Menopause Supplements After Hysterectomy May Stop Your Symptoms

Why are menopause supplements needed after a hysterectomy? They may help ease your symptoms as it seems they both go hand in hand. In truth, hysterectomy doesn't automatically lead you to menopause. On the other hand if you have a hysterectomy that does prompt menopause, there are menopause supplements that will alleviate your symptoms.

Some of the more common symptoms of menopause are:

1. Hot flashes
2. Insomnia
3. Anxiety
4. Mood Swing
5. Headaches
6. Vaginal dryness
7. Muscle and joints pain
8. Loss of libido

Many women have found relief by taking menopause supplements after hysterectomy.

Any supplements that you choose should contain the following nutrients:
Dong Quai
Red clover
Wild yam

After a hysterectomy, your hormone levels go out of balance, and these nutrients can help rebalance your hormonal system as well as restore your body's normal functions.

Hysterectomy by definition is the removal of the uterus. Once the uterus is removed a woman will no longer menstruate or have the ability to carry a baby. Menopause happens naturally as the production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone decrease with age.

The ovaries are the major supply of estrogen and progesterone. If they are left in place and continue to function menopause should take place at just about the same time as it would have without a hysterectomy. Doctors will try to leave one ovary, for the principle reason of delaying menopause.

Hysterectomy clearly, is dreadful!

This operation can modify the blood flow to the ovaries, in which case they may not make the same amount of hormones as before, resulting in the start of menopause. Also, the ovaries could stop working, with the same result, onset of menopause.

From time to time a medical concern will mandate the removal of all the reproductive organs including both ovaries. At this point surgical menopause will start instantaneously. Frequently the symptoms that materialize with surgical menopause are more acute than those which come with natural menopause. This is due in part, because of the abrupt way in which surgical menopause takes place and also because a woman is dealing with recovery from a major operation at the same time. For many women the months leading up to and after a hysterectomy are confusing and emotional times, these feelings may add to a woman's menopause symptoms.

Menopause supplements after hysterectomy, is something you should consider to help relieve the symptoms you will most likely experience after your surgery.

A woman who starts into menopause as a consequence of her hysterectomy, will encounter the same menopausal magnifications as a woman who enters it naturally. Studies show that surgical menopause can hit a woman harder than those of natural menopause. Women who experience surgical menopause might also be at bigger risk for osteoporosis, heart attacks and some forms of cancer. However, not all of the proof is in on these areas of concern.

As far as treatment is concerned it is the same for natural or surgical menopause.

For some women hormone replacement therapy (HRT) will be suitable, others will choose to care for their symptoms with menopause supplements after hysterectomy. Even if menopause does begin as a result of a hysterectomy, women have many options open to them for dealing with the symptoms. Knowing those options and feeling in control of the situation will help any woman deal with whatever hysterectomy may throw at her.

Do You Experience Menopause Hot Flashes?

Estrogen is a special hormone in our body. From the part it plays the role in puberty to the help it gives in creating life, it is an amazing substance to know. Menopause hot flashes have a relationship with this special hormone.

It is hard to believe however the hot flashes which you experience during menopause are the result of the estrogen in your body being depleted. Estrogen is normally produced by follicles development in the ovaries, the corpus luteum and your placenta when you are pregnant. Luteinizing hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone stimulate the development of estrogen in your ovaries.

Whenever you don't have enough FSH or LH or if you develop too much will throw off the balance of your estrogen and cause you many reproductive problems. Minimal amounts of estrogen are also developed by other tissues such as your breasts, adrenal glands and liver. When a woman is born her ovaries contain between 200,000 and 400,000 follicles which will become the tiny eggs her ovaries will create each month.

Estrogen acts a mighty section in the process of ovulation. That is why while a women ages and her supply of eggs declines, she will begin to stop getting menses and experience menopause. As menopause happens, her ovaries stop secreting estrogen and her body will go through several modifications like menopause hot flashes.

Menopause hot flashes happen as the loss of estrogen affects the part of your brain that controls your body's temperature. When your body isn't creating enough estrogen, this part of your brain turns the heat up and causing you to have a menopause hot flash. As a response, your body tries to quickly cool itself down by circulating blood through your body at a rapid speed and sweating.

Most women begin to lose estrogen up to two years before they exactly stop having menses, so it is very possible to experience menopause hot flashes before you exactly experience menopause. Although you are ended with menopause, you will still have estrogen in your body system but just not as much as you once did. This will also triggers hot flashes in some women for up to five years after they stop having a period.

Whenever you have hot flashes, it may comfort you to notice that they won't last forever. As the diminishing estrogen in your body is balances out, menopause hot flashes will finish. Till that occurs, using an all natural product like menopause treatment that mention in our website can compensate for your body's loss of estrogen.

Skin Crawling Sensations and Menopause

One of the creepiest feelings associated with menopause, without a doubt, is skin crawling. In fact, during menopause, a number of skin/nerve related conditions might be experienced, including itchy or dry skin, tingling feelings, and skin sensitivity. These conditions are all normal, but there are also a number of treatments available for menopausal women who are experiencing pain or problems with their skin.

Flashback for a moment--probably around the time you were in middle school. Whether you were a member of the cheerleading squad or you spent most of your time in the library matters not; most girls this age battle a common problem: acne. It is no coincidences that this trouble starts to occur around the time girls first start menstruating. When this begins, the hormones in a young girl's body are rapidly changing, and the skin reacts in a somewhat negative way.

Hormone levels in an adult woman's body are no different. As menopause begins, your skin reacts to the changing levels in your body, and the results can be sometimes unpleasant.

The prickly crawling feeling that many women experience is called formication. Women usually experience this one to two years after their last period and during the end of perimenopause and the beginning of menopause. While doctors are still largely unsure of its cause, formication goes away on its own in a relatively short period of time for most women. Many speculate that the cause of this is an overworked, hot liver, which happens when your hormones are changing rapidly, as they are at the onset of menopause.

However, itchy, dry, sensitive skin can last much longer and become painful if it goes untreated. For treatment, see a dermatologist. Often times, the same remedies that worked when you were a teenager also work now--moisturizing your skin, washing sensitive areas like your face very gently and with special washes, using prescription acne medications, washing your pillowcases often, and using less oily makeup.

Unlike formication and sensitive skin, tingling in the extremities might be a cause to worry. Although many menopausal women experience tingling in their feet, hands, legs, and arms, they can also be signs of more serious problems, like diabetes, vitamin deficiency, depletion of calcium, depletion of potassium, or blood vessel/circulation problems. Be safe--always see a doctor if you experience the tingling for an expended period of time.

Seeing a doctor is simply your best bet in the end for any type of menopausal problem, skin related or not. He or she can suggest a number of treatment options, including medication, natural remedies, therapy, diet change, exercise programs, and alternative treatment options.

Testing for menopause is difficult--your hormones during this time period change rapidly from day to day--but what doctors can do is rule out any other medical reasons for the skin problems you are experiencing.

Sometimes menopause can be confused with the onset of a serious disease or disorder, so if you have any doubts in your mind, talk to a health care professional about your crawling, dry, itchy, or tingling skin sensations.

Hot Flashes and Night Sweats - How to Use Vitamins and Herbs to Reduce Both

Hot flashes vary in intensity for different women but they remain among the most talked about symptoms of menopause; mostly because they are so uncomfortable. About 80% of the women in America experience flashes (also known as hot flushes that move through the body in a wave) and night sweats (which means in addition to hot flashes you wake up with wet pjs and bed sheets) during the peri-menopause and menopause years.

Some women have these symptoms for a few short years while others are still experiencing them into their 70s. Oftentimes this is hereditary. Hot flashes happen when the body produces less estrogen and progesterone hormones for a variety of reasons caused by aging. Flashing can last from a few seconds to a few minutes; and in some cases they are known to last up to an hour. Severity depends on a woman's lifestyle as well as psychological factors. Some women really sweat, while others only perspire. Some women have headaches, feel dizzy, weak, tired or lose sleep, experience palpitations and have skipped or erratic heartbeats. It is always advisable to consult your doctor.

The Causes and Remedies

Some women cope with flashes without taking medication of any kind. Others who experience more extreme flashes need help. Flushing and night sweats can cause interrupted sleep, insomnia, panic attacks, anxiety and depression, among other symptoms that can be debilitating in the rest of your life.

Intensity varies for different women. Mild hot flashes produce a feeling of warmth for less than a minute with little or no perspiration. Moderate flashes produce more warmth and a little perspiration and last for two to three minutes. Severe ones produce intense heat and sweat and can last for longer periods of time.

Spicy food, alcoholic drinks, hot drinks, white sugar (can also cause palpitations), hot weather, stress, hot tubs and saunas, tobacco, marijuana and unexpressed anger can all be factors that bring on hot flashes. As can being stressed or tired because if your adrenal glands get overworked, this can leech your levels of progesterone which can be supplement with over-the-counter creams.

Flushing is also known to deplete Vitamin B, Vitamin C, magnesium and potassium in our bodies. For mild flashes a daily dosage of 400 to 800 IU of Vitamin E is recommended.

Most women start a daily dose of 600 to 800 IU of Vitamin E with Vitamin C and when the flashes subside reduce to 400 IU. Vitamin E has been effective on up to 60% of women and it takes around two to six weeks for the effects to show.

Vitamin E is contraindicated with certain medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, or with rheumatic heart conditions, history of hypertension, etc. and it is always advisable to seek a doctor's opinion.

In Non-Western Cultures

Less than 10% of women in non-western cultures, such as Japan, Mexico, and India, experience hot flashes and night sweats. This has been linked to the high soybean consumption, which stimulates estrogen production. Herbs such as ginseng, vitex agnus castii, licorice root, black cohosh, dong quai, blue cohosh, false unicorn and sarsaparilla have been used to alleviate hot flashes.

Herbal Menopause Remedies - The 5 Best Phytoestrogens

When you buy an herbal menopause remedy, make sure that they contain herbs with phytoestrogen properties. Otherwise, your remedy won't do much to relieve your hot flashes! Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring substances in plants that can influence the function of estrogen in the body. Although they can alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause by affecting estrogen activity, phytoestrogens are not "real" estrogens in the sense that they are the same estrogens produced by our bodies. Phytogestrogens bind to estrogen receptors in the same way actual estrogens do, and can either have pro-estrogenic or anti-estrogenic effects - depending on how saturated the receptors are. In bodies with low estrogen, as in menopause, empty estrogen receptors can accept phytoestrogens, which have a weak pro-estrogen effect and relieve menopause symptoms.

Unlike synthetic estrogens, which get stored in fat and stay in our bodies for a long time, phytoestrogens only work on the precursors to estrogen. That way, you can enjoy the relief of an estrogen boost without worrying about the serious health impacts of estrogen dominance that can be caused by hormone replacement therapy. Below are the five most effective phytoestrogens for menopause relief.

Black Cohosh - A very effective menopause herbal treatment

Black cohosh is from a tall flowering tree that grows in North America. It is known to contain a non-steroidal phytoestrogen called isoflavones, which can regulate temperature, strengthen bones, and provide vaginal lubrication. These effects are observed when black cohosh reaches the hypothalamus, the region of the brain that regulates hormone production and body temperature. Many women swear by black cohosh's ability to relieve the discomfort caused by hot flashes and night sweats. Black cohosh can be taken daily for up to six months, but should not be used as a long-term remedy. Since the herb is known to increase the number of liver enzymes, black cohosh should not be taken by those with liver disorders.

Ashwagandha - A treatment to correct the vata

According to India's ancient healing tradition Ayurveda, hot flashes, anxiety, and insomnia due to menopause are caused by an excess in vata energy. Vata is the air and space energy that regulates motion, breathing, blood circulation, and heartbeat. A balance in vata is characterized by vitality and creativity. An imbalance causes anxiety, fear, and other physical symptoms. The Ayurvedic approach to treating menopause involves correcting the vata imbalance with herbs like ashwagandha. The ashwagandha plant is an important herb for Ayurvedic medicine because of its beneficial properties, including flavonoids and phytoestrogens that can reduce inflammation, decrease stress, invigorate the body, and serve as an antioxidant.

Ginseng - A trusted menopausal herb

The perennial plant ginseng is one of the most popular herbal remedies for menopause, particularly for hot flashes and palpitations. Although there have been few human studies on ginseng's impact on menopause symptoms, animal investigations show that ginseng lowers body temperature by releasing the adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH). ACTH is responsible for triggering the utilization of glucose and fatty acids, which are important substances that help the body cope with stressors. Increased levels of ACTH were also found to counteract the skin temperature rise that results from hot flashes. Although ginseng is primarily a stimulant, it was also found to be helpful in dealing with menopause-induced insomnia.

Dong Quai - Another menopause natural medicine for hot flashes

Often called the "female ginseng" for its benefits to female reproductive health, dong quai is another important herbal remedy for menopause symptoms. Aside from containing a high concentration of phytoestrogens, dong quai also contains vitamins A, E, and B12. The herb also relieves hot flashes by dilating the blood vessels and increasing the blood flow. Clinical studies on dong quai show that menopausal women who take daily 400mg doses of the herb experienced a 25% decrease in hot flashes. Dong quai is especially potent when used with black cohosh.

Red Clover - For all around menopause symptom relief

Last but certainly not the least is red clover, a plant primarily grown for grazing purposes. Today, however, red clover is an important cure-all for uncomfortable menopause symptoms. Clinical trials on red clover supplementation show that it can reduce the frequency of hot flashes and the intensity of mood swings. Aside from alleviating the discomfort in menopause, red clover can preserve the state of your health. Its high calcium and magnesium content makes the herb a great protector against osteoporosis and bone density loss. Red clover is also thought to increase the amount of good cholesterol, or high density lipoprotein, reducing the risk of heart disease.

Remember, herbal remedies can interact with prescription medication you might be taking now. Consult your doctor or a licensed herbalist before taking any supplements.

Menopause Relief is Possible Through the Foods You Eat

Menopause relief is possible through self care. Western doctors treat women in menopause like they have a disease. In truth, menopause is a transitional imbalance, a change that can be comforted with some study and experimentation.

Peri-menopausal woman report experiencing symptoms including hot flashes, anger, urinary tract infections, irritability, hyperacidity, skin breakouts (acne), rashes, low sex drive, mood swings, and more. If the sole cause of menopause is a loss of hormones, as is commonly believed in the west, then why do some women experience no symptoms at all during menopause while others can no relief from menopause?

In the Ayurvedic tradition (medical practice of India), doctors report that if a woman reaching this stage already has an imbalance often caused by a diet of fast food, or eating foods with chemicals and preservatives causing an accumulation of digestive impurities, or if stress is a daily experience, she is likely to report more symptoms at this stage in life.

What are some of the things a woman can do to treat her most prevalent and disturbing symptoms?

Diet is a good place to start. If you have hot flashes and mood swings, avoid spicy foods such as chili, cayenne and black mustard seed, vinegar, salty and sour foods. Instead, go for bitter, astringent and sweet foods including vegetables, rice, milk, wheat and pasta, fruit (especially pears and plums), and spices such as cinnamon, coriander, cardamom, fennel and cumin seed.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as memory loss or vaginal dryness, eat cooked, warm foods that are low in fat. Include sweet, sour and salty with a breakfast of cooked apples, prunes and figs to cleanse the digestive system. Under all circumstances, avoid packaged, processed, frozen, and canned foods including leftovers.

Do eat organic when possible and foods that are cooked fresh on a daily basis. The bulk of your diet should be whole grains, fresh fruit, vegetables and legumes.

Don't eat meat, cheese, yogurt and frozen deserts. Don't skip meals and eat your main meal at noon, and if possible, try to take your meals at the same time each day so your body can count on the consistency.

Asians consume up to 6 servings of soy foods a day, and as a result, they report a significantly lower rate of menopausal discomfort. There are currently plenty of soy products on the market, but to consume the equivalent of 6 cups of soymilk (and its supplement called isoflavones) is difficult and some women find the taste of soy to be "chalky" and somewhat unpleasant. There is, however, a source where you can select The #1 Doctor-Recommended Soy Protein Supplement for Menopause Relief

Other things you can do to get menopause relief from its uncomfortable symptoms include mild, consistent exercise as well as other information for menopause relief on this page.

Do you have a personal menopause and/or andropause story that you could share to help others? If yes, please click here to send us your story.

Menopause Symptoms - How Long Menopause Symptoms Last?

Menopause is experienced differently by everyone who goes through it. No two women will experience it in exactly the same way. However, some women have a harder time dealing with the symptoms, which can include irregular periods, hot flashes, heart palpitations, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, anxiety, tension in the muscles and joints, memory lapses, dizziness, and mental confusion, among others. Many of these symptoms begin during the perimenopause phase, which can occur as early as a woman's thirties, but often do not take place until after a woman turns forty. Because the symptoms can be unpleasant, most women want to know how long menopause symptoms last.

Perimenopause Phase

Beginning with the perimenopause phase, menopause symptoms can begin. This phase has been known to last for a decade or longer before menopause is actually complete. In fact, ten years is not an unusual time period for this phase of life. The symptoms of this phase, however, do not often become noticeable until a woman reaches her mid to late forties. At this point, it is likely she is troubled by at least a few bothersome symptoms.

End of Menopause Phase

A woman is said to have finished menopause when she has gone a full year without a menstrual period or any menstrual spotting. Therefore, menopausal symptoms can be said to last from the perimenopausal period until menstruation has stopped for a full year. The average age for a woman to have completed menopause is age 51. Symptoms can end at around this time, but for some women they also continue for some time after menopause has officially been reached. The length of a woman's menopause symptoms will often depend on how long her perimenopause phase is. The average phase will last four years, but as indicated above, this period can be ten years or longer.

To answer the women who want to know how long menopause symptoms last, in general it can be said that these symptoms will last four years. However, a woman's symptoms may not be troubling to her during that entire time.

Conclusion

What determines how long menopause symptoms last? Many factors can determine this. A woman's genetic makeup, eating and exercise tendencies, stress levels and general lifestyle and health can affect how long these symptoms last. A woman who has more stress in her life and has a poor diet is more likely to have a longer perimenopausal period, because menopause is likely to begin earlier in these women, and, consequently, the signs of menopause will show up earlier. It is also true that a woman who does not live a healthy lifestyle or who does not exercise may have more trouble with menopause symptoms. In general, women who take care of themselves are more likely to have easier transitions and to be less bothered by menopause symptoms. Though it can be difficult to determine how long menopause symptoms last, women who do not want to experience multiple unpleasant symptoms should make sure they take care of their health as best they can now.

Water Retention Remedies

Those in search of water retention remedies to help manage their condition need not fret. Many such cures are easily available and can readily be taken in order to help alleviate sufferers' symptoms. What's more, sufferers may be pleasantly surprised to discover that many remedies can easily be found lying around the house.

Strangely enough, one cause of water retention or edema is dehydration. Why is this the case? When the body senses that its fluid intake is less than optimal, and thus through normal fluid loss (waste secretion, perspiration and so on) dehydration is a possibility, its tendency is to 'hold on' to the water in cells and tissues. This is why dehydrated people often suffer from bloating due to water retention. The remedies that would help in this case would be to normalize one's fluid intake; in short order, the bloating should go away.

Secondly, eating food that is too high in sodium can also result in edema and bloating. Sodium is one of the usual suspects when it comes to diet-related water retention. Those who enjoy eating fast foods and many kinds of processed foods can end up feeling bloated because fast food is more often than not laden with salt (not to mention other less than desirable substances like saturated fat and so on). Edema sufferers may find that it is best to pass on food that is very salty in order to find relief. Those who worry about their food not being tasty can try adding spices - they may even find that these spices make their food tastier than before.

Another of the best water retention remedies is to take potassium supplements, or to consume food that is rich in potassium. While taking supplements might be an excellent way to get enough potassium to stave off water retention, they might be prohibitively expensive for some sufferers, whereas consuming food high in potassium, such as bananas for instance, can be significantly easier on the pocket. In addition, such food can also be beneficial in and of itself - bananas are rich in fiber as well as potassium, after all.

In addition, many sufferers may not know about foods or drinks called diuretics. A diuretic is any kind of food or drink that stimulates urination and which thus help easily and quickly drain excess fluids from body tissues. What are some examples? Tea is a very good diuretic, especially the herbal kind such as dandelion tea. Other herbs like golden seal and St. John's wort are also good diuretics. Sufferers can even try eating cabbage, fennel, mint or sage - some common vegetables or herbs that have been found to have diuretic effects.

For the sort of water retention that can lead to swollen ankles - a problem that pregnant women often experience - a simple but effective cure is to elevate the ankles a few times a day in order to let gravity have its way and naturally pull down the fluid from those swollen tissues. Otherwise - and this is especially useful for sedentary people or "couch potatoes" - exercising and increasing one's metabolism and sweat rate can be one of the best water retention remedies.

Yoga For Pre-Menopause Symptom Relief

Pre Menopause symptom relief is a buzz phrase doing the rounds at the moment. Many articles are appearing on television and in womens magazines giving advice to menopausal women and they seem to have a common theme, HRT.

Hormone replacement therapy appears to be the answer to everything menopausal but is it really. It seems to me that replacing hormones that your body has elected to stop supplying is just a way of delaying the inevitable, unless you want to be pouring chemicals into your body for the rest of your life.

I think there is a better, more natural and in the end a more satisfying solution to the question of menopause remedies and the answer for me was yoga.

I am not a "hippie," an eco-warrior and I am not particularly spiritual in the commonly accepted sense. I am however a busy working mother of three boys approaching manhood and wife to a golf fanatic. In essence, I am a normal mom.

A friend introduced me to the concept of yoga and despite my initial concerns I gave it a go. The menopause to me, meant headaches and fairly substantial weight gain with a resulting drop in self esteem and get up and go.

Sue, my friend is a slim, active mom and always seems to be on the go. She wore me out just talking about her day. I thought on many occasions, "That used to be me!" I was lethargic, overweight and the couch was fast becoming my best friend.

I realised I was on the downward slope to obesity and I really couldn't be bothered to do anything about it.

Then came my conversation with Sue. She told me outright that I was getting fat and lazy! This is a statement that only your very best friend can make without a cat fight ensuing.

Being a friend, she asked me how come I was letting it all go? I blamed the stress of work, being a mom and of course the menopause. Sue looked me in the eye and said she was going through it and it wasn't dragging her down. She had found a great menopause remedy.

As I mentioned Sue is super trim and fit so when she suggested I go to her yoga classes I was not keen to be surrounded by Sue look-a-likes. I compromised with a yoga DVD, it was quite good but it really didn't do much for me and it was full of trim young things, exactly what I wasn't.

Herbal Remedies and Vitamins For Menopause - Relief in a Jar

Whether shopping on-line or at your local drug store, you will undoubtedly find a large assortment of herbal remedies (menopause relief in a jar, so to speak), vitamins for menopause and combos that supposedly provide everything that a woman needs for a "healthy menopause". The question is which one to choose. Choosing a health supplement of any kind can be difficult.

The Federal Trade Commission advises that while the benefits of some health products are well documented, others have no proven benefits and may even be dangerous. It is the responsibility of the health supplement manufacturers to insure that the products they sell are safe. These are general statements that apply to all health supplements, but apply to herbal remedies, menopause treatments and vitamins for menopause, as well. It is the consumer's chore to evaluate the effectiveness of these remedies by "giving them a try" or by researching the product ingredients.

This brings up one way that a consumer can spot a questionable product. Manufactures that are confident in the quality and effectiveness of their products will provide a detailed list of ingredients. The best manufacturers will even provide information supporting the use of the ingredients for any given condition. Manufacturers that make broad, non-specific statements concerning ingredients are either unsure about what the product contains, unsure about the products effectiveness or trying to mislead the consumer by insinuating that the product contains substances that are actually not included.

Let's look at an example of what to avoid, without giving any brand names. One internet company that sells vitamins for menopause makes this statement, "formulated to deliver essential vitamins and minerals, as well as menopause discomfort relieving herbs and isoflavones." Sold under the heading "herbal remedies menopause", this product apparently contains no herbs of any kind. The list of ingredients includes a number of vitamins, but no herbs and no isoflavones. Apparently this company is hoping that the consumer will read the description, but not the list of ingredients.

None of this is meant to be discouraging. There are a number of effective herbal remedies; menopause relief (even in a jar!) is available. And, most health care professionals recommend specific vitamins for menopause health, when used in conjunction with a healthy, well-balanced diet and regular exercise. You may wonder why exercise is so important. You may think that if you take a calcium supplement you are protected from osteoporosis (a weakening and thinning of the bones), even if you do not exercise regularly. If you think this way, then you are wrong. Certain activities (or lack of activity, in this case) and substances have a canceling effect on vitamins and minerals. Lack of exercise cancels out the positive benefits of calcium supplementation.

The commonly recommended minerals, dietary supplements and vitamins for menopause or the years leading up to menopause are calcium, vitamin A, C, D, E, K, B-complex, iron, manganese, magnesium, phosphorous, zinc, potassium, fiber, isoflavones and phytoestrogens.

Isoflavones are actually a well-researched form of phytoestrogens, but are sometimes listed separately. Phytoestrogens are simply plant compounds that have an "estrogen-like" effect on the body. Lessening levels of estrogen in a woman's body are believed to cause both PMS and menopause related symptoms. The most common sources of isoflavones are soy and red clover. Soy, as you probably know, is a food. Red clover can usually be found under the heading "herbal remedies menopause", except in the case of the product mentioned above.

Dietary guidelines from the USDA recommend that people should get most of their vitamins and minerals from the food that they eat, but that in certain cases supplementation may be necessary. Specifically related to vitamins for menopause are the recommendations that people over the age of 50 should add B-complex and D supplements or foods that are fortified with these vitamins. Vitamin D is necessary for the body to efficiently absorb calcium, as is phosphorous, magnesium, manganese, iron and vitamin C.

When it comes to other products usually sold in the "herbal remedies menopause" section of your local drug store, black cohosh will almost certainly be there. It was used historically by Native Americans to correct hormonal imbalances. Scientific studies in the nineties and the following years confirmed that it was a safe and effective alternative to hormone replacement therapy. It is not always promoted or recommended by doctors, partly because the quality of the product that a patient may purchase cannot be controlled, partly because the safety of long term use is unknown, but mostly (I think) because most doctors know very little about herbs and other natural products. Example: An article written by a doctor for a popular medical website states in the first paragraph that isoflavones may be effective for relieving the symptoms of menopause. In the last paragraph she lists a number of herbal remedies, menopause treatments and vitamins that have little evidence to support their use. Among them is red clover, which is one of the best known sources of isoflavones.

Relief for Menstrual Cramps and Menopausal Sypmtoms with Cypress Oil

Cypress oil helps regulate hormonal action and is an effective treatment for female hormonal imbalances and to regulate menstrual cycles, as well as problems associated with menopause.

An antidepressant Cypress oil gives comfort, stimulates mental energy and strengthens one's capacity to concentrate.

Use Cypress oil to reduce severe hot flashes!

Cypress oil stimulates the onset of menses, as well as relieves menstrual cramps. Here's how:

HOT COMPRESS DIRECTIONS - Excellent for topical application to ease congestion and pain from menstrual cramps, as well as colds and flu, strained muscles, etc.

Disperse 4-8 drops of Cypress oil, alone or in a blend, in a teaspoon of milk or honey and add to a small stainless steel bowl of hot water. Absorb the "HOT" water into a wash cloth. Using protective gloves, wring out excess water and apply hot compress to area of discomfort, repeat when your cloth cools.

*Note: You may cover the warm cloth with a plastic sheet or a towel to keep it "HOT" longer.

Cypress oil is helpful as a diuretic. Use it to relieve edema, swelling, fluid retention and bloating.

FOR A SATISFYING BLEND use 1 or 2 of these pure essential oils with Cypress: Clary Sage, Geranium, Fennel, Juniperberry, Lavender.

CAUTION: Please avoid Cypress oil during pregancy due to its circulatory and hormonal effects. If you do want to use Cypress oil while you are pregnant please consult a qualified professional aromatherapist, as it can be especially beneficial in certain situations.

PLEASE NOTE: There are many cheap, synthetic copies of aromatic oils, but these are not recommended for therapeutic use. For best results purchase the highest quality oils you can possibly find. Use certified organic essential oils, or oils that have been tested and are pesticide free.

Aromatherapy is a gentle and noninvasive complementary health care system used for balancing and synchronizing your body, mind, spirit and emotions to enhance your health. Properly administered essential oils are a natural, safe and effective way to enhance your health and well-being and can produce satisfying results where other methods have failed. Please consult with your physician regarding serious health concerns and do not attempt to self diagnose.

Panic Attacks During Menopause - What You Can Do to Prevent Them

A large number of women experience increased panic attacks when reaching perimenopause and during the menopausal period. The most common symptoms experienced include racing heart beats, breathing difficulties, unusual intense energy, rushes of energy, electric currents, hot prickly sensations, vibrations, ice cold and tingly sensations, among others.

Studies have shown that menopausal women don't always get long-term relief from the symptoms of panic, even after using Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).

Hormone imbalances that occur during perimenopause and menopause can be the cause of this uncomfortable symptom. These imbalances can create an environment where you have an increased vulnerability to anxiety types of disorders. Although hormones may catalyze intense feelings, they aren't necessarily the direct cause. To eliminate panic attacks during menopause, you may need to consult your primary physician before making a decision on how to deal with it.

Women who experience this kind of anxiety during menopause often:

• Breathe rapidly and shallowly


• Hardly make use of the diaphragm in breathing


• Breathe with the muscles of the chest, neck and shoulders

Understanding Panic Attacks

With the onset of menopause, feeling that something 'bad' is about to happen, many women suffer create anxiety for themselves. The hormonal changes not only affect the menstrual cycle and the changing body, they also affect the mind, spirit and emotions of the menstrual women. We tend to worry when we don't recognize what is going on with ourselves.

Women who suffer from this kind of feeling have one thing in common - they do not breathe properly. In fact, they breathe about twice a fast as normal breathers. You are calmly reading a book or sitting in front of the TV, when suddenly out of the blue, your heart rate accelerates, and you experience panic and terror for no apparent reason. This is what people typically experience as an anxiety attack.

Sometimes you might have persistent periods of this kind of event. In fact, the sudden onslaught of anxiety may raise concerns about another attack coming through, and this may exhibit significant behavioral changes in you.

Panic attacks strike suddenly and like the waves at the beach, come in ebbs and flows. The intense physical sensations that accompany them may make you think that you may be suffering a heart attack! Generally, if your response to such attacks is always negative, the experience can be further exasperated.

Reports show that younger post-menopausal women are more prone to panic attacks. There are ways to avoid this unfortunate and unnecessary experience. As a women going through menopause, just be aware that panic attacks are possible.

Being conscious of the possibility allows you to train yourself to not respond to anxiety with fear. Join a local yoga center and learn to do deep breathing. Or ask a vocal coach how to breathe like a baby; from your lower abdomen. Try it, you might surprise yourself.

Relief From Indigestion and Menopause Bloating

While there is a wide range of remedies available in the market today, it is best to take menopause advice and act according to it. Menopause herbs also aid in bringing down the symptoms to a control thus relieving from discomfort.

Several women have reported that menopause is accompanied with certain gastrointestinal stress that is known to cause indigestion, constipation and menopause bloating. These symptoms just don't make them look uglier, but also can be very painful.

Menopause bloating is not because of the increased stomach size. While your stomach remains the same, due to gastrointestinal stresses, air enters the abdomen and makes it look really bulky. Your clothes may get tighter than before. Your waistline is never the same. This excess gas is the contribution of bacteria that are present in the intestine. Foods that contain sugars tend to nourish this bacterium.

Weak digestion mechanism, dearth of lactose - enzyme that aids in breaking down of food particles - accounts to the stress in the gastrointestinal tract. Lack of estrogen also causes this gaseous distress at the time of menopause. Medical reports show that women do not follow strict diet pattern during menopause. Their diet pattern should necessarily avoid sugar rich fruits and certain other vegetables that aid in generating the bacteria and this will give menopause symptom relief. Hence, the diet is to be blamed.

Another factor that could possibly cause menopause bloating is hormone. When progesterone is taken in high doses (more than the dosage prescribed by the physician), then there are strong chances that it will lead to menopause bloating. Estradiol (a kind of estrogen) is effective in combating menopause bloating.

Coping with the symptoms:

There are also herbs that provide menopause symptom relief. These herbs often referred to as menopause herbs render balance during menopause. Menopause herbs are to be taken based on certain observations. First, one must be aware of which menopause stage she is in.

There can be a lot of hormonal changes during the various stages of menopause. One has to keep herself updated about all of them. Avoid proteins. Since the digestion is not at its mark, straining the stomach too much with proteins can cause indigestion as expected. An enzyme called Beano can be taken as supplement to digest protein food such as soy beans. Soy beans have numerous benefits to offer to women undergoing menopause.

It is best to avail the guidance of a doctor while opting for different diet patterns to overcome the symptoms to an extent. Decisions are to be taken based on the menopause advice the doctor offers.

Herbal tea:

There are several herbal teas that are available in the market that are meant for providing menopause symptom relief for symptoms such as menopause bloating, vaginal dryness, menopause spotting, constant headaches, mood swings, breast tenderness, indigestion, etc. Drinking a cup of herbal tea (menopause herbs) everyday throughout the period of menopause surely helps since they all have minerals dissolved in them.

Leg Cramps - Tips on How to Deal With Shooting Pain During Menopause

Menopause occurs when the levels of estrogen and progesterone become less in a woman's body and menstruation stops completely for a period of over a year. Among the common symptoms of menopause are irregular periods and hot flashes, mood swings, irritability, sleep disturbances, vaginal dryness and urinary tract problems. Menopausal women may also suffer stomach pains and leg cramps and some may suffer more, as compared to others, in terms of sleeplessness.

Leg cramp pain during menopause can come on suddenly. It can be a shooting, sharp pain that can disturb your sleep, or wake you up. This pain may linger and make the area sore for almost 24 hours.

How They Occur

Women going through menopause have to deal with other symptoms as well. There are some pointers to keep in mind for avoiding and treating leg cramps so that you can tackle this problem. If you get leg cramps and feel a sudden pain in your leg, often at night, it can be attributed to a muscle or group of muscles suddenly tightening.

Most cramps occur in calf muscles, but cramps in your thigh or in your foot are also possible. Older women are more prone to this kind of pain and other contributing factors can be lack of physical exercise, an imbalance of minerals, problems with blood circulation apart from menopause.

For those of you that experience the problem of leg cramps only on certain occasions during menopause, you should consult with your doctor regarding the medications you are taking, as leg cramps may be a side effect of certain medicines.

Cramps in your legs during menopause do not cause any serious damage, so are not an alarming issue. However, they can disturb your sleep. For most women, leg cramps occur for a short while and usually go away quite suddenly.

Treatments

Many women report that massaging or stretching the leg helps when they get a cramp. It is good to consult with your doctor, check your bone density and bring yourself up to date with your daily calcium supplements. Leg cramps can also be treated with continuous intake of calcium/magnesium supplements. Other complimentary therapies include drinking a couple of glasses of tonic water and soaking in a peppermint oil bath. A tincture of St. John's wort is reported to also be helpful.

Insomnia

These kinds of cramps in the legs have further been linked with sleep disorders like the Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). The RLS and PLMD can disturb sleep in menopausal women and result in more problems like insomnia. RLS usually occurs before sleep sets in and causes calf discomfort and restlessness in the legs, which gets relief in a short time if you move around a bit.

PLMD, however, can cause excessive sleepiness and both conditions are more common in older women going through menopause. The sensations experienced during RLS are not very painful, but more toward discomfort and akin to being anxious. The subsequent leg cramps and creepy crawly feeling is felt deep in the legs, and often occurs when you lie in bed and may cause stress, if not treated in a timely manner.

What is the Best and Safest Menopause Treatment?

The experience of menopause is different for different women. Some women do not experience any symptom at all. Such women do not need any menopause treatment except for regular medical check-up that ensures that there are no signs of osteoporosis or other complications.

However, women with more bothersome symptoms must think of a multi-pronged, comprehensive menopause treatment.

In general, the most common menopause treatment is hormone replacement therapy. The uncomfortable symptoms that accompany menopause are the direct result of hormonal imbalance. This hormonal imbalance is a part of aging and nothing can be done to prevent it. Hormonal imbalance is what causes signs of aging, hot flushes, lack of sex drive, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other symptoms associated with menopause. The most effective way to re-establish hormonal balance is to supply the missing hormones in the right levels to the body. This can be achieved through hormone replacement therapy.

However, in recent years, hormone replacement therapy has been the subject of much speculation because synthetic hormones can cause severe side effects, like cancer and heart problems. An NIH-sponsored study showed that women on long-term hormone therapy had greater risk of developing endometrial cancer and stroke. These findings have led to a decline of interest in synthetic hormones.

In recent years, however, doctors have been using natural hormones in hormone replacement therapy. These hormones are called bioidentical hormones as they are similar in structure to natural hormones. Therefore, there have been no reports of any undesirable side effects associated with natural hormones.

The benefits of natural hormones are many:

* They are metabolized more easily by the body
* They mimic the action of natural hormones
* They may be administered in just the right dosages
* They may be administered transdermally, which means that these are not metabolized in the liver

However, for bioidentical hormone replacement therapy to work as an effective menopause treatment, it is important to customize the treatment according to individual requirements.

Along with hormone replacement therapy, it is also recommended that patients adopt a comprehensive treatment for symptoms. This includes the intake of essential supplements. Alternative treatments for menopause are also effective in alleviating the discomfort associated with menopause. For instance, Black Cohosh is known to be helpful for hot flashes. Soy supplements are also helpful.

Women who are going through the symptoms of menopause should take particular care to eat a balanced diet. They must take in sufficient quantities of calcium to minimize the impact of osteoporosis. Kegel exercises relieve symptoms of incontinence. An active lifestyle and sound hygiene practices also help a lot.

Menopause Symptoms - How to Deal With Menopause Depression

Menopause depression is a very genuine condition that has been studied over a few years. However people thought that this symptom was little more than a mental complaint for a long period. Recently some studies have revealed that it could be directly linked to hormones. While it is an unpleasant thing that has to be endured, you can find relief and let's look at the basics of this menopause symptom.

Generally menopause depression is combined with several other menopause symptoms and causes a difficult time in a woman's life. As many different menopause symptoms come with it, it is just magnified due to them. Moreover being unable to bear children is also a difficult revelation as their serotonin levels are also jumping and they feel they don't belong in their own body.

Menopause depression does things to a woman that they've never go through before. They feel that they are useless and their lives will never be the same again. This menopause symptom sometimes also coincides with their children growing up and they notice that they can't bear children anymore. Therefore they feel depressed and they feel like the menopause symptoms are just too much to deal with. As it can get quite rough at this stage in a woman's life, several menopause treatments are available on the market.

As it may not be desirable, there are menopause treatments like antidepressants which woman can take will do a wonder on their mental state. Moreover there are also natural menopause remedies like mention in our website which will help replenish the estrogen that is now gone. Besides taking a healthy diet which can contribute ability to relieve the menopause symptoms, an exercise routine should also be added to your daily plan as soon as possible. Exercise will help with the weight gain which will inevitably come as a result of menopause.

It is advisable that you shouldn't take this lightly and try to be supportive by getting helps from anyone. Menopause depression is a difficult part in woman's life which they'll have to get through at the some point. Since many women have done this and come through eventually, you also can relieve this menopause symptom by using the right menopause treatments.

Home Remedies For Vaginal Dryness - Effective and Safe Natural Treatment

When vagina is not properly lubricated then this condition is called vaginal dryness. Due to this problem lovemaking also becomes less pleasurable and our daily activities also become uncomfortable. It is most common during the period of menopause and it is also the common cause of painful sex. This problem is very common among the old women and it also affects the women of all ages.

Some of the common symptoms of vaginal dryness include itching, dryness, a feeling of pressure, pain or light bleeding with sex, irritation, burning and also pain or light bleeding with sex.

Vaginal discharge is caused by a variety of conditions. If exact cause of the vaginal dryness is known then it becomes easy to find out its exact solution. Some of the common causes are decreased in estrogen level which usually occurs during the period of menopause, chronic yeast infection, douching (a process of cleaning vagina with a liquid preparation as it causes an inflammation and also disrupts the chemical balance), vaginal bacterial infection, and certain medications for the problem like cancer, allergy, ulcer, blood pressure and antidepressant. The other cause of this problem includes vaginal trauma, sexually transmitted disease and also benign or malignant tumor.

Various treatments are available for this problem like skin patch, cream, oral supplements and also some home remedies. You can enjoy the lovemaking by the help of lubricants and moisturizers.

You must not use yoghurt, hand lotions, soaps, vinegar or bubble bath to get relief from the discomfort caused by the vaginal dryness. These products may not ease your problem but at the same time increase irritation and cause infection.

Home Remedies for Vaginal Dryness

1. Make a habit to drink 8-10 glasses of water per day as it will fight against the dryness of vagina.

2. For the lubrication of vagina, aloe vera gel, saffron, ashwagandha must be taken with the milk in right proportion. It is very effective remedy for reducing the problem of vaginal dryness. Aloe due to its valuable moisturizing properties keeps the female reproductive organs hydrated and youthful.

3. Take a glass of water and add a teaspoon of fenugreek seeds and allow it to boil for 10-15 minutes. It will keep our system healthy and also increases the libido of a person. It also maintains the level of blood sugar.

4. To treat the dryness herbal oils is another way to lubricate the vagina.

Menopause Hot Flash Relief

Menopause and pre-menopause have gained a very poor, yet very large reputation for causing hot flashes upon their victims. How can you rid your life of these terrible symptoms, you ask, well there are a few solutions that have been proven to work better than the rest. While there are several remedies, the most effective method found, tends to be in over the counter progesterone medications that usually come in the form of a cream or pill capsule. This is a natural method, and tends to deal with the source of your discomfort, which is unbalanced hormone levels that are the cause of many menopause symptoms.

Several researchers have found that a higher intake of Vitamin E can also be very helpful in reducing the side effects of menopause, including hot flushes. This increased vitamin intake has been known to reduce the frequency and the severity of hot flashes, so you can rest soundly. Another greatly revered way of reducing the symptoms you can have during menopause, is by ingesting a fair amount of soy from foods that contain soy, rather than supplements, you are able to balance out the hormones of your menopause and weaken the strength that the side effects have on your body during this period.

Exercise is another great way to combat hot flashes, and researchers have proven that exercising at least 30 minutes a day can also help reduce the severity of your symptoms and even reduce other menopausal side effects. Gabapentin, or the brand name of gabapentin called Neurontin, which is generally a drug used to reduce the pain that migraines inflict, is another medication that has been proven to reduce the number of hot flashes that women experience, before and during menopause.

Do not let yourself get down about hot flashes, the truth is that there are a lot of remedies available to you, to assist in reducing the pain and discomfort you feel when you have them, and some remedies are able to reduce the amount of hot flashes you experience altogether.

A Wild Plant That Keeps the Prostate Healthy, Eases the Symptoms of Menopause and Fights the Big C

Red Clover Benefits

Extracts from red clover have long been used in traditional Chinese medicine and Western folk medicines as a diuretic, cough expectorant (it helps clear mucus from the respiratory passages) and remedy for skin conditions like psoriasis and eczema.

But modern research has uncovered additional benefits, including an ability to help overcome symptoms associated with the menopause and prostate problems. It could even help in the fight against cancer.

Here's how it works...

Blocking oestrogen to help protect against cancer

Red clover contains plant chemicals called isoflavones. These include geneistein, daidzein, formononetin and biochanin. Isoflavones are what are known as phytooestrogens (plant derived substances that resemble human oestrogen in their make-up but which are weaker).

Isoflavones act as weak oestrogens, which means they can bind to oestrogen receptors in the body. This blocks some of the detrimental effects of naturally - occurring oestrogen, which is far stronger and linked to cancer cell growth. In particular they have been found to lower the risk of breast, prostate and colon cancer.

Geneisten is probably the most extensively studies phytooestrogens. It boasts an impressive array of anti-cancer properties. It can revert breast and prostate cancer cells back to their pre-cancerous states and delay the growth of new blood vessels within tumours. This helps prevent them from spreading.

Red clover works quickly to kill cancerous prostate cells

In terms of prostate cancer, Australian researchers have found that a supplement derived from red clover, called Trinovin, helps prevent prostate cells from advancing to cancerous stages.

This news is promising, as the disease is responsible for the deaths of over 10000 men each year in Britain. Although prostate cancer can strike at any age, it is most prevalent in men over the age of 50.

The study was carried out by researchers at Monash University in Victoria, Australia and involved 20 prostate cancer patients who received Trinovin and 18 patients who made up the control group and received no treatment. The former were given 160mg of Trinovin for between one to eight weeks, before undergoing prostate surgery.

Before and after treatment, researchers measured the patients' serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels - excess levels can indicate prostate cancer; Gleason score (grade of cancer); serum testosterone; incidence of cancer cell death, and excreted isoflavone levels.

The researchers found that among those patients taking Trinovin, cancerous cells were killed off up to five times more frequently than was the case for the control group.

Trinovin was found to be particularly effective in fighting early-stage cancerous cells.

Eat a diet rich in isoflavones

Numerous studies have suggested an important link between a diet rich in isoflavones and the maintenance of good health, particularly in terms of good prostate health.

For example, the incidence of prostate cancer is far lower in Asian countries (where the typical diet is high in isoflavone-rich foods like red clover, lentils, chickpeas and a range of beans) than it is in the West. Men is Asia consume approximately 20-50mg of isoflavone-rich foods each day, which is a great deal more than the typical British diet that only provides around 1-2mg.

Studies have also revealed that red clover isoflavones can help combat benign prostatic hyperplasia - enlargement of the prostate gland. One three-month study showed that red clover helped reduce prostate size and obstruction to the urinary passage and improved urinary flow by 10%.

Patients also reported improvements in their overall quality of life and no side effects were experienced. Red clover can provide much needed relief for menopausal and post-menopausal women

Recent research findings have found that red clover isoflavones' weak oestrogen - like action can also helping the treatment of menopause symptoms. In January 2004 the North American Menopause Society recommended the use of red clover isoflavones to help alleviate night sweats and hot flushes in menopausal women.

In Japan, where the dietary isoflavone content is very high, menopause symptoms like hot flushes are rarely reported. Red clover has also been found to improve cardiovascular function in menopausal women.

The Bottom Line: Include more isoflavone-rich foods in your diet to help ward off prostate cancer and menopausal symptoms.

How To Cure Vaginal Dryness In A Natural Way?

A common problem associated with menopause is the vaginal dryness. It is a female problem that comes with aging. In the cycles of perimenopause and pre menopause, you would find that dryness is setting in vagina which would reach its maximum form when the menopause sets in completely.

The main reason of this discomfort and problem in the area is the change in the level of the hormones in our body. It has its worst effect on our lives because the sexual life in the post-menopausal period becomes troublesome because of this and also it increases the risk of various vaginal and urinary tract infections.

There are various creams and lotions available in the market along with tablets which would offer you relief from this problem, but there are excellent natural remedies also that can be used for treating the dryness and these can be easily found at home and therefore can be used easily.

Those of you who are suffering from this problem should consume aloe Vera extract, Ashwagandha and saffron mixed with warm milk which would help you retain the natural lubrication of the vaginal tract. If you consume this mixture regularly then your vagina would remain naturally well lubricated for a long time and you would not suffer from the vaginal dryness problem.

Along with this mixture mentioned above, you should also drink adequate glasses of water so that your body is properly hydrated which would in turn keep it hydrated too. This is the best and the most useful natural remedy for preventing the occurrence of dryness.

Another excellent home remedy is making a decoction of fenugreek seeds in boiled water. You need to have this twice every day and you would find the problem vanishing. Also you should consume omega fatty 3 acids which are naturally found in fishes and flax seeds which would help to keep that area well hydrated.

Rice, barley, flax seeds and various other cereals along with yogurt should be a part of your regular diet, if you want to stay away from this problem.

Along with these changes in the diet you should also apply comfrey salves in the affected area after you take a bath. Allantoin is the chemical that is present in this herbal remedy which is useful for soothing the irritation in the affected tissues and would trigger the growth of healthy tissues.

You can also use marigold based creams for preventing the onset of this problem and also as a cure when it sets in. It is often found that women who suffer from stress also suffer from the problem of dryness.

Thus if it is found that you have a stress dryness then you should consult an Ayurvedic practitioner and have a recommended dose of ginkgo to cure the problem of anxiety and it will cure the vaginal dryness.

Menopause - 5 Tips to Overcome Post Menopause Problems

Menopause and aging in general are associated with some emotional torments; depression, irritability, suspicion, insomnia etc. These emotional elements have wrecked havoc in most advanced marriages. Some people wonder why marriage of over twenty years with children could suddenly breakdown. Therefore, to every woman, post menopausal years particularly the first five years must be jealously and wisely guarded.

Do not forget that it is in this particular time that most men of the old used to take up new wives as the culture then permits. Therefore, during your menopausal and post menopausal period, you must vow to secure your marriage, not through fighting but through knowledge and wise counseling. It is expected that when a woman is not capable or willing to give what a man expects from her, there may be possibility of misunderstanding. This kind of misunderstanding abounds in most marriages particularly at a time the woman starts getting dry and aging.

Therefore, to have a stress-free menopausal period, you must be ready to cushion, conquer and overcome the associated challenges in your marriage. You can achieve these successfully with the aid of the following key points and tips:

Overcome Post Menopause Problems 1: Look Good For Life Is Good
One way to deal with menopause problems is by looking good. It would be most unfortunate for you to leave yourself unkempt and dirty simply because you feel you have given the man children. If you feel so, you may get more than you ever bargain. Menopausal and post menopausal periods are very crucial and sensitive. It is the time to look good. That you are advancing in age does not mean your beauty has tarnished. No! You must be clean, make up and remain on. Your breast must be seen standing, even if it is standing with the help of foam or iron brassier. Pay attention to your looks. Don't forget that it is your beauty not necessarily character that attracted your husband to you for the first time. Menopause is truly a challenging moment for every woman but you can make good the time by putting more beauty on yourself.

Overcome Post Menopause Problems 2: Sacrificial Love and Good Character
Sacrificial love is the kind of love that lives for the sake of others. Without mincing words, post menopausal period may demand more than you can freely give or accept but for the sake of peace, you may need to go extra miles. Against your sexual convenience, if your husband is in need of you, give yourself cheerfully without making it a subject of strong contention. However, where need be, make your husband understand your feelings through reasoning together with him but never make him a victim of circumstances. Otherwise, you may end up making him a 'sugar daddy'.

Overcome Post Menopause Problems 3: Avoid Suspicion
Post Menopause problems will be reduced to the minimum if you can keep away from suspecting your partner. It is very characteristic of humans to analyze situations and make conclusions. Suspicion has shown to be the root cause of marriage disaster in most countries. As a man comes back from work, the wife would be searching the pockets of his wears with intent of finding lip stick or another woman's left over to confirm her suspicion. Some smell their husband's wears in view of perceiving a strange perfume or odor, which of course must be from another woman. Some women go further to send spies after their husbands with hope of catching them in the 'very act'. Friend, always know that your assumptions or conclusion could be dead wrong. Your own heart can deceive you. As a matter of fact, you may never find peace in your marriage if you toll the path of suspicion. The irony of it is that which ever fault you seek in a man, you are most likely to find it because man is n imperfect character; perhaps, the very reason for seeking 'help mate'.

Overcome Post Menopause Problems 4: Don't Listen to Peer's Advice
Most victims of marriage disaster don't usually initiate the counter productive actions themselves. Rather they acted based o what they were advised by a friend or a group of friends. It is important for you to know that during the period of menopause and thereafter, there are variable changes that occur in the male counterpart generally. At such time, some men may be almost impotent and thus have little or no affection for sexual activity, while others may be battling with one form of sickness or the other. If you abide by this rule, you'll sure overcome your post menopause problems.

Natural Anxiety Relief Remedies: An Overview

Effective therapies for anxiety disorders are available, and research is uncovering new treatments that can help most people with anxiety disorders lead productive, fulfilling lives. If you think you have an anxiety disorder, you should seek information and treatment right away from a traditional mental health specialist. However, there is traditional medicine and natural anxiety relief - that is both healing and supportive.

Everyone has anxiety in the normal course of life - when anticipating a stressful situation, for example. When the stressful event is over, anxiousness disappears. However, there are also mental health disorders that call people to be filled with fear and uncertainty - which last six months or more - according to the National Institute of Mental Health. These can last six months or more, and can get worse if not treated. They affect about 40 million Americans - aged 18 years and older (about 18% of all Americans). There are therapies that can effectively treat Anxiety Disorders (Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Social Phobia [Social Anxiety Disorder}], and Generalized Anxiety Disorder. When a person is diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), it is because they spend their days filled with tension and worry about everyday issues - and exaggerate the problems. They stress out about health, money, future possibilities, etc. As a result, they may have trouble sleeping - and eventually develop one or more of a number of symptoms such as fatigue, headaches,muscle tension,muscle aches, difficulty swallowing, trembling, twitching, irritability, sweating, nausea, lightheadedness, having to go to the bathroom frequently, feeling out of breath, and hot flashes.

GAD affects about 6.8 million Americans - and twice as many women than men. Although it can affect people at any age, it usually occurs between childhood and middle-age. Genes can also play a small part in the causation. Treatment by professionals usually involves prescription medication (anti-anxiety, antidepressants, and beta-blockers) and cognitive-behavioral therapy. In addition, other anxiety disorders often are coupled with this condition, along with alcohol (and/or other substance abuse), and depression. However, medication particularly is not curative - but a symptom reliever. It is not like natural anxiety relief - which, along with other modalities be curative. This is why other therapy is so important. And, since prescriptions have side effects, trying natural remedies may be a better choice for you.

There are many natural anxiety relief remedies - some of which will be listed below. They are very popular - and the reason for it is, of course that many, many people have found that they work!

Green Tea: L-Theanine is the substance in green tea that provides anxiety relief. It seems to play a part in the formation of the inhibitory neurotransmitter Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). GABA blocks the release of the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, causing a relaxing effect on the body. Often tea drinkers report a feeling of calmness after ingesting a cup or two.

Acupuncture : Chinese Acupuncture views an anxiety disorder as being due to a dysfunction of the body's organs (ex: spleen, kidney, liver). Traditional Chinese medicine believes that health is dependent on Qi - which. when in good health, moves in a smooth and balanced way through a chain of fourteen main channels (meridians). By inserting needles into the points which belong to different meridians, we stimulate body's energy (Qi) to start the healing process and assist it to restore its natural balance. Patients are also encouraged to make changes in their lifestyles to help balance their mind; to help circulate their own energy and study a form of meditation to learn how to control and relax mind. Activities such as Tai Chi, Yoga are excellent forms of mind-body exercise that can improve the ability to control both anxiety and depression. Practicing these arts in conjunction with regular acupuncture treatments will provide the foundation for a positive change and medication free in an anxiety patient's life.

Yoga, Tai Chi: Individuals are guided to open their energy blockage through stretching, energy training and breathing. Combined with energy healing and acupressure sessions, these blockages will open and one could restore natural energy balance to achieve physical and mental health - and natural anxiety relief.

Aromatherapy (based on traditional uses and anecdotal information, and not on scientific studies):

1. Scents of vanilla, orange blossom, rose, chamomile and lavender (and other floral fragrances) have a noticeable calming effect on the way you feel.


2. Scents of lavender, sandalwood and nutmeg help you shrug off the ill-effects of stress.


3. Bergamot (Citrus aurantium): helps with anger, anxiety, frustration, sadness


4. Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum): is a balm for apathy, emotional exhaustion, and emotional tension


5. Cedarwood, Atlas (Cedrus atlantica): It relieves symptoms of anxiety, anger, fear, and worry


6. Chamomile, German (Matricaria recutica): It helps to treat frustration, emotional over-stimulation, stress, moody tendencies, and bitterness


7. Chamomile, Roman (Chamaemelum nobile): It helps to calm anger, grief, irritability, emotional over-stimulation, sadness, stress, and worry


8. Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea): It is a treatment for fear, sadness, and worry and is a sedative and tonic.


9. Frankincense (Boswellia carteri): It is useful in the treatment for emotional exhaustion, grief, and stress


10. Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens): It assists in the resolution of anger, anxiety, moody tendencies, sadness, and stress


11. Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi): It is a balm for anxiety, emotional exhaustion, frustration, and sadness


12. Helichrysum (Helichrysum agustifolium): It helps to calm emotional over-stimulation, grief, sadness, and stress


13. Jasmine (Jasminum officinale): It helps to resolve anxiety, guilt, listlessness, sadness, and stress


14. Neroli (Citrus aurantium bigaradia): It relieves anxiety, emotional over-stimulation, grief, impatience, sadness, and stress


15. Lavender (Lavendula augustifolia): is probably the most useful of them all for relaxation. It is a sedative and a tonic. It relieves anxiety, irritability, sadness, stress, and worry. It also helps you to relax, at the same time; it also eases aches and pains, such as headache. Sprinkle four drops on a tissue and inhale deeply for sudden stress. Our ancestors carried with them handkerchiefs perfumed with lavender water or rose water.


16. Patchouli oil (Pogostemon cablin) helps to eliminate anxiety and lifts the mood (it is also said to be an aphrodisiac.).


17. Peppermint (Mentha piperita): It helps to relieved anxiety, sadness, stress Rose (Rosa damascena): It has a relieving effect on anger, bitterness, emotional exhaustion, grief, jealousy, sadness Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis): It helps with emotional over-stimulation, stress Sandalwood (Santalum album): It helps to calm anxiety, irritability, sadness, stress Spikenard (Nardostachys jatamansi): It is useful with conditions of anxiety, emotional over-stimulation, stress


18. Ylang-ylang is a euphoric, regulator, sedative, and tonic. Use it in moderation. It can cause headaches in some people. It helps to calm anxiety, emotional exhaustion, frustration, guilt, impatience, sadness, stress The most effective methods for using essential oils to help calm the mind and relax the body include massage, baths, and vaporization. You can use them singly or in combination.

Breathing Techniques: (such as diaphragmatic /abdominal breathing, conscious breathing, and standing exercise, and alternate nostril breathing technique)

Meditation and Relaxation

Herbal Remedies (not based on scientific, but anecdotal and common use):

1. Catnip Tea has soothing effect, relieves anxiety.


2. Fennel Tea relieves gastrointestinal upset.


3. Kava Tincture or capsules help minimize anxiousness. Hops Relaxing effect on nervous system.


4. Motherwort Tincture helps stabilize emotions, has calming effect.


5. Passion Flower: Used in tea or as tincture to promote relaxation and calm.


6. Skullcap Tincture or capsules help relax and nourish nervous system and induce sleep.


7. St. John's Wort tincture helps restore emotional stability and ease depression.


8. Valerian Tincture or capsules aid sleep.

Acupressure: During an acupressure session, the therapist will find out if there is any blockage of energy in the body. These blockages are usually caused by emotion, bad postures or other toxins generated by the body. For example, a lot of people complain about inflexibility on hamstring or calves area. In a lot of cases, their urinary and kidney meridian or energy channels are blocked.

The above are natural - nonprescription remedies that provide you with natural anxiety relief and may help you in relieving your general anxiety problems. Certainly, it is a great way to go that is non-toxic and healing to your body! These methods relieve stress and help to keep you focused and happy. May you find healing and an anxiety-free life!

Menopause Supplements After Hysterectomy - What You Should Know

Menopause supplements after hysterectomy can help with menopause symptoms that are induced by the surgery. My article aims to answer some of the questions that you may have.

Why do I need menopause supplements after hysterectomy?

After you have a hysterectomy, you may start to experience side effects immediately or soon after. Some of the common side effects include:

• Hot flashes


• Insomnia


• Anxiety


• Mood Swing


• Headaches


• Vaginal dryness


• Muscle and joints pain


• Loss of libido

The menopausal symptoms after hysterectomy are referred to as surgical or induced menopause.

These symptoms are caused by altered hormone production. In hysterectomy, the uterus is removed. As a result, blood circulation to the ovaries is reduced, and the ovarian hormone production is interrupted.

After hysterectomy, you body no longer makes progesterone, a vital hormone for women's health. As a result of this, your estrogen will become more dominant, which means your hormones are not balanced.

Natural herbal supplements can help with your recovery, balance and health, without harsh side effects.

How can supplements for menopause help me?

Many women have found relief in menopause supplements after hysterectomy.

A good supplement for menopause contains ingredients that are effective in reducing or eliminating menopause symptoms. Most used ingredients are:

Dong quai: this natural wonder is used for women's aliments such as PMS, menstrual cramps and menopause symptoms.

Red clover: Red clover is widely used for menopausal symptoms and hot flashes. Many women are reported to have their breast pain and tenderness reduced thanks to this herb. It contains isoflavones, a class of phytoestrogens (plant estrogens) that are structurally similar to estrogens.

Wild yam: it helps to combat vaginal dryness and a lack of energy and libido.

These nutrients can help rebalance the female hormonal system. After hysterectomy, your hormone levels go out of balance. You need help to restore the balance as well as your body's normal functions.

Are menopause supplements all the same?

When you do a little research on menopause supplements, you will find thousands of them that look similar and contain more or less the same ingredients. Here comes the question: are they all the same?

The answer is no. They are not created equal.

The quality of a menopause supplement relies on the purity, effectiveness and manufacturing process of the raw ingredients. Many formulas are produced using cheap and poor-quality ingredients, even contaminated. Those will provide little effect to you.

However, if one supplement combines clinically proven ingredients and are manufactured under strict quality control, it can help keep your immune system strong and provide benefits to your overall health.

It is a wise decision to take menopause supplements after hysterectomy. But you should make no mistake in picking a quality and reliable supplement, because your wellbeing depends on it.

For more information about natural menopause supplements, please visit my web site today.

Relief From Night Sweats and Hot Flashes Caused by Menopause

The change in life otherwise known as menopause has many symptoms that women experience. Two of these symptoms, night sweats and hot flashes, relate to the body's ability to regulate heat. The imbalance in the hormone estrogen is what causes the uncomfortable symptoms.

Naturally, there are some things you can do to relieve these unpleasant bodily reactions. Dressing in layers is one way to prepare for hot flashes. If you think that you might have hot flashes during the day, you can prepare by dressing in layers so that you may remove layers when they occur and then put them back on when the problem subsides. Another way to deal with them is to have cold water close by that you can sip on to cool your body.

As for night sweats, women report that they sometimes wake up experiencing heat and sweating profusely. Sometimes they fear that it is a symptom of a serious health issue. While menopause isn't life threatening, it is a time of complications and bodily changes that must be dealt with and being prepared is one of your best defenses. Have a cold glass of water beside the bed and have layers of bed clothing rather than just one heavy cover.

Stress may cause both symptoms or worsen them so avoiding stressful situations when possible is always a good idea. Of course, in our world and our complicated lives, avoiding stress isn't always an option. Some members of the medical profession have advocated estrogen replacement therapy. The estrogen replacement is actually a synthetic form of estrogen. Possible links to breast cancer, however, have brought that solution into disfavor with some people.

Some women have found menopause relief from supplements and herbs such as, black cohosh, don quai, rhubarb root, and chasteree berry, to name just a few. These herbs that are gentle and soothing do not replace estrogen or trick the body into producing more estrogen, as some people believe. The natural phytoestrogen found in plants does produce the same benefits of estrogen in the body without harmful side effects.

While modern chemicals and medicines have only been used for decades and the long term effects are still unknown. the natural herbs used to relieve the symptoms of menopause have been used for centuries and have a long history of safety when used sensibly. Another feature that women find attractive is that they are readily available online and at local health food stores.

How To Get Rid Of Hot Flashes Naturally

Women trying to find out how to get rid of hot flashes sometimes search among the hot flash websites that are not providing website templates. A recent review of the results returned by three of the most popular search engines showed that of the hot flash websites that are related to menopause, the majority are sponsored by pharmaceutical companies. There are a few blogs where women can talk about their symptoms and ask each other for advice. There are sites that are sponsored by doctors and women's clinics. And, there are sites promoting vitamins, herbs, botanicals and other natural therapies for hot flashes. In this article, we hope to provide enough information to help you weed through the massive amount of available information and learn how to get rid of hot flashes, without drugs or hormones.

The common belief is that hot flashes begin when estrogen production by the ovaries slows down and that they end after the body becomes accustomed to the lower level of hormones. But, no one knows for sure. Some doctors believe that lifestyle, stress level and dietary habits play a role. The latest research has revealed that there are genetic differences between women who experience more severe hot flash symptoms than others. So, as with most health issues, genes probably play a role.

Pharmaceutical companies have tested the effectiveness of different drugs for relieving hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, since hormone replacement therapy is now considered to carry more health risks than benefits. A group of anti-depressants known as Selective Serotonin Re-uptake Inhibitors have been shown to be somewhat effective, but no more so than certain herbal remedies. Studies concerning low-dose equine estrogens appear to be less effective than herbs and dietary supplements containing phytoestrogens, but are still often recommended by doctors. Even though researchers have suggested that doctors should take a more active role in discussing the role of diet and health supplements, many still respond to a woman's initial complaints with a prescription pad. Perhaps they feel that a woman can learn about things like black cohosh on her own.

According to the hot flash websites that promote botanical remedies, taking dietary supplements may be how to get rid of hot flashes. Soy isoflavones, dong quai, chaste berry, red clover, ginger, sarsaparilla, tribulus terrestris, damiana, maca root and black cohosh are just some of the names that you see at these sites. Next we look at the most recent research related to these remedies promoted by hot flash websites, as well as the historical use of these products in traditional medicine, where applicable.

Soy beans, tofu, soy flour, soy milk and other soy products have been suggested as dietary supplementation for menopausal women. Soy isoflavones are a type of phytoestrogen or "plant" estrogen. Dietary supplements containing soy isoflavones are increasingly popular. Some experts have suggested that adding soy products to the diet is probably more effective than taking a supplement, but the clinical research performed thus far indicates that supplements containing isolated soy isoflavones provide more relief than eating food containing soy.

Dong quai is a Chinese plant sometimes referred to as "female ginseng". It was used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat gynecological ailments, fatigue, anemia and high blood pressure. It is a good source of vitamin B12 and has been shown to have pain relieving, anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. However, scientific studies have shown that it increases the growth of breast cancer cells. Thus, women who have a history of breast cancer in themselves or in their families should avoid this product.

Chaste berry or the berry of the chaste tree is cultivated in the Mediterranean. Its scientific name is vitex agnus-castus. It is an herbal treatment of PMS and is considered to be a tonic for both the male and female reproductive systems. It is believed to support increased testosterone production in men, but it is unclear what affects it has on a woman's metabolism. Several scientific studies have confirmed that it effectively relieves breast pain and tenderness.

While preliminary research suggests that ginger root may be effective for many medical conditions, including boosting the immune system and reducing inflammation, eating or taking supplements containing ginger is probably not the answer to how to get rid of hot flashes. In fact, the spice could trigger hot flashes in some women and it can cause mild allergic reactions, including bloating, flatulence and tightness in the throat.

Tribulus terrestris is an interesting plant that seems to increase the production of the hormones estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. It has been used as an alternative to synthetic steroids by athletes and body builders. Results of scientific research have been mixed.

Damiana may not be the answer to how to get rid of hot flashes, but studies have shown that it can improve and enhance sexual function in menopausal women. Maca root is promoted by some hot flash websites, but there is no scientific research supporting its use. As a food source, it contains a number of vitamins, minerals, trace elements and fatty acids, but it is doubtful that encapsulating the powdered root would provide these health benefits.

Red clover, sarsaparilla and black cohosh were used traditionally by Native American healers to correct hormonal imbalances. Scientific studies have shown that all three effectively reduce hot flash symptoms more than placebo. Black cohosh appears to be the most effective and research supports its safety for use in women with at risk of breast and/or endometrial cancer.

Some health supplements contain a blend of plant components that are particularly effective. To learn more about the one that we believe is the answer to how to get rid of hot flashes, please visit the Menopause and PMS guide, one of our favorite hot flash websites.

A New Phase Of Life Starts At Menopause

A number of women can't stand menopause due to the fact that it signals the end of their reproductive years. Yet the question is, "Are you unsuccessful if you might be experiencing menopause?"

Upon reaching the age of 45 to 55, women experience menopause. On the other hand, there are women who go through menopause prior to the age of 40 and this is known as the perimenopause stage which affects 1 in 100 women. Perimenopause can be induced by a health problem or a surgical treatment like hysterectomy.

Therefore, what takes place in between and now? Menopause symptoms may be experienced such as hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, insomnia, mood swings, tiredness, vaginal dryness, painful urination, loss of libido, dry skin, anxiety and depression. These symptoms can last from 3 months to several years.

What are the steps to take to alleviate menopause symptoms?

HRT or Hormone Replacement Therapy is the most efficient treatment to offer menopause relief. HRT is employed to replenish depleted hormones with estrogen and progesterone to be taken for 5 to 10 years. This treatment can be obtained or are made available in the form of gels, implants and pills. If you desire to undergo this therapy it really is always right to make an educated choice with your physician.

Scientific research reveals that a diet loaded with phytoestrogens chemicals present in some plants may alleviate menopause and also ward off breast cancer, heart disease and osteoporosis. Integrate phytoestrogens in your diet by having brown rice, peas, beans, lentils, cereals, and soy. Some other sources include things like fruits, vegetables, virgin coconut oil, black or green tea, hops and some beers.

Other ways to ease uncomfortable menopause symptoms are to sleep in loose, comfy clothes, avoid hot beverages or soups, avoid alcohol and spicy foods and cut back on sweets.

When a hot flush occurs, the best things to do are:

Simply close your eyes and take a long, slow deep breaths. Imagine yourself in an iced tub bath or rolling over a snow. Hot flush should be over in 1 to 3 minutes. Sip on a cool or chilled beverage.

Discover how to make your calming smoothie. Here is one great simple recipe. Freeze one mango and ripe banana, peeled and sliced. Add all ingredients in a blender and incorporated with one cup of Soy milk and add 1 teaspoon of flax seed oil. Now you can have a healthy chilled drink to enjoy and keep hot flushes away.

To be able to make your skin soft and smooth, mix three tablespoons of virgin coconut oil with capsule contents of vitamin E. Be sure to take away the capsule. Apply it all over your body and face.

Lift up your spirit using bach flower remedies. Carry out any kinds of mind and body exercise for example yoga and tai chi.

Life is absolutely not over for you at this point. In fact, life gets fantastic during menopause. There are a lot of things to explore and enjoy. As the old adage says, "Life begins at 40."

Understanding Your Symptoms of Menopause

As a woman, you have probably been through many drastic changes in your life. Around early or late teen years came the concept of puberty and periods. Then for some came the miraculous, yet painful process of pregnancy. Once again, your body is ready to go through another hormonal change. It is important to learn and understand what your body will be going through. You will be thankful when you are prepared. Your loved ones will also be thankful when you have somewhat of a handle on this new experience.

Menopause can be identified with a few signs. The most popular sign is the start of irregular periods. Expect to go through abnormal vaginal bleeding. Your period may come once in every three months or so or two to three times a month. Some women come across heavy, painful bleeding, while others have barley any bleeding. It will feel like you are going through a uterine problems, but do not fear, this is the initial stage of menopause. The cause of these irregular periods is due to the fact that the ovaries are shutting down.

Along with wacky periods, you will experience symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, and times of depression. Unfortunately, these symptoms can last as long as five years. More symptoms include hair loss, loss of libido, memory lapse, ringing ears, dry vagina, burning tongue/mouth, increased sensitivity to allergies, weight gain, decreased bone density, and muscle and joint soreness.

Among the physical hindrances that menopause brings, the worst symptoms would probably be the mental ones. While the physical symptoms can be annoying, the depression and mood swings can really take toll on a woman.

Now that you are aware of the symptoms, rest assured that there are many remedies. Visit a doctor who can help you through this time and prescribe you medication to ease some of the symptoms. The support of women friends who have gone through or are going through the same thing right now can offer you much encouragement and help you get through this new time in your life. Remember that you do not have to suffer alone.

Early Onset Menopause - The Reasons Explained

Most women go through menopause in their late forties or early fifties, but it is not uncommon to experience early onset menopause at a younger age. In order to understand early menopause, we must first establish that menopause does not only refer to a woman's "last period" - it means the ovaries can no longer release eggs once a month. The cessation of ovulation causes the body's chemistry to change, causing an imbalance in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. During menopause, the body's estrogen production drops by 40-60%. Since ovulation triggers the release of progesterone and you no longer ovulate during menopause, progesterone production is reduced to nearly zero. You're probably already aware about the connection between hormones, women, and menopause, but did you know that there are other causes of premature menopause symptoms? For most cases, menopause starting early is caused by one of these triggers:

Genetics and early menopause

Genetics account for about 10% of early menopause cases. If your mother, sister, or grandmother experienced menopause in her early 40s or younger, there is a high chance that you might experience menopause earlier as well. Defects in the X chromosome can also trigger premature menopause, as with Turner's syndrome - a condition where a woman is born with a missing second X chromosome. This will cause abnormally-formed ovaries, which will keep them from functioning properly, thus triggering the onset of menopause prematurely.

Autoimmune disorders bringing on menopausal symptoms

An autoimmune disorder is a condition where your body's antibodies, which normally fight off disease and germs, start destroying healthy cells and tissues in your own body. This is a common cause of menopause, but autoimmune disorders can encompass various conditions, from lupus to Graves' disease. Hyperthyroidism is the most common autoimmune disorder related to untimely menopause. This occurs when your thyroid gland no longer produces the thyroid hormones needed to keep your metabolism going. Hyperthyroidism is very common, with at least 10% of American women suffering from a thyroid hormone deficiency. In this case, early onset menopause is actually a symptom of hyperthyroidism; most women aren't aware of this disorder unless they experience signs of premature menopause.

Cancer treatments and the onset of menopause

Radiation therapy and chemotherapy can also trigger menopause. The effect of a radiation therapy on the ovaries depends on several factors - the type of chemotherapy, the intensity of the treatment, and how old you were when you received the treatment. The younger you are, the better your chances that you won't experience the initiation of menopause during or after cancer treatment.

Lifestyle factors as menopause triggers

Perhaps the most overlooked cause of early menopause is the lifestyle habits of women today. Stress, poor nutrition, smoking, lack of exercise, and exposure to environmental pollutants are such normal occurrences that we no longer consider their impact on our bodies. Cigarette smoke in particular contains chemicals that can cause early ovarian failure. The good news is that of all the possible causes of premature menopause, lifestyle factors are the easiest to control. Although there's no reversing menopause once it starts, eating well, exercising regularly, and finding time to relax can reduce some of the discomfort as menopause symptoms set in.

Do Natural Hot Flashes Remedies Really Work?

Hot flashes and night sweats are bothersome to debilitating, and can dominate a woman's life throughout perimenopause and postmenopause. They are one of the most common menopause related complaints, affecting 80-85% of American women who transition through menopause. An easy solution in the past has been hormone replacement therapy, which very effectively reduces hot flashes and sweats by 94%, according to researchers. However, over the past couple years researchers have found more and more risks associated with hrt. As a result both the women seeking relief from menopause related complaints and their doctors are unwilling to put themselves at risk, even for relief of life disrupting menopause complaints. With no effective alternatives available through the medical profession, women are left on their own to figure out what to do to get relief.

Turning to the internet, today's quick source for information (and misinformation) women usually try one remedy, then another, based on snippets of information or testimonials used to advertise different products. Typically one will try the most familiar herb or remedy that you happen to come across. We tend to attribute value and safety to something we are familiar with, even if that is not the case. Unable to spend the time and focus required to investigate and identify what is the best product available, we tend to go with the flow.

But what are the facts when it comes to natural hot flash remedies?

There are many natural hot flash remedies available on the market. To try and make sense of them all, I'll divide them into two groups-phytoestrogens and non-phytoestrogens. I will only discuss phytoestrogens here, since they tend to relieve menopause related complaints, particularly hot flashes more effectively than non-phytoestrogens. So let me begin by explaining what phytoestrogens are. Phytoestrogen means literally "plant"-"estrogen". But before going any further with plant estrogens, lets look at human estrogen. Our human body manufactures three estrogens, three variations on a theme if you will. The molecules look very similar, with slight variations. However, these variations are significant enough to change the effects of each of these estrogens somewhat.

Plants too, make molecules that look like human estrogen, but which are not the same as what is made in the human body. Considering all of the different plants found in nature, it makes sense that plants would not all manufacture the same "plant estrogen" or phytoestrogen. And in fact that is the case. There are many different estrogen like molecules found in nature, created by many different plants. We call edible medicinal plants herbs. And so we look to different herbs as sources for these phytoestrogens which have beneficial or medicinal qualities with regard to menopause complaints.

These many different phytoestrogens, each being unique, have different effects in our human body. Generally speaking, phytoestrogens are much weaker than human estrogens in their estrogenic activity. One researcher has ventured that most phytoestrogens have about 1/1000th the estrogenic effect of human estrogens. Because each of these plant estrogens is unique, each can have its own unique side effects. But generally, not being as potent as human estrogen, the side effects are usually less as well.

Which herbs really work for relieving hot flashes and night sweats

Let's go directly to some of the research on the ability of specific herbs to reduce hot flashes. Isoflavones are found primarily in beans, including soy beans. They have weak estrogenic activity in humans. Women receiving 60 mg of isoflavones daily for 12 weeks saw their hot flushes reduced 57% and night sweats reduced 43%. Another study way was reported in the Maturitas: Journal of Climacteric and Postmenopause. The study investigated the benefits of soy for relief of hot flashes in a group of fifty-eight women with an average age of fifty-four. In six weeks the women reported a 40% reduction in all menopause related complaints, including hot flushes and night sweats.

Red clover is an herb that is commonly used by women seeking relief of hot flashes. While red clover has demonstrated benefit with regard to maintaining bone density, at least one study reported at the National Center for Complimentary and Alternative Medicine found no benefit for relief of hot flashes. In the study women complaining of hot flashes were given either hormone replacement therapy, red clover, black cohosh or a placebo. To participate the 89 women had to have reported thirty-five or more hot flashes and night sweats each week. Those receiving the hormone replacement therapy reported the greatest benefit, with 94% reduction of flushes and sweats. Surprisingly for the researchers, the next greatest benefit was shown by the placebo, with 63% reduction. This was followed by a 57% reduction in complaints for red clover, and trailing in last place was black cohosh which according to the women, reduced their hot flushes and sweats by just 34%.

These results were not very promising, since red clover and black cohosh are two of the most commonly used herbal products in the United States for relief of hot flushes and night sweats. Fortunately there is another contender which has been shown in separate research to significantly relieve hot flashes and night sweats. It is Siberian rhubarb root extract, which while only recently available in the United States, has been used by European women for some time. A study published in the journal Menopause compared the benefits of this rhubarb root extract with ultra-low dose hormone replacement therapy. Researchers found that this extract (called ERr 731 by the researchers) reduced hot flashes and night sweats in perimenopausal women by 72%. Better yet, Siberian rhubarb root extract was reported to relief virtually all menopause related complaints including insomnia, anxiety and irritability, vaginal dryness, aches and pains, urinary incontinence and more.