Menopause
The Hormonal
Hostage
We've often heard women say that the change of life
is one of the touchiest times in their lives. The
body and mind that they have become accustomed to
for 40[ps] years is now different and often
unpredictable. This change is a natural transition
in a woman's life as fertility comes to an end.
Menopause refers to a point when a woman stops
ovulating and menstruating. Pre- or perimenopause
lasts about five to ten years before the last
period. This transition is marked by irregular
menstruation, showing the decline in your body's
ovary production of the reproductive hormones
estrogen and progesterone. Typically the last period
occurs around age 50. Estrogen replacement therapy
is the only satisfactory therapy that conventional
medicine offers to relieve such symptoms as hot
flashes. When estrogens are contraindicated because
of a family history of breast cancer, other
medications are prescribed to control symptoms.
HRT stands for hormone replacement therapy, which
attempts to restore estrogen and progesterone to
their premenopause levels. Using HRT is a personal
choice and should be made after careful
consideration of potential side effects or at-risk
history for heart disease, breast or uterine
cancers, or fibroid tumors. Read and ask your health
provider questions before making one of the most
important decisions at this stage of your life.
Menopausal symptoms vary with each individual woman.
Some women barely notice the change while others
feel drastic departures in normal daily life.
Estrogen has effects on cells of the skin, breast,
vagina, bladder, heart, liver, arteries, and brain.
The variety of symptoms women experience include hot
flashes, night sweats, decreased sex drive, bladder
problems, anxiety, depression, vaginal dryness and
itching, breast tenderness, dry skin, fatigue, mood
swings, poor memory, heart palpitations, and
insomnia. For those that experience these bodily
changes, it can be a real challenge.
Stock
Up on Soy!
The British medical journal Lancet reported that
Japanese women have fewer menopausal symptoms than
American women, perhaps because they typically eat
more plants containing substances called
phytoestrogens. These substances are similar to the
human estrogen women naturally produce. Today more
than 2,000 soy products are on the market, including
shakes, bars, and even coffee! Other sources of
phytoestrogens are tofu, miso, flaxseeds, and dates.
The natural process of menopause has been getting
comforting help from oriental medicine for
centuries. As you've already read, diet, exercise,
and a healthy outlook are key components of any
comprehensive treatment plan. Hot flashes, dry skin,
vaginal dryness, increased thirst, insomnia,
forgetfulness, and anxiety are part of the deficient
heart yin pattern in oriental medicines. The term
"deficient yin" in this case often refers to the
reduction in estrogen. The term "heart" addresses
not only the organ itself, but also the accompanying
forgetfulness, insomnia, palpitations, and mood
changes. Our experience has shown us that Oriental
Medicine is a viable option that can lead to
satisfactory levels of relief through acupuncture or
Chinese Herbal Medicine. Your initial visit will
determine which direction is best for you and the
therapeutic tools to get you there.
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