| Bone Health | |
Once you confirm that you are in one of the stages of menopause and make the commitment to manage your journey, you will ask yourself "how will I treat my menopause symptoms?" Most of our mother's went through the "change" silently with no emotional or physical support. This may be the reason we saw so many forty something movie stars sipping martinis in the 50's. Today with numerous medical studies on hormone therapy and an abundance of "natural" remedies it can be difficult making the correct treatment choice. There are four directions you can take to treat your menopause.
I have personally benefited from prescription hormones most of my adult life. Twenty-five years ago I suffered from a serious case of endometriosis that led to ovarian cysts. Luckily I had a progressive female doctor who put me on birth control pills. I was problem-free the majority of my childbearing years. When I “slammed” into menopause I tried natural remedies, did nothing hoping it would go away, prayed asking God “please relieve my hot flashes”, incorporated a new diet and started exercising with no immediate results. I ended up having success with the third option… medical treatment. That said we are all different. No two of us have the same history, genetics, beliefs or comfort zones. Because there is no one formula, no magic pill that can help women treat their menopausal symptoms, it is often difficult for doctors to treat. It is important that we take an active interest in managing our menopause. Because we have choices, we can find solutions. The first step to creating a plan to manage your menopause is to understand your options. Do nothing If you are lucky and your symptoms are mild, you may opt to slide through menopause doing nothing. But you would be a minority. 80% of all women suffer from moderate menopause symptoms, 10% have severe symptoms and 10% get through menopause with very little or no symptoms. So if you are one of the lucky 10% with no or minor symptoms, doing nothing is a perfect solution. For the other 90% suffering from moderate to severe symptoms you may consider the next treatment options. Natural Remedies Most of us would love to treat our menopause symptoms “naturally” since menopause is a “natural” event in our life. But what is “natural”? Having the ability to buy over-the-counter remedies that are herbal or plant-derived products are considered “natural” options. Popular therapies that claim to treat menopause symptoms include phytoestrogens, wild yam creams, biolidenticals and herbal medicines. Black Cohosh. Also taken to treat hot flashes and night sweats. St. John's Wort. Used to treat mild to moderate depression. Chasteberry (also known as monk's pepper, sage tree hemp, and tree wild pepper). Women have reported improvements in mood, headaches and breast fullness. Valerian Root. Used as a sleep aid. Dong Quai. Many women take this but should be aware that studies aimed at reducing hot flashes found it was no better than a placebo. This herb can be potentially toxic because it contains compounds that can thin the blood, and makes the skin more sensitive to the sun. Ginseng. Can be used for relieving stress and boosting immunity. Wild and Mexican yam. There are claims that the hormones in Wild and Mexican yam have estrogenic or progestational properties. Bioidentical hormone therapy (“natural” hormone therapy). Made from different plant hormones that are similar to those in a woman’s body. Each prescription is hand-mixed, and the dose can vary from patient to patient. Creams and gels are common ways to take bioidenticals. Acupressure and Acupuncture. Some women claim they get menopausal relief from acupressure and/or acupuncture. Many of these therapies have not been subjected to clinical trials and continue to remain controversial. Do not be fooled that “natural” products or “natural” hormones are safer. For six months I used a “natural” bioidentical in the form of a cream with negative results. My estrogen levels went so high it affected my health. Yet, I have two girlfriends using “natural” remedies and they feel better physically and enjoy the emotional comfort that their treatment is “natural”. And they don’t need to go to their doctor to make adjustments. They can either self-medicate or discuss their symptoms with an expert at the store selling the products. |
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