Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Vaginal Dryness and Itching Treatment


When a woman is directed to post menopause, her vaginal skin and vulva becomes really thinner and the vagina will loose its capability of producing wetness during the time of sexual contact. Around 75% women suffering from post menopause will badly endure atrophic vaginitis that will be instigated due decreased level of estrogens. Due to this, post menopausal women will experience bad pain during sexual contact, irritation, itching and enlarged vulnerability to vaginal contagions. Post menopausal women with atrophic vaginitis will suffer from itching, redness, and vaginal dryness. Being active during the sexual participation with the best assistance of lubricant and in-taking good amount of water will be really advisable in order to stay safe out from atrophic vaginitis. Basically, vaginal dryness is merely simple to treat! It is really advisable to contact a doctor, to get the best medical advice to overcome this trouble. There are several treatments that can be easily handled. They are vaginal suppositories, estrogen contained creams, and estrogen therapy.

Vaginal dryness is caused because of the factors described below! They are:

1. Devolved level of estrogen is the major cause leading to vaginal dryness. This will decline in the production level of estrogen and as a result the vagina gets dried and grows thinner!

2. However, the devolved level of estrogen is quite common for the result of vaginal dryness it is really advisable to check with fundamental medical consideration. Failing to check will lead to several side effects like Sjogren's disease.

Treatments to cure vaginal dryness and itching are here for your understandings:

Lubricants - You can find quite several vaginal lubricants available in the store shops. You should try using different brands in order to find the best brand matching and satisfying your partner. It is always recommended to make use of lubricants that are water based. This could be used safe along with diaphragms and condoms. The most familiar condom brands are Slippery Stuff, Astroglide, ID and KY Gel. These condoms will give you complete happiness during your sexual contact.

Conventional Approach - If your doctor suggests you several branded lubricants, you never miss to inquire the effects of using it for longer, regular use.

Complimentary Therapies - Relief is very close and prompt at your house kitchen. It is good to give a massage with olive oil that helps you to battle with the vaginal dryness.

Herbal treatment for Vaginal Dryness & Itching Remedies - Itching or Scratching, whatever may be the case, will be cured by using two natural herbal made products. One is the Aloe Vera Gel and the other is the Calendula Cream! Along with, motherwort is being described as a branded remedial measure to stay relief from vaginal dryness and itching troubles.

Homeopathic Vaginal Dryness & Itching Treatment - Women suffering from vaginal dryness and scratching or itching can experience a better relief with the use of Belladonna. Cantharis and Natrum mur is highly recommended to get relief from itching alone!

Be sure with the indications of the post menopause symptoms, so that you can avail the best treatment to get complete relief.

Related Articles:

The Natural Cure for Nightsweats


Doctors and their herbalist ancestors have been treating nightsweats for at least 1800 years since the writing of the Shang Han Lun, a second-century Chinese medical textbook that taught that these bouts of nocturnal perspiration were the result of kidneys sending fluids backwards in the body.

The modern understanding of nightsweats is more nuanced. They often have a hormonal cause, but the cause is not always related to estrogen.

Hot flashes at night may be related to the increase of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) accompanying menopause or surgical removal of the ovaries, diabetes, or malaria. The causes of profuse sweating in winter in men are, of course, more likely related to diabetes or the parasitic disease malaria. Hot flashes occur day and night in men treated for prostate cancer.

The key to understanding menopause and nightsweats is that if the condition is related to menopause, then episodes tend to occur at the same time every night. They may be worse after drinking alcohol or sudden change of temperature. African-American women are especially susceptible to uncontrollable nighttime perspiration even without alcohol or sudden change of temperature.

There is a direct relationship between sweaty flushes and diabetes. Diabetics who get this condition tend to have episodes the same number of hours after eating, but not at the same time every night. Perspiration after going to bed and weight loss are a common warning of undiagnosed diabetes and are a reason to see a physician.

And nightsweats accompanying malaria are "tidal," that is, they build up and taper down. Malarial sweats alternate with chills, and occur on a regular schedule whether the sufferer is sleeping or not.

Male survivors of prostate cancer typically have their sweaty symptoms increasing or decreasing during the course of cancer therapy.

So how do you treat this condition naturally?

Nightsweats aren't really the result of "toxins," but rather of hormones out of balance that are acting as if they were toxins. In women who have reached menopause, this condition is often treated with estrogen, but black cohosh (300-1,000 mg daily) and soy isoflavones (not to be confused with soy foods, but a supplement of concentrated daidzein + genistein, up to 400 mg) daily offer relief to many.

Women who are planning to discontinue estrogen replacement therapy (ERT) may want to begin a supplementation routine up to six months before ending ERT. This allows the effects of the herbs to build up over time. It is also possible to use both ERT and herbal therapies.

Women who have had breast cancer may respond better to soy foods than to soy supplements.

What else can be done?


  • Avoid sudden changes in temperature just before bedtime, such as taking a hot bath or moving from a warm living room to a cooler bedroom. Cooler bedroom temperatures, however, reduce the severity of hot flashes.

  • A research study at Vanderbilt University found that magnet therapy does in fact relieve hot flashes, but it doesn't make any difference whether the magnets are magnetized or not. Small weights on limited areas of skin seem to reduce the severity of sweating during nighttime hours.

  • Treating constipation and other digestive disturbances usually reduces the severity of nighttime sweating over a period of 2-3 months.

  • The Asian herb dong quai may reduce episodes of nighttime sweating, but it is more effective in women who have completed menopause than those who are in perimenopause.

Nocturnal perspiration related to diabetes or malaria responds to treatment of the underlying condition.

There is one other, relatively rare cause of sweating at night: acid reflux, also known as heartburn. Controlling heartburn will eliminate nightsweats if it is the cause.

Menopause - Ways to Deal With Perimenopause


Perimenopause is the transitional stage before menopause occurs when a woman begins feeling some sort of irregularities in her menstrual cycle which accompanied by unpleasant menopause symptoms such as mood swing, hot flashes and unconditional irritations. Generally, menopause begins at the age of 50-55 however the perimenopause symptoms may begin bothering women from their late 30's to early 40's.

Even though menopause age sets in average 50-55 of a woman, perimenopause tends to set in average women by the age of 40-45. Some studies has been proven that over-exposure to environmental toxins is one of the main reasons for setting early perimenopause in most women, where stress is another main reason for this faster initiation of perimenopause in social scenario nowadays.

But as a woman who is in perimenopause cycle and she is still having her period, it is still possible to rebuild the lost normalcy in menstrual cycle and delay the setting of menopause by certain changing of her life style. If you are experiencing some of the unpleasant perimenopause symptoms, you should begin doing light exercise. Regular exercise can improves blood circulation level of body, logical frame of mind and brain function in order to deal with perimenopause symptoms.

Maintaining a normal stress life is a pre-requisite in order to live a healthy life and to avoid early sign of menopause syndrome. Besides you can try to lead a tranquil live. Thus you should have some healthy hobbies or some favorite pastimes to promote the well-being of leisure. Enjoying humor and funny activities is also a life style factor that maintains hormone arrangement alive and delays setting in of menopause.

By keeping a close watch on stress generation, this will helps efficiently in delaying menopause syndrome. You can try menopause remedies such as meditation, yoga, relaxation hypnosis and therapy in order to cope with the perimenopause issue.

A strict diet would definitely be useful in reducing the stress level and increase your immunity system. Moreover organic foods are free from environmental toxins. Thus it is better to take organic food to resist some minor however obvious signs of ensuing menopause.

Consumption of carbonated drinks, junk foods, tea and coffee should be avoided in order to deal with the perimenopause symptoms. As you keep the normal life style quotient, you surely can delay menopause in its true sense. Furthermore you can also take some herbs that mention in our website to deal with perimenopause naturally.

Vitamins For Menopause - The 5 Most Important Ones


The natural changes in your body during menopause can cause a few troublesome symptoms that disrupt your day, or keep you from getting a good night's sleep. A healthy lifestyle with nutritious meals and regular exercise can help alleviate these symptoms, but vitamins for menopause are just as crucial to finding relief. Existing studies show that these five vitamins ease the body's transition to menopause so that you don't have to suffer the excruciating symptoms.

1. Co-enzyme Q10: For Aging Gracefully

Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a popular buzzword in nutrition these days, and for a very good reason. This vitamin-like substance is needed for cell energy production; without it, you experience decreased energy levels, faster aging, and increased vulnerability to disease. Although the liver can produce enough CoQ10 for the body's needs, its ability to produce this substance declines steadily after the age of 20. Current research shows that CoQ10 can increase energy levels, normalize blood pressure, and relieve headaches caused by menopause. Some studies also suggest that CoQ10 reduces the risk of heart disease among menopausal women. CoQ10 can be obtained from broccoli, spinach, and peanuts, as well as supplements from health food stores.

2. Vitamin E: A Powerful Antioxidant

Have you ever wondered why vitamin E has long been lauded as one of the most important natural antioxidants? That's because it is made up of eight antioxidants working together to protect the human body. Doctors noted that eating foods rich in vitamin E can reduce the levels of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, the "bad" cholesterol that forms blood clots responsible for strokes and heart attacks. Some studies also suggest that the vitamin E alpha tocopherol can reduce hot flashes and restore vaginal moisture. The recommended dose of vitamin E for menopause is 600-800 IU. Take with caution if you have a history of hypertension.

3. Vitamin C: For Menopausal Stress Relief

Stress is a constant element of modern living, especially if you're the kind of woman who likes to take on multiple challenges at once. While your work and family life can be fulfilling, do try to take a break every once in a while. A stressed-out body can lead to adrenal fatigue, a condition where the adrenal glands produce high levels of cortisol. Although cortisol helps the body survive if released occasionally, too much of this stress hormone can interfere with your body's hormone production, which will only make your menopause symptoms worse. On days where you have too many things on your plate, take vitamin C to combat adrenal fatigue. Vitamin C is well known for its immuno-protective properties, but it is also the most important nutrient for adrenal health. Not to mention that the more cortisol is produced, the more vitamin C is used. To restore adrenal health, take around 1,800 - 2,000mg of vitamin C a day.

4. B Vitamins

Did you know that the B vitamins are critical to a woman's diet during menopause? Vitamin B6 can reduce mood swings and depressive symptoms because it aids in the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for mood and happiness. Vitamin B5 works well with vitamin E in reducing night sweats and insomnia. And vitamin B12 raises the body absorption of the mineral magnesium. Get your B vitamins from a high quality multivitamin formula.

5. Calcium/Magnesium: An Essential Supplement for Menopause

The relationship between low levels of calcium and insomnia has long been observed by doctors. Do you know why a hot glass of milk before bedtime can help put you to sleep? Calcium induces relaxation, reduces tension, and triggers the secretion of sleep hormones. But all the calcium in the world won't do you any good if you don't have enough magnesium in your body. Magnesium is required to pull calcium into the bones and to distribute them to parts of the nervous system. Without magnesium, calcium cannot be utilized as efficiently. According to the National Health and Nutrition Survey, almost 60% of adults don't consume the recommended daily allowance of magnesium in their diets. Magnesium deficiencies are known to cause anxiety, irritability, sleep disorders, and calcium depletion. Since both minerals are so closely linked, experts recommend that menopausal women take calcium and magnesium supplements at a ratio of 2:1.

Perimenopause: Let It Be, But Not Too Early


When a girl turns to a young lady, she experiences puberty or adolescence where her breast and her hips start developing (leading to a more feminine figure) and her menstrual cycle begins. Such transition also occurs when a fertile woman has her period less than usual, and eventually loses it (menopause), and this transition stage is referred to as perimenopause. People usually interchange menopause and perimenopause although, technically, they are different stages. Menopause is the stage when the ovulation has completely stopped; meaning, the woman has become permanently unable to produce egg cells. Perimenopause, on the other hand, involves the ups-and-downs of a woman traversing from fertility to infertility.

If you have been asked are you in perimenopause? You probably need to check out some symptoms that you might be experiencing because perimenopause may actually occur as early as 30's. If you have not had your menstrual period for a year, then you are no longer in your perimenopause stage, instead, you already reached the menopause stage and after that, the post-menopause. Symptoms of perimenopause might include hot flashes, or sudden feverish feelings; mood swings like anxiety, depression and irritability; night sweats without any particular reason (hot weather); and, irregular or sometimes decreasing occurrence of menstrual period. These are the more common signs that you are on your way to menopause. It is a natural phenomenon, with all the hormonal changes your body experiences, but the onset of perimenopause can be delayed.

Are you in perimenopause and are you wishing to reduce the uncomfortable symptoms? There are varying approaches on how to slow down this process including hormone therapy where the patient is supplemented with either estrogen or progesterone (or a combination); however, many claims have gone against this because of the suggested risk leading to breast cancer. Nevertheless, natural therapy is fast becoming popular and it seems that patients are more positive about such treatment. For example, bioflavonoids, vitamin E and soy isoflavones are some suggested relief for hot flashes since they lower the severity of the symptom. Chamomile and kava root are natural sedatives that helps calm the mind and may lessen sleeping disorders.

Perimenopause and menopause will happen and there is no way to avoid it, however, the cases of premature perimenopause have been observed and this is primarily due to poor eating and health lifestyle. This will also help you with other severe effects of menopause like osteoporosis so as early as now (assuming you haven't experienced perimenopause), you should avoid foods high in cholesterol, exercise regularly, take in supplements for your bone and stop or do not smoke. Smoking has been regarded as a culprit for premature menopause.

When asked, are you in perimenopause? Do not be disturbed. It is only natural for women to experience such. It is not normal when you feel pain far from discomfort, like when you suddenly had excessive bleeding. While there is no way to delay what is to come, you can prevent it from happening too early, so starting today, you should make it a habit to live healthy.

Menopause Medication - Know Your Options


Menopause Medication: How Do You Decide Which Is Right For You?

If you are like most women, you are understandably confused when confronted with all the information, some proven, some scary and some downright ridiculous, when it comes to the treatments available for you and your menopause medication arsenal. How about some objective, sensible advice on how to research your options and choose a plan that will work best for you? Well, read on to get some of the best and most up-to-date information available which you will need to make the right decision regarding your personal regimen. Which is right for you? Prescription, natural therapies, or a combination? Let's look at them all.

Available Choices in Prescription Medication

Pills, oral or vaginal, creams, gels, rings; the choices seem to be endless. Let's look at our options in prescription medication often used during menopause.

Prescription medication which does contain hormones


  • Birth control pills can relieve symptoms during perimenopause, but are not used after menopause. There are many contraindications to using birth control pills and only you and your healthcare provider can decide if they are right for you.

  • Low-dose vaginal estrogen, which is available in cream, a pill inserted vaginally, or ring form, helps with localized symptoms such as vaginal dryness and loss of elasticity, but at a much lower dose that is not absorbed as much as when taken in oral pill form.

  • Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, is also available in many forms such as pill, patch, vaginal ring, gel, or cream form, and is probably the most widely used form of medication used for the symptomatic treatment of menopause. However, it has been shown to have significant health risks for some women. To provide relief, experts recommend only the lowest dose possible be used for the least amount of time. Talk to your healthcare provider to get more information on whether this medication is a good option for you.

  • Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is a form of hormones usually made from plants. Because it is believed to most closely resemble those hormones made by our own bodies, they are thought by many to be a safer bet than those available in the traditional form. There is quite a lot of controversy surrounding this form of hormone therapy, so be sure to do your homework and discuss this with your healthcare provider. Experts on both sides of the debate still feel that any form of hormone therapy should only be used in as low a dose and for the shortest time possible.


Prescription medication which does not contain hormones:

  • Antidepressant medicines have been shown to decrease the amount and severity of hot flashes in some women.

  • Clonidine, a high blood pressure medicine, may also help decrease hot flashes, but there could be problems with low blood pressure.

  • Neurontin, a medication used to control seizures among other uses, can also reduce hot flashes. However, there are possible and significant side effects.

Monday, September 2, 2013

Femarelle: Safe and Effective Means of Treating Menopausal Symptoms and Bone Loss


Menopause, although a natural part of every woman's life, is very often accompanied by extremely uncomfortable symptoms, such as hot flashes, loss of libido, night sweats, sleep turbulence, significant mood changes, sometimes even clinical depression. As menopause progresses additional metabolic diseases may arise which can include vaginal dryness, urinary problems, bone loss (which can lead to osteoporosis) as well as other significant health issues including cardiovascular diseases.

Femarelle, is a safe and effective treatment for the management of both menopausal symptoms and bone loss. Femarelle's uniqueness lies in that it is a Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulator- (a SERM.) The selectivity in the estrogen receptor provides both menopausal symptoms relief and bone health, without affecting the sensitive tissues in the breast and uterus.

The scientific activity surrounding Femarelle has been published in major scientific and medical journals around the world and has received international recognition and acceptance by the medical community as a whole, both in their practices and in leading medical conventions.

Three out of four women report relief and alleviation of hot flashes in 76%, relief of joint & muscle pain in 70% and relief of headaches in 68% (the main symptoms associated with the menopause transition). Furthermore, the effect of Femarelle on the bones, exhibited a statistically significant increase of BMD after one year (12 months) of treatment. Most importantly, these clinical results were achieved without disturbing the hormonal blood profile and without leading to any change in endometrial thickness or other changes in the uterus. A study of its mechanism of action on BMD in human bone cultures showed that Femarelle exhibits unique bone-forming properties by increasing bone formation through osteoblast activity. Even further, Femerelle had no effect on breast cancer tissue formation in human breast cancer tissue culture studies.

The unique combination of coumestans and lignans in Femarelle provides an innovative and effective solution to menopausal symptoms. The selective mechanism of action of Femarelle allows it to act as an agonist on the estrogen receptors and thus exert a satisfactory effect on menopausal symptoms and BMD while having an aggressive effect on the estrogen receptors in the breast and in the uterus, without negative side effects or the risk of health issues down the line.

Relief is often felt within the first month of treatment, (in three out of four women) which is very encouraging to those who's lives are effected daily by the discomfort of bodily changes due to menopause.

Menopause Vaginal Dryness and How to Cure It


It is quite common for women to experience vaginal dryness post menopause and one of the underlying reasons behind this sexual problem is a drop in the production of the estrogen. Low levels of estrogen makes the walls of the vaginal thin and dry. Women tend to experience constant itching or burning sensation in the vagina due to a drop in the estrogen levels.

Excessive dryness of the vagina can make intercourse extremely painful and one of its implications is that women tend to lose interest in sex. It affects female sex drive adversely which can take a toll on your relationship.

How to Cure Vaginal Dryness Naturally

Here are a few steps that can help you get over vaginal dryness:


  1. Drink a lot of water- This is likely to keep you well hydrated and help ease out vaginal dryness. What you need to remember is that dehydration can only aggravate the problem

  2. Foods like soy, apples etc., can help increase estrogen levels.

  3. Most people tend to believe that all fat is bad. This can be very misleading. Your body requires essential fats like omega 3 for the production of hormones like estrogen. Make sure you get enough of essential fats in your diet. The best sources include fish like salmons, olives, olive oil, nuts etc.,

  4. Quit Smoking- Cigarettes contain dangerous chemicals that can aggravate dryness in the vagina

Over and above, there are some natural or herbal supplements as well as lubricants that can help ease out vaginal dryness.

Natural supplements are a rich and potent blend of herbs, vitamins, minerals etc., that not only increase blood flow to the genitals but also help increase estrogen levels without the side effects of hormone replacement therapy. Top of the line supplements comprise of ingredients like ginkgo biloba, epimedium sagittatum, black cohosh, ginger root, ginseng, red raspberry, melatonin, niacin etc.,

Such supplements increase blood flow to the genitals to ensure engorgement of the clitoris and also increase estrogen production in your body to ease out vaginal dryness.

Lubricants are a mix of various ingredients such as pure aloe, shea and cocoa butters, l-arginine, citric acid etc., A large number of women are buying such lubricants that make you feel and experience sensations which you might have never felt before.

The best thing such supplements and lubricants is that they do not have any side effects.

If you want to Get over Menopause Vaginal Dryness, check out the Best Sexual Enhancers for Women that are Natural and can make you enjoy most satisfying sex.

All About MellowPause


No woman is happy to go through menopause. Matter of fact, controlling their emotions is one of the side effects of the whole ordeal. The side effects that women deal with when they reach this stage in their life are not easy on the body physically, mentally, or emotionally. Even worse-the menopausal process (also called the climacteric stage) can have side effects that last for years for some woman. While it may only be a few months of distress for others, even a week of going through menopause is undesirable. There are ways to prepare for this time and help manage the discomforts. MellowPause is an example of a treatment used to help relieve symptoms associated with menopause and support estrogen balance in the body.

MellowPause takes advantage of natural ingredients to help comfort women going through either peri-menopause or menopause. Peri-menopause is what the body experiences when it is preparing for menopause. During the entire climacteric stage a female is left to deal with a serious estrogen and progesterone drop. This drop is what leads to these common side effects: hot flashes, night sweats, inability to focus, and mood swings. MellowPause takes into consideration both problems at hand during the climacteric stage-the internal imbalance of hormones and the discomforts that come with it.

There are two key ingredients that the MellowPause formula focuses on: Black Cohosh and Pasque Flower. Black Cohosh has become a popular ingredient over the years for the support of female gynecological health and support of the nervous system. The ingredient helps support healthy estrogen and is especially beneficially in the treatment of hot flashes. This is thanks to its natural ability to support temperature regulation in a female. Pasque Flower is used for soothing and supporting the reproductive organs of a female. It also has a natural ability to positively affect the nervous system.

MellowPause comes in the form of a tincture. The idea behind this is to ensure safe and quick delivery to the body. Women are instructed to dilute 10-15 drops of MellowPause into water, juice, or milk. This should be done three times daily and after a meal. For optimal results, women should pair this treatment with a healthy diet and exercise. This means eliminating excess sugar, artificial preservatives, stimulants, colorants, and keeping alcohol intake to a minimum.

This is just one of the many different products available to help women comfortably go through menopause. This particular treatment is said to delivery speedy results and each bottle should last about a month.

Natural Factors VITEX Product Info


Menopause is a difficult time in a woman's life as it signifies a drastic change in the reproductive system, which can come with a lot of unpleasant side effects and awkward symptoms. There are many supplements and remedies on the market, which are produced to target these symptoms and bring women back to feeling normal again. One of these supplements aiming to combat a whole host of menopausal problems is Natural Factors Vitex.

There is a legitimate argument between menopause supplements that contain a list of ingredients and those that contain only one or two. It is hard to decide which is better, however the positive aspects of a simple formula is that there are less ingredients that the body could react badly too and also that the one ingredient could be more potent in a higher, concentrated dose.

The ingredient found in Natural Factors Vitex is chaste tree berry. Chaste tree berry (also known as vitex) is well known for use during menopause. Chaste tree berry is known for balancing out female hormones. This occurs as the effects on the body mimic that of progesterone, an important reproductive hormone that often fluctuates during menopause. The flavanoids in chaste tree berry target the pituitary gland, which in turn has an effect on certain hormones, (progesterone). This effective 'progesterone' balances out with the body's estrogen levels which is another of the most important hormones in the reproductive system. The regulation of these hormones is essential in combating any unwanted side effects that can occur with an imbalance such as hot flashes.

This ingredient can also be used for the menstrual cycle to help keep it regular. It is helpful in treating irregular bleeding in menopause.

Chaste tree berry is often recommended to be taken with other herbal supplements during menopause. In the case of Natural Factors Vitex 1-3 tablets should be taken daily before a healthy breakfast. As with other herbal supplements such as black cohosh, vitex is powerful and should not be taken for extreme lengths of time. Therefore caution is advised and it is important to follow the recommended dosage. Vitex along with most other menopause pills should not display obvious results immediately but should work over time to provide relief for symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats. There are other useful herbs that can target symptoms such as fatigue and lack of libido. It is a good idea to consult a doctor or herbologist before combining ingredients.

Menopause and Anxiety - How to Bring Natural Relief


Even though menopause is a natural stage of a woman's life, it often creates anxiety due to misunderstanding of physiological changes. Menopause and anxiety should be understood as cause and effect due to the decline of estrogen level in woman's body. Thus, proper treatment for menopause can effectively bring emotional relief and eliminate depression and low-esteem in women.

Emotional Changes in Menopause

Menopause is characterized by a permanent cessation of woman's natural menstrual cycle. The production of the estrogen hormone reduces significantly in a woman during menopause causing her ovaries to stop producing eggs. As the estrogen level drops, the blood vessels expand rapidly leading to temperature rise in the woman's skin. This can further cause hot flashes that can be felt around the chest, shoulders, head, and neck. The sudden spread of warmth makes the woman to sweat and feel soaked. Many women also experience raid heart beating, insomnia, irritability, and restlessness. All those feelings then create psychological symptoms that include mood swings, depression and anxiety.

Sex and Weight Gain Factors

The feeling of anxiety during menopause could also be caused by misconception of sex and weight gain. There is a myth that a woman will lose her sexual desire during menopause, but in fact the midlife years can be a great time to enhance the sexual experience as there is no restriction from having to use birth control due concerns of possible pregnancy. In the case of vaginal dryness or painful intercourse, the woman can always apply lubricants or creams. After all, sex is about emotional feeling and is free of any hormonal changes.

Another factor that often leads to anxiety during menopause is the fear of weight gain. Biologically the fall of estrogen level can slow down the metabolism, which potentially results in weight gain. Because of this, it is important for women in menopause to maintain a balanced diet. Diet should be particularly high in Calcium and Phytoestrogens, chemicals that mimic and supplement estrogen-like hormones. Phytoestrogens are useful to maintain proper bone density post menopause. These chemicals can be found in soy bean, tofu, linseed, rice, oat, and red clover.

Other Useful Things to Do

Some other things that a woman can do to reduce anxiety and depression feelings during menopause are:

Regular exercise: doing routine exercise can significantly reduce hot flashes. Mild exercises such as walking, climbing stairs, swimming or lifting weight help to strengthen the bones and decrease the risk of osteoporosis.

Proper Sleep: if a woman has trouble going to sleep during menopause, it will be a good choice to take a hot shower before bedtime or drink a glass of warm milk. Taking sleeping pill occasionally is also recommended, with doctor prescription.

Social activity: post menopause, some women find a new hobby like writing, gardening or pottery. Others meet old friends once a week for social. Basically, focusing on other useful things can significantly increase the quality of life post menopause.

Physiological changes in menopause are inevitable and normal. They may bring feelings of anxiety, depression, and moodiness. However, understanding on menopause treatment can greatly increase the awareness of psychological effects of it.

Memory Problems - Simple Lifestyle Changes and Menopause Supplements For Memory Lapses


The Problem - Memory Lapses

During menopause, you may experience frequent memory lapses. Hormonal imbalance is an important factor in memory problems among menopausal women.

During menopause, the estrogen level fluctuate greatly, causing physical discomforts such as joint pains, headaches, hot flashes, sleep disorder, and mental problems including mood swings, anxiety, depression and irritability.

In case of memory lapses, declined level of estrogen affects the cognitive functions of the brain. Insufficient level of this female hormone causes the brain to slow down, leading to frequent memory lapses.

In addition, stress and disrupted sleep during menopause can worsen the condition. Some women also report fuzzy thinking as an accompanied symptom.

Memory problems may impede daily life. Misplaced keys, forgetting names, failing to remember appointments or important numbers, these can be very troublesome for many women.

Simple Ways to Alleviate the Problem

The good news is that: memory lapses are reversible and preventable, with some effective treatments, such as lifestyle changes and natural remedies.

Incorporate exercise into our daily route. Regular exercise sends more oxygen to your brain and relieves stress and tension. Increased oxygen and reduced stress can help the brain function better and reduce memory problems.

Limit intake of alcohol. Alcohol is harmful for the brain function as it damages never cells and depletes vitamins in the body, which are vital for building neural connections.

Get more snooze time. Sleep is essential for proper memory functions. Lack of sleep can affect mood, judgment and memory ability. A good night's sleep can improve your memory, especially for menopausal women. Aim for 7 to 8 hours sleep a night to get fully rested.

Natural Remedies to Relieve the Symptoms

Apart from memory lapses, you are very likely to suffer from other menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, weight gain, insomnia and anxiety. These symptoms are all hormone-related and can make your memory lapses worse.

To maintain a good menopause health and reduce the hormone-related symptoms, make sure you give body all essential nutrients for a good health foundation, as well as effective herbs to fight the unwanted symptoms.

Herbs can help stimulate the brain and boost memory. Herbal supplements for menopause can regulate hormone levels and alleviate menopausal symptoms. Effective herbs include Black cohosh, Dong quai and Red clover.

When you are combining lifestyle changes and quality supplements for menopause, you are treating the problems from inside to outside, from root cause to related symptoms.

With quality menopause supplements, memory lapses may be reversed.

Sunday, September 1, 2013

Signs of Menopause - The Quick Reference Guide


Menopause is not a disease but is a normal phase in a woman's life and unfortunately you can't avoid it.

About Menopause

All women will experience differing signs of menopause and on average, women live more than 20 years after going through menopause. Menopause is commonly called the "change of life" because you go from being fertile to infertile. The average age that a woman reaches menopause is 52 although they will begin to feel symptoms a number of years before this, possibly in the mid to late 40s.

Perimenopause is the early stages of menopause and most often occurs in the mid-forties. The main menopause symptom is an irregularity of the monthly cycle. About 75% of women report experiencing hot flashes in the years leading up to the menopause.

Menopause is caused by a decrease in the body's production of estrogen and takes place gradually over several or more years. A decrease in estrogen increases the risk of heart disease and heart attacks. It also increases the occurrence of osteoporosis. Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women. 40% of women over 40 suffer bone fractures and this can often be attributed to the loss of bone mass that occurs with menopause.

There is no direct correlation between ethnicity, age at puberty, number of children born or the use of oral contraceptives in determining when a woman will go through menopause. Smoking can cause menopause to occur one or more years early. Smoking also increases the risk of heart attack and stroke and so it is highly suggested that women give up smoking while in their menopausal years. Genetics is the major factor as to when menopause will occur. You are most likely to go through menopause at about the same age as your mother did.

HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is one way of treating some of the most severe symptoms of menopause. ERT (estrogen replacement therapy) is similar to HRT except that only estrogen is used. HRT can help prevent heart disease and osteoporosis by replacing the hormones lost through menopause. HRT also has a number of risks involved including an increased risk of breast cancer and possibly uterine cancer. You should talk to your doctor about the possible risks and whether HRT is right for you.

Menopause is considered complete after one year without menstruation i.e. without experiencing a monthly period. Until menopause is complete you are still able to become pregnant and so you still need to take proper precautions.

The most common symptoms of menopause include irregular periods, irritability, hot flashes, sleep problems and a decreased sex drive.

Good nutrition and exercise are two ways to decrease the severity of some menopause symptoms. Vitamin supplements are essential to ensure proper health during this time.

An FSH test can determine if you have started menopause. It measures the levels of FSH, which are usually below 10 MIU/mil. A level of 30 or 40 MIU/mil likely means you've reached menopause.

Strength training can help reduce bone loss and can actually reverse bone loss up to 1% a year while stretching exercises, such as yoga, can help to maintain suppleness and decrease the chances of suffering fractures and muscle tear.

Consult with your doctor to determine the best strategy for dealing with your menopause.

Peri Menopause Symptoms and Relief


Peri menopause may be a new term for you. It simply means the time “around” menopause. Peri menopause symptoms are caused by changing hormonal levels during the years that lead up to menopause. They may last as little as a few months or as long as ten years. Every woman is different. These differences may be related to nutrition, diet, exercise regimens, prescription medications or genetic factors. It may be that the ovaries gradually begin to produce less estrogen or estrogen levels may change suddenly from month to month. Much is unknown.

As early as their thirties, some women begin to experience changes in their menstrual periods. They may become heavier or irregular. Some women begin to experience premenstrual syndrome for the first time in their lives. Some doctors recognize these changes and refer to them as peri menopause symptoms, helping to educate women about what they can do to reduce symptoms. Other doctors leave it up to the women to educate themselves. And others suggest a variety of prescription drugs, which may or may not help.

To help regulate menstrual periods, thus relieving those types of peri menopause symptoms, some doctors recommend birth control pills. Women who take birth control pills may have less symptoms of shorter duration, but this is not always the case. Some women cannot and should not take birth control pills, because of the risks associated with them. Many women prefer not to take them, if they are not needed for contraceptive purposes. Birth control pills have known benefits and known risks. To learn more about them, a good website to visit is [http://www.fwhc.org/birth-control/the] pill.htm.

Worsening PMS symptoms may also be peri menopause symptoms. PMS symptoms vary greatly among women, from non-existent to severe. It may be helpful to keep a journal for a while, noting when symptoms like mood swings and breast tenderness appear. There are at least 100 different symptoms associated with PMS; thankfully most women do not experience them all. Women who take birth control pills do not experience PMS, because they do not ovulate, but may have similar symptoms related to varying hormone levels. Anti-depressants are commonly prescribed to relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, but may have side effects, including headache, drowsiness and sexual dysfunction. Regular exercise is one of the best PMS relievers, but without proper nutrition, you may not have the energy for it. A good daily multi-vitamin in addition to a healthy diet that is low in salt, fat, sugar, alcohol and caffeine will help increase energy levels and reduce PMS symptoms.

Hot flashes and night sweats may be the most frustrating peri menopause symptoms. Antidepressants may increase night sweats in some women. These symptoms are directly related to changing estrogen levels. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was at one time considered a safe treatment for all of the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause, but research has shown that those women using HRT had an increased risk of heart disease, breast cancer, stroke and Alzheimer’s.

All peri menopause symptoms, including the ones mentioned here and others are believed to be related to decreased levels of estrogen. Birth control pills and hormone replacement therapies contain synthetic estrogens, thus relieving symptoms, but increasing risks associated with synthetic hormones. Certain plant components have estrogen like effects. These components are referred to as phytoestrogens. Found in plant foods like soy and herbs like black cohosh, phytoestrogens can help relieve PMS and peri menopause symptoms, naturally without side effects.

Insomnia and other sleep disturbances are sometimes experienced in women during peri menopause. Night sweats are sometimes a major sleep disruption, but many women find that a full night’s sleep is just not possible. If you have a doctor that readily writes prescriptions and you tell him about all of your different symptoms, you may end up taking sleep aids, antidepressants and a variety of other drugs. I have known many women who were taking six or seven different prescription medications during peri menopause and still had problems.

Serotonin is one of the compounds circulating in the blood stream believed to regulate sleep and mood. It is regularly sold as a natural sleep aid, but precursors (those substances that the body uses to create serotonin) are more effective and safer for long term use. Tryptophan was heavily marketed at one time, but also had safety issues. 5-HTP is the newest alternative.

Derived from an African plant, 5-HTP is a serotonin precursor that in studies has been shown to act like a prescription antidepressant, without the side effects. It is recommended for use by women with PMS and peri menopause symptoms for many reasons. It promotes healthy natural sleep, without causing grogginess. It improves mood, without the side effects associated with prescription drugs or other herbal remedies. Studies have shown its effectiveness for migraine treatment. Women, who experienced migraines during puberty, often see them reappear during peri menopause.

Natural Menopause Relief - What Really Works?


Having a horrible time with perimenopause or menopause symptoms and need a natural menopause relief? Can't get a good night's rest because of hot flashes? Are you experiencing a woman's worst nightmare and gaining weight? Do your family and friends thing sometimes you are just grouchy and in terrible moods? If you are experiencing even one of these symptoms, you could be experiencing menopause or perimenopause symptoms. However, it's nothing to be alarmed about because there are natural menopause relief supplements available that will alleviate these horrible symptoms.

Perimenopause is the stage that leads to menopause. You may have missed your period a few times a year for example. You may not be at full blown menopause yet, but it's highly likely you're experiencing the same symptoms as a woman in menopause is experiencing. The remedies I am going to tell you about can help you in the perimenopause stage as well.

The menopause stage happens when hormonal imbalances start to change in a woman's life. Progesterone and estrogen are two hormones that play an important role in regulating a woman's activities. If one is reduced lower than normally, then hormonal imbalances occurs which leads to the menopause stage. This stage includes symptoms like weight gain, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and more.

I have been through the perimenopause stage and is now comfortable living in the menopause stage of my life and boy, have I been through some ups and downs. I dreaded being a woman and having to go through these horrible symptoms.

However, it was not all bad. I am just recently living happily now than when I was younger. And it's all because I discovered a natural menopause relief that contains natural herbal supplements that alleviated these symptoms almost instantly.

It is vital that you try a herbal supplement rather than a prescription medicine to stop these symptoms. I have also taken prescription medicine and had horrible side effects. And this was medicine that my doctor prescribed. Every woman's body is different so there is no guarantee as to what ingredients may trigger something. What works for me may not work for you. However, using natural herbal supplements, you are much less likely to experience any side effects because they are natural and thus, safer for your body.

Natural Remedies For PMS - Wild Yam For Your PMS Symptoms!


Today, there is a lot of information available online and offline to help us understand the importance of herbals, botanicals and vitamins.

A couple of years ago, it was very difficult to know about all these herbs and alternative medicines.

We know that their active ingredients provide treatment for almost everything, from cancer to little wrinkles on our face. If you are suffering from painful PMS symptoms, there are many herbal medicines can help you with alleviating your PMS pain.

Wild Yam (Dioscorea villosa) is one of nature's best sources of phytohormones (plant hormones).

These are the basic building blocks your body needs to produce the hormones that regulate your body. Since 18 century wild yam has been used to treat menstrual cramps, nausea, inflammation, menopausal symptoms, and more.

Medical researchers also discovered that if you take wild yam on a regular basis it could help to reduce the levels of cholesterol in the blood. Recent medical study shows that, wild yam also improve the level of sex hormones, antioxidants and lipids on postmenopausal women who regularly consumed wild yam on a 30 day period.

If you unknowingly skimp on phytohormones you may find yourself running out of energy sooner than usual, have irregular periods, stress out at the drop of a hat, lose your sex drive, and hit menopause way before your time.
When it comes down to solving our PMS symptoms many of us simply choose the over the counter medicines instead of trying natural remedies for PMS. In most cases the reason why people choose pain relief medications is just because they work faster on alleviating painful symptoms but there is nothing more than that. They only masks the symptoms.

That means we have to keep taking those drugs every month without knowing how it's actually weakening our body with its harmful side effects.

Unlike pain relief medicines, herbals and vitamins actually they assists the body's natural disease fighters, working in conjunction with the body's natural defense.

Can This Fruit Be the Key for All Women With Menopause


There is a new kid on the block that has been found to be beneficial to menopausal women, because of its ability to mimic estrogen. This can help menopausal women deal with mood swings, depression, bone loss, and fluctuating estrogen levels.

Even though pomegranates are new to the menopausal world they have in fact been around for centuries. They first date back to 750 B.C. and are often called the Chinese apple. And has also been used as the symbol for fertility by the Zoroastrians and other ancient cultures because of its resemblance to the female ovary.

Not only does it look similar to the female ovary but it also produces the same hormones - estradiol, estrone and estriol. It may therefore provide relief from depressive moods, and lower the risk of osteoporosis, breast cancer and heart disease.

How pomegranates can help:

Bone loss reversed - A study in 2004 removed the ovaries from rats and found that there was accelerated bone loss, a common symptom of menopause. They were then feed an extract of pomegranate juice and seeds for 2 weeks and found their bone mineral loss reverted back to normal rates.

Mood improvement - in this same 2004 experiment they found that the rats that were given the pomegranate juice extract had lower levels of depression indicators. The researchers feel that pomegranate juice would be clinically effective for women exhibiting a depressive state.

Heart health - pomegranates can help with the incidence of heart disease with menopausal women by:

  • Lowering cholesterol - A 2000 study showed that pomegranates are rich in antioxidants, which prevent bad (LDL) cholesterol from oxidizing and leading to atherosclerosis.

  • Lower blood pressure - in a small clinical study in Israel in 2004 showed that drinking one glass of pomegranate juice may lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol oxidation, and reversed the plague build up in their carotid arteries by up to 29%.

  • Blood clotting - in another study in The Journal of Medicinal Foods showed pomegranate juice thins the blood and prevents platelet aggregation and clotting.

  • Improves coronary heart disease - pomegranate juice helps heart health because it reduces plaque, increases nitric oxide as shown by studies.

  • Increases oxygen flow - in a 2007 study they drank eight ounces daily for three months increased oxygen flow to the heart muscles in coronary patients.

Breast cancer - pomegranates have anti-cancer effects because of them containing anthocyanidins (sugarless plant pigments, flavonoids, and oils.

Pomegranates are a food that have estrogenic properties, although there is no risk of increase breast cancer because it is a natural adaptogen, that means it increases the levels of estrogen when they are low but they block stronger estrogens when it's too high. Even food has an innate intelligence to adapt its function, which is a much safer and more reliable way to restore health rather than pharmaceuticals that don't have this ability.

In a study researches suggested that pomegranate juice could prevent estrogen dependent breast cancers. This was compared in a 2011 study with Tamoxifen and Estradiol and turned out better.

All about pomegranates

Pomegranates have many benefits, for you to compare an 8 ounce glass contains 40% of the RDA of vitamin C, it is also rich in vitamins A and E and folic acid. It contains antioxidants called phytochemicals, antioxidants act on free radicals preventing cellular death. The level of antioxidants is one of the highest, even higher than cranberry, blueberries and green tea.

Symptoms of Female Menopause


Symptoms of female menopause can be intense changes that happen throughout a few years. The changes that take place can not only by physically as well as mentally exhausting. Millions of women each year deal with the symptom of female menopause and learning about each different symptom and how to react to it can help you get through this time with a lot less stress. Not only does menopause affect you but it affects your family as well. This can be a scary time but the more you know about each symptom of female menopause the more prepared you will be.

The most difficult part about menopause is that the symptoms may begin in advance to you actually going through menopause. The fact is that it really isn't technically called menopause until one year after your last period. Dealing with these symptoms is not something that is short lived; it can be a long strenuous period of time. A few crucial symptoms that in general affect every woman going through menopause include: difficulty sleeping, mood changes, heart palpitations, hair loss, and loss of sexual desire. Each symptom of female menopause can be intense or subtle and it all depends on your age and your body.

The difficulty of sleeping can be an extreme issue; this is something that can cause problems with your social life and your career. Often times difficulty sleeping can result in an awkward sleeping pattern where one may be awake at night and exhausted throughout the day. Going through this change will make it difficult to carry out a normal day; being sure to get to bed early and putting yourself in a relaxed sleeping environment is important. Mood changes are something that occurs often, and depression is quite possibly the most frustrating symptom of female menopause. Heart palpitations is one of the scariest symptoms of menopause, when you feel your heart double beat or beat too fast it can be a scary thing.

Being sure that you are eating correctly and exercising can make this particular symptom not seem so intense. Hair loss is a symptom that can make you feel depressed and give you an extreme loss of confidence. In general the hair loss is usually not too common, but it can make a definite difference in your look; if you are aware of this symptom it shouldn't take you as a surprise. This symptom is not common in every woman, and it is a rare symptom but is something that should be recognized. Loss of sexual desire is a crucial symptom that can affect relationships, this will eventually pass.

Each symptom can range from being extremely intense to subtle; with certain symptoms you may never even encounter. Dealing with each of these in the right manner is the key, and staying healthy and active can make you feel much better even if you are encountering every symptom. Menopause is a huge changing point for every woman, making it through this difficult time and still being happy and healthy is the goal.