MENOPAUSE
Woman’s Change of Life
- Menopause is the cessation or regular menstrual cycles, a normal biological event that occurs normally between the ages of 45 to 52.
- Most women will spend one-third of their life postmenopausal.
- Erratic and other hormone secretions characterize it by the glands causing hot flashes, insomia, fatigue, low libido, irritability, calcium imbalance, mood swings, palpitations, and skin and vaginal dryness.
- Although 90% of woman experience some menopausal symptoms, most last only a year or two and are not severe enough to interrupt their lives.
- Menopause means a 12-month cessation of menses, usually with a history of the common symptoms, Drug therapies: Estrogen replacement therapy has been the corner stone of conventional therapy for menopause.
- There is now a great difference of opinion about this practice.
- Although synthetic estrogen does relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, and delays osteoporotic bone loss and fractures, it also increases the risk of breast and uterine cancers, and increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke.
- In view of the health risks and other humanitarian concerns many woman are seeking alternative therapies.
Some alternative plant based medicenes that have been used to menopausal symptoms include:
* Black cohosh [cimifuga racemosa]
* Chaste Berry [vitex agnes-castus]
* Angelica [angelica archangelica]
* Progesterone: Micronized progesterone [from natural sources]
* HOMEOPATHY: A German study has found that a combination of different remedies was effective for hot flashes
* Exercise: Weight bearing exercise such as brisk walking and dancing can help keep your heart and bones strong. Regular physical exercise also reduces hot flashes, fights depression, and promotes good sleep.
Nutrition:
* Soy [25 to 50mg of soy/per/day] contains soy isoflavones [phytoestrogens] helps to relieve hot flashes and vaginal dryness, and increased protection from the symptoms of menopause.
* Calcium/magnesium supplementation is important whether you are taking estrogen or not. The best-absorbed forms are the citrates or oratates.
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