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Ayurvedic Remedies for Menopause

admin — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 07:52:21 +0000

Right from her period of adolescence, a woman undergoes a number of changes, both physically and mentally. One of the natural transitions experienced by every woman, who has attained the menstrual cycle, is menopause. Menopause is defined as the culmination of woman’s monthly menstrual periods and ovulation. The natural transition brings in a number of changes in the hormonal composition of the women, as well as triggers symptoms related to the physical change. Her body starts producing lesser amounts of the hormones – estrogen and progesterone (among others). Go through the following lines to know what menopause is, according to Ayurveda.

Menopause in Ayurveda
Ayurveda says that menopause is not a disease, but a natural transition in women that occurs at the age of 45-55 years. In Ayurveda, the transition is often associated with the process of aging in women. Since aging is a ‘Vata’ predominant stage of life, the symptoms of menopause experienced by some women are often similar to the symptoms, when the Vata dosha rises and upsets the normal balance of the body. Typically, there are three types of menopause – vata dominated menopause, pitta dominated menopause and kapha dominated menopause.

Common Symptoms Of Menopause

Anemia
Burning and increased frequency of micturation
Excessive hair fall
Feeling of intense heat in the body on some occasions
Irregular menstrual periods with excessive or scanty bleeding
Irritable nature
Joint pain
Oedema
Profuse sweating at night
Sleeplessness
Vaginal dryness and itching
Weakness

Effects
Each type of menopause has different symptoms. For instance, the Vata-type menopausal symptoms include depression, anxiety and insomnia. On the other hand, women with Pitta-type symptoms are often angry and suffer hot flashes. Kapha type menopause symptoms include listlessness, weight gain and feelings of mental and physical heaviness. The type of treatment depends upon the dosha in which the woman’s menopausal symptoms are manifesting. This suggests that each type of menopause needs different treatments to be administered. However, there still exist some common symptoms of menopause, which are experienced by women.

Ayurvedic Remedies
Most of the women are unaware of the right kind of treatment, diet, nutritional supplements and exercise, which should be done during menopause. With proper guidance and simple lifestyle changes, they can easily avoid most of the unpleasant side effects of menopause, to a great extent. Various Ayurvedic herbs can be used during the period, which can help a great deal in strengthening and rejuvenating the female reproductive system. In addition to this, the herbs prescribed for the same can regulate the hormones and calm the emotions. Some of the examples are Aloe gel, Shatavari, Saffron, Kapikacchu, and Ashwagandha. These herbs, if taken in milk decoctions, can relieve the symptoms of menopause.

TCM Helps Hot Flashes

admin — Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:12:15 +0000

Chinese Medicine: Looks Deeper! Chinese Medicine sees Menopause Very differently. The focus is more that the Symptoms indicate Imbalances that need to be addressed.

TCM sees Menopause Symptoms as Blood and Fluid Deficiency. Estrogen Production is High when there there is enough Spare Blood to have a Period. I personally, have seen Young Women Skip Periods after Heroically Donating Blood!
The TCM Explanation…
Hot Flashes are caused by an Imbalance in the Body of Fire and Water.Yep!
The Fire is Metabolic Heat. The Water is in the body’s Fluids. Although calling it “Kidney Yin Deficiency with Flaring – Liver Fire” may sound Wierd or Exotic, It really simply means DEHYDRATION.

Imagine a kettle over a fire with not enough water in it.As the water gets consumed by the heat. Heat(which rises)starts to flare up as the kettle starts getting scorched. Hot Flashes!

OK,let’s get more specific. Menopause Symptoms like Hot Flashes, Night Sweats, Sleep disturbances, even Emotional Stuff are Classic Symptoms of Deep Dehydration. Dehydration of the Blood itself.
This can happen also to someone after a Prolonged Fever, or Viral illness.

Fire and Water in the Blood
Western Medicine tells us that the Stuff we call “Blood” is a liquid that should be 2 parts Red Blood Cells to 3 parts Water. White Blood Cells take up only 1-2%. What we are talking about is reduced and even thckened blood volume. Not enough Water. Not enough Blood. (Dr.’s like to give Aspirin for this. It thins and Cools the Blood.

Stops Fever).

The Brain is Smart and Sensitive enough to recognize Serious Fluid Depletion. There’s Wisdom to Shutting down Reproductive Functions when there is not enough Blood.

The body is getting too Dry. Old Age Symptoms are Dryness Symptoms.Wrinkles Shrivelling.

Chinese and Ayurvedic Herbal Medicine would treat this by “Coolng and Nourishing the Blood”. You can translate that to: “Expand Blood Volume and Treat Underlying Inflamatory Process”. Herbs that do this are Carefully Combined in Chinese Medicine to TREAT the Dehyration in the Blood. and then the Hot Flashes GO AWAY.
Thats Why Dong Quai(Angelica Sinensis) has gained a reputation for Menopause symptom relief. It is not Estrogenic at all! This Herb, traditionally used by Chinese Women for Centuries, is a Nourishing BLOOD Tonic! They use it in Soups as FOOD! And they are primarily Menopause Symptom free!

But it’s not so Simple. DonQuai actually Warms and Stimulates the Blood. It contains Coumarins, that can encourage Blood Flow.

Therefore should Not be taken Alone by Women with Heavy Periods or taking prescription AntiCoagulants. And because it Warms the Blood can increase Hot Flashes,probably the most distressing menopause symptom! Combined with cooling herbs, though it can help alot.

Herbs that are Cooling and Highly Nourishing like Chinese Stellaria(YinChaiHu) or,Chinese Asparagus Root(TaiMenDong) really help! The related Herb ,Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosa) is Famous in India as Deeply Nourishing to Fluids and Blood.

Another Incredible Fluid and Blood Builder and my personal favorite for so many reasons is Spirulina,helpful for practically Any menopause symptom..

As soon as you even suspect that you are having Hot Flashes, or if they are already full blown, Herbs Really help! Which herbs?

First, lets look into how a Traditional Herbalist looks at Hot flashes.

Hot Flashes are viewed as a streaming-up of internal heat.

The source of this heat is understood to be chronic dryness that has become inflamatory. A Deep and chronic Dehydration state.

Like a Kettle on a flame with inadequate water. The heat starts to scorch and inflame. The herbal strategy will be to give herbs that are Cooling and Fluid-Nourishing. To turn off the Fire, cool the Kettle off, and fill it with water.

TCM calls these herbs “Yin” Tonics. Ayurveda would describe them as nourishing “Kapha”. These herbs Hydrate, coat,and soothe parched,inflamed muccous membraines. Common herbs are: Marshmallow(Althea), Asparagus ROOT,
Great Ayurvedic herbs are Shatavari(Asparagus Racemosa), and Amla(Emblica Myrobalani).

My favorite TCM herbs for this purpose are: Chinese Stellaria(YinChaiHu), Lycium Root(DiguPi), White Peony Rt.(BaiShao) and many others.

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Different Hormonal Therapies For Menopause

admin — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 07:47:56 +0000

Hormone therapies come in many forms as well as dosages depending on the woman. Some will be prescribed a pill form of estrogen which is combined with a synthetic form of progesterone known as Progestin. Estrogen can come in many forms and may be prescribed as a patch, a cream, a topical ointment as well as gels. There are also time released tablets which administer estrogen in controlled amounts to the woman as the day progresses.

In 2002 a clinical trial study known as the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) reported that hormone therapy actually poses more health risks than the before though of benefits of this treatment. Hormone therapy is not the magical cure for aging as was once believed, however it’s still the most effective treatment for uncomfortable menopausal symptoms for the majority of women.

Despite risks such as more likelihood of heart disease, breast cancer, & stroke Hormone Replacement therapy still seems to be the marketed treatment of choice for many women. Some reports indicate that women taking a Hormone Replacement Therapy can actual protect the heart. Information concerning Hormone Replacement therapy can be disconcerting and may cause alarm for many women.

There are more natural treatments available with nominal side effects.
Some alternative therapies are:
food/diet, acupressure and acupuncture, exercise, ayurveda, herbal medicine to name a few. A cup of soy milk daily can help in common menopause symptoms such as mood swings,, hot flashes, insomnia, decreased sexual interest and bone loss. Eating tofu or a soybean curd can also be essential in helping the body to restore natural hormone levels.
Other foods to consider are:
whole grains, seaweed, beans, fresh vegetables and miso soup. Daily exercise will greatly assist in the regulation of hormones. Dryness caused from menopause can also be relieved by consuming your fair share of water daily.

Chinese medicine once again makes it’s way to western culture by offering some really great alternatives as well. The chinese have used black sesame seeds, String beans, Barley, Mung beans and sprouts, Wheat germ and wheat germ oil. A daily does of 100-400 milligrams of Royal jelly help to tone the female hormonal system. Since menopause is a naturally occurring event for women, it is best to understand that the symptoms at some point will diminish, so a woman should seriously consider what all of her options are before deciding on a treatment.

Top Menopause Products.

Supplements For Menopausal Relief.

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Causes of Menopause

admin — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 07:24:09 +0000

Menopause is the end of menstruation. The word comes from the Greek mens, meaning monthly, and pausis, meaning cessation. Menopause is part of a woman’s natural aging process when her ovaries produce lower levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone and when she is no longer able to become pregnant.

Unlike a woman’s first menstruation, which starts on a single day, the changes leading up to menopause happen over several years. The average age for menopause is 52. But menopause commonly happens anytime between the ages of 42 and 56.

Causes

Menopause is a natural event that normally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55.

Once menopause is complete (called postmenopause), you can no longer become pregnant.

The symptoms of menopause are caused by changes in estrogen and progesterone levels. As the ovaries become less functional, they produce less of these hormones and the body responds accordingly. The specific symptoms you experience and how significant (mild, moderate, or severe) varies from woman to woman.

Symptoms

A woman can experience a variety of menopause symptoms, which occur during the perimenopause stage, including:

Heart disease risk increases after menopause, although it is unclear exactly how much is due to aging and how much is caused by the hormonal changes that occur at the time of menopause. Women who undergo premature menopause or have their ovaries removed surgically at an early age are at an increased risk of heart disease.

Medical and Natural Treatments

Hot flashes and night sweats: triggered by heavy blankets, caffeine, alcohol, hot water. Dressing in light layers can alleviate hot flashes and night sweats; avoiding caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods can also minimize these symptoms, as can deep breathing

Insomnia: characterized by fatigue, irritability, waking up during the night, trouble falling asleep, cognitive impairment and decreased memory. Natural treatments for insomnia include: valerian, hops, passion flower and dong quai, all of which are sedative herbs. Vitamin B6 is also helpful because it produces serotonin; exercising during the day, avoiding alcohol, avoiding caffeine before bedtime, relaxing before going to bed (for example, taking a bath) and sleeping in a dark room can also help

Depression and mood swings: characterized by a decreased interest in life, fatigue, loss of appetite, thoughts of suicide and talk of death. St. John’s wort, magnesium, a vitamin B complex and exercise can help minimize these menopausal symptoms

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