our bodies naturally produce testosterone (also called androgens) in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Testosterone is important to us before and after menopause because there are many benefits to this hormone:

• It improves our sexual desire
• It decreases the tenderness of our breasts
• Enhances our orgasms

Of course there are other benefits of testosterone therapy but this list is just to give you an idea of ways that it can potentially improve your health and lifestyle.

Testosterone therapy has been around since the 1930′s and women are still resistant to try it because there are a lot of myths that have placed fear in women. This therapy as with others has risk factors. Women can experience the development of facial hair, acne, over-sexuality and voice changes. I know this sounds like a lot but think of it this way; there is usually a price to pay for beauty and good health. Don’t you want your body to be in the best shape possible? Don’t you want to feel healthy like you did prior to reaching menopause? The best advice I can give to anyone would be to do all that you can to take care of your body. Getting older is a part of life that we cannot skip over and unfortunately it brings on some conditions that put our bodies through a bunch of tests but we can overcome these challenges with a lot of patience, hard work and perseverance. I am not telling you anything that I have not told myself time and time again.

I have not reached my menopause stage yet but soon I will and I welcome the transition and the challenge. As a woman, I know it seems that we have more difficulties with our health and our bodies than men but that is what makes us so unique and special. Men cannot have babies (well men born males cannot), they do not have to deal with the bleeding as a result of a menstrual cycle, they do not have to breast feed the children, but this does not make them any less susceptible of going through other health issues and it certainly does not make them the superior sex. Men still have health issues like prostate cancer of which we do not have to be concerned about. Remain positive.

Are you going through menopause and want to stay active, healthy, and feeling like yourself? Don’t wait another minute to relieve menopause symptoms and start a diet plan that works for your life!

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