Menopausal madness??
‘Disconcerting’ can definitely be an understatement when it comes to Menopause. Navigating this new territory can provide numerous challenges, more easeful for some than others. Sometimes just identifying an odd array of symptoms as being attributed to menopause can bring understanding and calm. Other times, addressing disturbances with a number of approaches can help.
One size never fits all. It’s worth pursuing different Naturopathic and complementary approaches before embarking on HRT, as many issues can be well managed this way. Hot flushes can be helped with numerous herbs influencing not only hormone leveles but stress and blood sugar levels.
Diet plays a part…
Diet can make a big difference – both in what we consume and what we reduce:
- Linseed has a long history of usefulness, both in baking (see our recipe for Linseed muffins ) or consume 2 dessertspoons of freshly ground linseeds in your brekky, salads etc.
- On the other side, alcohol can increase hot flushes.
Stress management can pay a good dividend…
Anxiety, stress, depression and insomnia are inter-twined with menopause at a time in history when the complexity of life challenges facing this age group has never been greater. Again, there are a range of approaches for managing stress and anxiety that are alternatives to HRT, such as:
- Timely resilience counselling may be useful for building core ’emotional’ strength.
- Herbs like Withania, Melissa, Hypericum etc.
- Exercise.
Underlying risks can sneak up on us…
Silent changes require attention as well; we often forget about these due to their background presence, until a dramatic event occurs like a heart attack, stroke or bone fracture.
Lifestyle changes like exercise, diet and attitude and herbs/supplements can all prevent the expression of cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.
Again, simple, tasty food additions like turmeric, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, cardamon, rosemary, lemon and olive oil can all contribute to delicious eating and prevent longer-term post-menopausal health problems.
