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

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/natural-remedies-for-coping-with-menopause-1003038.html

Going through menopause can be a challenging time for women. The amount and level of side effects can vary from person to person so for some women it can be extremely challenging, especially since it has both emotional and physical effects on the body. Because it can have such an impact it doesn’t only affect the woman going through it, it often affects her close family and friends as well.

It’s a natural part of life and there isn’t a way to avoid it so it’s best to be prepared for it. Perimenopause is basically premenopause; it begins the transition to menopause. It refers to the changes that begin before menopause actually sets in.

Menopause and pre-menopause begin at different ages for different women. Most commonly it starts in a women’s mid 40′s, but for some women it can begin as early as 35 years of age. The length of the transition varies as well; for some it may only last a couple years and for others it can last up to 10 years. The severity of the side effects varies as well.

When the female hormones begin to alter the emotional and physical changes start to happen. This change can cause periods to become irregular, it can also cause weight gain. Weight gain is the way your body tries to hold on to some of that decreasing estrogen.

Another common symptom, probably the most well know symptom, is the onset of hot flashes. A hot flash is a sudden increase in body temperature that is caused by decreasing estrogen levels. For some women these hot flashes can feel pretty intense and they can cause sweating or weakness.

Another potentially difficult symptom includes mood swings. Women who haven’t had problems with depression before perimenopause may suddenly find themselves depressed or they may suffer from regular changes in mood. This can be compounded by the psychological impact of aging. Menopause signals the beginning of a different phase of life for most women, which can be difficult.

Low energy and lack of sleep are other symptoms that can exacerbate emotional side effects and just make day to day life a little more difficult. Anyone who has suffered from fatigue knows it’s harder to function when you’re feeling tired. Many women have a hard time sleeping through the night during menopause, partly because of the hot flashes.

For women who have a mixture of these symptoms life can be a bit more challenging because they get to have a feeling that they don’t have control anymore. Like their body is playing tricks on them.

Talk to your doctor if your symptoms are becoming difficult to handle or if you feel you need help. If you want to learn about natural treatment options or if you want to blend natural and conventional you may also want to talk to a naturopath. Naturopaths are specifically trained for using natural remedies.

It’s also important to focus on a healthy diet and an exercise routine you will stick to. Avoid foods high in fat, sugar and salt and be sure to get a variety of foods and colors of foods so you make sure you are getting a range of necessary nutrients. Exercise can help relieve stress, help you sleep and help with mild depression.

It is true that all night sweats menopause are caused by hormonal imbalances. What many people may not realize is that menopause treatments like Paxil, Effexor and Zoloft night sweats are a little different. For a quick science lesson, take a look at hormonal imbalances which most often are caused by things like PMS and menopause.

That medication may be the problem for people who need medication to manage disorders such as bipolar disorder, clinical depression and anxiety. The medicines correct the chemical imbalance in the brain as probably causing one in the hormonal body system. In order for the patient to have relief from their menopause symptoms it is necessary to apply a hormonal supplement to give them freedom from some of the other following symptoms.

Decreased energy levels

There are times when medication for the above disorders can cause a person to experience a serious lack of energy. Regulating the hormones again is sure to improve this area of their lives while they are being treated for depression related issues. With their energy stores replenished naturally, life is better for the patient and recovery comes much easier. No one would suggest allowing a chemical imbalance to be untreated but it is important to treat hormonal imbalances as well.

Lower libido

When a person is combating depression related cases, sex is usually the last thing on their minds. This is due in part to the nature of illness however it is also a result to their medication. Basic biology tells us that libido and sexual drive come from a healthy and regulated hormone level. Without it, the patient may feel very undesirable and their relationships may suffer. To let a person with depression that part of their life back it is necessary to treat the hormonal imbalance.

Reduced self esteem

The very stigma attached to these kinds of disorders is enough to send many people who are diagnosed into a tailspin of self-loathing. The menopause treatments help with the disorder itself but the hormonal imbalance makes it difficult to regulate their emotions about themselves. For a full recovery, the patient must have the chance to build up their self-esteem and appreciate themselves again.

Paxil, Effexor and Zoloft night sweats can be avoided by balancing the hormonal system. Fortunately there are many menopause treatments like mention in our website is an excellent way to do this. You can safely and effectively sleep through the night without having drenching night sweats.

If you have already been through the change of life, since it’s called in polite circles, you may be ignorant of why someone would even need menopause relief. The truth is that while menopause and perimenopause are normal events in every woman’s life, there are often horrible side effects due to the reduction of hormones in a woman’s body.

It really shouldn’t be that much of a surprise when you consider other times in female life as hormones are volatile. Puberty and pregnancy are both notorious for causing strange physical and unstable emotions side effects. So you are ready before the change hits, here’s a list of some of the more general menopause side effects.

Lowered Sex Drive In Menopause

One of the most complained about symptom of menopause is a decrease in sexual desire. This is because the decrease in the reproductive system’s hormones simply makes the idea of sex less inviting. The correct chemical combination is no longer there.

For some women, the hormonal reduce also causes vaginal dryness that often leads to painful intercourse. There is little wonder that they attempt to avoid it. Fortunately with the right type of treatment, it is possible to restore this important side of your life.

Post Menopause Hot Flashes

For the uninitiated, hot flash is the term used to explain an unaccountable feeling of heat that generally affects the torso. For some women it is also happen with feelings of panic and heart palpitations. Even the most educated experts are unclear on why this happens and hot flashes can happen any time of the day or night.

Many women have a worry of having a hot flash at work or anywhere in public. It’s up to their family and friends to assist relieve this fear. Treatment is also helpful to cure the symptoms.

Post Menopause Bleeding

It is possible to escape this symptom however not everyone experiences it. Due to the constant hormone changes, it isn’t uncommon to have bleeding from time to time. Any menopause pain is usually associated with break through bleeding.

Consider an all natural supply for your menopause relief. There are many menopause treatments which designed to effectively and safely reduce symptoms. An Internet search on menopause can yield more helpful information.