Menopause Symptoms - Whats the Hype About?

Everywhere you turn these days—TV, magazines, newspapers, radio, junk mail, Internet—menopause and aging are turned into a disease to get rid of quickly! That is, if they are talked about at all. Advertising and media play a very powerful role in American life. So much so, most of us will not take the time to educate ourselves about particular issues, especially health issues. And why should we, when someone else will do it for us? We have been lulled to sleep by those who would say, “Don't worry we’ll take care of you.” It seems that you cannot deal with these natural processes—aging and menopause--without some form of drug or surgery being advertised as the newest solution. Until recently, menopause wasn’t even talked about openly in the media. It was something to dread and quietly mention to your personal physician.

When menopause symptoms hit, many women go into denial. Some think they have some sort of disease or emotional problems. Who wouldn’t with all of the negative messages and conflicting information? That’s what the pharmaceutical companies want. Everything they sell all give the same message; that your goal should be to slow down or stop the aging process. Notice how many makeover and cosmetic surgery ads/shows have sprung up? As the baby boomers age and approach menopause/andropause, everyone seems to want to cash in on the spending power this group has. It’s becoming as overwhelming as the diet industry—lots of products that don’t really work without side effects, but only a few lifestyle solutions. Nowadays, many doctors feel pressured to give hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to every woman, whether she needs it or not, like pressure to push Viagra for every man over age 50. After all, traditional medicine has a history of viewing the female organs as a problem. Or they are the cause of emotional problems, as in Freudian psychotherapy. Why is it that we insist on making these natural processes, aging, menopause and andropause, into a disease? I suggest that we look in the directions of greed and the monetary gains to be made.

Not all cultures think this way. Indigenous cultures, many outside of the United States, view women in menopause as entering their wisdom years. They are valued as important leaders of their family group and tribes. Many of them are the leaders and directors of the culture, passing down historical and valued knowledge to the younger members. Elders are not viewed as limited physically or mentally, but more wise because of their reflective experience.

In this article I cover the most common symptoms and some natural, even inexpensive, ways to ease these symptoms. Handling menopause gracefully is a lifestyle approach with a set of positive beliefs and a healthy mindset. Buying into the hype is only a way to harm yourself in the long run, and only delays the inevitable. The sooner you learn to accept your body and love yourself, the easier perimenopause and menopause will be.

Did you know that not all women get severe menopause symptoms? Studies show that a minority of women have symptoms that cannot be alleviated easily. Most of these women have stress related issues aggravating the symptoms. Did you know that there are three kinds of menopause? Most women experience natural menopause, the gradual cessation of monthly periods during ages 45 to 55. The other types involve a small percentage of women who experience menopause in their thirties or early forties, and artificial menopause, caused by surgery.

Symptoms are health problems that represent imbalances in the body that were already growing and unmasked by the shifting hormones. The most common symptoms and their natural treatment options are listed below:

Symptoms and Treatment

Allergies
Dietary changes, acupuncture, Yamoa Powder, GlycoEssential 7

Breast swelling and tenderness
Eliminate caffeine, natural progesterone, natural supplements, Zymitol

Change in sexual desire
Natural progesterone, acupuncture, herbs

Fibroids
Natural progesterone, Zymitol, Serralone, dietary changes, weight loss

Fuzzy thinking/forgetfulness
Herbs, natural progesterone

Hot flashes and night sweats
Vitamin E, black cohosh, wild yam, Chinese herbs, natural progesterone, meditation, aromatherapy, homeopathy, dietary changes, intraMax acupuncture

Insomnia
Reduce stress, Valarian, Melatonin, 5-HTP

Migraine headaches
Eliminate caffeine, alcohol, chocolate, peanuts, aspartame in diet drinks, and other dietary changes, natural progesterone, herbs, supplements

Mood swings and depression
Resolve unfinished emotional business, improve diet, exercise, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, Lithium Orotate, sunlight

Numbness in arms and hands
Acupuncture, exercise

Osteoporosis
Dietary adjustments, weight bearing exercise, natural progesterone; Vitamin D, C, magnesium, manganese, calcium orotate, and boron supplementation; quit smoking, cut back on alcohol, limit caffeine and soda drinks, reduce phosphates

Palpitations
Deep breathing, dietary changes, Optimum E, supplements

Skin problems
Supplements, natural progesterone, dietary changes

Stiffness/joint pain
Dietary changes, acupuncture, natural progesterone

Thinning hair Lose excess body fat, vitamin supplements, acupuncture, Chinese herbs

Urinary infection or incontinence
Kegel exercises; organic cranberry juice, D-Mannose

Vaginal dryness, irritation, thinning
Black cohosh, lubricants, aromatherapy, Optimum E used as a vaginal suppository

Weight gain
Diet changes that increase natural, organic foods, exercise; stress reduction, sunlight

Many symptoms can also be alleviated with Ayurveda and Chinese medicine. I am not an advocate of estrogen supplementation, not even plant based. We get so much estrogen just from the environment that supplementing it can put a person on overload very quickly. There are just much better ways to alleviate the symptoms of menopause.

As you can see, you can take a proactive role in the elimination of the source of the symptoms. Just remember, symptoms are an indicator that something is out of balance. I am convinced that the most important factor in going through menopause with minimal symptoms is developing a healthy diet. The concern is, 95% of the population has no idea of what a healthy diet is. You can find out more about diet in my e-Book, Balancing Hormones Without Drugs…You Can Feel Good Again at http://www.pms-menopause-progesterone.org

Hormonal levels can be tested with a simple and inexpensive saliva test performed in the privacy of your own home. With these results, you and your healthcare provider can determine your need for natural hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Natural progesterone cream is safe and non-toxic. It helps to balance the effects of estrogen, and has a calming effect on the nervous system. The use of natural progesterone cream in combination with lifestyle changes often improves menopause symptoms. You and your healthcare provider can evaluate your symptoms, take a look at your diet and exercise program, prescribe a treatment, and then monitor your progress.

Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP is a Doctor of Naturopath, Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in the Houston, TX area and CEO/President of Oasis Advanced Wellness. Dr. Lanphier counsels Oasis Advanced Wellness clients on the aspects of getting the body healthy and keeping the body healthy. Dr. Lanphier is the author of five books and many articles on health conditions written from a natural/alternative medicine viewpoint. Visit us at www.oasisserene.com

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