Many women, as they begin to experience the changes that come along with menopause, worry about how to treat these effects if they become serious or very uncomfortable. While using hormone replacement therapy is still safe in many circumstances, especially right when menopause is starting, a lot of women would rather avoid it, believing the risks are still too great. One possible alternative, or at least something to try first, is to treat the symptoms of menopause in a natural, or naturopathic, way.
Lifestyle modifications should be your first approach. They involve no risk, but require a great deal of discipline, self control and willpower. Work to make the life you lead as healthy as possible in every way. This includes eating as healthy as possible, getting plenty of exercise and finding productive outlets to reduce the stress in your life. If you are a smoker and/or drinker you should think about quitting.
Exercise is essential to easing the symptoms of menopause. Some naturopaths recommend yoga, while others suggest a more vigorous workout. A combination of the two may work the best for some women, depending on their physical condition. This can do wonders for hormones that are fluctuating like crazy. Remember, it is easier to make changes to the way you live your life if you possess a good attitude and think in a positive and hopeful manner.
When it comes to hormone replacement, naturopaths believe it’s possible to achieve the same effects using natural foods, without resorting to medications. Soy beans contain phytoestrogens, which have an estrogen-like effect in the body. Naturopaths do warn, however, that some of the necessary phytoestrogens are removed if the food is processed, so be sure to read labels carefully to make sure it contains isoflavones. However, it’s possible to have too much soy, so trade it off regularly with other foods that contain phytoestrogens, such as flax seed. If a woman takes 2-4 tablespoons of ground flax seeds per day (that’s flax seeds, not flax seed oil), she should have enough to provide the phytoestrogens she needs. She would need to drink extra water, though, since ground flaxseeds absorb water from the body.
There is also an assortment of herbs, vitamins and minerals that can be taken for a variety of menopause symptoms. The two kinds of herbs that are most suitable to treating menopause symptoms include phytoestrogen herbs and non-estrogenic herbs. The former, which include black cohosh and dong quai, are effective at replacing a portion of the estrogen that has been depleted from the body. The non-estrogenic herbs help to encourage the hormone glands to produce more of their own natural hormones. A woman’s hormone production is stimulated because these herbs act on the endocrine glands as well as the pituitary gland.
Other supplements that are helpful for women going through menopause include: potassium and magnesium phosphates, passion flower, hops, ginseng, oats, gotu kola, and gentian. It is always wise to thoroughly research any herb before you begin to take it on a regular basis. It is also essential to discuss herb therapy with your doctor if you are taking any other form of medication.
Menopause is a difficult time for many women, and requires them to make a number of adjustments to their lifestyle in order to combat the symptoms. For example, did you know there are certain menopause foods that can stabilize your situation and prevent weight gain? Click here to learn more about menopause symptom relief.
categories: naturopathic menopause treatment,natural menopause treatment,menopause,women’s health