HRT actually blocks the natural processes that occur when women “go through the change”
Literally, menopause means a woman has ceased to menstruate and her reproductive years are behind her. As the ovaries run low on eggs and FSH continues to rise, a message is sent to the adrenal glands to compensate for production of oestrogen and progesterone. The body will gradually adapt to the lower levels of hormones that will be available.
If a woman takes HRT it will look like the ovaries are still functioning normally so the message will not be sent, and compensatory hormone production will not be initiated.
When the woman stops taking the HRT all the symptoms of menopause will start over again and she will find she did not go through “the change”, rather she was is in a state of limbo.
How to Manage Symptoms of Menopause?
If you’re experiencing menopausal symptoms, there are a number of strategies you can use, related to optimizing your lifestyle, the most important of which include:
- Take a high-quality animal-based omega-3 supplement, such as krill oil, or fish oil. It is also important to consume high quality plant-based omega-3 supplements like flaxseed oil and nuts and seeds.
- Avoid refined carbohydrates, trans fats and junk foods.
- Eat mostly vegetables and low sugar fruits
- Balance every meal with good quality protein and include a small portion of protein in snacks.
- Drink 6 to 8 glasses of pure water or each day, herbal teas can be included.
- Implement a regular exercise regimen.Regular exercise may help to optimize your insulin levels & balance your oestrogen levels.
- Optimize Your Vitamin D and Vitamin K2 Levels. Studies have linked Vitamins Dand K2 to preventing heart disease, osteoporosis, diabetes, cancer &weight gain.
Managing Hot Flushes
No one knows exactly what the physiologic cause is for hot flushes, but the trigger may be increased heat (or blood flow) in the heat regulatory area of the brain. The brain, sensing an increased core body temperature, releases chemicals that cause blood vessels inthe skinto dilate so the heat can be released.
Sweating is also a mechanism to cool the body.
Apparently,oestrogens and testosterone allow the body to have a higher tolerance for changes in core body temperature.
In other words, normally a body might tolerate a change in 1.5 degrees C. before dilating the blood vessels whereas in the absence of the sex hormones, the blood vessels are triggered to dilate at a change of only 0.8 degrees C. The hot flush will last or keep repeating as long as needed to dissipate the increased heat.
The most common cause of hot flushes is a stress reaction that causes adrenalin and noradrenalin release into the blood stream. This in turn causes increased blood flow and thus increased heat;triggers can be stressful situations, alcohol, caffeine, diet pills and smoking. The next most common cause of a hot flush is simply that the body is too warm. Triggers include hot beds, hot food, hot rooms, hot showers, hot tubs, hot weather, saunas, and spicy food.
Hot flush survival tips
- Dress in layers, so you can peel off one layer after another as you get warmer.
- Don't wear wool, synthetics, and be wary of silk. That leaves cotton, linen and rayon. Avoid turtlenecks. Stick to open-neck shirts.
- Keep ice water at hand that you can sip to cool you down on the inside.
- Keep your environment cool; lower the thermostat, put in a ceiling fan, put a small fan on your desk.
- Wear cotton pyjamas or a nightgown.
- Use cotton sheets only, not synthetics.
- Small ice packs tucked inside a scarfe (hikers wear them) around the neck can cool the blood as it travels to the brain.
- Take a cool shower before bed.
- Arrive at meetings early so that you can get the coolest seat& prepare yourself.
These lifestyle changes will help control symptoms of menopause, such as hot flushes, without doing anything else. However if you are still experiencing some challenging symptoms, herbal medicine can help alleviate these promptly and safely.
There are three key areas to focus on supporting with herbal medicine: the adrenal glands, the nervous system and hormone balance.
When the ovaries stop producing regular oestrogen, we rely more heavily on the adrenal glands to produce this and other steroid hormones. Oestrogen is manufactured in the adrenal glands and converted into oestrone by fat cells; this is why it is important for women to carry a little fat around the hips (middle aged spread).
It makes sense therefore to optimise adrenal function. Herbs like Liquorice, Siberian ginseng, Withania and Rhodiola can support the adrenal glands to improve production of hormones while Chaste tree, Black cohosh, and Wild yam may help us to better utilise these hormones. Sage and Red Clover can bind to oestrogen receptors and make them “think” there is more oestrogen around. Other herbs have more specific applications like Motherwort to reduce palpitations and Zizyphus to alleviate night sweats.
Calming herbs like St John’s Wort, Lemon Balm, Magnolia and Hops can help with anxiety, mood swings, depression and insomnia; for some simply establishing a better sleep pattern can help alleviate night sweats.
If memory is affected or thinking is “foggy” traditional Indian herbs such as Ginkgo and Bacopa can help.
If you would like to try herbal medicine or other natural therapies to help alleviate troublesome symptoms of menopause contact Linda Lowen at the Highbury Natural Health Centre Ph: 8395 2836