Hormonal System - Menopause, a natural transition

By
Bruce Burnett, CH

Your husband jokes that instead of buying a wood stove, he is using you to heat the family room this winter. Rather than just saying you are not amused, you shoot him (“And justifiably so!” declares my wife).
While some may regard the discomfort of menopause, with the hot flashes and irritability alluded to in this joke, as a poor topic for humour, it is important to remember that a women’s attitude during this significant “change of life” will impact the severity of her distress. Humour and a light-hearted approach help during this difficult time.
Menopause is not a disease and should not be regarded as such. It is a vital stage in the natural life process of a woman. However, menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, anxiety, depression, insomnia, memory loss, mood swings, nervousness, palpitations, reduced libido, vaginal dryness and weight gain are clearly the cause of discomfort and distress for many women.
At the same time, there is mounting evidence that Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, is associated with an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancers for women. Because of this, more and more health professionals are cautioning women against this therapy. According to Andrew Weil, M.D., author of Natural Health, Natural Medicine, and teacher at the University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona, “You should avoid estrogen replacement altogether if you are at increased risk of cancer of the breast or reproductive system, including having a personal or family history of these cancers or ovarian cancer.”
Although still routinely prescribed by many doctors because HRT is also supposed to reduce the risk of heart disease and osteoporosis, increasingly health professionals who are sympathetic to natural therapies are recommending supplements and herbs, rather than drugs, for menopause.
In addition to standard natural treatments such as the herbs black cohosh, chasteberry, wild yam root etc., there are several other supplements and nutrients that have proven very successful in the alleviation of menopausal symptoms.
These include:
· Bladderwrack: Primarily a tonic for the thyroid gland, bladderwrack, or kelp, also improves the function of other glands involved with menopause. It is especially useful for countering the dry skin, excessive weight gain and fatigue associated with menopause. Bladderwrack should be avoided in cases of hyperthyroidism or over-active thyroid.
· Bee Pollen: Bee pollen is a marvellous supplement to counter the ravages of aging in general and menopause in particular. It’s an excellent source of the B vitamin complex, so it’s a nerve tonic, dispelling anxiety, insomnia, mood swings and irritability. Bee pollen is also highly effective as a skin rejuvenator. Says Lars-Erik Essen, M.D., Swedish dermatologist, “Bee pollen has a profound effect preventing premature aging of the cells and promoting growth of new tissue. It smoothes away wrinkles and stimulates blood supply to all skin cells.”
· Royal Jelly: Royal jelly is a white, milky secretion produced by worker bees as food for bee larvae and the queen bee. It is a complete protein and incredibly nutritious, containing all the essential amino acids and rich in minerals and vitamins, especially those in the B complex. Royal jelly is a mild antibiotic and stimulates the adrenal glands, the health of which is crucial for handling stress in all its forms. Royal jelly is an energizing tonic that regulates mood, appetite and sex drive. It helps with most of the distressing symptoms of menopause. Studies show that royal jelly also reduces the appearances of fine lines and wrinkles in the skin.
· Evening Primrose Oil: The best-known source of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid, which prevents hardening of the arteries, heart disease and high blood pressure. It also lowers cholesterol and enhances the release of sex hormones, including estrogen and testosterone. Because of this, evening primrose oil alleviates the hot flashes, vaginal dryness and dry skin associated with menopause. It can also help with the irritability and migraine headaches sometimes caused by menopause.
· Acerola Berry: This tiny berry is one of the richest sources of vitamin C and bioflavonoids, which enhance the absorption of the vitamin. Vitamin C is a vital nutrient for tissue growth and repair, a vibrant immune system and adrenal gland function. The adrenals enable us to deal with stress effectively, but they also produce small amounts of estrogen. This is especially important during menopause when the ovaries have reduced their estrogen production. A natural source of vitamin C, such as the acerola berry, therefore is important to lessen many of the unpleasant symptoms of menopause.

Look for a supplement containing the above ingredients to help you deal with the stress of menopause.

References:
The Green Pharmacy, James A. Duke, Ph.D.
Prescription for Nutritional Healing, James F. Balch, M.D. & Phyllis A. Balch, C.N.C.
Earl Mindell’s Supplement Bible, Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D.
The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, Andrew Chevalier
HerbWise: growing cooking wellbeing, Bruce Burnett, CH.

Bruce Burnett Byline/Bio

Bruce Burnett is a Chartered Herbalist, an award-winning writer and author of the best-selling book HerbWise: growing cooking wellbeing. Bruce and his wife Delaine own HerbWise Products Inc., making their own line of herbal skin therapy soaps, salves, sprays and other all-natural herbal body care products.

Suggested Products :
MENODAUSE
ULTIMATE OMEGA 3-6-9
BLACK COHOSH
BAMBOUSIL