Natural Solutions to Menopause

Natural Solutions to Menopause

17th May 2019

There has been a lot in the news this week for ‘National Menopause Week’ but it predominately seems to surround the use of HRT. This may work well for some but what about for others who don’t want to use prescribed medication to help them through what is, after all, meant to be a natural progression in a woman’s life.

When a woman’s ovaries begin to wind down towards menopause, symptoms such as significant mood swings, hot flushes, night sweats, unusual weight gain and forgetfulness are commonly experienced which can be not only disconcerting but hard to manage. However, this, in theory, should be a stage one passes through and not, as we are now being led to believe, a serious medical condition. So, what is going on – why does one woman have severe symptoms and another none?

What I am going to do is explain a little bit from a functional perspective of why some woman experience more significant symptoms than others and what you can do about it if you are one of those women who is struggling. Or if you simply want to understand more in preparation for the years ahead.

As we age, the ovaries do not suddenly shut down production of oestrogen (or oestrodial to be more precise), it is a gradual decline during what is called the peri-menopause years when women typically experience irregularity in their cycles. In theory, the adrenal glands pick up some of the slack by aiding in oestrogen production via the production of oestrone (the predominant oestrogen in the body post menopause) and the body can convert some fat to oestrone.

Menopausal Symptoms

 

Some Factors Influencing Menopausal Symptoms:

What can you do?

flaxseed help with menopausal symptoms

I have not discussed here the potential risks and studies supporting, or otherwise, the links of HRT with increased risk of breast cancer as that is something I go through in detail with clients on a one-by-one basis to help put the risks versus benefits into context of their own unique situation.

Health Warning: Please also be aware that none of the above constitutes advise as every client must be assessed individually to find what is at the root of their symptoms and that if you are on medication, herbs can interact with these and advise from a suitably qualified healthcare practitioner should be sought.

Katherine is a Functional Nutritional Therapist

This is a Guest Post by Katherine.

Katherine is a degree qualified Functional Nutritional Therapist in private practice at Brighter Spaces Islington. To see how a Functional Nutritional Therapist can help you, please visit www.kchnutrition.co.uk or contact Katherine directly at info@kchnutrition.co.uk.