The menopause need not be the end, it could be the beginning! It usually occurs in women between the ages of 40 and 55. A hysterectomy and some other gynaecological procedures may induce a premature menopause. While for some women the menopause can last for months or years, giving rise to a variety of troublesome symptoms, many women do not experience unpleasant symptoms at all. Instead, they find liberation from periods and enhanced energy. The menopause is often welcomed as a chance to change old habits and develop new interests. It is a time of transition when unresolved issues from the past often surface. Looking at these and letting them go can often help you to move on positively into a new phase of life.
What happens at the Menopause?
During the menopause the hormones oestrogen and progesterone, which control the menstrual cycle, are produced in lower quantities until periods stop altogether. Other hormones including follicle-stimulating hormones and luteinising hormones are now produced in higher quantities and can give rise to unwanted symptoms of the menopause, such as hot flushes and night sweats. For some women, other symptoms include mood swings, depression, irritability, fatigue, panic attacks, palpitations, vaginal dryness, muscle and bone pain and sometimes weight gain.
How can Homeopathy help?
A homeopath will make an assessment of your needs as a whole person in addition to the mental, emotional and physical problems associated with the menopause. This means that your feelings and life situations as well as physical symptoms are taken into account when finding the best remedy for you as an individual. Hormonal imbalances respond particularly well to homeopathic treatment.
During this important transitional stage of life, homeopathic treatment will give you more confidence, a happier perspective, a clearer sense of self and of what you want out of life, as well as a smoother passage through the change. Homeopathy has remedies to balance and support women throughout the whole of their lives, including puberty, pregnancy and childbirth as well as menopause. If you experience menopausal symptoms, do contact a registered and experienced homeopath for advice and help. They will treat your constitution, based on the whole of your symptoms and personality This will restore a healthy balance, both physically and emotionally, and bring a sense of well-being. The menopause is a natural process, so it makes sense to treat it as naturally as possible, with diet, exercise and homeopathy. These methods enable you to take charge of your own health, and go forward with joy and confidence to the next phase of your life. By taking care or your health at this time, you will be laying the basis of good health into your later years.
Homeopathic Remedies
A single remedy may be prescribed from a variety of sources and in a number of dilutions, such as Pulsatilla (an anemone flower), Sepia (a sea creature), or Sulphur (a mineral). The homeopath has thousands of remedies to choose from and the process of choosing the right remedy is very individual. Just a handful of theses remedies are readily available in pharmacies or health food shops. However, for the less common remedies, The Natural Food Store can provide a next day delivery service of many remedies in many potencies.
Unlike first aid prescribing, if you are suffering from menopausal problems, you are advised not to prescribe for yourself, but rather to consult a homeopath and so obtain a professional opinion. The correctly chosen remedy, in the right potency, may help not only the flushes, for example, but may also help you to achieve a new balance.
HRT and its problems
Some women find that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) agrees with them, but many do not. There may be unpleasant side effects, or concern about the possible long term effects, as yet unknown. Certainly, because HRT has an effect on the circulatory system, it should be avoided if there is any history of circulatory problems. It can increase the risks of raised blood pressure, migraines, strokes and thrombosis and should be avoided if there are a history of any of these complaints. There are also increased risks of breast and endometrial cancer. HRT is a way of delaying the menopause and you may find therefore, that while some symptoms are contained, they return as soon as you stop the HRT. There are so many natural ways to compensate for the hormonal changes that many women find HRT is not necessary.
Dietary Help
Natural phyto-oestrogens can be found in tofu and miso. Vitamin E helps to reduce hot flushes and can be found in foods such as spinach and other dark green vegetables, vegetable oils, eggs and tuna. Avoid hot spicy foods, and reduce anxiety and palpitations by cutting down on tea and coffee. Eating whole grains and adequate amounts of fruit and vegetables will also help. Most people in the west eat too much protein, which causes the body to take calcium from the bones to process it. A properly balanced long term vegetarian diet protects against osteoporosis.
Other ways to help
Weight bearing exercise such as walking and cycling can guard against some of the negative effects of the menopause and can help protect against osteoporosis. Yoga and meditation are valuable in helping to keep mind and body flexible. Many women experience increased energy and serenity after the menopause. Times of transition bring their own gains.
Supplements can significantly help you through the menopause. The herbs Black Cohosh and Sage have been used for many years to help combat hot flushes, with Sage particularly useful against night sweats. A phyto-oestrogen supplement that blends Soya and Red Clover is also an excellent way to help your body naturally balance out the hormone levels during this period of change.
For more information on dietary supplements that can help during this time, contact our professionally trained staff at The Natural Food Store.
General Health
Not all problems that occur at the time of the menopause are due to these changes in the body. There may be different reasons for aches and pains, poor sleep and any other problems. For many women this time of life corresponds with other changes, such as children leaving home, which may be stressful, or there may be unrelated health problems. If symptoms persist, a medical practitioner can be consulted for a general check. Whatever the problem, homeopathy can help, in the hands of a qualified homeopath.
Homeopathy and Transition
The female menopause is not the only important transition in the lives of human beings. Some people believe that we experience phases of transition every 7 years. Certainly puberty is a major time of change and many of the problems which can arise in these years can also benefit from homeopathic treatment.
Men, as well as women, experience transitional changes around their late forties or fifties. They may also be helped by homeopathic treatment in order to make the best preparation for the next stage of their life.
How do I find a registered experienced homeopath?
Consult the Register of the Society of Homeopaths, The Homeopath Medical Association or the Alliance of Registered Homeopaths. All homeopaths registered with these Societies practice in accordance with a Code of Ethics and Practice, have professional insurance and have passed stringent academic and clinical assessments before being admitted to the Register.
The experienced homeopaths who work within The Complementary Health Care Clinic are all fully registered and insured, providing a caring competent service to fully ensure your health and safety during this period of change. In addition, all are part of The Homeopathic College of East Anglia Lecturing Team.
If you are interested in booking an appointment with either Sue Crump, Sue Saunders, Tricia Stephenson or Annie Whiteman please call the clinic on 01603 665173.
All the remedies and herbal products mentioned above are available from our health food shop The Natural Food Store, Tel 01603 613228 or www.shop-naturally.com. If you would like to chat to a homeopath to see if this therapy is suitable for you or if you just need some simple advise then either Tricia Stephenson or one of our current students (Kate Noble and Charlotte Evans) are always available on the shop floor.
To request a prospectus for The Homeopathic College of East Anglia’s part-time (10 weekends a year) professional training course, please call the College Registrar on 01603 665173 or check us out online at www.homeopathic-college.com.