Saturday, June 29, 2013

3 Crucial Aspects of Natural Uterine Fibroid Treatment, Which Helped Me Shrink Fibroids Naturally


Upon being diagnosed with multiple, large fibroids, I was desperate to find a fibroid cure which did not involve surgery. I looked bloated and my bleeding was so excessive that I had to take iron supplements to treat anemia. I was fed up of the symptoms of fibroids and was prepared to give anything to identify a uterine fibroid treatment method which did not involve surgery.

I wanted to have children in future so hysterectomy, the only surgical procedure which provides permanent relief from fibroids was ruled out in my case. Although my doctors assured me that fibroids are rarely life threatening, I was desperate to start my treatment for uterine fibroids at the earliest.

Since I was not interested in hysterectomy my doctor advised me to follow the wait and watch approach. Usually fibroids disappear on its own with the onset of menopause. Hence no treatment for uterine fibroid is recommended for women approaching menopause. Taking my age into account, effectively this meant that I had to put up with the symptoms of fibroids for at least five more years.

My symptoms were getting unbearable by the day and there was no way I could put up with them for five more years. I decided to do my own research and find a way out to shrink fibroids naturally.

Thanks to internet I found a lot of valuable information to guide me. I learned that fibroids are usually caused by a combination of environmental, lifestyle and hereditary factors. Since there is no single cause of fibroids which can be pinpointed with certainty treatment for uterine fibroids becomes a little complex. The uterine fibroid treatment plan which you adopt must be able to address all the multiple causes and eliminate each one in a systematic manner so as to shrink fibroids naturally.

In this article I am going to share details of natural remedies for uterine fibroid treatment. It is important for you to understand that natural treatment by itself will not eliminate the uterine fibroid tumors. It will help in shrinking the existing fibroids a, reduce the symptoms of fibroids and restrict the growth of new fibroids.

I paid particular attention to diet, liver detox and yoga during my fibroid treatment period. These three factors were largely responsible for making a success of my plan of treatment for uterine fibroids

1. Diet

I made a few dietary changes and included certain categories of food which would help to shrink fibroids. I included iron rich fruits and vegetables like spinach, beans, peas, dried fruits and nuts in my daily intake. If necessary you can consult your doctor and take oral iron supplements too.

Vitamin c helps the body to absorb iron better. Hence make sure that you include oranges, sweet lime and other citrus fruits in your daily intake.

Vitamin B 12 and Folate also help the body to produce more hemoglobin and reduce the incidence of anemia. Food rich in this vitamin include cereals, avocados, bananas, orange juice and green leafy vegetables.

2. Liver Detox

The second most common modern day cause of fibroids is toxins such as dioxins and xenoestrogens. Estrogen is naturally produced in our body. In addition to this natural estrogen, certain pollutants often tend to mimic the action of estrogen in our body. Usually found in detergents, cosmetics and pesticides sprayed on fruits and vegetables, these get accumulated in the liver and boost the growth of fibroids.

In case your liver is overloaded and unable to break down these estrogen mimickers, fibroids will grow and start multiplying too. Hence liver detox is essential to get rid of these estrogen mimickers. Liver detox must therefore form an integral aspect of your natural uterine fibroid treatment plan.

3. Yoga

To get relief from pelvic pain and heaviness I got relief by practicing yoga and acupuncture. These alternative methods of treatment for uterine fibroids do not cure fibroids as such but give relief from the physical pain and discomfort caused by fibroids.

Menopause - Is There Life After Menopause?


Menopause can be like a roller coaster; one minute you are fine, the next you feel like Attila the Hun! People around you cannot make sense of what is happening and feel like you are turning into Dr.Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, never knowing what mood you are going to be in when they come through the door!

If you are feeling like you are turning into the Hulk, do not worry, here are some ways to help you hold on and ride it out.

1. Accept how you feel on any given day. Some days you are going to feel flat. So don't try and push yourself through the day, doing as many things as possible. These are days when you need nurturing so forget cooking or housework.Get a take away, let the dirt stay on the floor. Have cups of tea, curl up on the sofa, buy yourself something you enjoy, cry if you want to. Whatever you do, take it easy.

2. Do not sit and suffer in silence. Go to your doctor or naturopath and get something to help you. There are many natural supplements available for menopause nowadays. Try a natural yam cream with some homeopathic progesterone from your health food shop such as BioGest and some bach flower remedies or angelic essences for hormonal balance.

3. Heal yourself by programming your mind to re-balance your hormones and your moods. Just close your eyes and count backwards from twenty to one. Pretend your mind is a screen and see yourself on it. Intuitively notice what the problem is and see yourself fixing it. Imagine you are correcting any imbalance in your body now by providing the body with the missing hormones or by simply telling it to correct itself. Be creative because our subconscious mind works with pictures. Spend ten minutes, three times a day each day doing this, and see how you feel at the end of the week. Persist and you will notice a shift.

4. Accept that you are going through a transition period so things will not be stable. Transitions are not necessarily smooth but very necessary. Remind yourself that you are changing and that is why you feel uncomfortable. If you just accept where you are and go with the flow you will take a lot of stress off yourself. Communicate with your family about what you are going through so that they can understand and provide you with support and help. Ask them to make you a cup of tea or do the washing up so that you can rest and nurture yourself.

5. There is life after menopause! This is a new beginning. It can be a time of more freedom in all areas of life. It is a time to reinvent who you are and what is now important to you. Take up a new hobby or start up your own business. Write down your goals and take steps towards achieving them. Strengthen your friendships and relationships.

Menopause is not the end; it is a new lease on life. You will soon be feeling great and ready for some new adventures.

Understanding Herbal Menopause Treatment


Nowadays we have familiar to the hormone replacement therapy or HRT as it is continually accepted in society as a menopause treatment. However many women do not choose this method as a treatment in the first place. Most of them are preferred to take some herbal treatment for menopause that greatly appear to them as softer options.

As the herbal menopause treatment has considerably a long history of usage, it often clinically the only interference needed. As most naturopaths and herbalists greatly prescribed herbal treatments for menopause rather than HRT, the use of the menopause herb has been continually increasing. Most of the herbs and supplements are now applied to administer the switch from the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of the woman's life.

As the great appreciation of the herbal menopause treatments, a number of simple herbal formulations that usually suggested as a beginning for most women are now available and lining on the shelves of several health food outlets anywhere in the world. And one of those herbal treatments for menopause that stand out as being worldly renowned in pharmaceuticals formulations are St. John's Wort and black cohosh.

Since the early days, St. John's Wort has known as the best herbal menopause treatment. During the menopausal periods, this herb has been applied traditionally for the treatment of anxiety and mood disturbance. Some clinical studies have proven this claim and have demonstrated the efficacy treatment since the early days. So far, there is no known side effect that cause by this herbal menopause treatment.

Beside black cohosh as the other herbal menopause treatment that is proven effective, it also has been proven that it has an oestrogenic effect. There is also no know side effect for the use of this menopause herb just like St. John's Wort. However the British Herbal Compendium suggests that this herbal treatment for menopause must not exceed six months and it should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation phases.

From the information above, you may understand why herbal medicines have much to offer specifically in women for the treatment of menopause symptoms. Many women prefer herbal menopause treatments to relief their symptoms of menopause. Many patients and practitioners are now much confident in a broad array of effective therapeutic involvements since the further discoveries are noted in this area of herbal treatment.

Some Useful Natural Treatments To Combat Signs Of Menopause


Every normal female will go through the period known as menopause. This is an unavoidable reality. It comes with being a member of the female species. It's a stage that one will come to eventually at the end of her reproductive life span. However, not all women can go through it without too many problems. There are those that experience ordinary symptoms, but there are also those that go through more severe situations. It's best to note that there are two main categories as far as these symptoms are concerned: the physical and the psychological ones. Sometimes, the latter can prove to be more difficult.

The usual signs for menopause include hot flushes, weight gain, mood swings, and sleeping difficulties. Some luckier women experience only mild stages of these. Others are not that fortunate. They have to go through several months or even years suffering from such symptoms. But the thing is that this is not a disease, so there's no need to cure it with medication. That's why the better alternative to handling it is to seek for natural treatments and therapies. It's because menopause is a natural phase of life and it will come to an end eventually.

One of the most recommended strategies to overcoming these symptoms is to lead a more active and healthy lifestyle. It may sound so basic and clich矇d, but it's very effective. Women who exercise regularly and are conscious of their diets can deal much better with stress, anxiety and depression post-menopause. Studies also show that they experience these signs for a much shorter period of time. Yoga is one of the most recommended exercises, as well as Kegel exercises which help prevent urinary incontinence. You can also try taking up low-impact sports like golf, bowling, swimming, cycling, and long distance running.

Another effective natural therapy is acupuncture. There are researches showing that women receiving this therapy had less severe hot flashes and mood swings compared to those receiving placebo treatments. It's also time for you to get acquainted with herbal remedies if you're entering this phase. Supplements with ingredients such as gingko biloba, sage leaf extracts, and black cohosh have been shown to be very helpful in bringing relief. The last tip is to drink more water and increase your fiber intake. These can help increase your estrogen levels in order to avoid vaginal dryness and bladder problems. Of course, you should never forget to consult your doctor when the symptoms become really unbearable.

Tips on How to Deal With Menopause Insomnia, Right Now


Without a doubt, menopause insomnia is a challenging sleep disorder that many women will face prior to transitioning to the menopause phase. Nobody can tell you how long and how severe the loss of sleep episodes will be, as it is individual event for menopausal women.

This phase it's upsetting because it when women most need to rest to restore their energies, yet the risk of experiencing a combination of insomnia problems increases. Many menopausal women complain that they are having problems either not falling asleep at all, or getting up several times in the night and unable to get back to sleep. There are also women who continue to have normal sleeping routines but feel exhausted even after they have had a good night's rest.

During menopause, there can be quite a number of factors that can cause your sleep disturbance. Some of the reasons include night sweats and hot flashes, but sometimes it just the anxiety that comes with being in the perimenopause stage of life. Take your time and don't jump to conclusions as to what may be causing the sleeping problems. Keep a daily journal and discuss with your physician what might be causing the lack of sleep.

Right about now, you are probably wondering how to stop insomnia during your menopause years? Well, start a healthy eating routine. On a regular basis eat bananas, grapefruit, whole grain crackers with peanut butter which are high in tryptophan, amino acid and therefore promote sleep. In addition, you can exercise on a regular basis, this can relax your body making easier to sleep in the night.

Another simple idea to treat menopause insomnia is it to develop a sleeping routine. Don't be quick to dismiss this simple idea, instead just do it for next few weeks and see if it works for you. Start by using your bed only for sleeping purposes that means no watching television or read any books in your bed. Also, get in the habit of going to sleep and waking up at the same time.

One or two hours after lunch, do not take any drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol, helps to calm down your body. If takes a long time for effects of caffeine and alcohol to wear off. Foods or drinks that include caffeine are chocolates, cocoa, sodas, tea, and coffee. If you cannot totally stop then try to cut down as much as possible.

If the sleeping routine is not working by itself, then try doing yoga or other relaxation techniques to help your mind and body calm down prior to going to bed. One way to help your body relax is by massaging your body starting from the toes to the head, while listening to classical music. You should be asleep by the time the CD is over.

Most important is that when you first lay down in the bed, get into the habit of not thinking about you need to do the next day. Going over your day or setting up the priorities for the following day is an unnecessary practice, as it often adds to the mental stress and frustration and makes it harder to go to sleep. If you start thinking about something, just stop yourself, and continue with your relaxation techniques.

If after some time you continue with the sleeping problems, then make an appointment and see your doctor. To cure the menopause insomnia your doctor probably recommends herbal supplements or sleeping pills. Including chamomile, catnip and valerian known to relax your body and mind. Take this opportunity and talk to your physician about any serious side effects or conflicts any other medicine you are also taking at the moment.

On a regular basis, remind yourself that the menopausal symptoms you are currently experiencing such as night sweats, hot flashes and menopause insomnia will soon go away. Just continue trying treatments until you find one that works for you.

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.

Friday, June 28, 2013

Menopause Symptoms And Natural Health Treatments


Are you suffering from menopause symptoms? Here is more information that may be helpful.

What is Menopause?

At a certain age, the female ovaries (reproductive organs) stop functioning properly, and there is no release of egg or fertility hormones like estrogen. This cessation also entails the stoppage of menstrual period because the uterine lining is not required anymore. Menopause basically means that the female is no longer fertile, something that usually happens during her late forties or early fifties. But menopause can happen at a younger age as well.

Menopause Symptoms

Menopause symptoms are usually evident at varied levels in women. In some women the symptoms may be more defined and extreme like severe hot flashes, night sweats and irregular vaginal bleeding. Emotional and psychological symptoms are also very common like irritability and sudden mood swings. Other women may experience cognitive symptoms for menopause like memory issues, vision problems, confusion and fatigue.

Menopause may also cause symptoms like urinary tract infections, vaginal itching, vaginal dryness, frequent urination and sometimes even an unusual leakage of urine. The sudden decline of estrogen levels also causes menopause symptoms like weight gain, adult acne, unwanted hair growth on face and body, dry skin and sudden appearance of wrinkles.

Menopause - What You Need to Know

While menopause symptoms alone can be a cause for concern for some women, the health risks related to menopause should also be something to worry about. Menopause can be a contributing factor to serious disorders like osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease and stroke.

Osteoporosis is a condition which causes deterioration of bone quality and density and it can make a person prone to fractures which can be dangerous. A normal decline in bone density is to be expected as women get older, but menopause can accelerate the effects and cause osteoporosis.

Cardiovascular diseases are also a major problem with life threatening complications. Menopause can put women at a higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease because declining estrogen levels can cause heart problems which may reach to risk of stroke and heart attacks.

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) for Symptoms of Menopause

A lot of times women make use of hormone replacement therapy in order to take care of the menopause symptoms. They may also think that hormone replacement therapy can decrease their risk of heart conditions or stroke. But that is not the case.

Hormone replacement therapy has a lot of side effects and it can cause an even higher risk of blood clots, cancer, heart disease and gall bladder disease. There are also several side effects of using hormone replacement therapy or HRT which include breast soreness, water retention, bloating, nausea, headaches and mood swings.

Hormone replacement therapy can come in a variety of forms: pills, vaginal ring, vaginal creams, nasal sprays, skin gel and skin patches. It doesn't matter in what form you take the hormone replacement therapy for symptoms of menopause - they are still going to be potentially harmful.

Menopause Symptoms Natural Health Treatment

Considering the side effects coming from drugs and hormone replacement used for treating menopause, but also how miserable the menopause symptoms can cause those going through it to feel, some kind of treatment and relief is needed.

In light of this, it would be recommended to try an alternative natural health treatment to see how it would work for your menopause symptoms. There are menopause nutritional supplements that have been seen to be effective and beneficial for providing relief to those suffering from the issues that menopause can cause.

Andropause Vs Menopause - Differences Between The Sexes


Unknown to several men, they also experience the horrors of male menopause, which involves a significant drop in the reproductive hormones during middle age generally between the ages of forty and sixty. The condition is medically known as Andropause, Testosterone Deficiency, Viropause, Late Onset Hypogonadism (LOH), Male Climacteric, Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (ADAM) or Partial Androgen Deficiency in the Aging Male (PADAM).

To be more specific, while female menopause occurs when the ovaries cease to function and ovulation and menstruation ends, which lead to the sudden decrease and eventual loss of estrogen hormones; alternately, andropause involves a gradual decline in the testosterone level. However, while the former leads to complete infertility, the same is not true for men. Sexual impotence aside, testosterones as well as sperm cells are continually produced, permitting the latter to produce children even up to the age of eighty.

People experience menopause as a natural biological occurrence. However, some other factors are said to contribute to an earlier onslaught of the condition, such as: excessive alcohol intake, hormonal deficiencies, obesity, improper diet, hypertension, smoking, medications, lack of exercise, psychological problems, heart and lung diseases, and surgical removal of the ovaries or the uterus among females.

The major effect of both menopause and andropause is that people are steadily brought back to pre-puberty stage, with symptoms that affect not only their hormones but also their physiological, psychological, social, spiritual and sexual aspects. Noticeable symptoms that are common to both include: hot flashes and night sweats, fatigue, muscle and joint pains, headaches and dizziness, hair loss, low sex drive, memory loss, poorer judgments, lethargy, weight gain, digestive problems, gum and oral problems, incontinence, itches and allergies, vaginal dryness for women and erectile dysfunction for men, difficulty concentrating, irregular heartbeat, and sleeping disorders.

Mid-life crisis or psychological and emotional changes are likewise experienced, such as intermittent mood swings, irritability, depression and anxiety. Men undergoing andropause become more boyish and childish but with less bravado. They grow to be more emotionally attached to family and friends. They become more motherly and domesticated.

There are now medically recognized treatments for both menopause and andropause. The most common one is hormone replacement therapy. There is Testosterone Replacement Therapy (TRT) for andropause and Postmenopausal Hormone Therapy (PHT) for menopause, which help to bring the hormonal levels back up. However, it is said that when improperly administered, TRT can affect sperm production and increase the risk of having prostate cancer, stroke and liver toxicity. PHT is likewise said to be a triggering cause for stroke among women. Other symptoms for menopause and andropause are treated for the specific medical condition experienced. The problem seen here is that the condition is not addressed holistically and there still remain other symptoms that are untreated.

In any case, people must know that the condition is inevitable. Men or women alike would eventually have to experience menopause. Perhaps, like other health conditions, menopause might actually be bearable save for some indications that affect one's interpersonal relationships. The best way to deal with this is for the whole family to be familiar with the condition and its symptoms. Doing so will certainly help how they relate with one another as everyone begins to understand what the loved one is going through.

Causes of Hormonal Acne and Treatments


Hormonal acne also known as acne vulgaris is a disturbing skin condition caused by overproduction of androgen hormones in the body. Androgen or testosterone is the main sexual hormone in males but it's also present in females. Hormonal acne is primarily as a result of excessive production of androgen.

These hormones stimulate sebaceous glands to produce high amounts of sebum or natural oil in the skin. The Sebum produced accumulates in the hair follicles or pores where it mixes with dead cells and bacteria causing the formation of pimples or blemishes.

Hormonal acne is usually rife during puberty but may continue afterwards into adulthood in some people. Teenagers or adolescents suffer more from hormonal acne due to the hormonal changes that take place during this time.

Hormonal acne is more pronounced in males than females during this period mainly due to the fact that males produce more testosterone than females. Hormonal acne in adults is usually caused by instances of hormonal imbalance. Women particularly may suffer more due natural cycles they undergo which include menstruation, pregnancy and menopause.

Some people may suffer or experience more instances of hormonal acne mainly due to hereditary factors. Other factors that are known to contribute or trigger hormonal acne include:

Puberty

The body undergoes numerous hormonal changes during puberty. In males the production of excessive androgen hormone causes the formation of skin blemishes or pimples.

Excessive intakes of fatty foods and sugars

Over eating foods rich in fats and high in sugars may cause hormonal acne. This is essentially due to the fact that the body stores more fat or oils with some of it eventually clogging in the skin pores. High sugar intake may cause over production of insulin which is known to cause inflammations on the skin.

Stress

Stress stimulates the production of hormones from adrenal glands; this type of reaction is known to aggravate the skin condition.

Vitamin and mineral deficiency

Vitamins and minerals are known to have many positive therapeutic effects in the body. The absence of vitamins in a diet may cause the body to lack enhanced immunity that enables the body to fight infections.

Menstruation, Pregnancy, Menopause

A woman normally experiences sharp decrease of estrogen (female sex hormone) during ovulation, pregnancy or menstruation. The decline in estrogen is usually accompanied by the rise or increase of testosterone triggering the formation of acne vulgaris.

Dead skin accumulation

Dead skin cells that accumulates in the pores mixes with sebum and bacteria to produce pimples or skin blemishes.

Presence of bacterial in the pores

The multiplication of bacteria in the hair follicles causes the formation of spots or pimples.

Irritation of skin

The skin is a very sensitive tissue meaning that minor irritations of the skin may cause inflammations.

Use of steroids

Steroids are known to boost the production of testosterone in males which is the primary cause of this type of acne.

These are the most common effects of hormonal acne.

Hormonal Acne Treatment

Mild cases of hormonal acne can be treated by taking over the counter medicines such as Benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid. Keeping the skin extremely clean during the treatment process is highly recommended.

The doctor may also prescribe a combination of Benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics to ease the situation. Antibiotics in this instance are used to reduce or ease inflammations caused by bacteria. A dermatologist may also administer medicines such as "Accutane" (oral or topical retinoid) that essentially unclog the skin pores.

Treating acne vulgaris in women involves administering various doses of female hormone estrogen and progesterone. Oral birth control medicines are also recommended. Boosting estrogen levels and suppressing androgen is the key to treating acne vulgaris in ladies.

Leading a healthy lifestyle that includes eating the right diet exercising and managing stress as some of the preventative measures one should adopt. Eating the right food quantities prevents the occurrence of obesity which is known to cause acne vulgaris.

Obesity causes the production and storage of lots of fats in the body. Excessive amounts fats in the body or in the body tissues such as skin causes this type of acne. One should also avoid taking too much sugar as the production of insulin is known to cause inflammations on the skin. The key to treating hormonal acne is to apply medicines or hormonal treatments as prescribed by the doctor.

Menopause and Hot Flashes and Evening Primrose Oil--Does It Work?


Numerous studies have been conducted concerning alternative treatments for menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose is one of the natural products that have been studied. According to surveys, control of hot flashes is the number one reason that women seek treatment during the years leading up to and following menopause.

Because so much scientific research has been conducted concerning the safety and effectiveness of non-hormonal treatments for control of hot flashes, several research groups have gone to the effort of compiling the published data. You might call these the "studies of the studies". You might wonder why all of this is necessary. There are several reasons, but the primary one is that hot flashes respond to placebo. The majority of studies confirm that women taking placebo experience about a 20% reduction in hot flash symptoms. So, researchers interested in promoting a specific product can honestly say things like "women using product X reported a reduction in hot flash symptoms."

A recent search for studies published at Pub Med, a service of the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, concerning menopause and hot flashes and evening primrose returned 20 results. Evening primrose oil is claimed to provide a variety of health benefits, including the control of hot flashes, but finding contemporary medical literature to support these claims is difficult.

In 1994, researchers at the Keele University in England enrolled 56 menopausal women suffering from hot flashes at least three times a day to complete a six month study of the effectiveness of evening primrose for control of hot flashes. Only 35 women completed the study. 18 of them took 500 mg of evening primrose oil with 10 mg of vitamin E twice a day, while 17 took a placebo. After analyzing the dairies of the participants, researchers concluded that evening primrose offered no benefit over placebo in treating menopausal hot flashes. On the average, the women taking placebo experienced 0.7 less hot flashes per day, while women taking evening primrose experienced 0.5 less per day.

One of the "studies of the studies" was completed in 2002 by researchers at Columbia University in New York. These researchers used a number of different sources to accumulate information relating to menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose was again mentioned. In total the researchers selected 58 different studies that were randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trials. They came to the following conclusions. Dong quai, evening primrose oil, vitamin E and acupuncture do not affect hot flashes.

On the other hand, the researchers believed that black cohosh showed promise for the control of hot flashes, but they were wary to recommend it, because safety data concerning the herb had not been accumulated at that time. Since then, studies have shown that black cohosh has no negative side effects and has no estrogen like affects on breast or uterine cancer cell lines. Black cohosh is currently recommended by most practitioners, whereas evening primrose is not believed to be effective. For more information about menopause and hot flashes, and evening primrose and black cohosh, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

Adenosquamous Cancer Of The Uterus


The uterus or womb located inside the pelvis of a female is prone to problems such as fibroids, cervical cancer, scarring,uterine cancer and endometriosis. The uterine wall consists of various cell types.

Cancer is named according to the cells affected by it. About 95% of uterine cancer cases are where the endometrial cells lining the uterus are affected. Cancer affecting glandular cells is called an adenocarcinoma and sometimes has squamous cells - as found on the surface of the skin and cervix. Non-cancerous squamous cells are called adenocanthomas cancer and malignant ones are called adnosquamous carcinomas.

These cancers may look different under a microscope, but are often treated the same. Adenosquamous cancer of the uterus is more invasive and aggressive which can lead to more complications and a decreased cure rate (recent research and technological advances shows an improvement in rates). Symptoms are similar to that of uterine cancer and a biopsy and histology report will determine the cancer type.

Symptoms could include unusual vaginal bleeding occurring outside normal monthly periods, watery and bloody discharge in the middle of a cycle or after menopause, discomfort and bloating in the abdomen and are similar to symptoms of endometriosis and fibroids without pain. A physical examination will determine your medical status by checking for swelling in the abdomen and distortion or swelling of the uterus.The health of the uterus, ovaries and thickness of the endometrium within the uterus can be determined using transvaginal ultrasound.

After blood tests and x-rays, a D&C (Dilation and curettage procedure) may be necessary for lab analysis of tissue from inside the uterus. Causes of other uterine cancers or adenosquamous cancer are unknown. Biggest risk factors for women include menopause, infertility, overweight, high animal fat diet, high blood pressure, endometrial hyperplasion, family history of breast or bowel cancer, diabetes, prior pelvic radiation treatment and estrogen hormone replacement therapy. Treatment of this cancer is structured and becomes individualized once the reaction of the cancer to standard treatments is determined. Often removal of the uterus is required and may include the fallopian tubes and ovaries. Lymph nodes in the abdomen, the cervix and a small portion of the upper vagina may be removed if cancer is present in the muscle walls of the uterus.

Radiation may be recommended (after surgery) to kill the remaining cancer cells. External x-rays are directed to affected areas or internal radioactive implants can be used. Treatment may also include chemotherapy which kills fast growing cells (such as cancer) and is specific to certain phases of the multiplication process and types of these cells.

Estrogen can help cancer cells grow and drugs are used to block it during treatment of endomtrial cancers, adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous cancer. Side effects mimic menopause including dry skin, weight gain and hot flashes.

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.

Thursday, June 27, 2013

Early Menopausal Syndrome - Ways You Can Prevent Premature Ovary Aging


A survey conducted on women in their 30s reveals that at least 28% have early menopausal symptoms.

One of the main reasons for premature aging is premature ovary aging. It should not be left untreated as it can have a negative effect. Lately, it was discovered that premature ovary ageing is affecting younger women at an alarming rate.

Women today are facing more working pressure and psychological disturbance then they use to. This result in them feeling tired and not to mention, full of tension. All this may cause premature ageing and worst for some, even premature menopausal syndromes.

These women experienced reduced menses and since they find it convenient and less of a hassle, it is often ignored and left unchecked. It is only later, and for some, too late, when they cannot conceive because of premature ovary ageing.

The what and why of Premature Ovary Ageing or Early Menopausal Syndrome

The ovary starts to age when a woman is between 45 and 50 years of age. This is considered normal. If, however, at the age of 40, a woman experience ovary aging problem, it is medically termed premature ovary aging.

What happens is that the womens body is no longer excreting sufficient female hormones. The physiological cycle stops and this in turn, will cause the menses to either become very irregular, very little or gradually the menses will cease altogether.

The real reason of premature ovary ageing is still not fully understood, but it has been linked to a few causes.


  1. It is genetic

  2. Abnormal immunity in the body

  3. Ovary function is damaged due to gland inflammation of the parotid

  4. The body is lacking in certain enzymes

  5. Chemotherapy treatments

  6. Radiotherapy treatments

  7. Other unexplained chemical factor

The most common is abnormal immunity in the body. More than 20% of women with this problem also find that they have abnormal immunity problem of the other organs.

There are a few habits that may cause premature stopping of the menses.

Just to name a few are smoking, medication, too much alcohol, unhealthy diet, not hygienic, tight fitting clothes, tight fitting undergarments and mental pressure.

So how can women prevent Premature Ovary Aging?

Getting a good night sleep is crucial.

Try to fit in 30 minutes exercise daily if not, 5 days a week. This will help to reduce stress and channel the tension in a much positive way.

Eat a balanced diet. Take food that is rich in phytoestrogen (plant estrogen). Avoid taking too much oily food. Eat less red meat and more of fish. Cut down on coffee and other stimulating drinks.

In this competitive modern day, women are finding that they have to juggle family and career. The result of long term exposure to this kind of situation daily will cause them to feel tired, exhausted, trouble sleeping and some even have constipation. All this is a sign of early menopausal syndrome.

For more information on how you can improve your immune system, please visit 123chinesemedicine.com.

Benefits and Hazards of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)


Two interesting studies involving hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were in my local paper today. One study linked HRT to an increase in asthma and the other study linked HRT to a decrease in colon cancer. The asthma/HRT study was published in a medical journal, Thorax, and followed the treatment of 57,000 French women who were of menopause age to determine their risk of developing asthma. None of the women had asthma at the start of the study. The study kept track of what kind of hormone treatment they were on whether it was hormonal contraceptives or HRT and tracked them over a period of 10 years. This study found that women taking a combined HRT, or an HRT containing both oestrogen and progesterone were not more likely to get asthma but women taking only estrogen HRT were more likely to develop asthma than women who never take HRT. The estrogen only group was 67% more likely than the non-treatment group to get asthma, so this is a pretty substantial number. Once the treatment was stopped, the risk gradually reduced.

The colon cancer/HRT study was originally published in the American Journal of Epidemiology but as I said, I found a small blurb about it in my local paper so I don't have the original publish date. This paper is about a study conducted on 57,000 teachers in California. This study found that women undergoing HRT were 36% less likely to get colon cancer versus women who had never undergone HRT. Because of the other risks associated with HRT, such as strokes and heart disease, it is still ultimately not recommended to take HRT just to reduce the incidence of colon cancer. The study also found that once the women stopped taking HRT, their colon cancer risk returned to the same as that of the non-treated women.

It seems like a never ending saga when it comes to HRT. For years HRT was the standard treatment of choice for menopausal women, it was used to treat hot flashes and many other signs of menopause with great success. Unfortunately this treatment came with a host of side effects that ultimately proved the adage "the cure is worse than the disease". In the 1990's a large study was done by the Women's Health Initiative that showed that HRT reduced the risk of osteoporosis and colon cancer but increased the risk of strokes, breast cancer, embolisms, and heart disease. This study led many women and doctors to stop using and recommending HRT as the treatment of choice for menopause symptoms.

Despite these known risks, HRT is still in use today. For some women, this treatment is the only treatment that works for their symptoms so it is worth the additional risk. Usually HRT is used only for a short time and at the lowest dose possible to provide relief.

The studies I just happened to find in my local paper continue to cloud the HRT waters. It's somewhat of a bitter irony that the one thing that has proven the most successful at treating the vast majority of symptoms suffered by so many menopausal women is also potentially dangerous. But not only is it dangerous, it also has beneficial attributes. So, it works, it's dangerous, plus it has some positive health benefits.

Clearly we have not heard the last word on hormone replacement therapy, more studies will be done and more conflicting data will be disseminated. Where does this leave us? Well, all we can do is make the most informed decisions we can with the best information on hand and defer to our own judgment and the professional opinions of our doctors.

Hypothyroidism Causes Early Menopause


Menopause is not an easy period in most women's lives. Changes in hormone levels (estrogen) lead to physiological and psychological changes often associated with mental reactions and emotional stress.

Thyromine, a thyroid natural cure brings relief for most menopause symptoms and can be successfully used as an alternative to the short-term hormone replacement.

One of the main causes for early menopause is hypothyroidism. Thyromine works very well in these instances as its ingredients L-Tyrosine, Guglipid, Adrenal Powder from Bovine, Piper Longum Extract and  Ginger extract team up to enhance the metabolism lower the bad cholesterol, reduce the stress levels, optimize thyroid's hormone production and boost the immune system!

One of the menopause effects is weight gain and that creates lots of distress. Getting into a low fat high fiber diet can help keeping it under control. Dietary intakes rich in phytoestrogens bring even more relief. Thyromine is a great source of phytoestrogens.

Thyromine treats the thyroid by helping the body produce optimum levels of thyroxine. The all natural ingredients have no side effects like headaches or insomnia induced by other treatments. Additionally Thyromine provides a nutrients supplement as well. The iodine levels are essential for a healthy thyroid gland. Thyromine restores the iodine levels to optimum levels.

Menopause comes with mood swings, irritability and even depression in the beginning. Some of these symptoms are related to the significant life change that is menopause. Function of the severity of these sympthoms they can be evaluated and managed accordingly with the appropriate dosage of Thyromine.

Many women use exercising and dieting to improve their overall health during menopause onset when weight gain and mood swings. Using thyromine proved to improve significantly their overall health in as short as a couple of weeks.

Thyromine is a not much advertized supplement but those using it appreciate the power of getting your well being back!

What is Menopause? Understanding Your Changing Body


Growing up you heard about Aunt Betty's hot flashes or that she was going through "the change." Of course you had no idea what they were talking about. Now, as you yourself begin to notice changes in your body you want to know what they were talking about.

Menopause is the end of the menstruation cycle. Your body will no longer produce eggs and be fertile. This can occur naturally or as the result of surgery or medical treatment such as chemotherapy. According to the Mayo Clinic for Women's Health, many women mistakenly believe that menopause is the signal that life is nearing the end. Actually, there is still as much as half of your life to go.

Many people mistakenly call perimenopause menopause. Menopause is technically the middle stage of a three-stage process - perimenopause, menopause and post menopause. Perimenopause begins when your ovaries start producing less eggs and hormones. This means less chances of becoming pregnant but it also means less consistency in menstrual cycles. They become irregular due to the fluctuation of hormones.

Perimenopause typically starts anywhere from one to five years before the onset of menopause. According to the Mayo Clinic, the average age for the symptoms of perimenopause is the late thirties with the last period being around age 51.

The first signs that you are starting into this "change of life" are:

o Irregular periods.
o Decreased fertility.
o Hot flashes.
o Sleep problems.
o Mood swings.
o Increased stomach fat.
o Thinning hair.

These symptoms may continue for up to five years before the final menstrual cycle occurs. Once the last cycle has occurred you have entered the menopausal stage.

During perimenopause your menstrual cycles may fluctuate. It is possible to have a regular cycle right up until the last one, though that is rare. Tapering off is more often the case.

Once you have a full year without any menstrual cycles, you are, by definition, in the menopausal stage. The years following are considered postmenopausal.

Menopause is a natural occurrence for all women. Some will experience more severe symptoms than others. Some women report not having any symptoms other than the lack of a menstrual cycle.

There are many organizations, doctors and women's groups available to help during the stages of menopause. The many hormonal changes that are occurring may cause frustration and anxiety. Online informative websites can help as well.

There are natural and prescription medications that can help to ease the discomforting symptoms. Whether you choose a natural treatment like black potash and other herbal treatments. Your family doctor can provide more information.

Menopause is a natural part of a woman's life. It can occur at various ages and can be medically induced due to surgeries or other medical treatments or can occur as a natural aging process. You don't have to let it become a life focus. With support and medications if necessary you can easily adjust to this next period of your life.

Menopause and Hair Loss - Are There Remedies For Women?


Are you losing your hair? If you are nearing your mid-forties and have a slowly thinning head of hair, you may be in menopause. Yes, of course I'm talking to the ladies now! Everyone knows that men lose their hair as they get older, but many don't know it can happen with women in menopause, too.

Why does this happen with all the other symptoms of menopause? Of course as usual, the main culprit is hormone imbalance. Actually about one out of every three women will experience some degree of alopecia, or thinning hair, as a side effect of their hormone imbalance. This is because when estrogen levels start to drop in comparison to the testosterone levels, the hair will start to fall out just as it does with men. This can be only a temporary situation with women though, and usually isn't as severe as the "male pattern baldness" experienced by men.

Of course in rare cases hair loss in women can be caused by a very traumatic event, or stressful time in a women's life, and even by problems with the thyroid gland. When a thyroid function is out of balance, this can cause hormonal changes as well. Stress can bring this on as well as genetic causes, either way the end result can be both dry skin and hair loss in women. Not exactly what you had in mind as you get older is it? There may not be cause for alarm, however if you do experience a sudden loss of hair and are also feeling sluggish, stressed out, and out of sorts, a trip to the doctor may be in order to rule out hypothyroidism. This is the term for when the thyroid is not functioning up to it's normal levels. Some course of treatment may be in order depending on the severity of the condition.

So what are the treatments for women that are experiencing mild hair loss, with no other underlying medical condition or disease? If your hair loss is only caused by the change in hormone levels, there are some things to do that can help put your body back in balance. Considering a natural herbal remedy can be a good first step in treating these symptoms since there are many that you can choose from. Herbs such as black cohosh, dong quai, motherwort, and even gingko biloba are said to ease this problem. Soy is also a booster of estrogen as well, which may help to some degree if eaten on a regular basis. Soy is also healthy in other ways, so the benefits are certainly worth considering.

Another reason for hair loss is lack of good nutrition, so make sure you are getting all of the vitamins and minerals that you need, and your diet is filled with plenty of veggies, fruits, and whole grains. General health is indeed one of the ways to keep healthy skin and hair, so don't neglect your body by eating junk food.
As a last resort many women are actually turning to the same method that men sometimes use, minoxidil, for hair loss. It's not recommended for women of child bearing age, but if you are already in perimenopause then that is probably not a consideration. Does it work? That is a matter of debate, since many statistics seem to be slanted more towards the companies that sell these products. However there is evidence that minoxidil has some effect on hair growth at least for some folks, so you may want to give it a try!

Hot Flashes in Men


Similar to females, men also experience hot flashes which may result in causing discomfort. Basically, it is an abrupt production of heat making you sweat a lot and at the same time giving you a cool feeling on your skin. Usually the frequency of this problem varies from 8 to 10 times in a particular day wherein a flash can last up to a minute or for an hour. Not only does it cause you discomfort but it also brings with it other problems like nausea, irritability, anxiety, and a fasten heart beat. Men normally experience this problem in their late 40's or early 50's and these last over a period of about 5-10 years.

Causes

When analyzed, it was concluded that the occurrence of hot flashes in men is mainly because of the lowering levels of testosterone hormone with age which cause the hypothalamus to overheat. This heat then needs to be ejected from the body forcing the blood vessels to expand. The body resists this heat and tries to remain cool which ultimately results in a cool and clammy sweat. This is mainly seen to occur in andropause (male menopause) stage or men who have undergone androgen deprivation therapy for treatment of prostate cancer as a result of androgen deprivation therapy that the testosterone levels decrease thereby causing hot flashes. In order to test the problem, a doctor can make the patient undergo a blood test.

Symptoms

The symptoms of a hot flash are more or less same in both the sex. It gives you an intense feeling of warmth and causes redness on your skin. Most people complain that they experience a hot flash in the night which causes them to sweat a lot.

Treatments

For others who are victims of prostate cancer can intake small quantities of estrogen hormone in the form of medicines. Before proceeding towards the treatment it becomes very essential to consult a hormonal specialist because he can correctly judge the actual problem. The hormonal specialist wills also advice you to change in your normal diet plan and sleeping habits. A survey concluded that almost 80% of men who get hot flash due to androgen deprivation therapy are not able to recover from it, but with advancing medicinal technology we might see treatments which can help alleviate this problem. Regular exercising for about 30 to 40 minutes in a single day and intake of supplements may also help in this regard. Testosterone replacement therapy is one the most effective cure for this disorder. Apart from the replacement therapy, some of herbal and homeopathic treatments which are very helpful and do not have any side effects. Dong Qui and black cohosh are very effective in reducing mental and emotional stress. Intaking Vitamin- E and soy helps you have proper health which can ultimately increase your immunity towards hot flash. Doctors also recommend not to consume beverages and alcohol while you suffer from hot flashes because these drinks make you even warmer. A rise in your body temperature may again result in a hot flash.

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Symptoms of Menopause


Menopause is a natural part of the aging process for women. The medical definition of menopause refers to no longer having the inability to reproduce and have children. A woman is no longer fertile. Menopause also involves hormonal changes and a drop in estrogen levels. There are many symptoms associated with menopause which can be uncomfortable or unpleasant for women. There are numerous things that you can do to feel better during this natural life cycle change.

Menopause Symptoms: Over 70% percent of women experiencing menopause will have symptoms related to the condition. There is the pre-menopause state known as "perimenopause" where hormone levels already begin their decline. This usually begins in your early 40s. Hot flashes and night sweats are the more common symptoms associated with menopause. Additionally you may experience a lower libido and irregular menstruation. The hot flash is similar to a warm sensation that may feel like a flushing over the entire body. These can be mild or more severe. If they occur at night they can also induce the common night sweats associated with menopause. Irregular menstruation means you may have your period twice in a given month or skip a month or two between cycles. The lightness or heaviness of your period can also vary. Loss of sexual interest: This can lead to a lack of interest in sexual activity due to the hormonal imbalances that are occurring.

Fatigue: This is also common. Many women will feel consistently tired and weak. This can have a very negative impact on their lives as it makes it difficult to keep up with daily activities. There can also be an increase in facial hair with some women as well as thinning of the hair on the scalp. Irritability: Many women suffer from moodiness with changing emotions that can be rather intense at times. In more severe cases a woman may feel a sense of panic. This could lead to panic disorder which is associated with feelings of intense anxiety. This could be a brief episode or become a more serious problem. Depression can also occur with menopause.

Difficulty Sleeping: You may experience frequently waking up at night and in general your sleep may not be as restful. Memory Lapses: There can be some mental confusion that occurs and difficulty concentrating. This can also be connected to not getting enough sleep. Weight Fluctuations: Many women will gain excess weight particularly in the stomach region. This is in part due to the slowing down of the metabolism and the natural redistribution of fat that occurs as women age. You can prevent this from happening by changing your diet and exercising to increase your metabolism.

Some women experience varying levels of incontinence where they will urinate accidentally during common everyday activities such as sneezing or laughing too hard. This can be terribly uncomfortable and embarrassing for many women. The reason that this can occur varies. It could stem from a loss of sensation that you need to urinate to a weakening of the bladder muscles themselves.

In addition to weight gain you may have abdominal bloating and some fluid retention. Irregular Heart Rate: Another common complaint is rapid or irregular heart rate. If this occurs you need to be careful and see a doctor immediately if you experience any discomfort.

Changes in Skin and Nails: Menopause will signal the more rapid onset of aging which will affect the skin and nails. As collagen levels decline the skin will develop increased wrinkles. Fingernails may become dry and brittle and break more easily.

Lifestyle Factors to Make Menopause more tolerable: Good nutrition is essential. Healthy eating can lessen many of the symptoms associated with menopause. Having adequate amounts of calcium is important for bone health and to prevent osteoporosis. Some good food choices include yogurt, cheese, sardines and dark green vegetables. Avoid consuming bad fats but eat good fats in the form of omega-3 fatty acids. These can be found in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna, olive and flax seed oils. Increase Vitamin C by eating fresh fruit such as oranges. Include foods high in fiber to help your digestive track and bowels stay regular. Limit your intake of processed foods such as hot dogs and premade frozen and canned meals. Excess sugar can be very unhealthy and can lead to weight gain and blood sugar fluctuations which could make your other menopause symptoms seem even more uncomfortable.

Exercise: Getting regular and appropriate exercise is such an important factor in your good health. It goes without saying that exercise is important at every age and will help to naturally boost your mood and increase your energy levels. Women's bones become frailer with menopause and regular exercise helps to strengthen them. Exercise will also help with the dreaded weight gain that is common. When you exercise your body releases endorphins which make you feel happier and less stressed. Try to find an exercise program that you would enjoy participating in. It could be as simple as walking every morning for 20 to 30 minutes. Or you might like to join a gym and find classes and programs that you could commit to on a regular basis. Remember as with any lifestyle or dietary change always consult with your medical doctor before undertaking particularly if you suffer from any disease or ailment or are taking prescription drugs.

Weight Gain and Menopause - A Simple Herbal Treatment


Gaining weight during menopause is typical, but it can most definitely be helped. You don't have to start working out for an hour every day, and you don't have to eat nothing but salads. In fact, there are herbal cures that can actually help with weight gain and menopause. These herbal supplements can make it easier to lose weight quickly and safely.

We aren't talking about supplements that will boost your metabolism, and we aren't claiming that these herbs will be the magical remedy to losing weight. You still need to eat sensibly and exercise in moderation. What these herbs actually do is relieve stress. You may be wondering how stress relief is linked to weight loss, and you are about to find out.

Weight Loss and Stress during Menopause

More and more research is being done today on cortisol, a hormone that causes weight gain. On a normal basis, your body will create certain amounts of cortisol, which helps regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels. When you are psychologically stressed, though, your body will have physiological reactions, one of which is creating more cortisol.
When your body creates more cortisol than it actually needs, it can cause your body to retain more fat, especially around your middle, where fat retention is most dangerous to your health, especially during menopause. Over time, high levels of cortisol can cause you to retain a large amount of fat, and reducing your levels of stress can actually cause you to shed fat.

Herbal Cures for Stress To Control Weight

Knowing this, then, it's pretty obvious that using herbs to reduce your stress levels can also help you lose weight. There are a few different types of herbs that you can use to reduce stress, including chamomile and lavender, both of which can be brewed into teas. These herbs are mild, though, and there are two herbs that can affect your stress levels more strongly: valerian and hops.

Valerian is a very strong herb that can be brewed as a tea or taken in pill form. While scientists are unsure exactly how valerian affects the body, it's certain that it does affect the nervous system in a way that calms you down. Some studies have shown that valerian acts like GABA, a hormone that reacts with certain neurotransmitters that are linked to stress and sleep. Valerian, when used once or on a regular basis, can help calm nervous energy, insomnia, and stress-related anxiety.

Another herb for stress relief is hops, which can be used in tea or in a pill form. Again, no one is quite sure how hops affects the body, but it has a sedative effect. Hops can be used to relieve nervousness, tension, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.

Although you can use either valerian or hops on its own to help you calm down and relieve stress, they may be even more effective when used in combination. However, when combined they are more potent, so consult with an herbalist or a doctor who specializes in complementary medicine before you use them together on a regular basis to avoid any possible side effects.

You may immediately feel the stress relieving effects of valerian and hops, but the stress relief may not immediately cause you to lose weight. Over time, though, the lowered levels of cortisol in your blood will help you burn off fat more effectively and keep it off over time. This safe, natural solution is one of the best ways to prevent weight gain during menopause.

The Good News About Endometriosis After Menopause


Menopause is a time of life that most women dread, but if you're an endometriosis sufferer, menopause may be the break you've been waiting for. Why? Menopause is a normal part of aging that virtually every woman experiences. It is the time when estrogen levels drop and the ovaries no longer produce eggs. As a result, a woman no longer has a menstruation cycle due to the natural cessation of ovarian function. Menopause is the end of a woman's reproductive cycle.

Menopause usually occurs naturally for most women when they are in their late 40's or early 50's. However, some women may be pushed suddenly into menopause at any age if they have their ovaries removed, or take certain types of chemotherapies for cancer treatment.

Although menopause has its own host of unpleasant symptoms that a woman is forced to deal with as her body adapts to change, it has been known to have one positive side effect for endometriosis sufferers - It often puts an end to painful endometriosis symptoms.

To help you fully understand the positive influence menopause has on endometriosis, the following are some answers to common questions regarding the issue:

How does menopause improve endometriosis symptoms?

The hormone estrogen is no longer produced during menopause. Estrogen is what stimulates endometriosis growth. Thus, most women no longer feel pain, as the endometrial tissue no longer grows or breaks down because the menses cycle has ceased.

Does menopause cure endometriosis?

No, you need to understand that menopause does not cure endometriosis. However, for most women, it seems to put it in an eternal state of sleep. Nevertheless, symptoms of endometriosis can still occur at any time, even though for most women not taking hormone replacement therapy this is rare.

Can endometriosis symptoms still occur after menopause?

Yes. For some women, especially those who have a severe case of endometriosis and experienced strong symptoms prior to the stop of their cycle, endometriosis can still persist after menopause, especially if a woman has scar tissue. Often the reason why endometriosis persists is due to hormone replacement therapy that provides the body with estrogen, which is taken by women to help with menopausal symptoms.

Is hormone therapy necessary for menopause?

No. However, some women who go through menopause take hormone replacement therapy to help prevent and treat osteoporosis. Estrogen plays an important role in building and maintaining strong and healthy bones. Lack of estrogen causes cells that build bone to become less active, which increases the risk of bone loss.

Aside from keeping bones healthy, estrogen also plays a big role in keeping the vagina moist, helping it to guard against infection. Thus, many women take estrogen hormone replacement therapy for these reasons. Unfortunately, estrogen stimulates the growth of endometrial implants, which can lead to a recurrence in painful symptoms.

There are different ways you can help treat your menopausal symptoms caused by lack of estrogen without dramatically increasing your risk of reactivating endometriosis symptoms. Talk to your doctor about your condition. He or she may be able to provide you with treatment that limits the amount of estrogen you give back to your body, or they may be able to prescribe you creams or other treatments to help with vaginal dryness and other menopausal symptoms.

Pre Menopause Acne - It Could Be Hormone Changes


As women enter into pre menopause, or perimenopause, they think that they are well past the threat of acne. However, that is not always the case. Many women suffer from acne during the years just prior to the "change of life." Shifting hormones are to blame - male hormones to be exact. Androgens are male-type hormones such as testosterone, and they increase the skin oil that causes acne. Once the skin has produced this excess oil, you can develop clogged pores and infection from bacteria.

Both teenagers and women in pre menopause experience similar types of hormonal shifts that can cause an overproduction of oil in the skin. However, it is important to note that you can get acne in perimenopause even if your hormones are at a normal level.

So, now that you know the cause of pre menopause acne, how do you treat it?

The first solution is to try acne medicines available over-the-counter. The American Academy of Dermatology recommends products that are formulated for adult women. This type of product will tend to dry your skin less. Often cosmetics manufactures will offer products like foundations and other cosmetics that contain acne-fighting ingredients such as salicylic acid. Look for cosmetics with this ingredient if you are experiencing pre menopause acne.

If you find that your acne is resistant to over-the-counter treatments, see a dermatologist. This is especially true if your breakouts are bad. The dermatologist may recommend antibiotics in oral or topical formulas. The antibiotics are designed to fight the bacteria related to the infection and treat the inflamed areas. Retinoids, compounds derived from Vitamin A, are found in topical treatments. The retinoids help clear the oil from your pores, and as a bonus, will rejuvenate your skin, erasing tiny lines.

As your hormones begin to level out and settle down, the pre menopause acne will probably level out as well. If, however, you want to get the acne under control before this leveling out, you may need to take a hormonal medication. There are several hormonal medications that dermatologists use to treat acne in adult women. Some oral contraceptives can curb the breakouts, but may not be considered appropriate for women over 35 years of age.

Another option might be hormone replacement therapy which may stop the zits from forming in the first place. You would need to talk with your doctor or dermatologist to determine what medication is right for you.

No matter what treatment you choose, it is important to establish a good skin care routine and follow it faithfully. Use a gentle cleanser as acne tends to worse if the skin gets irritated. Avoid scrubs and any type of exfoliating scrub. The best advice is to keep it simple. Gently cleanse the face and softly pat dry. Keep the infected areas clean and do not pick at existing pimples. Always wash hands thoroughly before touching the acne blemishes.

Women Over 50: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy


Most women suffering from menopause know that treatments for the condition are often worse than the symptoms they are suffering. Hormone replacement therapy may slow the hot flashes and short tempers, but it is a leading cause of female cancers. With this risk in mind, many women opt out of taking hormone replacement therapy and choose instead to suffer through their menopause without treatment. However, a side consequence of suffering through their menopause is that they also inflict on spouses and others around them much grief and negative reaction. That is what is so exciting about a new form of menopausal treatment.

The new form of treatment that is now available poses little risk to the women who use the product. Bioidentical hormone therapy is a therapy that works with identical forms of female estrogen, allowing the body to ease menopausal symptoms without the danger of causing of cancer.

Identical hormones have an identical makeup to naturally occurring female hormones. Previously, hormone treatments surprisingly used estrogen products that were harvested from pigs. It is the belief of many in the medical industry that the type of hormones that were being used from pigs was the cause of the high incidences of cancer, not the fact that hormones were being replaced in the therapy.

Hormone therapy can ease many of the symptoms of menopause as well as provide additional health to the heart. Another problem occurring at the age when menopause sets in is bone loss. This is also slowed when Identical hormone replacement therapy is used.

This is why most doctors will now offer identical hormone replacement automatically. Some, however, will only offer it if the risk of cancer seems very high. Women should consider requesting bioidentical hormone replacement therapy so that any risk of cancer might be reduced from treatment.

Menopause is a terrible time for most women. In addition to the effect it has upon the body with increased risk of cancer, heart disease and bone loss, it is also a difficult time for the peace of mind of their spouses and others around them. Many marriages have dissolved during the menopausal period because of the strain that menopause has put upon the spousal relationship.

That's why bioidentical hormone replacement therapy is the right treatment to safely get through this difficult experience, both for the women involved as well as their spouses.

Natural Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy - A Pharmacist's Awakening


What really kept me learning about BHRT in the beginning of my compounding (about 6 years ago) was the simple fact that I (even as a pharmacist) did not know that there were three different estrogen entities in the human body. I was in fact running under the assumption that all estrogens were the same. The fact that nature made E3 (weak /80%), E2 (strong/10%) and E1 (intermediate strength/10%) in a unique strength and number was intriguing. I also knew nature is accurate or we would not exist. Why would nature need a set of molecules like E3 that are both very numerous and weak? In fact, E3 reminded me of tamoxifen. Tamoxifen was an older shielding, nonbioidentical, manufactured molecule that was given to women to prevent the recurrence of breast cancer. Hence the concept of BHRT's shielding approach was learned and adopted. I learned that a hormone really has at least three functions:

1) To act on its own receptors
2) To shield /buffer another hormones receptors and
3) To act as a potential filler hormone when it is metabolized by our biochemistry.

Thus, if you introduce a foreign molecule to the human body one or all three of the above functions can get messed up. This reminded me of medroxy-progesterone = MPA (also known as Provera) and the difference in HDL lowering displayed between natural progesterone and MPA in the PEPI study and for mpa alone in the much bigger WHI study. MPA greatly reduced our good cholesterol = HDL, while natural progesterone did not..

BHRT follows the human body as follows: with bioidentical molecules that fit human biochemistry; molecules in the right ratio and titrated to the lowest effective dose; molecules that work together to provide a shielding effect against over stimulation by the estrogen signal; by mimicking and paralleling the female menstrual cycle where possible. In essence, with menopause the protective shield comes down and the net estrogen signal is over-amped. It comes down mainly because the shield progesterone was about 90% made by the ovaries that are no longer working to capacity. Two other shielding hormones E3 and testosterone are usually lowered as well in menopause. The state of the adrenal and thyroid glands factor in as well. Since the net estrogen signal is what caused a female to grow her uterine lining when she was still cycling you could call the net estrogen signal proliferative in nature or "a cellular go signal".

Thus, menopause is probably not a healthy state to be in as this "go signal "is amped up leading to a host of symptoms, potential and documented cellular changes and a lowered quality of life. It should be noted that conventional therapy rarely focuses on shielding and balancing of bioidentical hormones. Conventional therapy seems to be more concerned with the older, imbalanced way of giving hormones and the negative studies involving foreign, nonbioidentical molecules such as horse estrogen and MPA. Conventional therapy seems to equate the different molecules and therapy in the WHI study with the BHRT molecules and their very different therapeutic approach in general. Sorry doctors, not all estrogens are the same ( the molecules differ in structure for peats sake) and the therapeutic approach and the concepts of balance and shielding do matter!

Robin Small (B.Sc.Pharm), Compounding Specialist and PCCA member

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Bleeding After Menopause? You Need To See Your Doctor


If you are certain that you have experienced menopause, which means that you have not had a menstrual period for at least six consecutive months, then you should look at any vaginal bleeding with concern. Bleeding after menopause is not normal, and if you are spotting, you should arrange to see your gynecologist as soon as possible.

Bleeding after menopause can be a sign of a serious problem like cancer of the uterus or cervix; it may not be either in your case, but you will not know unless you have it examined.

Sometimes bleeding after menopause occurs in those who are using hormone replacements to alleviate the severity of their menopausal symptoms, and sometimes it happens it will happen because of intercourse, but it should be checked any time it starts.

Surgical Menopause

Women who have had either complete or partial hysterectomies in which their ovaries were removed are in the same physiological state as those women who have completed menopause, and should not experience bleeding any longer than a month after their surgeries. Any bleeding which does occur may be a surgical consequence and requires immediate attention from their doctors.
If it's Not Cancer, What Is It?

When your doctor examines you for bleeding after menopause, he or she will consider your previous history to see if you had any recent surgery which might account for the bleeding. Bleeding after menopause can indicate the presence of uterine fibroid tumors or polyps; many women experience benign uterine growths after menopause; and your gynecologist will perform a uterine exam to see if they are responsible for your bleeding after menopause. The exam for uterine growths is not much different from a standard PAP smear, except that it requires a slender telescope instead of a speculum. Your doctor will take tissue samples of anything unusual for biopsy.

Hormone Replacement Can Be The Culprit

One of the most common causes of bleeding after menopause is that many women cannot properly adjust to their hormone replacement therapy. If that is your problem, your doctor will very probably reduce the dosage of your hormones unless surgery is absolutely necessary to stop the bleeding. And if you are postmenopausal but still taking birth control pills for some reason, the hormones they contain can cause bleeding after menopause.

Sexually active women who develop bleeding after menopause should try to determine whether the sex act itself is injuring them in some way and accounting for the bleeding after menopause. A weakening of the vaginal walls is one off the aftereffects of menopause, and it could be the reason for the bleeding.

Your Guide to Menopause and Dry Skin


During menopause, your body is experiencing change and upheaval at a dramatic rate. It seems as if there are noticeable differences in your skin daily, and these differences can be hard to combat and even harder to cope with. Not only are you experiencing dry skin, thinning hair, and a myriad of other physical changes, you are not in your best emotional state to deal with these changes.

In order to understand how to deal with dry skin and the changes in your body during menopause, you first need to understand what causes dry skin and other similar changes during this phase of your life. The changes in your skin, hair, complexion, and build are all due to changes that are occurring inside of your body.

Menopause: The Basics

Between the ages of 40 and 60, women who have not undergone surgery to remove their ovaries will experience the effects of these organs shutting down, otherwise called menopause. Since ovaries are responsible for producing hormones, menopause is a time of great change. Your period will become unpredictable and scant before it disappears completely. You may experience hot flashes, mood swings, and pain during sex.

With all of this going on, you may think that dry skin will be the least of your worries, and it very well may be. But the lack of estrogen in your system can cause a great deal of problems with your skin. At normal levels, estrogen stimulates the production of collagen and oils in the skin both of which are responsible for youthful, healthy skin.

Without estrogen, skin can dry out and age. Wrinkles may appear at a more rapid rate. Hair can become dull and listless. It may even begin to thin out. All of these changes in your appearance can leave you feeling depressed during a time when you're already not feeling your best. This is why it is so important to address your dry skin and lifeless hair. Doing so will help you feel better about your appearance and yourself, and this will help make menopause more bearable.

Hormone Replacement Therapy for Dry Skin

Many women choose to replace the estrogen in their bodies through hormone replacement therapy. Taking estrogen orally can do a lot to combat menopause symptoms including hot flashes, vaginal dryness, dry skin, mood swings, etc. But there are side effects that come along with the benefits of hormone replacement therapy. Keep this in mind and do your homework before beginning an estrogen replacement regimen.

Taking Care of Dry Skin during Menopause

Addressing dry skin during menopause takes a little more time and attention than during other times of your life. You should always make sure that your skin is properly moisturized. Be sure to use lotion several times throughout the day. You should also begin a moisturizing and anti-aging skin care routine for the delicate skin of your face if you do not already have one. Here are a few more ideas to help your skin during menopause:

* Treat your new, sensitive skin with extra care. Always use sunscreen and moisturizers at every opportunity.

* Be sure to humidify your home. Purchase an inexpensive humidifier and place it in your bedroom to use at night. If you do not have a humidifier, heat a pot of water on the stove every day to release moisture into the air.

* There are several herbal and vitamin therapies that go a long way in alleviating dry skin. Look for products that contain vitamins A and E. You should also look for products that are formulated specifically for hair and skin.

* Cool down your bath water. The aches and pains of aging and menopause may have you wanting to soak in the tub or spa more frequently. Be careful, though. Hot water dries out your skin more than anything else. If you must soak, be sure to moisturize intensely after.

* Drink plenty of water. Drinking water is vital for your physical health as well as the health of your skin. So be sure to drink plenty of fluids if you are combating dry skin.

Dry skin and menopause do not need to go hand in hand. There are ways that you can keep healthy, youthful, vibrant skin throughout menopause. Follow all of the tips mentioned above and talk to your doctor if any symptoms become unbearable. Menopause can be a smooth transition, but you have to work at it.

Japanese Medicine Supplements And Menopause


If you were told that Japanese women suffer up to 80% less menopause symptoms than other women in the world would you wonder why? You bet you would! Well, this is true. For thousands of years, Japanese woman have gone through the menopausal years much easier than other women have. They do not have the same degree of symptoms as other women and when faced with symptoms, they know exactly what to do to make them stop. Well, if you have entered the early menopausal years, having monthly periods light, heavy, or infrequent, coupled with things like night sweats, moodiness, and hot sweats, chances are you are eager to learn the secret. In this article, we will address Japanese medicine and supplements, and menopause!

One of the most popular types of Japanese medicine and supplements for menopause is Black Cohosh. In addition to being used in Asian, Black Cohosh is also very widely used in Europe. While this particular herb helps with many menopausal symptoms, it is most beneficial in treating hot flashes and night sweats. Typically, doctors will recommend you not take this herb for longer than six months since some preliminary studies show that Black Cohosh when taken long-term could increase the risk of endometrial cancer.

While Black Cohosh is certainly beneficial, the most popular type of Japanese medicine and supplements for menopause is soy. The reason is that soy contains phytoestrogens, which are estrogen-like substances. When you go through menopause, the body stops producing estrogen. With this, you will start to have irregular menstrual cycles, which could mean heavier or lighter periods, or longer or shorter periods. By taking soy, the body's low estrogen levels can be replaced but naturally.

Japanese women will consume soy or soy products on a daily basis. The interesting thing about this is that only 35% of women in this country complain of menopause symptoms. Because of this, researchers have taken notice and over the years, have been trying to determine first, if there is in fact a connection and two, just how that connection works. While soy is considered a perfectly normal Japanese medicine and supplement for menopause, for women in other countries they should start slowly by incorporating soymilk and/or tofu into the diet. Then over several weeks, increase the amount of soy being consumed until you reach between 40 and 80mg of these isoflavones each day. The result should be a noticeable improvement in the menopausal symptoms.

Okay, so what other Japanese medicines and supplements are for menopause? Japanese arrowroot is another type of isoflavones that includes daidzin, daidzein, genistein, and puerarin. These chemicals are extracted from kudzu and in the past few years, the chemicals have been carefully studies to determine what effect on the body they have. What these studies have shown is that arrowroot helps reduce inflammation and relieving muscle pain. Since women going through menopause often deal with joint and muscle pain, arrowroot is just one more tool in the toolbox so to speak in fighting against these types of symptoms.

Keep in mind that the isoflavones in kudzu is actually a part of a larger group of chemicals - phytoestrogens. Just as with soy, these natural chemicals replace lost estrogen, which provides relief for hot flashes, night sweats, and even helps fight against bone loss associated with menopause that can cause osteoporosis or osteoarthritis. In fact, although not really understood, some experts now believe phytoestrogens can help with mood swings. Just remember that phytoestrogens foods, herbs, and spices have been used for thousands of years, safely. However, this type of Japanese medicine and supplement for menopause should be used only in low doses to prevent further imbalances within the body.

Next on the list of Japanese medicines and supplements for menopause is Dong Quai, which has been shown to be highly beneficial for menopause symptoms. In fact, recent studies show that symptoms are reduced by as much as 30% in women taking Dong Quai. This herb acts like an estrogen but contains B vitamins, muscle relaxants, anti-inflammatory factors, and even some progesterone-like substances that help with menopausal symptoms. Japanese women commonly use ginseng, which has normal hormonal qualities. Ginseng helps with hot flashes, night sweats, and can even help with mood swings. Finally, if you are having trouble with anxiety, depression, and insomnia, Kava Kava is an excellent solution.

Treatments to Deal With Hot Flashes


Menopause is something women cannot avoid to face. It can be daunting for many women. More than menopause itself, the symptoms can be quite unbearable and cause a lot of discomfort. Hot flashes are one of the major symptoms, which is very common to see during menopause. Here are some tips to deal with these symptoms:

繚 Soybeans are very helpful to deal with this symptom and night sweats. This is because, soybeans are full of phytoestrogens (isoflayones), which mimics the role of estrogen. By consuming soybeans, symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes can be reduced by 50%. By including soybeans to your diet would make a lot easier to deal with the discomforts of hot flashes.

繚 Another unbearable symptom of menopause is weight gain. Green tea can help woman to maintain the weight and also can help women to lose weight in the long run.

繚 Another way to deal with this symptom is herbal remedies. Intensity and frequency of it can be reduced significantly by using natural ingredients. So, the ingredients such as chaste berry, motherwort, black cohosh, and red clover extract can decrease the effects and their frequency.

繚 Vitamins and minerals can also help you fight against hot flashes. Lack of certain minerals and vitamins can increase the chances of occurence and this symptom can cause a lot of discomfort to women, who are going through menopause. Vitamins such as vitamin B, C, and E and minerals such as magnesium and potassium can reduce the effects significantly. As well as these minerals and vitamins, calcium and vitamin D are key mineral and vitamins to prevent bone loss.

繚 Exercise can also help. By exercising you are helping your body to function properly. During the exercise session, oxygen intake increase and this oxygen will help your mind to function a lot better. So, you will have strong mind to face any issues that is caused by menopause.

These are the few things you can do to reduce the symptoms like hot flashes, weight gain and night sweats. Most of the herbal remedies would cause no harm to women who are going through menopause. However, you should always take medical advice, before start using anything. Also, you should also ask for a support, as menopause symptoms can effect women harsh and they can also suffer from depression. So, it is always good to talk others about the issues and problems you are facing that relates to menopause.

Menopause and Midlife ADD - The Surprising Connection Between ADD and AGE For Women


Now that you're over 40, those once-in-a-while memory lapses have taken on a life of their own. Remembering birthdays? Finding your car keys? Keeping up with the conversation? Some days, it's no problem but increasingly, it's as if your mind has taken a vacation to some foggy distant location (the name, of course, escapes you).

Are you losing your mind? Is it early onset Alzheimer's? Do you have ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD)? The answer to the first two questions is: probably not. The answer to the last one? It's possible.

Many of the symptoms experienced by women as they move through menopause mimic symptoms of ADD. And many symptoms of ADD are exaggerated by the physical changes that occur during menopause, leading to ADD diagnoses in women who are usually stunned. "The possibility of ADD never even entered my mind, but it sure explains a lot!" said one newly diagnosed woman.

Blame it all on our good friend, Ms. Estrogen. As women move into their late 30s and 40s, Ms. Estrogen indulges in her own private midlife crisis. Aware that the end is near, she takes our bodies for a wild and crazy joy ride. Estrogen levels skyrocket to dizzying heights, then plummet to the lowest depths. The accompanying mood swings and emotions that mirror the roller coaster ride are disconcerting, to say the least.

Mood swings, memory lapses and lack of focus are directly affected by Ms. Estrogen. Brain cells, specifically neurotransmitters that help with memory and concentration are also friends with the divine Ms. E. When she's pumping out an overdose of her magical elixir, our tiny neurotransmitters bridge the gap between neurons on cue. When she takes a rest, our neurons keep firing, but the message is a bit garbled.

Since ADD is a disorder of those neurotransmitters that cause skewed communication between and among those brain cells in the brain, it's easy to see how ADD symptoms are similar to those of AGE: distractibility, inattention, procrastination, lack of follow through, irritability.

So how can you tell whether you are just going through "menopausal madness" or have the ADDed bonus of ADD? Only a well-trained psychologist or psychiatrist can accurately diagnosis ADD. And there is no litmus test: no evaluation is 100% accurate because ADD manifest in so many different ways.

One important factor, however, is your personal history. Even if you are diagnosed at midlife, ADD has been your constant companion since birth. You have managed to deal with your ADD through strategies that are unique (and often unknown) to you -- which is the reason it has been hidden from view.

As a young girl, you probably didn't fit the typical ADD profile because girls have different symtoms than boys. You likely stayed in your seat at school, might have gotten good grades, either talked a lot or were daydreaming in the back row. But you probably felt out of step, like you didn't "fit in" with your peers.

As you and your doctor take a look at your history, it's important to notice how ADD-ish tendencies manifested for you (if they did). For an accurate diagnosis, your doctor will want to know how those tendencies impacted your life, to what extent did they cause your difficulty. Only then can you move forward to effective treatment.

If your memory lapses and lack of concentration are plain old menopause, relax. Things will improve with time. And if you discover you have ADD plus AGE, relax. You're in good company. There are effective treatments. And you have plenty of years left to create a life that works with your ADD instead of against it!

Menopause Symptoms - How To Treat Them


Many women feel awful when they think about the idea of experiencing menopause. Apart from being the sign of getting close into the late adulthood stage, the symptoms of menopause also offers the signal for their hormones to begin regressing and become unbalanced, as a result, contributing to the increased signs and symptoms of aging. This event is actually normal in the life of each woman. This event occurs in the mid or late forties. The moment menopause has began, a woman wouldn't normally have the ability to have a baby for the reason that the female reproductive years comes to a stop.

A woman's hormones suddenly drops and becomes imbalance during menopause; it may present numerous signs and symptoms. Menopause symptoms may bring about various undesirable changes in the emotional, physical and psychological part of a woman. The changes caused by menopause vary from person to person. As a result, it's very important to be aware about these signs and symptoms.

Aside from that, having a good understanding about the symptoms, the best remedies and the appropriate treatments can help ease the symptoms and provide menopause relief.

The typical menopause symptoms are hot flashes, night sweats, hot flush, anemia, excessive hair fall, irregular menstrual periods with excessive or scanty bleeding, becoming easily irritated, sleep disorders, moodiness, anxiety, dry vagina, loss of libido, an increase in weight, confusion, breast tenderness, joint pain, depression symptoms, and disturbing memory lapses.

Menopause symptoms may be treatable. Here are some useful treatments that can help give menopause relief.

Liquorices - Take liquorices powder 1-2 tbsp a day. Liquorices contain estrogen which is very helpful in managing menopause symptoms.

Fibrous Food - This is certainly the healthiest among the many treatments of menopause. A woman is encouraged to receive diet rich in fiber because it is very helpful in increasing the level of estrogen in the body. Diet need to contain garlic, beans, alfalfa, cabbage, beets, vegetables like pumpkin and fruits a lot like apple, papaya, and many others.

Hormone Therapy - Definitely, the most excellent treatment solution for alleviating menopause symptoms is Estrogen therapy. Your doctor may suggest estrogen in the lowest dose necessary to offer symptom alleviation for you depending on your personal and family medical history.

However, there are some women who do not need treatment for menopause symptoms. Some women find that their symptoms go away. However some women find the symptom really miserable. In the event that you're troubled by symptoms, there are numerous ways to take care of them which contain modifications in diet and lifestyle, herbal remedies, keeping away from the triggers of menopause symptoms and sufficient exercise.

It is actually best to work with your doctor especially if you have worries concerning menopause symptoms and treatments. Knowing how to cope with specific symptom will make it possible for you to obtain relief from undesirable symptoms of menopause.