Natural Remedies For Perimenopause And Menopause Symptoms
 by: LynnDonn

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason for many is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and a number of serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no means been proven, and the issue is currently the subject of serious debate among women’s health experts. Many women have experienced unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The whole notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources are necessarily free from the risk of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind of medication you choose to take, it’s essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individual advice and attention. Information you find online and in women’s health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor’s advice, and it’s wise to read as widely as you can to get an overall picture of the issues. Your health is the most important thing you have, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it’s vital that you make these choices with your eyes open.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body’s levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and the imbalance between them. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels. Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect in the body to the body’s own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

Estrogen treatments.

Soy

By far the richest source of phytoestrogens (sometimes called “isoflavones”) is soybeans, and foods made from soy extracts. Soy can be consumed in the form of tofu, soy cheese, meat substitute products such as soy burgers, breads and muffins made with soy flour, and soy drinks, sometimes known as “soy milk”. Some studies have shown that consuming soy beverages or breads made with soy flour twice daily can reduce the severity or the number of hot flashes, but results have been inconclusive and inconsistent. Soy powders and pills contain much higher levels of phytoestrogens than soy foods, and may have a more significant effect in alleviating menopause symptoms than soy foods, but little is known about the potential hazards. Consuming soy extracts and soy foods may have a range of other health benefits, including reducing the risk of osteoporosis, cancer and heart disease, and lowering cholesterol. Some studies suggest that phytoestrogens may actually help to reduce the risk of breast cancer by blocking the overproduction of natural estrogen in the body.

Herbs containing phytoestrogens

Red clover has been used in Asia for thousands of years to treat skin conditions, asthma, bronchitis, kidney stones, joint disorders and breast inflammation. It is thought to work by improving circulation and stimulating urine and mucous production, or “purifying the blood”. Red clover has been recently discovered to contain high levels of phytoestrogens, and its usefulness in the treatment of menopause symptoms is being investigated. Some studies have shown the herb to be very effective in reducing hot flashes and improving bone density and strength, while others have been inconclusive.

Dong Quai is an important herb used in Chinese medicine, and has been used to treat PMS, menstrual irregularities and menopause symptoms for thousands of years, although its effectiveness has yet to be clinically verified by Western health practitioners. It is also believed to dilate blood vessels, and is used to treat high blood pressure and circulatory problems.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is commonly believed to contain phytoestrogens, although clinical studies to confirm this have been far from conclusive. It is a perennial plant native to North America, and is also known as black snakeroot, bugbane, rattleroot and macrotys. The plant has a long history of usefulness as a medicinal treatment, first by Native American people and more recently by alternative health practitioners, and has been used to treat a range of gynecological ailments including menopause symptoms, infertility, inflammation of the uterus and ovaries, and to induce lactation, bring on menstruation, and alleviate labor pains. It has also been used to treat rheumatism, fever, coughs and colds, hives and backache. Some studies have shown that taking pills made from black cohosh extract is very helpful in providing short term relief from a range of menopause symptoms including hot flashes, depression, mood swings and anxiety. However, little is known about the effects of taking the treatment in the long term, and some negative side effects have been reported, including headaches, stomach and gastric discomfort and weight gain.

Maca

Peruvian Maca root is believed to work by stimulating glands in the body to produce their own estrogen and testosterone. Maca has been cultivated in the Andes region for perhaps thousands of years, and has been used as a treatment to increase energy, enhance libido and increase fertility. Maca root is claimed to provide a range of benefits, including alleviating PMS symptoms, reducing depression and stress, increasing athletic ability and creating a general sense of well being. It is also claimed to be effective in treating a wide range of menopausal symptoms, including mood swings, depression, irritability, anxiety, fatigue, hot flashes, reduced libido, sleep disturbances and breast tenderness. Objective clinical research into the effectiveness and the potential hazards of taking Maca root supplements is very scant.

Progesterone treatments.

An alternative view of the causes of menopause symptoms places more emphasis on the role of progesterone, and the imbalance between progesterone and estrogen. “Estrogen dominance” is a recently identified syndrome, and is believed by a small number of doctors to be the cause of severe PMS and menstrual problems in early adulthood, and a range of severe symptoms as menopause approaches. Advocates of progesterone treatments believe them to be free from the health risks and side effects associated with estrogen based treatments.

Natural progesterone cream

Natural progesterone creams usually contain extracts from Mexican wild yam, which contains a substance which is believed to be similar to the progesterone produced in the body. The creams are applied to the parts of the body where the skin is thinner, such as the breasts, inner thighs, inner forearms or stomach, and are believed to pass through the skin and circulate through the body. Many women have found natural progesterone creams to be very effective in treating menopause symptoms, but there is no evidence to show that the creams lower the risk of breast and uterine cancer, or are free from the risk of side effects as is sometimes claimed.

Chaste tree berry

Chaste tree berry, sometimes known as Chasteberry or Vitex agnus castus has been used since ancient Greek times to treat a range of ailments. It is believed to stimulate the production of progesterone, and has been shown to be very effective in alleviating severe PMS and a range of menopausal symptoms

Natural remedies for perimenopause and menopause symptoms.

More and more women are seeking natural alternative treatments for symptoms of menopause, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the most compelling reason for many is the association between conventional hormone replacement therapy and a number of serious health risks, including an increased risk of breast cancer and blood clots, although the link has by no means been proven, and the issue is currently the subject of serious debate among women’s health experts. Many women have experienced unpleasant side effects resulting from conventional HRT, including nausea, headaches and vaginal bleeding. Many women simply feel apprehensive at the thought of taking drugs which have been manufactured synthetically.

The whole notion of returning to old fashioned herbal treatments and folk remedies has a certain comforting, romantic appeal. Some of the herbal medicines which are being rediscovered have been used to treat a range of ailments for literally thousands of years. There is a commonly held belief that medicines derived from natural sources are necessarily free from the risk of negative side effects, harmful interactions and allergic reactions. This is simply not true. Whatever kind of medication you choose to take, it’s essential that you fully understand how it works, what dosage level is appropriate for you, and what objective research has been done on its effectiveness and its potential hazards. Your doctor is the best person to provide you with professional, individual advice and attention. Information you find online and in women’s health publications is a useful supplement to your doctor’s advice, and it’s wise to read as widely as you can to get an overall picture of the issues. Your health is the most important thing you have, and while you are free to make your own choices about treating menopause symptoms, it’s vital that you make these choices with your eyes open.

Most experts believe that all of the common symptoms of menopause are caused by the dramatic decline and fluctuations in the body’s levels of estrogen and to some extent progesterone, and the imbalance between them. Approaches to alleviating symptoms generally focus around restoring these hormone levels. Natural treatments are typically made from extracts of plants containing substances which are very similar to the estrogen and/or progesterone produced by the ovaries. The effectiveness of these treatments relies on the assumption that these phytoestrogens and plant progesterones have a similar effect in the body to the body’s own natural hormones. Some herbal treatments work by stimulating glands to produce natural hormones more effectively, rather than restoring the hormones artificially.

Another approach is to treat each symptom individually. There is a range of natural treatments which focus specifically on alleviating common symptoms such as hot flashes, depression, libido problems, vaginal dryness and fatigue.

About The Author

Lynn Donn is the webmaster for http://www.menopause-symptoms-perimenopause.com. Her website includes helpful articles on perimenopause and menopause symptoms including hot flashes and night sweats. Site offers suggestions on how to ease symptoms of menopause and perimenopause naturally using black cohosh, soy and natural progesterone cream etc.

Acupuncture forms part of traditional Chinese medicine. Included are Chinese herbalism, tai chi and chi kung. It is believed that traditional Chinese medicine originated around 2500BC and is one of the oldest forms of treatment. Acupuncture did not really become well known in Western countries until the 1950s, except for the few Chinese practitioners treating Chinese patients in those countries such as Britain. Today, even some orthodox physicians are trained in acupuncture and are incorporating it with western medicine and achieving great results.

Acupuncture is centered on Tao philosophy, like the other forms of Chinese medicine. It is based on the philosophy that a vital energy (force) flows along invisible channels in the body with the inseparable opposing forces of yin and yang, which govern each person. ‘Yin’ is a masculine, active and positive force and ‘yang’, a female, passive and negative force. When this energy (chi) freely flows through these invisible channels (meridians) and the yin and yang are balanced, the result is health. If the yin and yang are unbalanced and the chi is blocked, the results become noticeable in the form of illness. The purpose therefore of acupuncture is to correct these imbalances and unblock the meridians, allowing the chi to flow freely once again in the body restoring the patient to physical health. Another form of acupuncture called auricular therapy is based solely on the external ear, which contains its own acupuncture points. This type of therapy is very useful for acute conditions.

People suffering from allergies, asthma, bronchitis and other conditions may benefit by acupuncture. Acupuncture is also helpful in relieving pain. Acupuncture aids the body to release its very own pain-reliever, known as endorphins, which has effects similar to morphine. The success of the acupuncture also depends on the responsiveness of the patient. Some people seem to be more responsive than others especially children that receive treatment.

During the initial consultation the practitioner will ask questions about the patients history, the present complaint, life style, diet and exercise routines and emotional health. Skin colour, the state of the nails, eyes and tongue, body odour and careful examination of the pulse points form part of the diagnosis. The human body contains 59 meridians and about 1000 pressure points. To treat imbalances the acupuncturist will stimulate the pressure points that occur along the meridians. Inserting fine, solid needles into the skin, applying heat and fingertip pressure form part of stimulation. The points involved are usually found on the forearms, hands, feet and lower legs. Sometimes all three methods of stimulation may be used. Treatment may include recommendations on diet and exercise.

Always ensure you choose a fully trained and registered practitioner when seeking acupuncture treatment. Inform the practitioner of any orthodox treatment you may be receiving before diagnosis or treatment in acupuncture. Acupuncture is most often used in conjunction with Chinese herbalism, as it can be contraindicated with some forms of complementary therapy. Parents should always consult an acupuncturist who has had special training in the treatment of children, before embarking on a diagnosis in acupuncture. The treatment for children will consist mainly of fingertip pressure (acupressure) to the relevant acupuncture points, rather than applying the more traditional method of needles.

Michael Russell

Your Independent guide to Acupuncture

Article Source:

http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michael_Russell

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Chinese medicine/acupuncture to help infertility?

I've been having acupuncture and been taking these herbal tablets the woman prescribed me, called 'Ba Zhen Yi Mu Wan', to treat Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovaries.

Anyone had this treatment before? Did it work?

(I'm also getting professional medical treatment, but it's not for a couple of months yet and I wanted to try this in the meantime).

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I hope you’ve been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.

Acupuncture Health Blog » Chinese Medicine, Fertility and Essence

If you happen to be one of these women, don't fret: Chinese Medicine theory states that a woman with ample essence can easily have a healthy baby in her forties. What is essence? Essence is similar to what western medicine would refer …

Overcome Infertility -Fertility and Pure Water | Treating Infertility

We have spent most of the time in this series discussing the conventional and Chinese medicine in treating fertility. I believe, it is the best time to change the subject by discussing fertility and pure water. I. Definition …

There is such thing called ‘fertility diet’ | CHINESE MEDICINE NEWS

Women trying to get pregnant could boost their chances by adopting a fertility diet high in nuts and avocadoes while cutting down on coffee and alcohol, accor.

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

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How Traditional Chinese Medicine (Acupuncture) Enhances Fertility
 by: Robin Hays and Nancy Rakela

Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China; http://www.FertilityAcupuncturist.com
Nancy Rakela, L.Ac., O.M.D., China; http://www.NancyRakela.com
TCM describes the female reproductive system as a network of energy systems. Each energy system has
complementary organs and hormonal responses. This network responds to stress, chemicals, lack of
exercise, poor diet and excess emotions all of which can put the body ‘out of balance’. A TCM practitioner
will carefully determine the state of your imbalances and prescribe an individualized program of herbs,
acupuncture and diet to help you create the correct environment for fertility and pregnancy.

Stress Reduction

Psychological stress can have a negative effect on couples facing fertility problems. Stress
leads to the release of stress hormones and causes detrimental effects on mechanisms responsible
for a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle. The success of acupuncture for reducing stress and anxiety
is due to its beta-endorphin release and sympathetic calming effects.
Stress causes the sympathetic nervous system of be over stimulated. Thus, the blood flow
is diverted away from the ovaries and uterus to the adrenals (stress coping gland) instead. This
can cause irregular cycles, lack of ovulation, and infertility. Electro acupuncture and Femoral
Artery Massage redirect the blood flow back to the ovaries and uterus, enhancing fertility and
regulating your cycle.

Acupuncture Strengthens The Immune System

Many women with immunological factors hostile to pregnancy have been effectively treated with
TCM prescription of diet, herbs, and acupuncture. When an acupuncturist treats the root problem,
the immunological markers correct themselves.

Fertility Hormone Regulation

Acupuncture has been known to control pain through stimulating the release of beta-endorphin.
In addition, beta-endorphin works to influence the source of women’s ovulatory and fertility
hormones (the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis) and control hormones that regulate a women’s
ovulation and fertility that includes gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH), follicle stimulating
hormone (F.S.H.), luteinizing hormone (L.H.) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG).

Regulates Hormones Creating Better Egg Quality

Acupuncture normalizes the dysfunction of the Hypothalamus- Pituitary – Ovarian Axis.
This improves ovarian function creating more follicles, and better egg production. It
has also been suggested that the concentrations of central opioids may regulate the
function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis via the central sympathetic system,
and that a hyperactive sympathetic system in anovulatory patients could be normalized by
ElectroAcupuncture (Chen and Yin, 1991). It has been assumed that various disorders in
the autonomic nervous system, such as hormonal disturbances, may be normalized during
auricular acupuncture (Gerhard and Postneck, 1992). www.acubalance.ca/res_medical_reduction.php.

Acupuncture Lessens Side Effects From Clomid

Clomid often causes the uterine lining to thin, which is detrimental to becoming pregnant.
Acupuncture causes the uterine lining to thicken and become more uniform. This is a result
of increased blood flow to the uterine arteries, as proven in the article referenced just
below.

I.V.F. Assistance With Acupuncture Treatment

This study shows that acupuncture increases blood flow to the uterine arteries, creating a thicker
and more regular lining, allowing for IVF to be more successful. Acupuncture also improves ovarian
blood flow to increase ovarian response.
Reduction of blood flow impedance in the uterine arteries of infertile women with
Electro Acupuncture Stener-Victirin,et al., Human Reproduction, Vol 11, no6. pp. 1311-17, 1996.

Decreases Uterine Contractility at Implantation

Study: Influence of Acupuncture on the pregnancy rate in patients who undergo ART.

Fertility a& Sterility Vol77 April 2002

“Acupuncture May Improve Success Rate Of IVF Pregnancies:
Patients in the acupuncture group received two acupuncture sessions – the first treatment
25 minutes before embryo transfer, the second treatment 25 minutes after. In the acupuncture
group, the pregnancy rate was “considerably higher” – 34 women (42.5%) were carrying a fetal
sac at the time of examination.”
“Relaxing the uterus with Acupuncture treatment allows for more successful IVF.”
www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html, www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2002/jul/07ivf.html

Acupuncture Decreases The Chance Of Miscarriage
Acupuncture relaxes the uterus, increases blood flow to the uterus, warms the uterus, increases
the immune system, regulates the hormones and decreases stress, all creating less of a chance
of miscarriage.

Study: Acupuncture Improves Fertility In Men, Too
According to statistics from the National Infertility Association (an organization also known as RESOLVE),
between 35 percent and 40 percent of infertility problems among couples are actually caused by male
conditions. A recent trial published in Fertility and Sterility has shown just how effective
acupuncture can be in the treatment of this condition, leading to significant increases in the number
of normal sperm and equally significant reductions in structural defects. Thus, Acupuncture improves
sperm count, motility, and morphology. www.acupuncturetoday.com/archives2005/oct/10infertility.html

For more information, see www.fertilityacupuncturist.com or www.acupuncture-works.com

About The Author

Robin Hays, L.Ac., O.M.D., China is a Licensed Acupuncturist,
Herbalist, and a Diplomate of National Board of Acupuncture
Orthopedics with a speciality in fertility and pregnancy
complications. She practices in Los Angeles, CA. Nancy Rakela, L.Ac.,
O.M.D., China is a Licensed Acupuncturist, with certification
Acupuncture Orthopedics, with a speciality in acute and chronic pain.
She practices in Berkeley, CA.

Technorati Tags: chinese medicine fertility

I hope you’ve been enjoying my posts lately. I thought I might do something different today and rustle up a few bits of info from around the WWW. These are some of the news items and blog posts that have been popular over the last few weeks. Leave me your thoughts.

Making Babies: A Proven 3-Month Program for Maximum Fertility …

For the link and to read my comment please click here. You can also view my video blog below…

Lab Testing and Hormonal Assessment for Fertility and Reproductive …

Date: Sunday, October 4, 2009 Registration begins at 8:00am. (Important for those viewing the live stream on computer) Lecture 9:00am -5:30pm (PST…

Chinese Medicine For Infertility |

When it comes to traditional Chinese medicine and infertility, both the herbs and acupuncture are essential in order for the medications to be effective. The idea behind it is to treat the imbalance in the body through the use of …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

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