Are Natural Menopause Relief Products Safe Options To Relieve Menopause Symptoms?

One of the several most preferred topics of women in middle age is menopause or menopause symptoms. Despite some of the bothersome experiences, they still find menopause or menopause symptoms as an interesting topic. The major reason for this is because they would like to understand menopause relief which will focus on them and are tested effective and safe.

Menopause is a natural biological process that every woman has to face when she gets to the age of 45 to 55. It is a part of physical and emotional alterations amongst women. Majority of women undergo via the menopausal stage having to face the undesirable symptoms. They experience average to severe symptoms which often can be night sweats, sleeping disorders, hot flushes, anxiety, mild to severe headaches, depression symptoms and heart palpitations. For a few, it can be worse or often last for many years.

However compared before, women have several choices nowadays to reduce the menopausal symptoms. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is viewed as the common pharmaceutical treatment for to relieve menopause symptoms. This is a method whereby women receive oral estrogen hormone. It could be alone or coupled with another hormone progesterone. HRT provides dependable relief for night sweats and hot flushes. It's also viewed that HRT could help prevent strokes strokes, heart attacks and osteoporosis.

As any medication would be, HRT can be effective for some except for some who have been taking it for years, it brings a variety of health dangers. Health risks incorporate blood clots, breast cancer, high blood pressure and uterine cancer. Menopausal women should try to see their medical doctor before anything else and to take the lowest dosage which will provide them with menopausal relief.

Another safe as well as efficient menopause relief includes natural relief products formulated with a mixture of natural ingredients. Some of those who have serious menopause symptoms have turned to natural and effective relief. Vitamin E as well as other phytoestrogen herbal ingredients have became helpful in solving hormonal imbalance therefore they became safer substitute for HRT.

Natural relief works by balancing the hormone levels of the body therefore reducing and getting rid of menopause symptoms. In general, natural menopause relief products do not interfere with drugs. Herbal menopause relief products are highly recommended by physicians worldwide as effective and safe. Thus if you are currently experiencing menopause and experiencing it the hard way, you might also research on the web for natural menopause relief products.

MENOPAUSE - Part Three - How to Help Yourself the Natural Way

In Parts One and Two I set out some information about menopause itself and some of the symptoms you may have during this change of your life. This final part deals with what you can do to help your symptoms.

Hot flushes and night sweats -A few years' ago I attended a talk by Dr Marilyn Glenville, the nutritionalist, about Menopause. She said one of the best ways of helping to minimise menopausal symptoms generally was to give up coffee, and any other form of caffeine, and alcohol totally. This will help but it is drastic. If you are a coffee drinker of over 5 cups a day I would suggest reducing your intake gradually. If you come straight off it you will suffer withdrawal symptoms.

Take care when eating spicy food as it will cause both hot flushes and night sweats. Thai food is particularly spicy. Try not to have baths and showers too hot and make sure drinks are not drunk piping hot.

Some women find hot flushes can be helped by wearing a magnet. This needs to be used 24 hours a day but can be extremely helpful, is not hugely expensive and available from larger pharmacies. It can also help other symptoms too, and these will be listed on the leaflet supplied with it.

Night sweats can sometimes be helped by using a Chillow. This is a plastic rectangle which is filled with water. It has a special lining in it which keeps it permanently chilled. It slips under your pillow and if a night sweat starts you rest it under your head and the sweat quickly diminishes.

Overwhelming tiredness - As I said in Part Two, it is well worth having your thyroid levels checked by the doctor as it can become underactive after menopause and one of the symptoms of this is major tiredness. At the same time have iron levels looked at. If you have been suffering heavy periods pre-menopause then you could be anaemic. Often, though, the tiredness has no cause. In this case I would suggest seeking out a therapist. More on this later in the article.

Forgetfulness - The key here is to make your brain work. When I was little my mother used to tell me the brain was a muscle and the more you worked it the better it would be. Not sure that is strictly true but I do believe that reading and studying is good for us. If crosswords are your thing, do them. If there is something you have always wanted to study, a language, for example, do this. There is proof that linguists and musicians suffer less from dementia than other professions so you could take up a musical instrument. When you are tired and not able to concentrate this seems the last bit of advice you want but achieving something new, however basic the standard, is really satisfying.

Urinary Tract Infections - Drink lots of water and cut down on alcohol. Foods to avoid are pork, processed and cured meats. Eat sparingly the following: aubergines, peppers, potatoes, tomatoes and spinach. Wear cotton pants and avoid perfumed soaps, bubble bath and talcum powder.

If all this fails and you still seem to be prone to these infections see a herbalist. They will take your case history and will be able to come up with a single or combination of herbs to help you through this difficult time.

Dizziness - If it is purely due to hormonal changes there are a number of things you can try. Homoeopathy can be beneficial but it is really important to see a homoeopath and have a remedy prescribed solely for you rather than reading them up in a book and trying to find one which nearly fits your symptoms. Chinese herbs can be useful too. Again see a qualified practitioner for this. Often a herb which supports the liver will sort this out remarkably quickly. You could also try using a magnet. These are readily available and will help many symptoms, including hot flushes (as mentioned above), headaches and vaginal dryness.

Palpitations - A blood test will rule out anaemia, which can cause palpitations. If you do have these I believe it is especially important to cut out caffeine completely. Make sure you eat regularly so that blood sugar levels do not drop. Homoeopathy can be really helpful with these but you will probably need a high potency of a remedy so should see a homoeopath to discuss your individual case.

The good thing is that even though this symptom is horrible it will cease when your hormones settle and will not cause any lasting problems.

Anxiety - As with palpitations try and make sure you eat regularly to keep blood sugar levels even.

A magnet, as mentioned earlier for use with hot flushes, can be helpful with both palpitations and anxiety. I would also consider trying Chinese Herbs.

Insomnia - Following the above advice for help with hot flushes will also help sleeplessness. Classic advice such as having a milky drink before bed is worth trying. Have a relaxing bath (not too hot, of course, as this could cause a hot flush) with up to 7 drops of lavender essential oil mixed in can help. You could also try 4 drops of lavender on a tissue tucked under your pillow.

Lack of libido - Make sure you eat sensibly, exercise and get plenty of rest. Try a multivitamin and mineral supplement too which may help.

Skin dryness - It is really important to drink lots of water to keep you hydrated. Do start using skin creams for more mature skin, depressing as this sounds. Unfortunately, we can no longer just wash skin and do nothing else; it needs work now to help it. If you can afford it, have a regular facial to really oil the skin. Homemade face packs work well. An excellent one is to apply egg white to clean skin, omitting the area around the eyes, leave for 20 mins and wash off. You face will feel soft and plumped up. This is brilliant before a night out. Eat oily fish, such as mackerel, salmon, sardines and take a good Multivitamin and mineral supplement along with Vitamin E.

Vaginal Dryness - Try using a magnet, as mentioned earlier, and take Vitamin E. It will take up to three months to make a difference but in many cases can help enormously. It is also worth using a natural lubricant before sex. These are readily available from health shops and larger pharmacies.

Joint and Muscle Pain - If you are having problems see if any foods seem to add to this. Possible triggers are tomatoes, orange juice and oranges, spinach, rhubarb and potatoes. With some people the joint pain will be worse the day after, with others it may take a couple of days. The easiest thing will be to start a food diary. If you can pinpoint a food eliminate it for a month then reintroduce it and see if it is still causing problems. If so, cut it out or reduce it. When menopausal symptoms stop you will be able to eat normally again so I am not suggesting you must give it up forever.

It is really important to keep fit throughout our lives. Try and do some brisk walking at least 5 times a week for 20-30 minutes. Incorporate a steep incline if you can to get the heart working so you get some aerobic exercise. Use stairs at work where you can. This will not only help keep joints moving and supple but will be a good preventative for many problems such as heart disease, high blood pressure and cholesterol problems. Oestrogen has the most wonderfully protective effective on women and reduces our risk of heart disease but post-menopause our risk equals that of men. Therefore, it is important to keep fit and look after ourselves so as to diminish this risk.

An excellent supplement to help bones and muscles is one containing calcium and magnesium. These will also help leg cramps and restless legs. Try to make sure the type of magnesium used is magnesium citrate. If taking magnesium oxide very little is absorbed. Follow the dosage recommendations on the label. In some instances this supplement can cause diarrhea. If this is the case, see a homoeopath as there are remedies you can take which will work just as well without any side effects.

Many foods also contain these two vital minerals. Almonds, Brazil nuts and walnuts contain good amounts of them. Walnuts are also very good for reducing cholesterol levels, and nuts, in moderation, are not as fattening as many people think. Green leafy vegetables, such as broccoli, also contain it. Taking the recommended (in the UK) five portions of fruit and vegetables is for a good reason as it will help boost levels of these important minerals.

Yoga or Pilates would be beneficial too. Not only can they help aches and pains but will give you some "me" time, which is important too.

To sum up, menopause is different for every woman. I have discussed some of the symptoms but it does vary hugely. If you are having problems it is really important to find something that works for you and this may take time. If you do not want to spend money then at the very least eat a really good diet, exercise regularly and do some meditation.

Some women find massage helps them, others reflexology or Reiki. I have mentioned taking herbs. There are many herbal supplements quoted in magazines that help menopause but many women take them and find they do not work for them. This is because it is so important to treat people individually. If you want to try the herbal route see a practitioner. It is well worth the money to "get it right". The same follows for Chinese Herbs. Reading about them is one thing but getting the right one for you is a totally different thing. Sometimes it is false economy to treat ourselves. We practitioners spend many hours studying to learn how to treat people as individuals which is of great importance during menopause as it varies so much from woman to woman.

Tapping Therapy and Massage As Effective Pain Relief Techniques

Energy healing, through EFT tapping and massage can physically relieve pain through stimulating the release of the natural pain relieving hormone, Calcitonin. This natural hormone has effects even stronger than morphine and is considered by some natural health practitioners and researchers to be the best pain reliever the body can make. Besides acting to dissolve pain, this hormone, when it is released produces a feel-good and relaxing effect in the body. EFT therapy also helps clear old trauma and old memories that may otherwise be blocking the free flow of our bio-energetic field. When our energy system is blocked this often results in symptoms such as pain and stiffness.

Tapping and Massage for Pain Relief

With this EFT technique start from the bottom or lowest point, i.e the feet and work your way towards the top, i.e. the head. First massage the areas described below for about half a minute, followed by fairly robust tapping with the fingers for another half a minute.

• Acupuncture point (Kidney point) on the ball of the foot (about an inch down from the space between the big and second toe) under the foot. Massage with the right hand clockwise and then tap vigorously.


• Outside the ankle, between the ankle bone and the Achilles tendon. Again massage and tap.


• Behind the knees, right in the centre. Repeat the massaging and tapping action.


• Move your hand along the collarbone up to the shoulder and then again massage and tap.


• Go to the side of your Adam's apple, between the larynx and the muscle there. Pinch it hard to stimulate the acupuncture point (don't massage this area). Then go back towards the muscle about an inch down below the angle of the jaw and tap there.


• Top of head. Massage and tap.

Part of the reason this EFT technique works so well is because you are focusing on something other than the pain, but it also works because of the stimulation of the acupuncture points which releases blockages in the body's electro-magnetic flow and stimulates the release of the powerful pain reliever, Calcitonin.

It can often work better if you combine this tapping with some focused statements, such as:

- I forgive myself for anything I may have done to contribute to this pain.

- I forgive anyone else for anything they may have done to contribute to this pain.

- I am willing to let go of all connections to this pain in my body, my mind, in my relationships and in my past and present.

- I am so grateful for this healing now.

Exercise Pains and Stresses Away

Exercise is also a major component of healing and health and probably more important than many people realise. Apparently it raises one's DHEA levels which are essential for health and well-being. Low DHEA levels are often associated with aging and an increased risk of cancer, memory loss, lowered immune function, decreased energy levels, weight gain, greater risk of osteoporosis and heart disease. So exercising can help slow down the aging process, boost the immune system and lower the risks of more serious diseases whilst making you feel good at the same time.

How to Treat Fibroids From Home - Natural Uterine Fibroid Treatment Methods For Home Cure

In case you have been diagnosed with fibroids, you must have already explored the different options of treatment for uterine fibroids available to you. Depending upon the size of your tumors and severity of your symptoms your doctor would have advised you either a wait and watch approach or surgery.

Doing nothing about your uterine fibroid treatment is absolutely fine in case you are approaching menopause. This is because with the onset of menopause your estrogen level will naturally decline and make the fibroids shrink naturally.

Surgical options with the exception of hysterectomy do not provide permanent relief from fibroids. This effectively means complete surgical removal of the women. Hence this method of uterine fibroid treatment must not be considered by women wishing to have children in future. For such women natural uterine fibroid treatment methods are the best option.

Natural remedies used in treatment for uterine fibroids concentrate on eliminating the root cause of fibroids in a systematic manner. Fibroids is said to be caused due to a combination of diet, lifestyle, and hereditary factors. Hence natural cure methods aim to correct the impact of each of these factors during uterine fibroid treatment..

In this article I am going to share some natural methods of treatment for uterine fibroids. It is important for you to keep in mind that natural remedies do not provide instant relief. You must be patient and persistent in your approach while using these remedies

1. Liver detox

Liver detox is recommended by many natural practitioners for uterine fibroid treatment. Liver is the main organ responsible in our body for metabolizing estrogen. If the liver does not function properly, it will not be able to eliminate excess estrogen from our body. This in turn will boost the growth of fibroids. Liver-supporting herbs like lemon juice, dandelion root, milk thistle, burdock, artichoke and turmeric are very useful when included as part of your daily diet.

2.Diet

Onions and garlic are both excellent sources of antioxidants which assist in maintaining hormonal balance in our body. Include these as part of your diet wherever possible, especially in raw form.

Eating the correct oils is an important element of an ideal fibroid diet. Olive oil and the Omega oils contained in fish are particularly useful for fibroid cure.

Try to stick to fish and lean white meat such as chicken. Go in for organic food where ever possible. Avoid red meat and eat only lean meat obtained from reputable organic source. Try eating soya burgers and vegetarian sausages instead of the usually variety. Some of the other foods that are known to shrink fibroids include beans, nuts and seeds. The most beneficial seeds are flax, pumpkin and sunflower seeds.

Food with anti-inflammatory properties such as oats, cumin, pineapple and rosemary are also known to be useful in treatment for uterine fibroids.

3. Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is another option which provides relief from pain associated with fibroid tumors.

4. Body weight

Maintaining ideal body weight is essential for fibroid cure. Incidence of fibroid is known to be greater in women who are overweight. This is because estrogen is manufactured by the fat cells in the body and also stored in them. Hence lower number of fat cells implies less estrogen levels in your body. Needless to say losing weight is essential for your overall well being too.

As I mentioned earlier you must be patient and persistent while resorting to home uterine fibroid treatment methods. You will be successful in your attempts by following a comprehensive plan which is proven to provide results. Absence of such formal plans compelled an alternate medicine practitioner to compile an online guide for fibroid cure. This guide is basically a seven step plan which has helped thousands of women the world in their treatment for uterine fibroids.

Menopause Depression Symptoms - Understanding And Overcoming Menopause Depression

Menopause can cause depression because of a hormonal imbalance in the system which causes a chemical reaction in the brain. Many menopausal women complain of merely going through the motions of living, and having lost their enthusiasm for anything they used to do. All of us experience sadness or depressed feelings once in a while, but if you become constantly mired in the symptoms, it's time to do something about it.

The hormonal imbalance causing your depression during menopause is absolutely a physical occurrence and can be controlled by providing your body with what it needs to restore balance and end the feelings of sadness. Menopause depression is often diagnosed as clinical depression and treated with antidepressants. This type of medication does help lessen menopause depression symptoms, but it isn't getting to the root cause of the depression - hormonal imbalance.

To restore balance to your system naturally, you can begin a regimen of essential nutrients and vitamin supplements based on your symptoms. Diet and exercise are very important ingredients in this formula to success when dealing with menopause depression symptoms. Exercise helps support healthy neurotransmitter and mental functions and a healthy diet is vital to your overall health and well-being.

A program that deals with natural supplements can help restore your body with estrogen and progesterone without having to resort to the possibly harmful side effects of Hormone Replacement Therapy. A great, tailored program to fit your needs would include endocrine support based on balancing estrogen and progesterone.

During menopause, it's a good idea to factor in mental support to help fight depression. Learn how to reduce stress and anxiety in your life and support yourself by taking time to do something just for you. slow down a bit from your normal pace and meditate by listening to music you love, reading that book that you never seem to get around to - or anything that helps you relax.

It's also a good time to face those unresolved problems that keep you agitated. Is there a relationship in your life that you're not pleased with? Develop a plan to deal with it. Are you unhappy in your job or chosen career path? Make plans now to change it. Dealing with niggling problems in your life in a positive way will help you feel good about yourself.

Menopause is a time in your life when dealing with "toxic stress" becomes mandatory. Toxic stress can cause menopause depression symptoms and occurs in women who have excess demands place on them at a time when they should be slowing down. This type of stress could include difficulties at work, running a home efficiently and sometimes the added factor of dealing with aging parents.

Menopause - An Overview of The Basics

Menopause is characterized by the cessation of menstrual periods in adult females. A woman has reached menopause when she has not had her menstrual period for twelve consecutive months and no biological or physiological cause has been identified. This signifies the end of her ability to get pregnant. It is a normal change in the body of a woman. Menopause usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55. However, menopause has also occurred in women in their 30s and even in their 60s. A sign that a woman is approaching menopause is when the length of each menstrual cycle begins to vary. There is no way to determine when a woman will enter menopause. But it is generally accepted that a woman will enter menopause at about the same age as her mother. In addition, the age at which a woman begins to have menstrual periods is not related to the age of the onset of menopause. Menopause occurs because the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone. These hormones regulate the menstrual cycle and pregnancy. Estrogen also protects bones. Therefore, the lack of estrogen can make a woman more vulnerable to osteoporosis.

The most common symptom of menopause is a change in the menstrual cycle, but there are other symptoms to look out for including hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, vaginal dryness and itching, heavy bleeding, fatigue, depression, headaches, weight gain and memory loss.

Menopause occurs in a series of four stages: premenopause, perimenopause, menopause and postmenopause. Premenopause is the reproductive stage. This stage lasts from her first period to her last period. Perimenopause is the stage that precedes menopause and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 60. This stage can begin up to ten years before the occurrence of the final menstrual period. In this stage, there are irregularities in the menstrual cycle as well as symptoms of early menopause. The irregularities might include: the length of the period, the time between periods and the level of bleeding. During this time, the woman will become less able to get pregnant. The menopause stage occurs when a woman has her last menstrual period. Her last menstrual period is confirmed when she does not have a period for twelve consecutive months.

There are three categories of menopause: natural, artificial and premature. The majority of women have natural menopause. The cause of natural menopause is aging and a reduction in the estrogen and progesterone produced from the ovaries. Artificial menopause occurs because of a medical procedure such as a hysterectomy, radiation treatment to the pelvis, or the surgical removal of the ovaries. Premature menopause happens to a woman who has had her final menstrual period before reaching the age of 40. This category of menopause occurs because of autoimmune diseases, smoking, genetic factors or exposure to chemicals. This occurs in about one percent of women. Postmenopause is the stage that occurs after the final menstrual period. In this stage, the decline in hormone levels may cause health problems such as heart disease or osteoporosis. Postmenopausal women are two to three times more likely to get coronary heart disease than women of the same age who have not reached menopause.

If you want to alleviate some of the symptoms of menopause, you can try hormone replacement therapy (HRT). HRT has been shown to be an effective treatment for hot flashes and osteoporosis. However, use of HRT has also been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer, heart disease, stroke and Alzheimer's disease. You should check with your doctor before considering the use of HRT.

3 Things That You Should Do During Menopause

There are some things you should make sure you do to ensure your health and well being when you are having menopause. Although menopause comes along with side effects and symptoms that can make life feel unbearable for awhile, you should not be feared and should progress your life as normal. Besides looking for support, you should being aware of some of the helpful things you can do hold off menopause symptoms. By looking into these ways, you can make the experience as least upsetting as possible.

Find a Menopause Support Group

Nowadays, there are many ways that can help you in finding the support you need to weather this transition. Your family and friends are willing to be patient and they can be very helpful throughout the process. It is also beneficial that you can talk to about the emotional and physical effects of menopause with other women who are going through the same thing. Besides finding a friendly online community, your doctor also can recommend a group and the local hospital where menopause support groups meet. You also can look for support from other women who know how you feel.

Consider Menopause Supplements

You should not wait to find menopause symptom relief until your menopause symptoms first start. To reduce or eliminate the unpleasant side effects of a hormone imbalance naturally, some products are designed with natural ingredients. There are many women who could find hormone replacement therapy as the only way to treat menopause. However not everyone is comfortable with HRT menopause therapy as it bring some side effects to them.

Continue to Enjoy Your Life

Menopause is the gate through which you pass to the next third of your life. Women in menopause should continue to enjoy their favorite activities and focus on the relief of being free from periods and all of that worry. You should try to stay positive and seek for your doctor's help if you get caught up in the emotional side of menopause.

If you want to treat your menopause signs, you should take the proactive approach and learn all you can about that time in life and how you want to handle it. It is beneficial by using herbal menopause supplements to reduce the effects of menopause hormonal imbalances.

More Natural Remedies for Night Sweats, Hot Flashes and Insomnia in Menopause

Over one billion women in the world are age 50 or older, with the average age of menopause being 51 翻. When a woman reaches menopause, she arrives at a time of life with more freedoms. It's the end of her monthly menstrual bleeding, and the beginning of a time when her wisdom and experience can lead her to new and fulfilling horizons. One third of a woman's life is lived after menopause.

However, for many women, the steep drop in estrogen and progesterone that ends the menstrual cycle can also lead to menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, migraine headaches, anxiety, fatigue, bone loss and insomnia. This article brings to light new research on natural remedies that can ease menopause and support women in enjoying their liberty and creativity.

A hot flash, also called hot flush, is a sudden feeling of warmth and often a breakout of sweating in the upper half of the body. When they occur at night, they are called night sweats. Hot flashes are caused by a reduced function in the body's temperature regulation, which is brought about by changing hormone levels. When estrogen in women, or testosterone in men is depleted, a rapid increase in skin temperature can occur due to dilatation (widening) of the skin blood vessels -- and it can become frequent. This process of blood vessel dilation is the body's way to release the heat.

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) drugs can provide some relief for hot flashes and night sweats, but at a considerable price. The Women's Health Initiative study, which followed 16,608 women being given hormone replacement therapy, discovered a high risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease, and stroke from the use of these drugs.

One natural remedy proven in a research study to relieve hot flashes may come as a surprise to some, as it is such a well-known, widely used vitamin with many benefits. It's the famous vitamin C. The study was called "Non-Hormonal Control of Vaso-Motor Flushing in Menopausal Patients", published in the journal: "Chicago Medicine." Vasomotor refers to the nerves and muscles causing blood vessels to constrict or dilate. Extensive research indicates that vitamin C strengthens blood vessel membranes and acts as a potent antioxidant.

In the vitamin C study, A total of 94 patients were studied, all of who had reached menopause. They were given 200 milligrams of vitamin C and 200 milligrams of bioflavonoids six times daily. Therefore each subject received 1200 mg of both the bioflavonoids and vitamin C each day. The results: 67% of the subjects reported complete relief from hot flashes and 21% reported partial relief, giving this combination an overall 88% success rate.

And another remedy: Exercise may be one of the most effective ways to reduce both hot flashes as well as heart trouble. From the April 2007 issue of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine comes a study from Steriani Elavsky, a kinesiologist. Kinesiology is the study of human movement and motion. The study included 164 menopausal women in their 50's who were experiencing hot flashes and insomnia. They were put into three different groups - walkers, yoga-doers and sedentary non-exercisers, and were studied for four months.

Elavsky concluded: "We found a significant association between changes in cardiorespiratory (heart and lung) fitness and changes in menopausal symptoms. Women who experienced decreases in menopausal symptoms in the study also experienced improvements in all positive mental health and quality-of-life outcomes."

Night sweats and hot flashes can become a form of insomnia in which a woman wakes up drenched in sweat and unable to sleep. Regarding mineral deficiency at the time of menopause, the pioneering nutritionist Adelle Davis says, "The amount of calcium in a woman's blood parallels the activity of the ovaries. During the menopause, the lack of ovarian hormones (estrogen and progesterone) can cause severe calcium deficiency symptoms to occur, including irritability, hot flashes, night sweats, leg cramps, and insomnia. These problems can be easily overcome if the intakes of calcium, magnesium, and vitamin D are all generously increased and are well absorbed."

So make good use of Vitamin C, get some regular exercise, and stock your cupboard with absorbable forms of calcium, Vitamin D and magnesium.

Damiana Extract Side Effects - The Complete Guide

Damiana is a shrub native to the southern United States. Also known as Turnera diffusa, this herb has been a popular remedy to improve sexual stimulation, treat menstrual problems, and combat depression.

Between the ages of 45 to 55, most women begin to experience symptoms related to imbalanced hormones.

Low libido and anxiety are two of the most common symptoms women report in menopause. Damiana extract may provide amazing benefits during this period of time by increasing desire and energy levels and reducing the stress level.

However, this herb may not be safe for some people. If you are considering taking it for its wealth of benefits, please read on for more details on damiana extract side effects.

Effects On Blood Sugar Levels

Animal data show that damiana may affect blood sugar level. If you are taking medicines to treat diabetes or to control blood sugar levels, please be aware that this herb may increase the effects of drugs that reduce blood sugar.

Such drugs include insulin, glipizide (Glucotrol), glyburide (Micronase, Glynase, Diabeta), tolbutamide (Orinase), metformin (Glucophage), acarbose (Precose), troglitazone (Rezulin), pioglitazone (Actos), rosiglitazone (Avandia), and others.

Women With A History Of Breast Cancer

Damiana has not been studied in cancer patients. If you have a history of breast cancer, please avoid use of this herb to stay on the safe side.

People With The Following Conditions:

Despite its wonderful benefits, damiana contains chemicals that may affect the brain and nervous system. Therefore, this herb may be unsafe for people with Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, Parkinson's disease or mania.

Women That Are Pregnant Or Breastfeeding

There are not enough studies on the safety of damiana in children. Women that are pregnant or nursing should avoid using this herb.

To make sure you are benefiting from damiana in the safe way, always consult with your doctors if there are any concerns. It is also important to follow the directions of use on product labels.

Other herbs that are useful for treating menopause symptoms include red clover, dong quai and tribulus. When combined in a synergistic way, these herbs can effectively regulate female hormones and reduce the gruesome symptoms that women experience in menopause.

Finally, you should always buy natural remedies or supplements from quality manufacturers, so that you know the ingredients and production processes are under stringent quality control.

As with drugs, herbs with medicinal properties may cause unwanted side effects after use. It is thus essential to understand the above damiana extract side effects before using them.

For more information on herbs for menopause relief, as well as reviews of menopause supplements, please visit my website today.

Menopause - Milk is Not a Healthy Food For Your Menopause

Menopause women have been brainwashed to believe calcium is only in milk. So in order to keep your bone health, you think you have to get milk every day.

I read an old book recently. The author thinks that the consumption of dairy products, including milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream, appears to be strongly linked to various disorders of the female reproductive system, including ovarian tumors, vaginal discharges, menstrual cramps, heavy periods and hot flashes. She found women experiencing those problems got relief as soon as they reducing dairy products.

Milk is a time-tested healthy food in Western culture. How can milk make trouble now? I found three reasons here.

First, the traditional milk is produced by local cows, and people drink milk fresh without being pasteurized and homogenized. The pasteurized process uses a high temperature and a high pressure to kill bacteria; it also damages nutrients. Homogenization process is to change the structure of milk fat: traditional milk has a layer of cream on the top, but not the homogenized milk. The homogenized fat may cause plaque inside blood vessels.

Second, the conventional milk is produced by cows who are stimulated by hormones daily in order to produce milk for a long period. As the result, the life spans of those cows are much shorter than normal cows. How can sick cows produce healthy milk?

Third, we consume much more dairy products than people in traditional society. The availability of dairy products makes us over load our bodies with too much of them.

Try to reduce menopause symptoms by reducing dairy productions. In fact, calcium is found in innumerable foodstuffs. Vegetables, such as beets, broccoli, collards, dandelions, mustards, turnips and watercress, contain the same amount of calcium as milk. And many types of seaweed contain about five time calcium as milk.

Now, you realize how many other foods can supply you with calcium; do the best for your body.

How to Find Menopause Relief Through the Emotional Freedom Technique EFT

Wouldn't it be wonderful if there were a natural way to find menopause relief? No doubt, there are many herbal remedies, supplements and medicines that can and do help women suffering from insomnia, hot flashes, depression and night sweats. Yet there is also a rather new twist on an ancient practice that has helped over 100,000 women!

This relatively new adaptation of the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture is called The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT. It was developed by Gary Craig in the 1990's while he was working with Dr. Roger Callahan, a cognitive psychologist.

What is EFT?

EFT was somewhat accidentally discovered when Dr. Callahan was helping a patient with a phobia of water. By drawing on his background is energy psychology and physical energy flow, the doctor was able to cure the man of his severe phobia.

Gary Craig has taken the concept a huge step further by developing the practice of EFT. He has successfully treated over 100,000 people, all with zero side effects and virtually no complaints. It is safe, very easy to use, and quite inexpensive.

How does EFT work?

Eastern medicine has long recognized the connection between a persons emotional health and their physical health. Your biography becomes your biology is another way of saying this. Your stress levels are directly related to your physical well- being.

Western medicine has been slow to accept this, along with many other facets of Eastern medicine. However, this is gradually changing and now many insurance companies cover alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

EFT uses the same pressure points as acupuncture, but instead of needles, you use your fingertips. Specific points on the body are lightly tapped with your own fingertips, and at the same time you speak a positive, reaffirming statement.

At first it all seems a bit weird, but because it is so effective, this is quickly gotten over. Very often, people discover many buried sources of emotional pain and are able to find real relief. It can be a little like a geyser of emotional upheaval, bringing healing in it's path.

How to find an EFT practitioner.

A therapist or psychologist will know about EFT and can possibly recommend a good one. The EFT website also contains a listing of practitioners. Make sure you interview the practitioner and you feel comfortable with him/her. EFT can be very personal and you need to have a good relationship that is open and trusting.

Can EFT help with menopause symptoms?

Many of the symptoms of menopause have strong emotional ties. Perimenopause and menopause are times of emotional reassessment and EFT is a very fitting therapy to help in the process. The stress from personal baggage can be alleviated, which will greatly help with the hormonal balance. This in turn will bring significant menopause relief.

EFT is a safe, natural, scientific yet traditional method of healing that can be a great way to get some help. Additionally, it is easy to apply and can be done anywhere at anytime!

Menopause and Diet

Many women have found that special menopause diets can minimize the symptoms of menopause and make the change of life transition much easier and smoother. Menopause diets are a good alternative to prescribed medication and are good for those who worry about adverse side effects. Most all gynecologists recommend that women who are in their pre-menopause stages adopt a menopause diet and stay on it throughout the transition to reduce stress, reduce symptoms, and to ensure good health.

Black cohosh is one highly recommended herb to add to a menopause diet. Gynecologists urge that women begin using black cohosh for treatment of hot flashes. This herb is quite powerful and shouldn't be used any longer than six months. If used any longer than this, although there is no exact effects determined, there could be unknown side effects.

Japanese women intake a greater amount of soy in their everyday diet, and they are only 30% as likely to complain of menopause symptoms as women in the United States and other parts of the world. Soy includes estrogen like substances that are often used in menopause diets to help with hot flashes. The best way to take soy is through soymilk or tofu.

There are some things that, unfortunately, are a large part of most everyone's diet and are hard habits to break. However, these foods have adverse effects and can make menopause symptoms worse. Some of these are tea, alcohol, coffee, spicy food, soft drinks (with caffeine), and smoking. Try and keep high-calorie, sweet junk food to a minimum and eat as little of these as possible.

The main food experts recommend for menopause diets are fruits and vegetables, basically just eating healthy. Boost your intake of fruits such as melons, oranges, and lemons. Potassium, found in bananas, helps with women who retain water. Good vegetables are dark leafy vegetables like collard greens, spinach, cabbage, broccoli, peppers, and tomatoes. Regular fiber intake is also a healthy part of menopause dieting.

Instead of fried foods, try and stick to food that is broiled or baked. Instead of white bread and white rice eat more whole grains, like oats, rye bread, and brown rice. Try not to eat as many regular potatoes, but rather opt for sweet potatoes or pasta.

Other good things to add to your everyday diet include, oily fish like mackerel or salmon, nuts, seeds, dried fruit, and unprocessed oils for cooking. Other foods that are not so conventional but are recommended are different types of seaweed (ask at your local health food store) like Nori, Kombu, Arame, and Wakame.

A well balanced, nutritious, healthy diet will help reduce symptoms and achieve optimum health in women. The key is to incorporate as many natural foods into your menopause diet as possible.

Menopause Relief - Is There a Natural Solution?

Some women who have never had any medical problems before can find themselves looking high and low for some menopause relief, especially a natural solution. It just doesn't seem possible that nature would be so cruel to not have a natural remedy.

What if you are one of these women who have a healthy medical background and seemingly, out of the blue, wake up repeatedly at night, feel anxious and experience bouts of depression? It can be a bewildering experience to go from bright and vivacious to dull and exhausted, for sure.

What can cause such a dramatic change?

Assuming that nothing substantial changes in your lifestyle, the reason for the menopause symptoms is simply that your body is no longer producing the hormones that it once did. This is the underlying cause for the night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, and depression.

Once you learn this simple fact, the hope returns for a natural solution to these devastating symptoms. There are several well documented explanations of this process available. You can learn how hormones are manufactured, what they do and how they directly affect many aspects of your life.

What about synthetic hormones?

Since the famous Women's Health Initiative revealed the dangers of Hormone Replacement Therapy, there has been a groundswell of interest in bio-identical hormone therapy. The artificial hormone therapy of the not-so-distant past is well documented to be directly related to an increased incidence of breast cancer, so it comes as no surprise that women are looking for a safe alternative.

What are some of the more common ways to get safe menopause relief?

Once you begin approaching menopause as a natural stage of development you can look for a holistic method to treat it. Symptoms such as hot flashes are not just random, unrelated experiences, rather they are interconnected with your body and mind as a whole.

Learning to read your own body and using the safe, reliable, and natural methods will help you to regain your energy, sleep at night, and eliminate the feelings of anxiety and depression. Your body wants to be healthy, it just needs some help!

Here are some of the safe ways to find menopause relief:

• 
  A healthy diet, full of fresh fruits and vegetables
  


• 
  Regular vigorous exercise
  


• 
  High quality vitamin/mineral supplements
  


• 
  A good attitude
  


• 
  Various herbal remedies, such as maca, red clover, flax seed, soy products such as tofu
  

A Hot Flash for Menopause Relief

Do you have those horrid sweats that are associated with menopause?

I remember them well.

As a person who absolutely loves heat and can tolerate a tremendous amount, I never imagined there would ever come a day when I couldn't take it. I mean, I could sit in the baking hot sun when it's 95 degrees out and barely break a sweat.

Then came the early signs of menopause.

The exact day and time has long faded, but the first hot flashes have not.

I remember the welling up of heat that spread throughout my body. I believed it was just stress and it would quickly ease. But it didn't. I just got hotter and hotter, to the point I actually thought I would go mad.

That's when I put two and two together and figured that this was far more than just anxiety. My mother's complaints suddenly made sense.

As a kid, I remember her constantly fanning herself and complaining about the heat and of her hot flashes. Coming from an entirely different perspective on heat I couldn't comprehend her problem. Now I understood completely.

The most common solution to the hot flashes of menopause seemed to be to take hormone replacement therapy. My mother did. I, on the other hand, prefer to do things "the natural way".

I suffered along with the sweats for a few months. In the beginning I must admit they weren't that unbearable, but over that period they gradually got more intense. One day I thought, "I can't take this. I'm going to have to go to the doctor and get something for it."

Then I stumbled on a solution that might or might not be valid. All I know is that it worked for me, every time. So I'm sharing it with you now so you can try it too and see if it helps you.

I discovered this little tip as I was going into another hot flash. Just as it was starting, I went to the fridge for something cold. Ah! Orange juice. That sounds good.

I pulled a glass and took a big gulp. Almost immediately, the hot flash began to subside. This was very unusual, because I'd taken water before and it hadn't done a darned thing. But the juice seemed to be the answer.

Wanting desperately for this to be the 'cure', I grabbed a glass of juice at the beginning of each hot flash after that. And every single time, the attack eased.

From that point on, I was able to continue through the next 8-10 months with only minor hot flashes and taking only cold orange juice.

For those of you who are just starting menopause, let me say that in my case the worst part was over in the first 6 months or so. Thereafter, I had hot flashes but they were quite bearable, although annoying.

As I say, I don't know if drinking cold orange juice at the onset of a hot flash really works, or whether it was psychological or coincidence. All I know is that it did seem to work for me. It might have been the cold suddenly being tossed down into my belly. It might have been the vitamins in the drink. Or it might have been something else entirely that made it work.

This isn't scientific evidence, but if you want to give it a try, it can't hurt. The key, I discovered, is to take it right at the very beginning of a hot flash. Once it gets going, it's too late and the juice doesn't seem to have any effect.

If you experience anxiety with your menopause, you can get for more information and tips about anxiety disorder, depression and other related issues on my anxiety relief blog at http://www.book-titles.ca/blog/ and on http://www.book-titles.ca/anxietycure.htm

Help With the Menopause - Self Hypnosis For Menopause Symptoms

Help with menopause is available through self-hypnosis. You can use this approach as a support to guide you through this life changing transition. You can address changes as you enter perimenopause as well.

Perimenopause is the hiatus that marks the transition into the process of menopause. This interval can last anywhere from two to eight years. During this time, your body prepares for its menopausal process. Perimenopause begins again during the first year after this stage of your life is complete.

You can recognize the signs that you are entering the perimenopause when you experience irregular menstrual cycles, mood swings and general discomfort. The symptoms are not nearly as pronounced as they are in the menopausal stage.

Hormones

Your reproductive hormones change significantly during this period of your life. Estrogen and progesterone enter cycles of ups and downs that can wreak havoc on your physical and mental states. Your menstrual cycles fall out of sync and you may have cycles that do not include ovulation.

Hormone imbalances are very difficult to deal with whether you are in the perimenopause or menopausal stage. These imbalances have an affect on your physical body but they also have emotional components as well. You are entering a phase of your life that is very trying, especially if you are entering it at a relatively young age.

Many women seek help for menopause when they are in their late forties and early fifties. However, some women require support when they are in their mid-thirties. This makes the process more challenging, especially if the woman wants to continue having children.

Grief

The grieving process is difficult but it can be overwhelming when you go through it completely alone. Many people are unable to see your point of view when you feel grief for the loss of your ability to have children, especially when you were not planning to have another baby.

There is a natural grieving process you experience and help for menopause should include ways to deal with grief and loss. You can change your perception of the menopausal process using self-hypnosis. This is a wonderful complementary approach.

Self-Hypnosis Help with Menopause

Self-hypnosis is a valuable tool that can help you move seamlessly through the menopausal stage of your life with acceptance and grace. The process begins with your perception of this life-changing event. Once you begin to think about your changing body with love and acceptance, you are better able to embrace the menopausal stage of your life.

Self-hypnosis also addresses emotional elements as well. Your emotional states can be brought on by hormonal fluxes but this doesn't mean that they have to control you. Hypnosis helps you recognize your emotional stages realistically, giving you the control you need to move through them with ease.

When you are accepting and calm, you can feel relief from the physical effects of menopause. Your mind programming helps you overcome the symptoms like hot flashes as you move through this beautiful part of your life. Help with menopause begins with your mind, moves into your emotions and you feel the effects in your body.

Solutions For Hot Flashes And Menopause - DHEA Supplementation

DHEA is in the news a lot these days as one of the solutions for hot flashes and menopause, among many other things as well. It is sometimes seen as a magic pill that can cure just about anything.

The symptoms of menopause such as hot flashes, night sweats, fatigue and insomnia are serious for many women and they are looking for natural menopause relief. This is especially the case since the Women's Health Initiative report revealed many disturbing trends in hormone replacement therapy.

What is DHEA?

DHEA is a steroid hormone secreted by the adrenal glands, where it is synthesized from cholesterol. The adrenal glands are small glands located near your kidneys and play a major role in hormone production. Not only do they produce DHEA, but also adrenaline and cortisol.

When the adrenal glands are exhausted from overproducing adrenaline, you experience adrenal fatigue, and as a consequence they are unable to produce DHEA, which is directly related to your menopause symptoms. It is a chain reaction that often begins with stress, dieting, poor nutrition, and a generally unhealthy lifestyle.

DHEA is sometimes called the mother hormone because it is responsible for so much hormonal production. All of your major sex hormones, testosterone, progesterone, and estrogen, are directly related to DHEA levels. It is like the doorway for hormone production.

During menopause, and as a consequence of stress, DHEA levels diminish. This is a normal part of aging and should be viewed as such. However, when the levels fall too low, the hormones become imbalanced and the fatigue, irritability, sluggishness, hot flashes, insomnia and night sweats can set in.

Is DHEA supplementation safe?

A trip to your local health food store will reveal an abundance of DHEA supplements, in varying potencies and formulations. Often, it is associated with feeling on top of the world and maybe like you did as a teenager! Sounds pretty good, except for the haunting insecurity and acne!

Because it is a steroid, it also is the subject of too much hype and fluff regarding body building and athleticism. There is no one pill that can make your feel like a twenty something and have a great attitude 24/7. Our society would sure like to find one though!

It is advised that you see your health care provider before taking over the counter DHEA supplementation. If you do it on your own, use small doses, and combine it with a more comprehensive approach that includes adequate sleep, fresh fruits and vegetables, and reduced stress.

How can DHEA help with hot flashes?

By using DHEA supplementation, in connection with a comprehensive program, you will help your hormones to become balanced. The hot flashes in menopause and other symptoms are a direct result of a hormone imbalance.

Many women report that they feel better than they have in years after beginning a comprehensive program that includes DHEA supplementation. Some women who were nearly bed-ridden and unable to care for their families are now energetic and full of the vigor they once felt.

Herbal Allies For Post-Menopausal Women - Pt 3-5

BIOFLAVONOIDS

Plants containing flavonoids (from the Latin, flavus, yellow) were originally valued as dye plants. Today we appreciate them because we know they are anti-inflammatory, antihepatotoxic, anti-tumor, antimicrobial, antiviral, antioxidant, antiallergic, antiulcer, analgesic, and strengthening to the entire circulatory system, from capillaries to heart.

Flavonoids have an estrogenic effect, scientifically established as 1/50,000th the activity of estradiol. Bioflavonoids in foods are essential to our ability to absorb ascorbic acid. No wonder plants exceptionally rich in flavonoids are such important allies for post-menopausal women.

Regular use of bioflavonoid-rich herbs helps:

• restore vaginal lubrication
  


• decrease or end hot flashes
  


• improve pelvic tone
  


• improve liver activity
  


• strengthen the bladder
  


• lower risk of stroke & heart attack
  


• reduce water build-up in tissues
  


• reduce muscle cramping
  


• ease sore joints
  


• improve resistance to infection

The richest source of bioflavonoids is the inner skin of citrus fruits. "Peel Power" is a lovely way to start the day.

Buckwheat greens, Buckweizen, Sarrasin (Fagopyrum esculentum) are an exceptional source of bioflavonoids. Grow them at home, like alfalfa sprouts, or buy them dried and made into tablets. (Kasha, the grain of buckwheat, does not contain bioflavonoids.) The wild equivalent is the leaves of yellow dock (Rumex crispus) or any knotweed (Polygonum).

Elder, Holunder, Sureau (Sambucus nigra and other species) are rich in bioflavonoids. I use the berries in jelly and wine, and the flowers for tinctures and wines.

Hawthorn, Weissdorn, Aubépine (Crataegus oxycantha and other species) offers berries, flowers, and leaves full of bioflavonoids. I use the berries to makes jellies, wines, and a heart-strengthening tincture. The flowers and leaves, dried, make a wonderful tea.

Horsetail, Ackerschachtelhalm, Prêle des champs (Equisetum arvense) is best picked in the spring. I use it fresh in soups (not salads) and dried as a tea.

Knotweeds, Vogelknöterich, Renouée des oiseaux, Ho Shou Wu (Polygonaceae) are well known for their abundance of bioflavonoids. In addition to buckwheat and yellow dock leaves, try the greens of any other knotweed local to your area.

Roses, Hagrose, Rosier (Rosa canina and other species) are sisters to hawthorn and similarly abundant in bioflavonoids. I use fresh rose hips in jellies and wines and dry them for winter teas and soups. We eat the blossoms in salads and use glycerin to draw out the healing qualities of flowers and leaf buds.

Shepherd's purse, Hirtentäschel, Capselle (Capsella bursa-pastoris) leaves are wonderful in salads. When it flowers, I use the whole fresh plant to make vinegar and vodka tinctures, capturing bioflavonoids for later use. (A dose is 25-50 drops three times daily.)

Sea buckthorn, Sanddorn, Argousier (Hippophae rhamnoides) leaves are rich in many nutrients needed by post-menopausal women: bioflavonoids, carotenes (vitamin A), vitamin C, vitamin E, and the B vitamin complex, especially B6. If you live where it grows, try the tender baby leaves in salads.

Toadflax, Frauenflachs, Linaire commune (Linaria vulgaris) flowers add flavonoids to salads. They can also be tinctured. (A dose is 15-20 drops.)

White dead nettle, Weisse Taubnessel, Lamier blanc (Lamium album) doesn't sting, so try it in salads. Or dry bunches when it's flowering and get your bioflavonoids from the infusion; or make a vinegar.

VITAMINS

Vitamins for menopausal years. Lists are arranged thusly: most important sources, in decreasing order, are first. Other excellent sources follow the semicolon.

Vitamin A: Vitamin A is formed in the liver from ingested carotenes and carotenoids. No plants contain it. Liver, milk, and eggs do. In pill form, vitamin A can cause birth defects, hair loss, and liver stress.

Depleted by: Coffee, alcohol, cortisone, mineral oil, fluorescent lights, liver "cleansing," excessive intake of iron, lack of protein.

Vitamin B complex: For healthy digestion, good liver function, emotional flexibility, less anxiety, sound sleep, milder hot flashes with less sweating, steady heart beat.

Depleted by: Coffee, alcohol, tobacco, refined sugar, raw oysters, hormone replacement, birth control pills (deplete B6 especially).

Food Sources of B vitamins: Whole grains, well-cooked greens, organ meat (liver, kidneys, heart), sweet potatoes, carrots, molasses, nuts, bananas, avocados, grapes, pears; egg yolks, sardines, herring, salmon, crab, oysters, whey.

Herbal Sources of B vitamins: Red clover blossoms, parsley leaf, oatstraw. See also specific factors, following.

Vitamin B1, Thiamine: For emotional ease, strong nerves.

Food Sources of B1, Thiamine: Asparagus, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, barley grass, seaweeds, citrus fruits.

Herbal Sources of B1, Thiamine: Peppermint, burdock, sage, yellow dock, alfalfa, red clover, fenugreek seeds, raspberry leaves, nettle, catnip, watercress, yarrow leaf/flower, rose buds and hips.

Vitamin B2, Riboflavin: For more energy, healthy skin, less cancer.

Depleted by: Hot flashes, crying jags, antibiotics, tranquilizers.

Food Sources of B2, Riboflavin: Beans, greens, onions, seaweeds, yogurt, cheese, milk, mushrooms.

Herbal Sources of B2, Riboflavin: Peppermint, alfalfa greens, parsley, echinacea, yellow dock, hops; dandelion root, ginseng, dulse, kelp, fenugreek seed, rose hips, nettles.

Vitamin B6, Pyridoxine: For improved immune functioning; especially needed by women using hormone replacement.

Food Sources of B6: Baked potato with skin, broccoli, prunes, bananas, dried beans, lentils; meat, poultry, fish.

Vitamin B factor, Folic acid: For strong, flexible bones, easy nerves.

Food Sources of folic acid (folate): Leafy greens, liver, kidney, lentils, whole grains, seeds, nuts, fruits, vegetables.

Herbal Sources of Folic acid: Leaves: Nettles, alfalfa, parsley, sage, catnip, peppermint, plantain, comfrey, chickweed.

Vitamin B factor, Niacin: For relief of anxiety and depression, decrease in headaches, reduction of blood cholesterol levels.

Food Sources of Niacin: Asparagus, cabbage, bee pollen.

Herbal Sources of Niacin: Hops, raspberry leaf, red clover; slippery elm, echinacea, licorice, rose hips, nettle, alfalfa, parsley.

Vitamin B12: For healthy metabolism, stronger eyes, better memory, more energy, less cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, fibromylagia, and depression. Aids adsorption of all other minerals, especially calcium.

Depleted by: Unfermented soy, lack of animal foods in the diet.

Food Sources of B12: Liver, kidney, yogurt, cheese, milk, eggs, meat, poultry, shellfish.
Herbal Sources of B12: None.

Bioflavonoids: For healthy heart and blood vessels, fewer hot flashes and night sweats, less menstrual bleeding, unlumpy breasts, less water retention, less anxiety, less irritable nerves.

Food Sources of Bioflavonoids: Citrus pulp and rind.

Herbal Sources of Bioflavonoids: Buckwheat greens, elder berries, hawthorn fruits, rose hips, horsetail, shepherd's purse, chervil.

Carotenes: For a well-lubricated vagina, strong bones, protection against cancer, healthy lungs and skin, strong vision, good digestion.

Food Sources of Carotenes: Well-cooked red, yellow, or green vegetables/fruits: carrots, winter squash, tomatoes, seaweeds, cantaloupe.

Herbal Sources of Carotenes: Peppermint, yellow dock, uva ursi, parsley, alfalfa, raspberry, nettles, dandelion greens; kelp, green onions, violet leaves, cayenne, paprika, lamb's quarters leaves, sage, chickweed, horsetail, black cohosh roots, rose hips.

Vitamin C complex: For less intense hot flashes, less insomnia and night sweats, stronger bones, fewer headaches, better resistance to infection, smoother emotions, less heart disease, rapid wound healing. Critical to good adrenal functioning, especially during menopause.

Depleted by: Antibiotics, aspirin and other pain relievers, coffee, stress, aging, smoking, baking soda, high fever.

Food Sources of Vitamin C: Freshly picked foods, cooked potatoes.

Herbal Sources of Vitamin C: Rose hips, yellow dock root, raspberry leaf, red clover, hops; pine needles, dandelion greens, alfalfa greens, echinacea, skullcap, plantain, parsley, cayenne, paprika.

Vitamin D: For very strong, very flexible bones, hormonal ease,
cancer prevention, regulation of glucose metabolism, reduction of risk of adult onset diabetes.

Depleted by: Mineral oil used on the skin, frequent hot baths, sunscreen with SPF8 or higher.

Food Sources of Vitamin D: Sunlight, butter, egg yolk, cod liver oil; liver, shrimp, fatty fish (mackerel, sardines, herring, salmon, tuna).

Herbal Sources of Vitamin D: None. Vitamin D is not found in plants.

Vitamin E: for milder hot flashes, fewer night sweats, protection from cancer, fewer signs of aging, fewer wrinkles, moist vagina, strong heart, freedom from arthritis.

Depleted by: Mineral oil, sulfates, hormone replacement.

Food Sources of Vitamin E: Freshly ground whole-grain flours, cold-pressed oils; fresh nuts, peanut butter, leafy greens, cabbage, asparagus.

Herbal Sources of Vitamin E: Alfalfa, rosehips, nettles, dong quai, watercress, dandelion, seaweeds, wild seeds (lamb's quarters, plantain).

Essential fatty acids (EFAs), including GLA, omega-6 and omega-3: For a healthy heart, less severe hot flashes, strong nerves, strong bones, well-functioning endocrine glands, fewer wrinkles.

Food Sources of EFAs: Flax seeds, cod liver oil, wheat germ oil, whole grains; seeds such as borage, evening primrose, black currant, hemp, safflower, and their oils.

Herbal Sources of EFAs: All wild plants, but very few cultivated plants, contain EFAs; fresh purslane is notably high.

Folic Acid: See vitamin B factor, folic acid.

Vitamin K: For less menstrual flooding, stronger bones.

Depleted by: X-rays, radiation, air pollution, enemas, frozen foods, antibiotics, rancid fats, aspirin.

Food Sources of Vitamin K: Healthy intestinal bacteria produce vitamin K; green leafy vegetables, yogurt, egg yolk, blackstrap molasses.

Herbal Sources of Vitamin K: Nettle, alfalfa, kelp, green tea.

MINERALS

Minerals for menopausal years.

Boron: For strong, flexible bones.

Food Sources of Boron: Organic fruits, vegetables, nuts.

Herbal Sources of Boron: All organic garden weeds including all edible parts of chickweed, purslane, nettles, dandelion, yellow dock.

Calcium: For sound sleep, dense bones, calm heart, strong muscles, less irritable nerves, lower blood pressure, sound blood vessels, regular heart beat, freedom from depression and headaches, less bloating, fewer mood fluctuations.

Depleted by: Coffee, sugar, salt, alcohol, cortisone, enemas, unfermented soy products, antacids, too much phosphorus.

Food Sources of Calcium: Yogurt, raw-milk cheese, dark green leaves; nuts, seeds, tahini, seaweeds, vegetables (especially sweet potatoes, cabbage), dried beans, whole grains, whey, salmon, tuna, sardines, shellfish.

Herbal Sources of Calcium: Valerian, kelp, nettle, horsetail, peppermint; sage, uva ursi, yellow dock, chickweed, red clover, oatstraw, parsley, black currant leaf, raspberry leaf, plantain leaf/seed, dandelion leaf, amaranth leaf/seed, lamb's quarter leaf/seed.

Chromium: For less fatigue and lots of energy, fewer mood swings, stable blood sugar levels, higher HDL; less risk of adult onset diabetes.

Depleted by: White sugar.

Food Sources of Chromium: Barley grass, prunes, nuts, mushrooms, liver, beets, whole wheat, bee pollen.

Herbal Sources of Chromium: Oatstraw, nettle, red clover tops, catnip, dulse, wild yam, yarrow, horsetail; roots of black cohosh, licorice, echinacea, valerian, sarsaparilla.

Copper: For supple skin, healthy hair, strong muscles, easy nerves, less water retention, less menstrual flooding, lower blood cholesterol.

Food Sources of Copper: Liver, kidney, seafood, organically grown grains, beans, nuts, leafy greens, seaweeds, bittersweet chocolate, mushrooms.

Herbal Sources of Copper: Skullcap, sage, horsetail; chickweed.

Iodine: For fewer breast lumps, less fatigue, healthier thyroid function, stronger liver.

Depleted by: Unfermented soy products.

Food Sources of Iodine: Seafood, seaweed, sea salt, spinach, beets, mushrooms.

Herbal Sources of Iodine: Kelp, parsley, celery, sarsaparilla root.

Iron: For fewer hot flashes, less menstrual flooding, fewer headaches, better sleep with fewer night sweats, easier nerves, more energy, less dizziness.

Depleted by: Coffee, black tea, alcohol, aspirin, carbonated drinks, lack of protein, enemas, unfermented soy, processed dairy.

Food Sources of Iron: Liver, red meat, canned salmon, sardines, egg yolk, leafy greens, molasses, dried fruit (cherries, raisins, prunes, dates, figs), yellow/orange/red vegetables, bittersweet chocolate; whole wheat, oatmeal, brown rice, mushrooms, potatoes, honey, seaweeds.

Herbal Sources of Iron: Chickweed, kelp, burdock root, catnip, horsetail, Althea root, milk thistle seed, uva ursi, dandelion leaf/root; yellow dock, dong quai, black cohosh, echinacea, licorice, valerian, and sarsaparilla roots, nettles, plantain leaf, fenugreek seed, peppermint.

Magnesium: For deeper sleep, less anxiety, easier nerves, flexible bones and arteries, lower cholesterol, lower blood pressure, stronger heart, more energy, less fatigue, fewer headaches/migraines.

Depleted by: Hot flashes, night sweats, crying jags, alcohol, chemical diuretics, enemas, antibiotics, "soft" water, excessive fat intake.

Food sources of Magnesium: Leafy greens, seaweeds, nuts, whole grains, yogurt, cheese; potatoes, corn, peas, squash, beans, figs.

Herbal Sources of Magnesium: Oatstraw, licorice, kelp, nettle, dulse, burdock root, chickweed, Althea root, horsetail; sage, raspberry leaf, red clover, valerian, yellow dock, dandelion greens, carrot tops, parsley leaf, evening primrose.

Manganese: For keen hearing, flexible bones, reduction of dizziness, prevention of diabetes.

Depleted by: Chemical fertilizers used agriculturally.

Food Sources of Manganese: Any leaves or seeds from plants grown on healthy soil; seaweeds.

Herbal Sources of Manganese: Raspberry, uva ursi leaf, chickweed, milk thistle seed, yellow dock; ginseng, wild yam, echinacea, and dandelion roots, nettle, catnip, kelp, horsetail, hops flowers.

Molybdenum: For fewer hot flashes, prevention of anemia.

Food Sources of Molybdenum: Organically raised dairy products, legumes, grains, leafy greens, seaweeds.

Herbal Sources of Molybdenum: Nettles, dandelion greens, sage, oatstraw, fenugreek seeds, raspberry leaves, red clover blossoms, horsetail, chickweed, kelp.

Nickel: For milder hot flashes, easy nerves.

Food Sources of Nickel: Chocolate, nuts, dried beans, cereals.

Herbal Sources of Nickel: Alfalfa, red clover, oatstraw, fenugreek.

Phosphorus: For strong, flexible bones, more energy.

Depleted by: Antacids.

Food Sources of Phosphorus: Whole grains, seeds, nuts.

Herbal Sources of Phosphorus: Peppermint, yellow dock, milk thistle, fennel, hops, chickweed; nettle, dandelion, parsley, dulse, red clover.

Potassium: For more energy, less fatigue, less water retention, easy weight loss, steady heart beat, lower blood pressure, better digestion.

Depleted by: Frequent hot flashes, sweating, night sweats, coffee, sugar, salt, alcohol, enemas, vomiting, diarrhea, chemical diuretics, dieting.

Food Sources of Potassium: Celery, cabbage, peas, parsley, broccoli, bananas, carrots, potato skin, whole grains, pears, citrus, seaweed.

Herbal Sources of Potassium: Sage, catnip, peppermint, skullcap, hops, dulse, kelp, red clover; horsetail, nettles, plantain leaf.

Selenium: For clear vision, slower aging, strong immunity, less irritability, more energy, healthy hair/nails/teeth, less cardiovascular disease.

Food sources of Selenium: Liver, raw milk cheeses, seaweeds, whole grains, garlic, kidneys, fish, shellfish, meat, yogurt, beans.

Herbal Sources of Selenium: Catnip, milk thistle seed, valerian root, dulse, black cohosh and ginseng roots; uva ursi leaf, hops flowers, kelp, raspberry leaf, rose buds and hips, hawthorn berries, fenugreek seed, roots of echinacea, sarsaparilla, and yellow dock.

Silicon: For strong, flexible bones, less irritable nerves.

Food Sources of Silicon: Unrefined grains, root vegetables, spinach, leeks.

Herbal Sources of Silicon/Silica: Horsetail, dulse, echinacea, cornsilk, burdock, oatstraw, licorice, chickweed; uva ursi, sarsaparilla.

Sulfur: For relaxed muscles, soft skin, healthy nerves, strong liver, glossy hair.

Food Sources of Sulfur: Eggs, dairy products, cabbage family plants, onions, garlic, parsley, watercress.

Herbal Sources of Sulfur: Sage, nettles, plantain, horsetail.

Zinc: For slower aging, better digestion, stronger bones, healthy skin, cancer prevention, increased sex drive.

Depleted by: Alcohol, air pollution, hormone replacement.

Food Sources of Zinc: Liver, meat, sardines, oysters, eggs, yogurt, leafy greens, beans, pumpkin seeds, nuts, whole grains.

Herbal Sources of Zinc: Skullcap, sage, wild yam, chickweed, echinacea, nettles, dulse, milk thistle; sarsaparilla.

Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All material contained herein is provided for general information purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking a second opinion.

Hot Versus Cold - Essential Oils Can Help With Hormone Imbalance

What is a hormone? Our bodies naturally produce lots of different chemical messengers that travel by way of the blood stream to all parts of the body to stimulate either the increase or decrease of some bodily function or to tell other glands to increase or decrease secretion of another hormone. So, hormones are in the business of either up-regulating or down-regulating activity in the body. It doesn't take much hormone to alter cell metabolism. We have two dominant female hormones-estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen ensures the development of female characteristics at puberty. After this, its role is primarily to build the uterine lining each month prior to fertilization as well as to help regulate the menstrual cycle. Progesterone becomes important in maintaining the uterine lining for implantation of a fertilized egg. There is a delicate balancing act between these two hormones.

Since this article is dealing with hot versus cold-we are looking at hot flashes and other menopausal unpleasant sensations as the production of these hormones is decreased. Menopause literally means "last period" and occurs somewhere between the ages of 45 to 52 with the cessation of egg production in the ovaries.

What Is the Real Cause of Hot Flashes and Night Sweats?

These symptoms are very common during menopause but can occur at any age when there is a hormone imbalance. Hormone balance is your body's natural state but when there are too many demands on your body, its ability to balance hormones is overwhelmed. The resulting hormonal imbalance gives rise to hot flashes or night sweats. Basically, the heat-regulatory area of the brain is "tricked" into thinking the body needs to dispel heat, causing it to send out signals for blood vessels to dilate, heart rate to increase, and sweat glands to open. The result is the unpleasant rush of heat, perspiration, dizziness, and pounding heart that characterize hot flashes. This demand creates hormonal imbalance that tends to peak in peri-menopause which is why hot flashes are commonly thought of as a menopausal symptom. But women can experience hormonal imbalance at any stage in their lives.

How Can Essential Oils Help?

Here are some "hormone-like" essential oils: German chamomile and clary sage are both hormone-like and act as a decongestant on your system; cypress and niaouli are both estrogen-like and can help to regulate menses; peppermint is an ovarian stimulant and can be cooling. For hot flashes and sweating-clary sage, cypress, peppermint or pine oils for the excessive perspiration. Some find a combination of clary sage and geranium oils to be a life-saver.

Clary sage is well known for treating hormone imbalances. It contains sclareol, a diterpene alcohol that makes it estrogen-like in its effect on the body. It has a euphoric effect in general, can act as a uterine tonic, help with painful menses, hot flashes, post-natal depression, panic attacks, impotence, and frigidity. It is considered an oil that is a "gift to the female." It can get rid of monthly boat, regulate menses, balance the endocrine system including the pituitary and the pancreas making it helpful for diabetics.

Geranium is much more subtle than clary sage. It is used primarily for breast engorgement, vaginal thrush, painful periods, PMS, and uterine hemorrhage. It has a calming, uplifting and strengthening effect. Some find it especially good for hot flashes and vaginal dryness.

Your Period in Your 30s, 40s, and Beyond - What You Need to Know Between Puberty and Menopause

For many women, the only times we receive much education about our periods are at puberty and menopause. You might assume that after the teenage years, your period should be on a regular cycle, unchanged until menopause, but this isn't true. Along with the menstrual cycle disruptions of pregnancy, birth control pills, and illnesses, you may have very different periods through the different decades of your reproductive years.

The 20s: Typically, by the time you reach your 20s, the hormonal chaos that accompanies puberty has mostly subsided, and your hormone levels are as balanced as they will ever be. There is no one "right" menstrual cycle, but the average time between one period and the next for a woman in her 20s is 32 days. Periods may be very predictable-like clockwork, even-especially if you are using birth control pills.

This doesn't mean, however, that you should necessarily be concerned if your periods are irregular. A woman's menstrual cycle is a complex interaction between her reproductive system; hormones produced in the pituitary glands, hypothalamus and thyroid; and the environment. Stress, diet, and the amount of sleep and exercise you get all influence your cycle, too.

When should you be concerned? Generally, these are signs that you should see a health care provider:
Severe PMS: If you are bothered by physical changes or changes in your mood consistently each month, see a health care provider to rule out underlying causes, such as clinical depression, uterine fibroids, or endometriosis.
Painful periods: Some discomfort is normal, but if the pain is severe, consistent, and not relieved by an over-the-counter medication such as ibuprofen, see a health care provider to rule out an infection, scar tissue, or another underlying cause.
Missed, or infrequent, periods: If you are sexually active, have a pregnancy test done first. An occasional missed period, even if you aren't pregnant, shouldn't be a concern. They can be caused by too much exercise, stress, and certain medications. If you have gone more than 3 months without a period and are not pregnant, see a health care provider to rule out a hormone imbalance, ovarian cysts, or certain hypothalamus or pituitary conditions.
Unusually heavy periods: If a pregnancy is possible, an unusually heavy period could be a sign of miscarriage. If you consistently have heavy periods, your health care provider may want to rule out endometrial cancer or an underlying thyroid or blood-clotting disorder.

These conditions are all treatable. Don't be afraid to see your health care provider if you feel there is something unusual or wrong about the way your body functions.

The 30s: As you transition from your 20s to your 30s, and especially by the age of 35, your body begins to produce less estrogen. You may find that your menstrual cycle has shortened, from an average of 32 to 28 days. You may also notice shorter or irregular periods, increased symptoms of PMS, a heavier menstrual flow, or a combination of these changes. These hormone fluctuations are sometimes referred to as perimenopause, which simply means "the time around menopause."

As our estrogen levels begin to decline, our fertility begins to decline as well. We may experience some of the changes associated with menopause, including the thinning and drying of vaginal tissue, breast tenderness, an increased buildup of body fat around the waistline, hot flashes, and night sweats. A woman may experience these changes for up to fifteen years before her last menstrual period. For some women, these body changes will be more severe during perimenopause than during menopause itself. In fact, seven to eleven percent of women in their late 30s will stop having periods.

If you are severely bothered by the hormone fluctuations and the body changes associated with them, you might first consider lifestyle changes to ease the symptoms. Eating well, getting moderate exercise, reducing your stress level, and getting adequate rest may make the symptoms more manageable. If lifestyle changes don't solve the problem, you may want to see your health care provider and find out whether hormone therapy, either in the form of birth control pills to help regulate hormones or estrogen replacement therapy, is appropriate for you.

For some women, the perimenopausal years may mean changes in heart health. If you experience any heart symptoms, including skipped beats or moments of rapid heart fluttering, see your health care provider immediately to rule out an underlying heart problem. After you have had these heart symptoms checked out by your doctor, you may find that some heart symptoms become a consistent part of your cycle. Know your own body and what is normal for you.

The 40s: Women typically experience the body changes of perimenopause six to ten years before our menstrual periods stop. For most of us, this means we'll experience perimenopause by our late 40s. Depending on family history and other factors, you may also stop having periods in your 40s. The average woman will experience shorter cycles. In contrast to what many of us experience in our 30s, you may also have lighter menstrual flows. Ovulation occurs less frequently than it did in your 20s and 30s, and fertility continues to decline.

If you haven't already learned what to expect from your body during and after menopause, now is the time to educate yourself. If possible, talk to your mother, grandmother, and aunts about their experiences. Even if lifestyle changes worked well for you in your thirties, you may now want to talk to your health care provider about hormone replacement therapy.

Remember, too, that for many women, the transition from the menstrual to the post-menopausal years is a relief and has many positive aspects. Our bodies will change; this is inevitable. Suffering, physically or emotionally, because of these changes is not inevitable.

Women of any age should keep track of when our periods begin and end each month, and be aware of changes in our bodies' rhythms. This way, when we do notice something unusual or bothersome, we'll be better prepared to discuss the changes with our health care providers.

A Natural Alternative For Relieving Hot Flashes, Mood Swings, And Depression

Millions of women suffer from the hormonal imbalances of PMS and menopause. These imbalances cause physiological effects of heavy, irregular bleeding, sleeplessness, cramping, mood swings, hot flashes and depression, and countless other symptoms that inhibit a woman’s ability to function normally under fluctuating hormones. Most women have sought the help of over the counter drugs and prescription medication in order to alleviate these symptoms, putting themselves at risk for potential serious side effects from synthesized drugs. Interest in natural remedies has grown over recent years and more and more women are turning to plant-based products to regulate hormones and relieve symptoms of menopause and PMS. A combination of the most effective natural remedies for these symptoms gives women optimal relief without synthetic drugs or hormones.

Recent decades have proven that synthetic hormones and medications can prove more dangerous than beneficial. Every year popular medications and over the counter drugs are pulled from the shelves due to health risks and hormone replacement therapy has proven to cause severe health risks such as heart attacks and cancer. But women continue to search for relief from the symptoms of menopause and PMS. Many of these women have gone on and off hormonal therapy and medications, constantly searching for relief from hormonal symptoms as well as release from the side effects of prescription medications. Millions of women suffer from these side effects but, until lately, have had no other alternative to traditional synthesized medicine.

Thanks to the increase in interest of natural remedies, more and more doctors and scientists have discovered the beneficial results from patients using herbal and natural remedies. Dr. Kalyami Kumar OB/GYN began seeing severe health side effects from patients using hormone replacement therapy and began studying the benefits of some of these natural herbs. As a result, she discovered that a specific combination of black cohosh, red clover, wild yam, and soy provided women with the relief they so desperately needed without the dangerous side effects of traditional treatment.

A synergistic blend of these ingredients helps create hormone balances within the body and provide symptomatic relief for problems commonly associated with menopause and PMS. Estrogen, one of the major hormones associated with PMS and menopause, can cause severe cramping and bleeding when in excess. Balanced supplements, like those found in Estrosym, are designed to balance out the estrogen dominance with natural ingredients. For example, black cohosh binds to estrogen receptors and makes the body believe it is receiving and creating estrogen, providing an opportunity for the body’s own hormones to come into better balance. But, in order to maintain proper levels of progesterone and estrogen, women must incorporate wild yam, a supplement containing molecules that convert to progesterone and counteract the estrogen dominance in the blood. Wild yam also produces a calming effect, settling the moods of women while balancing the hormones associated with moodiness and anxiety. By balancing the hormones naturally, supplements provide relief from the bleeding, cramping, hot flashes and mood swings so commonly associated with hormone fluctuations.

Menopause and PMS cause stress and anxiety even without imbalanced hormones. Normal and abnormal fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone cause both physical and psychological stress, eventually resulting in both bodily and emotional discomfort. Dr. Kumar has created a means by which women can alleviate both the hormonal fluctuations and the symptoms commonly associated with these imbalances. A synergistic blend of supplements relieves heavy bleeding, cramping, hot flashes, moodiness, depression, sleeplessness, and even promotes bone health and collagen synthesis. By providing all the benefits (visit: [http://www.estrosym.net] ) of traditional medication without the use of synthesized drugs, natural supplements provide women with the relief they need and the safety they deserve.

Menopause Supplements and Memory Loss Concerns - The Main Culprit Revealed

You may have suffered a moment in time when for no reason your thoughts unexpectedly go totally blank?

Or out of the blue you suddenly find yourself being more absent minded than usual?

At one time this was exactly what I realized was happening with me with increasing regularity.

You quite possibly might have found this to be a problem for you also.

What is actually the cause of memory loss in women as they approach closer to their menopause years? Could hormones be connected to memory problems? Or Is it truly just the signs of aging?

I believe you will really be shocked at the reasons.

When it comes to a woman's hormonal levels, fluctuations can often bring about all kinds of emotional and mental turmoil. This may include nervousness, anxiety and even depression.

Plus aging also has some influence on a person's ability to retain information, I'm certain.

However, the main perpetrator of memory loss during the stages of pre and post menopause is definitely stress. Research has verified it.

Quite a few women in menopause (and in peri-menopause) lament about memory problems to their medical doctors. In the past researchers originally had surmised that low levels of estrogen likely affected a woman's mental function.

Naturally that had been the typical explanation given from the medical doctors; that memory loss was basically nothing more than a symptom of being menopausal.

Having said that, during 2003 one particular Chicago scientific study published some important results.

St. Luke's Healthcare Centre research workers had undertaken a study relating to menopause and memory loss over the course of 6 years. They signed up 803 females between 42 and 52, and all were actually within the stages of pre menopause. None of them had been using HRT.

Throughout the six years, each year these women would be given a number of memory tests. Undoubtedly the research workers anticipated that the women's memory results would go down while they progressed throughout the span of the study. What they observed however astonished all of them.

The results ended up being the complete opposite!

The research results from these women in fact showed an improvement in memory capacity by approximately three per cent!

A lot more of these types of studies are now beginning to clearly show that the memory challenges most women are complaining during the course of menopause (and peri-menopause) may also be more so indicators of stress rather than simply the changes in female hormones and getting older.

Bear in mind more females nowadays wind up having to deal with keeping up with the demands associated with their life at home in addition to their professions, so it's not surprising.

If you are going through episodes of memory loss you may need to think about making certain modifications to your lifestyle to assist you in controlling stress.

The following are just a few suggestions that can help:

• Find out more about relaxation techniques and then take time to release stress on a daily basis.


• Exercise and remain active both mentally and physically.


• Eat foods that are known to be rich Omega-3 sources and/or supplement with a quality Omega-3 Fish Oil; it's known to be quite effective for fighting both the physical and mental negative effects most typically associated with stress.


• Supplement by using Turmeric extract.

Studies undoubtedly show that turmeric may help to reduce the chances of Alzheimer's disease.

The actual healing compounds inside turmeric are known as 'curcuminoids'. Curcuminoids appear to be an aid to decrease the advancement of Alzheimer's disease by reduction of the build up of particular proteins that happen to be a common characteristic of this and other similar diseases.

It is also necessary to be aware that potency and purity is crucial when considering any all natural health supplement which contains Turmeric extract.

My personal word of advice is that you pick a natural menopause supplement which has an actual 'standardized' Turmeric extract incorporating no less than 95% curcuminoids for best results.

Other valuable herbs that help deal with the health destroying effects associated with stress also include:

• Ginkgo Biloba extract which has been utilized throughout traditional Chinese medicine to boost memory as well as attention span.


• Damiana helps relax the nervous system and is beneficial just for helping to manage mood swings.


• SAMe is particularly useful for diminishing indications of depression and Alzheimer's. It's also known to be of great help for improving intellectual performance plus slowing down the aging process.

There are effective natural supplements for menopause that can also assist you with the symptoms related to both menopause and for treating stress related memory problems that often occur during this phase of life.

In the end I'm describing the domino effect that occurs, but one that can be cured with proper supplementation and healthy lifestyle habits.

Menopause Symptoms - Is an Enlarged Uterus One of Many Menopause Symptoms?

Menopause as all women know is a time for change and may have some uncomfortable symptoms. The question is whether one of the menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus. There are specific tests for diagnoses and treatments are available.

Causes and Symptoms of an Enlarged Uterus

An enlarged uterus is also called Endometriosis - a bulging formation that occurs in the uterus and continues to develop. It can sometimes be misconstrued as pregnancy. It is typically categorized by severe pain in the lower abdominal region. This pain occurs because of the pressure the enlarging uterus puts on the bladder. The extreme abdominal pain and possible bladder problems can be indicative of an enlarged uterus or other health conditions including pregnancy so it is strongly advised that you have the necessary exams and tests done to accurately identify the source of your symptoms.

Examinations and Tests Used to Diagnose an Enlarged Uterus

A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure used to examine internal organs. A pelvic examination is a physical examination by a physician of internal organs. An Endometrial biopsy is performed to rule out any possible malignancy as a cause for your symptoms. A hysteroscopy is similar to a laparoscopy but examines the reproductive organs specifically. An ultrasound scan and an MRI-magnetic resonance imaging test will produce images of the reproductive organs from which information can be gathered. Blood tests called a CBC- complete blood count may also be done to determine if hormone levels and body chemicals are at healthy levels.

For a specific diagnosis for enlarged uterus and or menopause a physical examination and some tests may be ordered by your doctor. These things will also help to rule out any other possible health concerns. It's better to have the test and find nothing serious than to not have them and have something serious going on.

Menopause symptoms could include an enlarged uterus because the changing hormone levels could mimic pregnancy. The uterus does change somewhat during sexual activity and this could affect the size of the uterus.

Treatment for an Enlarged Uterus

Current treatments include hormone therapies that can be very effective in treating enlarged uterus and other menopausal symptoms. Surgical examination can be done during a laparoscopy. In the past however, the typical treatment for an enlarged uterus was surgery that required a long incision or a complete hysterectomy- the complete removal of all reproductive organs.

Many women choose to use herbal supplements in treatment of menopause and they have been proven to be highly effective. If hormones are at a healthy level than it may be possible to treat it with herbal supplements but this is not known at this time.
An herbal supplement should be with only standardized herbal extracts and manufactured to meet pharmaceutical grade standards. The ingredients should have extensively tested including the metabolic route of the ingredients at the molecular level. The interactions of the ingredients should also have been tested.

All of this helps to guarantee consistent dosing and consistent quality from capsule to capsule. Herbal supplements are often chosen to avoid some of the serious side effects that can accompany traditional pharmaceutical treatments. Though they have far less side effects they should not be added to your health routine without your doctor's knowledge. Some herbs may interfere with the performance of prescriptions you may be taking for other health conditions.

Conclusion

The question was/is this: Can an enlarged uterus be one of many menopausal symptoms.
There are tests and treatments available including diagnostic imaging, physical examinations and blood tests. Treatments could include hormones but may also include the use of herbal supplements. If you have any of the symptoms listed here, consult your doctor to be on the safe side.

MenoSense Helps Provide Relief

It is understandable why many women seek relief as they go through menopause or perimenopause. There are a lot of undesirable side effects that accompany that stage in their life. Those side effects could be hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and a full list other symptoms. In order to help deal with these discomforts, products like MenoSense are developed. MenoSense is a natural supplement that helps provide relief during the entire menopause and perimenopause process.

Developed by Preferred Nutrition, MenoSense is part of the company's WomenSense line. Like their other products, MenoSense is made from a natural formula. It makes sense that one would use a natural remedy to try and treat natural body functions like menopause. It is almost intriguing to see what plants and extracts have to offer to the world of healing. MenoSense uses five natural ingredients in its formula: Dong Quai, Chaste Tree Berry, Black Cohosh, Gamma Linoleic Acid, and Hesperidin.

Dong quai is the common name for angelica sinensis. It is traditionally used in Chinese medicine and also referred to as the female ginseng. Dong quai is often used in supplements like MenoSense because it is supposed to help promote hormone balance and be a uterine tonic.

Chaste tree berry is recognized for its natural ability to reduce hot flashes-a very common side effect of menopause. Although the chaste tree berry does not contain estrogen, it does help with the lowered levels of progesterone that happen during menopause.

Black cohosh is used in MenoSense to help provide relief from hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms. It does this by helping to regulate the body's temperature.

The Gamma linoleic acid is also an ingredient recognized for its support of the reproductive system. It is said to be a good thing to take when going through PMS. Gamma linoleic acid also helps promote healthy bones. This is especially beneficial since calcium levels are way lower when women go through the climacteric cycle.

Hesperidin is often found in citrus fruits. This is another ingredient that addresses bone health. It is said to help decrease the amount of bone density loss. Bone health is very important and has to be given attention in order to lower the risk of osteoporosis.

MenoSense can provide relief in a number of ways. Not only does its formula work to give menopausal women relief from hot flashes and other unwanted side effects, but it helps improve bone health.