I Am 35 and I Suddenly Have Irregular Periods - Do I Have Pre Menopause Symptoms?

Warning! This article deals with women's issues.

First I have to stress, as a woman, you should have regular medical exams for early detection of any underlying medical conditions. For many women the onset of pre menopause symptoms begins before the age of forty. The first symptom of menopause is usually when your monthly cycle has periods of irregularity in the length of time between menstruation, the duration and the flow.

For many women this means your flow becomes very heavy and you have a marked increase in blood clots. Your period becomes more of an intrusion on your life. Once the doctor rules out any physical explanation, you can assume that you are beginning to experience pre menopause symptoms also known as perimenopause. This may be the only symptom you have for many years.

Now don't panic. This does not mean you will wake up tomorrow and no longer be fertile. Many women take as much as 10-15 years to complete this transition. On average, most women have their past period around the age of 50-51 but because every woman is different it can occur anywhere between the ages of 48-55. It is the stage leading up to that last period when you experience the pre menopause symptoms. That is when being a woman is not very fun.

At 35 years old the furthest thing from your mind is pre menopause symptoms. There are options available to you to help you ease through this phase of your life and since this phase generally lasts 10-15 years you definitely want it to be easy. You should not dwell on it, but you should seek more information whenever possible. I have more information available on my website.

Causes Of Irritability And Tips To Treat Menopausal Irritability

What is irritability? Irritability is the extreme response to stimuli. When a woman is undergoing menopausal transition, she experiences various types of physical and emotional effects. According to a study, about 50% of the women in perimenopausal phase notice instability in their mood which is one of the prime causes of irritability. Many of them complain that because of everyday stress in their life, they get easily irritated - and this wasn't the case earlier. They also say that they are completely aware of this hyperbole reaction to their invokers, but find it difficult to contain.

Factors leading to irritation

There are numerous factors which cause irritation, but the root of irritability lies in the hormonal fluctuations during menopause. The good news is that irritability is very normal in menopause and women may or may not experience it during menopause. So what you really need to know is what your symptom is in order to determine the most effective way for managing it or alleviating irritation. Some symptoms of irritability are increased stress, sleeplessness, bursting in anger, over-reacting, less patience, decreased tolerance to people or their ideas, and frustration.

Menopause and stress

There is another school of thought who correlates adrenal cortex to short and long term stresses. The adrenal medulla responds to stress by producing "fight or flight" response. Adrenal glands are small 5 grams masses that are located in the lower back region of our kidneys. With menopause and as a woman ages, the function of adrenal glands tend to decline, and sometimes researchers refer it as "adrenapause". This contributes to stress and the causes of irritability during menopause.

How to treat irritability

The first step towards treating irritability is to make positive lifestyle changes. This can be done by adopting hobbies like gardening doing yoga and meditation. Eating a balanced diet with emphasis on proteins and vitamins helps naturally combating menopause. Regular exercises help in decreasing irritability because exercises increase levels of dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone that is also known as "happy hormone". It helps alleviating the mood by acting on neuro receptors which are responsible for mood alleviation.

Treatments coupled with natural remedies like aromatherapy, herbs and massage help further alleviating from the symptoms. This is because the natural remedies directly deal with the issues at the root level and correct the hormonal imbalances.

Some great estrogenic substances are alfalfa, soybeans, sprouts, flaxseeds, French beans, garlic, sesame, cucumber, apples, cabbage, olive oil and papaya.

However, if symptoms of irritability continue for a longer time, it is best to get advice from a health care professional. You should essentially seek his advice if you suffer from extreme psychological condition like depression. Whatever you do, you start with changing lifestyle (which is the least risky approach), and then go for alternative therapies. If you don't get relief from any of these you must go for drugs to attack the causes of irritability.

Homeopathy

Alternative treatments like homeopathy have helped several women across the world through this change in their life. Homeopathy is a safe treatment as it stimulates natural hormonal balance without intervention of harmful drugs. As a matter of fact it is a safe alternative to HRT. Homeopaths prescribe medicines by which natural hormones are produced in a manner that your mood swings are taken care of naturally, thereby helping in relieving from irritability.

Perimenopause Symptoms - Learn to Tell the Signs and Stop Them in Their Tracks

What do you describe as perimenopause? It immediately precedes the full menopause and it is characterized by the perimenopause symptoms such as; vaginal dryness, hot flashes, disruptive sleep patterns, moodiness (depression, and irritability), painful intercourse, urinary infections increase, urinary incontinence, nighttime sweats (during sleep), increased body fat around the waist, memory problems and problems with concentration, and loss of sex drive.

Women differ widely in the symptoms they experience during this phase; while some women experience very little discomfort. Others have more grave symptoms.

What perimenopause changes are experienced? At the start, changes to the menstrual cycle will be seen. These may consist of changes in the volume, duration, of bleeding. How long this phase lasts will vary with different women. Full menopause will occur in women from the age of forty-five through fifty-five years old. The perimenopause symptoms may begin as early as thirty-five and can then last from a few weeks to a few years.

A woman has no way of knowing when exactly it will start and for how long it may last. There is no way to prevention this event from happening, but it is believed that staying physically fit and stopping smoking, will delay the onset. Symptoms such as vaginal dry and painful intercourse can be relieved with the use of personal lubricants.

You should strive to identify and avoid causes of perimenopause symptoms like hot flashes. This may be brought on by alcohol and caffeine. Symptoms like anxiety, mood swings and depression should be discussed with your doctor, and if necessary he will prescribe helpful medication.

Your family history will give you clues as to how the phase may affect you. You may want to talk to your mother about her experiences. Before treating perimenopause symptoms or before starting any medication or even therapy to try to handle the symptoms, you should be certain to have a complete physical examination. After you physical examination, if your doctor determines that perimenopause is causing your symptoms, he will suggest the steps to take to either reduce or totally eliminate the problems.

Your doctor will suggest you make a few lifetime changes such as, adding flax and soy to your diet, regular exercise, with some weight training about 3 times a week, and taking vitamin E.

In the past, estrogen and estrogen-progestogen treatments had been used to treat the symptoms, but those treatments have been recently linked to cancer, so they are no longer widely used.

Oral contraception in a low dose is often prescribed to treat the symptoms. This will help with hot flashes and will regulate the periods. With this treatment also, the need for hormonal replacement therapy could be delayed.

You should start to make some changes if you experience perimenopause symptoms and you think that you are about to enter perimenopause. Above all else take care of yourself. Reduce the stress you feel, eat well, and get enough sleep. Enjoy your friendships, and gain strength and support from those relationships.

Free Menopause Information

Although menopause is a natural part of a woman's life cycle, it is surprising how many women have misconceptions about it. There are a wide array of sources for information about what menopause actually is, how it progresses, and the broad range of effects that may affect women to one degree or another. A brief discussion on what menopause is some treatments that are available, and finally a list of resources where you can find free information on menopause will be provided.

Menopause and Its Effects

Menopause is just the cessation of a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. A woman is considered menopausal after one full year of having no periods. Menopause actually is a progressive end to a woman's fertile phase of life. It can start anywhere from two to ten years prior to the final period. The average age of a woman who is menopausal is 45 to 55 years of age.

Some of the symptoms that may accompany menopause include hot flashes, night sweats (night time hot flashes), flushing of the skin, irregular bleeding, and irregular periods. Vaginal dryness, lower sex drive, cramping, weight gain, lack of energy, and other symptoms may occur. These symptoms can occur from being minimal to being serious enough to be debilitating.

Treatment Options

Treatment options include pharmaceuticals, diet and regular exercise, and also, natural treatments such as herbal supplements. Some doctors do not put forth the natural treatments so you may have to ask them directly about it. Your physician should have resources available if you want information.

A healthy diet and regular exercise is the cheapest way to go and will be very effective if you have mild symptoms. Believe it or not, regular exercise can help keep your sex drive going.

Pharmaceuticals are prescribed medications which are typically Hormone Replacement Therapy. They are given to help keep a woman's hormone (estrogen and progesterone) levels at a stable level and this helps relieve many of the symptoms. They are very effective but have some side effects that are dangerous to those who take them. They include heart attack, breast cancer, blood clots or dementia. If you still have a uterus, the possible occurrence of uterine cancer increases. If you have to take them, do so at the lowest dose possible and for the shortest time possible.

Natural products such as Herbal Supplements are an option many are looking into. Herbal supplements are an effective treatment option for many women, particularly if they are looking to avoid the side effects associated with prescriptive medications.

Herbal supplements of the highest quality will be rigorously tested. The metabolism of the ingredients is tested at the molecular level for optimal health results. The interactions of the ingredients will be examined on quality supplements. When being manufactured, they should be made according to pharmaceutical grade standards. This ensures the purity, safety, and the effectiveness of the supplements. They have few if any side effects.

These supplements are a blend of specific herbs and other nutritive substances known to benefit menopausal symptoms. Black Cohosh has been very effective in treating symptoms. Black Cohosh is known to lower a hormone called luteinizing hormone due to the fact that it has isoflavones (similar to estrogen). Others that might be used are wild yam, chaste berry, red clover, don quay, and wild yam. When purchasing herbal supplements for menopause, some supplements may have all of these herbs or just a couple. If that is the case, for effectiveness, Black Cohosh should be at least one of the ingredients.

Free Information Resources about Menopause

The Internet - there is literally millions of sites available online.

Your Physician should have information available to you.

Local Health Services/hospitals - often have information fairs and resources.

They may also have support groups who will give you information.

The library has countless books, magazines and other materials that can be borrowed.

Friends/Family who have already been through menopause will also have free information but be warned they might be "old wives tales."

Conclusion

Menopause brings with it sometimes debilitating symptoms like the well known hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. There are pharmaceutical treatments that include either estrogen or progesterone, and some that may contain a combination of the two.

The serious and potentially dangerous side effects such as breast or uterine cancer are something most people want to avoid and as result turn to natural herbal supplements. They are safer with no or very few side effects.

Check with your doctor before taking them as they might have an effect on prescriptions you may be taking for other health conditions. These supplements also have a general good effect on your over all health.

Early Menopause Signs - Causes And Treatments

It is widely held that the average age of women beginning menopause is approximately 35 to 55 years of age. Menopause is the end of a woman's monthly periods and the ability to become pregnant in the natural way. It is a progressive process that actually begins anywhere from 2 to 10 years before the last regular menstruation.

If a woman has not had her period for one full year, she is considered to be in menopause. It is recommended that if you begin missing periods that you contact your physician first to rule out any possible illness that might be the cause and also to determine if you might be pregnant. There are other early menopause signs. There are possible causes that may trigger it and thankfully there are treatments as well.

Early Menopause Signs (symptoms)

Early menopause signs will likely include more than one of the following symptoms.
Hot flashes and night sweats can cause a flushing of the skin and sweating. At night, you may wake up feeling hot and your clothes and bedding might be dampened with sweat.
Many women tend to get up and try to cool down but when they return to bed the dampness may make it feel too cold.

Vaginal dryness, reduced sex drive, breast sensitivity, and irregular periods also may occur at some time during menopause, early or not. Weight gain, mood swings, depression, and anxiety may occur as your body experiences fluctuating hormone levels.

Incontinence could be a problem for some women. Fatigue and lack of energy have also been reported. Your hair quality could change and your skin may show signs of aging. As has already been stated, if you have reason to suspect you might be beginning menopause, seek medical attention to rule out anything more serious or pregnancy, the signs of which are similar to early menopause signs.

Causes

Autoimmune disorders may be connected to early menopause. They can attack your female organs and prevent the body from making the female hormones estrogen and progesterone. These hormones are necessary for healthy functioning of the reproductive system.

Women have two x chromosomes. One is active and the other is inactive. Fragile X syndrome indicates a defect in the inactive X chromosome. This defect can trigger premature menopause.

The medications that are used in chemotherapy and radiation treatments may cause early menopause. The ovaries can be damaged with these treatments. This is not usually reversible damage. Other surgical procedures may cause ovarian damage as well.

A total hysterectomy is the complete removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes and the ovaries. This is also an abrupt reduction or cessation of hormone production which may also trigger early menopause signs. The removal of both ovaries (an oopherectomy) may also trigger early menopause.

Treatments

HRT-hormone replacement therapy is often used to treat menopausal symptoms. They are very effective in reducing many symptoms of menopause. The unfortunate fact is that they can come with some very serious side effects including heart attack, stroke, breast cancer, ovarian cancer and uterine cancer. If you are like most women, you will want to side step these side effects if at all possible.

If you are not suffering greatly with symptoms, all that might be needed is a few life style changes. A reduction of alcohol intake and quitting smoking may help reduce the symptoms. A healthy diet and regular exercise will help to raise your energy levels and may even increase your sex drive. Be open with your partner, especially during this time about what you might be looking for during intimacy.

Accepting yourself and the changes that come with aging may help to relieve some of the anxiety and depression that accompany menopause. Taking care of yourself is imperative. Seek the help of loved ones or friends particularly if you are greatly fatigued or depressed. Anti-depressants may also be temporarily prescribed to ease depression and anxiety.

The use of natural treatments including herbal supplements is an ever increasingly popular choice of many women. They are safer and have few if any side effects. Herbal supplements should use only standardized herbal extracts and be made according to pharmaceutical grade standards and undergone extensive testing of the ingredients.

Conclusion

Early menopause signs such as hot flashes, night sweat (night hot flashes) and fatigue among others may have a basis in illnesses, surgery including the partial or complete removal of reproductive organs, defects in the inactive X chromosome. Some medications (chemotherapy and radiation treatments) may cause ovarian damage and thus early menopause. It is recommended that you get regular health check-ups and follow your physician's recommendations; this will help to keep you as healthy as possible for as long as possible.

5 Signs of Early Menopause Symptoms

For most women menopause begins around age 45, with the process completing approximately seven to ten years later, depending upon the women. However, one woman out of every one hundred experience early menopause symptoms. Depending on the age of the woman, these symptoms can be misinterpreted or missed completely, especially if the woman is very young. Here are some of the signs to watch for to detect early menopause.

1- The most commonly noticed early menopause symptom is irregular bleeding. However, this is the most unpredictable symptom as well; it is different for every woman. Some women experience occasional bleeding, excessive bleeding or irregular menstrual cycles with more or less time between them. It is very common among premenopausal women to miss one or more menstrual cycles and then have one or two in a row, only to start missing them again.

2- Many women tend to associate early menopause with hot flashes. A hot flash is the warming of the entire body and is normally followed by perspiration. Hot flashes are often associated with night sweats, which can drench the with sweat while sleeping. This is no scientific explanation for the occurrence of hot flashes or night sweats, but almost 40% of women suffer from this early menopause symptom. For most women hot flashes last about five years, however, about 10% of women will experiencing hot flashes and night sweats for 10 years.

3- Mood swings are often sited as an early menopause symptom; however, there is not any conclusive research to that effect. It is now being thought that the changes in mood may be more directly related to the lack of sleep that some women experience because of night sweats. This is an especially valid idea if the woman has a history of depression, this history added to the loss in sleep can cause the mood swings.

4- Age is the most common reason for the onset of early menopause symptoms, however there can be other factors for this change in life to occur. If a woman has had a hysterectomy, this can be often be the reason for the symptoms. This is the rationale behind putting women on hormone replacements following the surgery.

5- Premenopausal like symptoms can also be caused by excessive weight. For example, many obese women do not have normal menstrual cycles and experience irregular bleeding patterns. It is important to speak with your health care provider if you feel that you are experiencing any of these early menopause symptoms, they will be able to rule out any other health related issues.

Licorice Root is Effective For Menopause, Fights Ulcers and Treats Ailments

When you hear the word 'licorice,' you may think of the black or red candy in long sticks or bite-sized pieces. The candy by that name actually contains little or no licorice. Instead, the real value of the plant is in the root itself. The name licorice comes from a Greek word meaning 'sweet root.' The scientific name is Glycyrrhiza glabra, Liquiritia officinalis. It is also called Chinese Licorice, Gan Cao, Kan-ts'ao, Kuo-lao, Sweet Licorice, Sweet Wood, and Yasti Madhu, to name a few. Used in proper doses in moderation, licorice is one of the most powerful members of the herbal family.

The plant from which licorice is obtained is mainly found in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea. The dried plants can grow to over four feet, bearing bluish purple and white flowers that resemble the blooms of the sweet pea. To extract the ingredients, the licorice roots are cleaned, ground, and then boiled. The very strong tasting extract, once curdled, is then dried again. This substance is given natural flavors, dissolved in water, and formed in moulds.

Licorice has a long rich history. In ancient Greece and Rome, licorice was employed as a tonic and also as a remedy for colds, coughs, and sore throats. Licorice has been discovered in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs, including that of Tutankhamen. The ancient Hindus believed it increased sexual vigor when prepared as a beverage with milk and sugar. As much as 3000 year ago the Chinese maintained that eating the root would give them strength and endurance and they prepared a special tea of it for use as a medicine. In North American folk medicine, licorice was used as a cough suppressant, expectorant, laxative, and treatment for various cancers. Native Americans used it to alleviate pain in difficult childbirth. Early pharmacists used it as a flavoring and sweetening agent in many of their syrups and lozenges. Today, licorice extracts are popular sweeteners in confections for diabetics and those suffering from hypoglycemia. Recently a sample of historic licorice from 756 A.D. was analyzed and found to retain its active ingredients. In Pontefract, Great Britain, they still celebrate a licorice harvest festival.

Generally, licorice is an immune system stimulant that is antibacterial. It not only has value in itself, but it causes other herbs to reach their full potential as well. Licorice contains glycyrrhizin, a substance that is 50 times sweeter than sugar. Glycyrrhizinic acid is more than just a sweetener though. It also seems to stop the growth of many bacteria and of viruses such as influenza A. It is especially useful for any mucous membrane infection, cancer, radiation treatment, general fatigue, or immune suppression.

Presently, licorice extracts are used extensively as ingredients in cough drops and syrups, tonics, laxatives, antismoking lozenges, and other preparations. They are also used as flavoring agents to mask bitter, nauseous, or other undesirable tastes in certain medicines. Therefore, it is a useful addition to many children's formulas.

Licorice is best known to some for its estrogenic effects, which make is a useful herb for menopause. Its antiulcer activity make it an herb of choice for both stomach and duodenal ulceration. Because it stimulates expectoration and is powerfully healing for mucous membrane systems, it has a long history of use for upper respiratory infections. Licorice is used in treating many ailments including arthritis, asthma, athlete's foot, baldness, body odor, bursitis, canker sores, chronic fatigue, depression, colds and flu, coughs, dandruff, emphysema, fungal infections, gingivitis and tooth decay, gout, heartburn, HIV, liver problems, Lyme disease, menopause, prostate enlargement, psoriasis, shingles, sore throat, tendonitis, tuberculosis, ulcers, viral infections, and yeast infections.

Besides glycyrrhizin, hundreds of other potentially healing substances have been identified in licorice as well, including compounds called flavonoids and various plant estrogens (phytoestrogens). Along this line, it is used to stimulate and regulate the adrenal glands and the pancreas. These work together because adrenalin helps control insulin. It acts as a natural cortisone or as a hormone that takes the place of cortisone. It helps injured voice muscles and helps voice improvement, either for hoarseness or throat damage. Licorice is a tonic for the intestinal tract. It acts as a mild laxative, and strengthens the heart and circulatory system.

Licorice makes an excellent tea and can be used as a tincture as well. Of course, it can be used in many other forms. For instance, it can easily be ground up, and used in capsules. It can also make other treatments more palatable. You can also add it to dishes in small amounts so as to add nutritional value to the dish without changing the flavor.

Because licorice is such a powerful herb, a few warnings are in order. The best way to use licorice is in combination with other herbs. Licorice can cause water retention and raised blood pressure, especially with prolonged use. It also can cause an unwanted mild adrenal stimulation. Avoid using larger amounts of licorice internally during pregnancy or nursing. Licorice interacts with many prescription drugs. For this reason, if you are on other medication, consult your doctor before taking licorice.

Menopause Treatments - 3 Essential Ingredients You Must Use to Get Rid of Menopause Symptoms

Are you experiencing horrible symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal dryness and other horrible symptoms and considering trying natural menopause treatments? Well, first congratulation on taking the first step to alleviate these symptoms. I have been through the perimenopause stage which is the stage that leads to menopause and now currently living happily in the menopause stage. Let me tell you how I accomplished this and how you can do the same thing.

There are three ingredients that deal directly with menopause and these are the key to alleviate menopause symptoms. So let's explore them.

1. The first ingredient is Soy Seed. This ingredient includes a natural estrogen called phytoestrogens which balance estrogen levels. In regards to mood swings, this is because women either have too much estrogen or not enough of it.

2. Black cohash. There's already been a significant amount of research provided that black cohash can alleviate menopausal symptoms. Europeans are known to have used this herb for a long time. However, if you are living with an existing liver condition, I suggest you consult a medical doctor before taking it.

3. And the third ingredient for menopause treatments is Damaiana leaf. This ingredient helps bring relaxation and alleviate anxiety.

So these are the top three natural ingredients that should be included in whatever herbal supplements you take and observe how your menopausal symptoms will decrease tremendously. Now if you're worried about price for herbal supplements, let me tell you that there are a couple of companies that will allow you to try their supplements for free. That way, if it doesn't work for you, you don't have to pay for it.

Ladies Choice Menopause Review

The Menopause is a difficult time in a woman's life as it signifies a drastic change in the reproductive system, which can come with a lot of unpleasant side effects. There are many supplements and remedies on the market, which are produced to target these symptoms and bring women back to feeling normal again. One of these supplements is Ladies Choice Menopause.

Like most menopause pills, Ladies Choice Menopause contains many natural, non-chemical ingredients designed to work in harmony with your body. Although the idea of natural ingredients can come with the connotations of being weak or ineffective, clinical trial show that the pill is effective.

This supplement does not contain caffeine which although can be helpful during daytime fatigue, common in menopause, is not helpful for restless nights. Menopause often leads to sleepy spells during the day and an inability to sleep at night. Therefore Ginseng is used in Ladies Choice to give natural energy during the day that does not effect night time sleeping or give a jittery feeling of restlessness which caffeine is known for.

The key ingredient to this supplement is Black Cohosh. This ingredient stemming originally from natural medicine is used as a replacement of estrogen, which the body lacks during menopause. Research shows that the active ingredients can help minimize hot flashes by 57% and help ease intensity by 38%. Countries all over the world use this ingredient for many different reasons but a very important reason is for regulating a healthy female reproductive system. This extract is most effective for the menopause in regards to hot flashes.

Licorice root is included in this pill, which is said to promote the production of estrogen and possibly help support the function of the kidneys and adrenal glands.

Another important ingredient in Ladies Choice Menopause is Soy Isoflavones. These are known for keeping a good hormonal balance in the female body which can be unbalanced during the menopause and perimenopause.

Overall this product may help women with a unbalanced hormones and fatigue. The balancing properties may lift mood yet daily dedication is necessary, which is similar in other supplements. The natural ingredients should not have any drastic negative side effects and are safe for the body. It is important however to always check the label of any supplement and the other ingredients of this pill are listed below.

Other Active Ingredients:

Vitamin E, Red Clover, Vitex Agnus Castus, Dong Quai, American Ginseng, Red Rasberyy, Pommegranate Seed, Protykin Trans-Resveratrol

Perimenopause Help - A Simple and Natural Treatment

Your doctor might have told you that hormone replacement therapy is the best way to get perimenopause help. What your doctor might not say, unless they have a more naturopathic philosophy, is that two exhausted adrenal glands are the real root behind your many perimenopausal symptoms. The adrenal glands are located above your kidney and are responsible for secreting hormones, including the stress hormone cortisol. In the United States, everyone loves having high levels of energy so they can stay busy and efficient all day. What this means in terms of your hormonal balance is that you live in a culture that depends on overworked adrenal glands. The key to relieving the symptoms of perimenopause is to ease up on the stress and try to lower your cortisol levels.

Cortisol and its effects on your hormones during perimenopause
Cortisol is the hormone responsible for the fight or flight instinct. It is usually released when the body encounters a stressful situation, whether it is physical or psychological. Chronic stress makes your adrenal glands work harder to produce cortisol, and high levels of cortisol in your blood create the need for more hormones like progesterone, insulin, and testosterone.

According to studies by Dr. David Zava, an expert on stress hormones, high amounts of cortisol that reach the brain through the bloodstream makes it resistant to the effects of estrogen. This is why many perimenopausal women experience the symptoms of estrogen deficiencies (e.g. hot flashes) even if they have normal amounts of estrogen. You may have enough estrogen to go around, but your brain doesn't believe it if you have too much cortisol in your system. So if this is the case and you try to treat your symptoms with hormone replacement therapy, you experience the symptoms of estrogen dominance like water retention, weight gain, and mood swings. That's why hormone therapy should not be the first solution to consider when treating perimenopause symptoms. If there's a lot of stress in your life, no amount of synthetic hormones can make the symptoms go away and help you achieve hormonal balance.

How to lower cortisol levels and heal the adrenal glands for perimenopause relief
The easiest and simplest way to heal your tired adrenal glands is to rest! If try to prop up your overworked adrenals with caffeine and synthetic hormones without taking time off, you'll end up feeling worse than ever. Here are a few things you can do to lower your cortisol levels.

Get a massage
What better way to reduce stress than to get away from it all, even if it's only for an hour? A full body massage at a spa will do wonders for your stress levels. The soothing strokes of the massage therapist will melt away the tension in your body and place your mind in a more relaxed state. For best results, get a massage at least once a week.

Get enough sleep
Staying up late will only aggravate your exhausted adrenals. Try to get at least eight hours of sleep every evening to feel refreshed, rejuvenated, and ready to take on the next day's challenges. Have a hard time falling asleep? Take a natural supplement like melatonin to induce sleepiness into your overactive mind.

Find a creative outlet
Focusing your energies on a hobby or creative outlet will not only get your mind off the stress of everyday living. It will give you a higher sense of purpose and make you feel more accomplished! If there's a hobby you've always been meaning to take up, now is the best time to start.

Avoid caffeine and other stimulants
Caffeine and stimulant herbs like ephedra cause stress in the body and excite the adrenal glands into producing even more cortisol. Try limiting your coffee intake to a single 8 oz cup a day and avoid other caffeinated beverages like soda and energy drinks.

Perimenopause Treatment - How To Treat Menopause Symptoms

Perimenopause is the transitional period that leads to menopause. Usually this stage is indicated by some menopause symptoms that can be very irritating as it is the moment where women will experience hormonal changes which will affect their mental and physical condition. These changes may lead to exhaustion, stress, and even insomnia. No one wants to suffer from these symptoms and because of this, it is very important that you know some perimenopause treatments that you can try when you feel like you are approaching menopause.

As mentioned previously, the pre menopause phase can be very frustrating. Hormonal changes will only cause us to feel sad or depressed without any particular reason. We will also experience irregular monthly periods which can be very annoying. Proper perimenopause treatments are needed to lessen the bad effects of the menopause symptoms. One of the things you can do to achieve this is by making some changes to your lifestyle. This is to ensure that all the bad effects that pre menopause symptoms might bring will be minimized. To live a healthy lifestyle, you have to introduce healthy foods into your diet fresh fruits and oatmeal, give up smoking and drinking, and exercise regularly. All of these are needed to make improve the blood circulation in your body and your health in general, and consequently the menopause symptoms can be overcome.

Besides eating healthy and exercising regularly, you can also try yoga or meditation to lessen the stressful feeling that be caused by the symptoms. Your will be more calm and relaxed so that you will not get stressed and frustrated easily when hormonal changes occur in your body. These practices can be very helpful to get your life back on track. What makes them even more fun is the fact that you can do yoga or meditation anywhere and it can be done on your own without the need of any sporting equipments.

You can also consult your doctor if the symptoms become unbearable. One perimenopause treatment that your doctor will probably prescribe you is a medication to treat the effects of hormonal imbalance such as vaginal dryness which can be very uncomfortable.

Herbal treatment is also one of the recommended ways to treat menopause symptoms that is worth trying. Compared to prescription drugs, herbal remedies are natural and they do not cause any harmful side effects. They are also cheap and very easy to get.

How Long Do Hot Flashes Last?

Many women wonder how long do hot flashes last, but regretfully, there is no clear answer. Some women never have hot flashes, while some have them for years. Others have learned how to stop hot flashes naturally and that is the focus of this article.

The answers to "how long do hot flashes last" will vary depending on the women that you ask. Some women don't have them at all. Others have them for several years before menopause and continue to have them for several years following menopause. It is not unheard of for a woman to have them for as long as seven years, unless she learns how to stop them.

For many years doctors recommended hormone replacement therapy to stop hot flashes. Naturally, as with many medical treatments, we have now learned that hormone replacement therapy increases a woman's risk of developing many different life threatening conditions, including blood clots and stroke. The health risks increase with continued use. Most experts now suggest that women, who must use HRT, should use it for the shortest time possible.

This creates an issue for women who have menopausal symptoms for five, six or seven years and if you ask a group of postmenopausal women, "how long do hot flashes last," then several of them will likely tell you that they started in their mid forties and lasted till their early to mid fifties. Women who learned how to stop hot flashes naturally will likely tell you that they were only bothered by them if they stopped taking their supplements, drank too much coffee, too much wine or forgot to avoid their personal triggers.

Black cohosh can stop hot flashes naturally for most women, but adding red clover isoflavones or other phytoestrogens (plant components that have an estrogen-like effect) can be even more helpful. Some women have lifestyle issues that increase hot flash symptoms. Among these are cigarette smoking and chronic stress.

Women who smoke are also more likely to develop blood clots as a result of using hormone replacement therapy. So, of course, the best thing to do is quit. The American Cancer Society provides helpful literature for women who want to quit smoking. A support group can also be helpful.

Research has shown that chronic stress aggravates many medical problems, even causes some and lowers the body's ability to fight off infectious diseases. Some women have found that stress management and relaxation techniques can stop hot flashes naturally.

Caffeine and other stimulants can trigger hot flashes, as can excess alcohol consumption. Certain foods trigger hot flashes in some women. A symptoms diary can help you find your own unique triggers.

No one can answer the question how long do hot flashes last for everyone. Most women find that once they have not had a period for a year or more, their menopausal symptoms, including hot flashes subside. To learn more about how to stop hot flashes naturally, please visit the Menopause and PMS Guide.

How to Boost a Woman's Sex Drive During Menopause

For many women who are approaching the age of menopause, say between late thirties to mid-forties, you most likely have already discovered that your sex drive isn't what it used to be. This is something that varies greatly from one woman to the next, but the odds are that menopause has at least slowed down your libido somewhat. What to do? Let's explore some possibilities here.

The main reason for this loss of interest in sex is of course the decrease in hormones, particularly estrogen. Estrogen is a mood-elevator to some degree, and as such when there is less of it in the body a subtle change takes over. Not only is a woman's mood less than happy, her sex life can suffer due to the lack of desire and sometimes real physical pain of having sex. As you advance into menopause, the vagina will actually begin to dry and shrink somewhat which can lead to a pain that is quite debilitating during sex.

So what can be done about this? There are ways to help ease the symptoms of this dryness, such as using lubricants during sex. Also, an attempt can be made to decrease this trend by trying to boost the hormone testosterone in the body which can be another hormone lacking at this time. Believe it or not, the same hormone that boosts sex drive in men does the same for women.

There are over the counter medications that can help to boost testosterone - one is called DHEA, or Dehdydroepiandrosterone, which is a steroid hormone produced chiefly by the adrenal glands. It can also be made by the ovaries and the brain. It is the most prevalent adrenal steroid in the body and serves a precursor to the human sex steroids, testosterone and estrogen. Unfortunately it decreases in supply as we age, so a supplemental dosage can help to increase the libido in some women.

Since not all doctors are in agreement that DHEA is safe and effective, some prescribe other testosterone boosting medications such as Estratest, which is a combination estrogen and testosterone prescription approved for hot flashes and other menopause symptoms. If you have any worries, you should ask your doctor before trying anything to be safe. The bottom line is what works for some doesn't work for others, but you won't find out if you don't at least try, right?

Effective Menopause Treatments

Almost all females experience the menopause soon after the time of fifty years. The change of life happens throughout several years, not to mention this particular period can be really struggling for any lady. A decrease in generation, affecting the female hormonal oestrogen & progesterone leads to weakening of bones, mood swings, hot flashes along with typical exhaustion. Quite a lot of analysis within this area has produced useful menopause solutions. Because the body's hormones will be engaged, many of the menopause therapies should possibly be in discussion with a health practitioner.

The treatment for menopause should start through a good shift in a your diet routine. You should consume calcium in good amount using either pills or in healthy dairy products as well as veggies. You need to minimize the intake of caffeine containing drinks such as coffee & tea. This helps a lot to retain bone thickness and also improves assimilation of calcium.

Additional treatments for menopause involve physical workouts in order to develop durable bones. It can be a fast walking or even weight training workouts that will reinforce your bones. Daily exercise also aids in fat loss, which is actually beneficial for the cardiovascular system and might decrease your cholesterol levels.

This has scientifically proven that you should consume organic products that contains natural estrogens such as tofu & soy to lower hot flushes, this is very effective treatment for hot flushes. Take them as you like either cooked or raw form.

There are also a few medicines that you can use a part of your menopause treatments. Clonidine & belladonna can be taken to decrease hot flashes considerably. You should always consult your doctor before taking any medicine because there can a few side effects such as induction of sleep or some can prove hazardous if you have blood pressure issues.

Hormone replacement therapy also known as HRT is also a very famous treatment for menopause. This usually requires oral intake of topical creams containing the estrogen and progesterone hormones. The intake amount can very for every woman so it is very crucial to determine the dose based on the instructions of a physician. You can find hormone therapy tablets & creams in the market. Though estrogen replacement therapy can remove the signs of menopause like mood swings, hot flushes and improve bone density, your doctor's advice is an essential requirement for HRT because HRT can cause breast cancer, blood clots & many other health issues. It is always a good idea to check a woman's genealogy of cancer & medical records. This therapy is not suggested to any woman who may be at risk of cancer.

Today, a number of natural menopause treatments are available extensively because of speedy breakthroughs in research. Therefore, a woman should always choose to consider a herbal treatment that suits her needs and has no side effects like the hormone therapy.

What Does Menopause Mean For You?

As women at midlife, we can finally take a deep breath and exhale. We have arrived at the gateway, that marvelous middle place where we are perfectly positioned, poised between where we have been and where we are going. We can look back from this unique vantage point and draw wisdom from all the experiences we've had, and we can also look forward, ahead of us, to the many exciting years to come. At this wonderful time in our lives we each have the power to choose what our menopause experience will look like. Our journey through menopause presents us with so many diverging paths, so many opportunities, that these years are potentially the richest of our lives.

Menopause is the time at midlife when we begin to ask the important questions: How can I make my life more meaningful? What should I be doing now? What am I meant to do? If my children have grown and left home, what is my role now? Do I still have the same value? How do I manage to deal with the changes in my body and in my life, and still keep a positive self-image as I get older? Is it all downhill from here? The questions we ask ourselves can really be distilled down to this: "Am I living the best life I can? Am I living true?"

How do we live our true life? What would it look like? Is it even possible to have a "true life" with all the day-to-day pressures we face? Well, it is possible. In fact, it has never been more possible. We are at the best time of our lives. Right here. Right now. It is up to us to determine what today will bring, and what the coming years will look like. Life at menopause is filled with transitions and challenges. There are so many ways we can go. That's why it is so important to experience these years with a true and open heart.

We've never been in a better place, or at a better time, to choose for ourselves. We've never been in a better place to make positive changes in our lives. We've never been in a better place to use the wisdom we have gained over the years, and to make the choices that will allow us to embrace our menopause journey.

Yet, at midlife, some of us may feel defeated by the symptoms of menopause. The hot flashes and menopause induced lack of sleep. The depression and moodiness. We may have given up. We may not have the energy or the courage to know how to best help ourselves through this transition. We may have even tried menopause treatments but were disappointed with the results leaving you dispirited and worse, resigned to being miserable. When we resign we miss out on living our own greatness. Resignation is our death knell, whether we are thirty or eighty.

Don't resign. Resist the voice that has made you give up any part of your life, the voice that justifies the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, the one that says it's just too difficult or it won't make a difference anyway. When we surrender to whatever we think binds us, we automatically contract. We see ourselves as victims.

Realize we are privileged to be at a different point in our lives than the generations that came before us. We have the opportunity to experience menopause differently from the way our mothers or grandmothers did. We know we are not quite the same as we were in our twenties, but for the most part, we are healthy, intellectually active, interested, and have a sense of adventure and spirit much younger than generations before us.

Having the courage to make the most of your life can begin at any age, but it's important to realize that the sooner you make up your mind to take action, the faster you will see results. Menopause is the ultimate wake-up call, a chance to evaluate how we've been living up to this point. It is the culmination of years of lifestyle habits, both good and bad. But it's never too late to change our habits - all it takes is desire and commitment to assume responsibility for your own health. Step by step, one day at a time, you can begin to build, or even rebuild a sound foundation for a comfortable menopause and quality longevity.

It is comforting to know that the classic symptoms of menopause - night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia, and mood swings - are not inevitable. There are many vitamins and herbs that can help to balance a changing body chemistry - without side effects. Taking control of your treatment for menopause now will start you on a journey to continued health, vitality and radiance.

Most of all, make this a special time of life for you. Take some quiet time for yourself on a daily basis. Meditation and deep breathing are excellent tools for calming the mind and smoothing out the ups and downs of day to day living. Reading uplifting affirmations and spiritual books can often take you outside of yourself and renew your perspective on life. Treat yourself well and listen to your body/mind signals. Menopause can be a wonderful time for taking inventory of all aspects of your life. Explore this time with joy and adventure, because, for many women, the best is still ahead. May your journey be blessed with happiness and wisdom as well.

Three Of The Most Common Hormone Imbalances

The 3 most common imbalances are:

1.) Hypothyroid

2.) Adrenal insufficiency/hypo function (Not Addison's disease)

3.) Sex hormone imbalance

Hypothyroid

Results in either low levels of circulating thyroid hormone or low relative function of apparently normal levels circulating in the blood.

May be caused by autoimmune disorders, nutritional imbalances or any other condition that either destroys the normal thyroid or reduces its normal function such as local radiation therapy, some types of chemotherapy, trauma or tumor. Low adrenal function may also impair the ability of a normal thyroid hormone level to exert its effect efficiently.

Common symptoms include fatigue, tendency to feel cold, constipation, scalp and eyebrow hair loss, weight gain or difficulty losing weight, skin thickening, depressed or unenthusiastic mood and menstrual irregularity.

Treatment of hypothyroid includes pharmaceutical grade medication such as L-thyroxin to natural glandulars (also by prescription) such as Armour Thyroid, Nature Throid or other compounded varieties. From a holistic point of view, treatment may also include mineral balancing, adrenal glandular support, dietary change and iodine supplementation.

Adrenal Insufficiency/Hypo function

Results in low total or abnormal rhythm of secretion of cortisol. Many other adrenal hormones are typically involved as well.

Is typically caused by the accumulation of stressors which include social/psychological stress, physical stress of illness, injury, operations or any chronic inflammatory or pain problem as well as dietary (in particular carbohydrate) stress.

Common symptoms include severe fatigue, cognitive impairments, mood disturbances, concurrent sex hormone (estrogen, progesterone and testosterone) dysfunction, carbohydrate cravings, body fat accumulation, and tendency to allergy and recurrent infections.

Treatment for adrenal insufficiency is dependent on its severity. Lifestyle modification is always very important with the inclusion of adequate rest, reduction of life stressors and proper diet. If chronic pain or inflammation is an associated issue, these problems must be attended to. Supplementation with vitamin and mineral precursors for the production of adrenal hormones, glandular therapies and hormone precursors such as pregnenolone may also be useful.

Sex hormone imbalance

The primary sex hormones I speak of are estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. While obviously a very broad topic, for simplicity I will focus on the two major forms of sex hormone imbalance; those related to normal aging (menopause and andropause) and those occurring prior to menopause.

The gradual age related decline and ultimate cessation of ovarian function results in menopause. While men also experience gradual age related decline in testosterone production, some degree of function (albeit sometimes very low) remains with the testicles. This condition is referred to as andropause.

Typical symptoms for women include night sweats, hot flashes, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, loss of feminine body shape, irritability, fatigue and sleep disturbance. Men suffering from andropause typically experience fatigue, loss of enthusiasm, low or loss of libido, erectile dysfunction, loss of muscle mass and mood disturbances.

Treatment for both groups also depends on severity and may include adrenal support (normal adrenal function is necessary to make a smooth transition to menopause and andropause), dietary and nutritional supplementation, herbal remedies with hormonal stimulatory action or hormone replacement therapy.

Sex hormone imbalances occurring prior to menopause are quite diverse, but are typically associated with alterations of normal menstrual function.

Causes likewise are quite variable and can be related to adrenal and thyroid dysfunction, imbalances between the relative production of estrogen and progesterone and nutritional deficiencies.

Treatment can range from natural progesterone therapy, to herbals, to addressing associated thyroid or adrenal problems along with nutritional and lifestyle choices.

While the spectrum of hormonal disturbances possible is quite broad, practical experience often finds these three general areas being encountered most frequently. Each problem has its own set of symptoms, causes and treatments. Within each category many sub categories exist making an experienced medical practitioner the best choice to seek guidance and help for these conditions.

Menopause: Stages, Symptoms and Treatments

Every women undergo a special period in life referred to as menopause. Menopause is the definition given to the stage during which a woman no longer gets her menstrual period. Oftentimes, it is indicated by hot flashes and mood swings nevertheless the symptoms are not the same to everyone. Other women may experience the stage without experiencing any difficulty and there are those who are troubled by different symptoms of menopause. Owing to technology and advancement in science, a lot of these signs and symptoms can be positively reduced by using numerous different menopause relief treatments.

In general, menopause happens around age 50 or 51 and can occur at totally different times. There are women who encounter menopause from the age of 35 while some don't experience it right up until as late as age 60. It occurs when the women's body began to create fewer eggs in a month. Once this happens, less and less estrogen and progesterone is also produced. It leads to irregular ovulation and menstruation until it will finally stop completely. For the majority, menopause is a gradual change but it may at the same time take place abruptly in some circumstances. This is why, it is always ideal for women to fully understand menopause and its symptoms, and find out the most effective treatments that may grant menopause relief.

Do you know that there are stages of menopause? Yes it typically comes up in three stages and might endure for a time period of up to 15 years. The 3 stages of menopause are: perimenopause, menopause and post menopause.

1. Perimenopause - The perimenopause usually lasts up to five years. During such stage, menstrual periods and ovulation turn out irregular as hormone level begin to vary. A woman can however get pregnant at this point even though the chances are slim. This is the time when you'll first see some signs or symptoms of menopause.

2. Menopause - This is the point in time when the period stops completely. This occurs only after your periods have been completely absent for 12 consecutive months. Weight gain and hot flashes are the prevalent symptoms of this stage.

3. Postmenopause - In this period, symptoms of menopause begin to reduce yet the risk of diseases like osteoporosis and heart disease heightens.

The symptoms of menopause usually may include: hot flashes or night sweats, mood swings, sadness, vaginal dryness and loss of libido. Among all the symptoms, hot flashes are regarded to be more serious and can be dangerous whenever it lasts for a longer period than the expected number of minutes. The attacks are usually sudden or unexpected.

The new development of effective and safe menopause reliefs has really helped countless women to have a much better temperament during this challenging stage of their life. A highly effective medication for the relief of hot flashes as well as to provide better night sleep is right now available in the market.

Menopause - Heavy Bleeding

One of the symptoms of peri-menopause is heavy bleeding. Heavy bleeding is thought to be caused by lower levels of progesterone compared to estrogen during the anovulatory cycles. It can also be caused by fibroids, which are benign tumors found in the uterus. It should be checked out if it lasts for longer than a month or two or more than just slightly heavier than usual.

In terms of lifestyle changes for alleviating this symptom exercise is said to help. In addition you need to make sure you get enough iron along with drinking plenty of fluids.

For alternative treatment methods, you can try acupuncture but there are no studies that prove it will have a benefit. Herbs can be used as a treatment, specifically those that act like progesterone or increase the levels of it. Those herbs are Vitex (Chaste Tree), Lady's Mantle, Flaxseed and Wild Yam Root. Vitex was shown in studies to be effective in normalizing the hormonal cycles and increase levels of progesterone and estrogen in addition to shrinking fibroids. Lady's Mantle is used to prevent very heavy bleeding known as flooding, as is flaxseed But too much flaxseed can cause cramping, so beware. Wild Yam Root is helpful because many of the synthetic hormonal treatments are made from Wild Yam. Homeopathic remedies are lachesis, sepia, belladonna and secale. You should seek guidance on homeopathic remedies from a homeopathic practitioner.

There are several options available that involve drugs or surgery. Low doses of oral contraceptives have been show in studies to reduce blood loss by 50 percent. A IUD can be an option because it releases progesterone and is thought to work well on women with fibroids. And something as simple as ibuprofen in high doses has been shown to reduce the instance of heavy bleeding up to 40 percent. Hormones are not a very effective option. Usually after fibroids and polyps are ruled out, you will take a progesterone like Provera to stimulate a period to get your lining to shed. Lupron is another drug which can be used - puts you into a temporary menopause by inhibiting the hormones from the hypothalamus. This is usually a last option before surgery.

Sometimes heavy bleeding can be treated with a D&C, also know as dilation and curettage. Other surgical options include an endometrial ablation. 50 percent of all women that have this procedure never have another period again. As a last resort, a hysterectomy can be performed. This is a major surgery, so the decision to have one should not be taken lightly. One must consider carefully all the benefits and risks, including the decision to remove the ovaries. Usually just the removal of the uterus is enough to stop the bleeding, so unless you want to enter instant abrupt menopause, you may want to keep them - usually women will go into menopause about two years early after having the uterus removed.

Acupuncture and Moxibustion to Treat Infertility

Based on the particular problem you're experiencing, different point combinations are stimulated using acupuncture needles. By stimulating these points, energy flow is rebalanced and the natural healing ability can take place.

For fertility, the needles are inserted into energy points associated to the reproductive organs to improve energy flow and balance to those areas. Approximately 6 to 20 needles will be inserted and retained in a selection of points for anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes. Most patients feel a sense of deep relaxation after treatment. Some patients can feel energized, relief of pain and other symptoms immediately after the treatment.

It has indicated that it can increase blood flow to the endometrium, helping to facilitate a thick, rich lining which is essential for a fertilized egg to implant itself into.

Most women who choose acupuncture are doing it together with traditional infertility treatments, but others hope that acupuncture might improve their chances after everything else has failed. Studies have shown that regularly undergoing acupuncture therapy from a licensed therapist for a minimum of two to three months, dramatically increased a couple's chances of successfully achieving a healthy pregnancy. Continuing to undergo treatment during the first trimester of pregnancy can help to prevent complications developing during gestation and can help to prevent miscarriages.

Acupuncture is used to treat elevated follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), repeated miscarriage, unexplained infertility, polycystic ovarian syndrome, endometriosis, as well as numerous other infertility problems. It is used to promote healing in chronic urinary bladder infection, uterine fibroids, dysfunctional uterine bleeding, anovulation, premature menopause, menopausal symptoms and hormone imbalances.

Currently, there are several hundred herbs used in infertility treatments along with acupuncture, moxibustion, Qi Gong, diet and other holistic therapies as alternative and complementary therapeutic infertility treatments.

My experience with acupuncture and moxibustion:

As soon as I was told I had a problem with my fertility, I found an acupuncturist and started going to about 3 sessions a week. I had been for acupuncture before for neck pain after a car accident and had found that it really worked, and I was desperate to do anything that I could think of that would help me to have a baby. In total I tried 6 acupuncturists - both in South Africa and then in the Netherlands and my experience was quite different at all of them.

The first acupuncturist I saw, was a Chinese doctor, who put me in a room with other patients and stuck needles all over my body - including in my ovaries. He was not the most gentle person, but I felt that at least something as being done and that my ovaries were being kick-started into action! Psychological probably, but it did start the journey... I was then referred to another Chinese doctor that a friend had tried. He was much more gentle and I was treated in a private room, with tranquil Chinese music and he used fewer needles. He also prescribed some herbs, which I took in a tablet form to help unblock my liver "chi" - which was apparently also causing some interference with my ovaries.

After that, I moved to the Netherlands, and I found another Chinese acupuncturist at a huge Chinese medical centre in the middle of the red light district in Amsterdam! He also prescribed herbs in a tablet form and was quite gentle with the needles. It was not that relaxing though, as the centre was so busy and there was constant chatter outside my room! He gave me some moxa sticks and showed me where to hold them at various points on my body - my knees and shins and a few other places. In indirect moxibustion, a practitioner (or you can do it yourself) lights one end of a moxa stick, roughly the shape and size of a cigar, and holds it close to the area being treated for several minutes until the area turns red.

I then found a Dutch acupuncturist, who took about 4 hours to treat me and did some direct moxibustion on my back. Moxibustion is often used along with acupuncture and it is used to draw toxins out of the body, mostly at the point of the complaint. Moxibustion is a traditional Chinese medicine technique that involves the burning of mugwort, or "moxa", a small, spongy herb, to facilitate healing and has been used throughout Asia for thousands of years. The purpose of moxibustion, as with most forms of traditional Chinese medicine, is to strengthen the blood, stimulate the flow of "qi" or "chi", and maintain general health.

In direct moxibustion, a small, cone-shaped amount of moxa is placed on top of an acupuncture point and burned until it burns out completely. The moxa is placed on the point and lit, but is extinguished or removed before it burns the skin. The patient will experience a pleasant heating sensation that penetrates deep into the skin, but should not experience any pain, blistering or scarring unless the moxa is left in place for too long.

Apparently there is the type that actually burns and scars the skin, but luckily none of my acupuncturists practiced it! I did have round bruises on my back for a few days afterward though! Finally, I found a South African acupuncturist, living in the Netherlands for many years and specializing in fertility and pregnancy acupuncture. She also did reflexology and moxibustion on me and I was required to keep a small needle in my ear for a few days after each session, AND after a few months of weekly treatments, I was pregnant!

Understanding PMS and Perimenopause

Not so long ago, doctors believed that women went from having regular monthly periods to gradually ceasing all menstrual cycles. Though some did admit that some women had problems with the transition in between, it was only recently did the entire medical world finally agree that the transition period could pose serious health (both mental and physical) problems towards women. Doctors finally recognized the existence of perimenopause and the number of women it hit every year.

One of the main reasons why perimenopause was ignored for so long is because of another female phenomenon known as pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS.) PMS and perimenopause can have really similar symptoms. Many doctors thought that the symptoms we now recognize as perimenopause symptoms were really just PMS symptoms. Since PMS symptoms tend to pass after a week (at the longest), doctors paid little attention to women's complaints.

Why did they get them confused? Probably because PMS and perimenopause both exhibit symptoms like anger, anxiety, bloating, body aches, mood swings, irritability, and loss of libido. These symptoms don't seem like big problems to doctors, especially if a woman admits that she is used to experiencing PMS every month. It was the coming of other perimenopause symptoms that first alerted doctors that something may be different, symptoms like crashing fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats, and insomnia.

So why do any of these symptoms (either for PMS or perimenopause) happen in the first place?

During both PMS and perimenopause, a woman's hormones fluctuate. Usually people assume that her sex hormones fluctuate, but it is important to point out that her stress hormone levels and her blood sugar hormone levels can fluctuate too. For PMS, these hormones fluctuate in order to prepare the body for the housing of a child and (later on) for the secretion of blood. For perimenopause, hormones fluctuate because the systems which prepare a woman's body for reproduction are no longer working like clockwork.

As a result of these fluctuations, a woman's body sends out signals (symptoms) that something is happening internally. Sometimes the only symptom a woman will feel is that "something is wrong" and they can't quite tell why they feel sad or upset.

For women with PMS, the symptoms usually last for a week or so. Women suffering from perimenopause, on the other hand, will find that they may have one or two symptoms present at all times. It is for this reason that most perimenopause experts advise women (usually 35 and up) to start taking notes of any feelings or symptoms they may observe. Taking note of the time of the month a symptom should be observed, as well as frequency in which certain symptoms are present can help both women and their doctors determine what is going on.

When a doctor has determined whether or not you are going through perimenopause or if you are just having acute episodes of PMS, s/he can then prescribe a treatment plan that you can follow. Many doctors recommend mild pain killers, like mefenamic acid, for the body aches you may feel. Other doctors may try to put you on birth control pills or progestin, in order to help regulate your period and alleviate the symptoms of both PMS and perimenopause. Other doctors still may recommend hormone replacement therapy (HRT, for perimenopause patients only.)

As the science of both PMS and perimenopause evolve, however, more and more doctors are suggesting more natural methods for dealing with the problems. For example, PMS has been known to lessen when a woman follows a healthy diet, exercises regularly (about 30 minutes a day), and takes up a hobby or a past time she enjoys. These three lifestyle factors can actually make PMS go away!

Because of the success of this natural method of treatment among PMS patients, many doctors are now supporting natural treatments for perimenopause as well. Apart from lifestyle changes, however, herbal remedies or natural supplements are also recommended for women going through perimenopause. There are many natural treatments that seem to work very well for women, and have been proven to have fewer side effects than HRT.

The science of both PMS and perimenopause is still evolving. Now that doctors have acknowledged perimenopause' presence, more help is coming women's way. Keep in mind that if you had very bad PMS during your youth, your chances of having long drawn out and tough perimenopause symptoms are high. However, no matter which one you're experiencing, always opt to try lifestyle changes before going for pharmaceutical cures.

Early Menopause - Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are the least likely symptom of early menopause and menopause that you would think of. It is not often mentioned as being a menopausal symptom most of the time. Menopausal and post-menopausal women often complain of dry eyes but it is with some
'digging' that a connection might be made. There are symptoms and causes of dry eye. There are treatments for early menopause symptoms including dry eye.

Symptoms of Dry Eye

Though dry eyes are not usually connected to menopause, it will take some checking things out to determine this. Symptoms include itchiness, scratchiness, grittiness, and/or tears running down your cheeks. Your eyes may get more 'tired' throughout the day, become irritated from smoke, wind, or air movement and you may get stringy mucus in the eye. Light sensitivity, blurriness, and problems with your contacts may occur.

If dry eyes are not treated, your eyes could become ulcerated, the cornea can be scarred, or they may become seriously infected.

Causes of Dry Eye

There are two main reasons for dry occurring. The Meibomian Gland (in the inner eyelids), does not have enough oil being produced or the watery tears may evaporate too quickly. Most people have both low production of oil and excessive evaporation of tears.

There are lifestyle events that might contribute to having dry eye. When you are looking at a computer screen or reading a book and you don't blink enough to spread the eye fluid may cause dry eye. Other life events that may be connected to dry eye include wearing contacts that absorb fluids, having Lasik surgery, which cuts nerves and reduces your impulse to blink, and taking some medications such as allergy medications diuretics - birth control pills can dry out your eyes also.

A fatty acid deficiency or a deficiency of anti-inflammatory foods and auto immune diseases such as Diabetes, Arthritis, and Lupus may also cause dry mouth.

Dry eyes may affect you if you are in perimenopause, specifically because this is the time when hormones do the most fluctuation. The greater the estrogen in your system, the less tear production you will have. There is a definite hormonal connection to dry eyes and hormonal imbalances.

The inflammation of dry eye may be connected to an overall minor inflammation. An inflammation will absorb any lubricants including eye fluids. This is a belief of TCM - traditional Chinese medicine that also holds that your purest energy is shown in your eyes. If there is any imbalance or deficiency, it will show in your eyes. In TCM the liver (a detoxifying organ) rules the eyes. Increased intake of fatty acids such as Omega 3's that can be found in fish such as mackerel, tuna, or wild salmon can be beneficial for this. It can also be found some seeds and nuts. Omega 3's help relieve inflammation, aid tear production, and aid in oil production in your tears.

Treatments of Early Menopause Dry Eyes

Artificial tears (eye drops) are the usual treatment for early menopause dry eyes. Eat a diet that includes Omega 3 fatty acids that can be found in fish, nuts, and seeds, and if necessary, natural supplements can benefit dry eyes and your over-all health. Make sure your hormones are balanced; this will likely be determined by a physical exam and blood work.

Have your doctor review your medications to see if a medication might not be contributing to your dry eyes. Try to avoid anything that might be irritating to your eyes such as smoke.

Blink - it is important for your eye health. Keep your body hydrated by drinking water, pure juices, milk, and herbal teas. A humidifier may help.
Take good care of your contacts if you wear them.

Natural herbal supplements may also benefit dry eyes because they are effective in relieving early menopausal symptoms. To be of high quality they should be made of standardized herbal extracts and be extensively tested to ensure quality, safety, effectiveness, and purity.

Conclusion

Early menopause dry eyes are often attributed to anything but menopause. With a little searching and life style inventory, your dry eyes might be connected to your menopause.

You may have itchy, gritty, redness, and irritated eyes. Treatments may include artificial tears, hydration, and including Omega 3 fatty acids in your diet may add lubrication to your eyes. There is a belief in Traditional Chinese Medicine that says the eyes will show imbalances because they channel your purest energy. The liver - the detoxification organ rules the eyes. Early menopause dry eyes are a real symptom of menopause.

What Age Do Women Experience Menopause?

The average age that women go through Menopause is approximately 51, which means that for many women it happens before this time. There are various reasons why the age differs from woman to woman. Hereditary and medical reasons are but two.

Because your hormones play a big part in protecting your bones, the later you start Menopause the better, but saying that all women that have not started Menopause when they reach the age of 55, should go to their General Practitioner and have a check-up, in case there is a medical reason for the delay, such as Fibroids.

The age your mother had her Menopause, can be a good guide, but that does not mean that your experience will be the same as hers. So if she had a difficult time, there is no reason why your experience should be the same. Women who smoke tend to have an earlier menopause, by about two years on average, because smoking diminishes the secretion of estrogen in the ovaries. A hysterectomy, even without the removal of the ovaries, can accelerate the onset of Menopause, by about five years. It is believed this happens because of the change in the supply of blood to the ovaries after surgery. Sterilization, where the Fallopian tubes are cut as a contraceptive measure, can bring on an earlier Menopause for the same reason.

Women who are overweight can have a later Menopause because of the extra oestrogen manufactured by the fat cells. Women who have fibroids (benign growths in the womb) may experience a later menopause because they produce higher levels of oestrogen. Although fibroids can be removed surgically, this is not always necessary because they frequently shrink at Menopause when oestrogen levels drop. Unfortunately women sometimes find themselves in a Catch-22 situation, where the oestrogen excess which allows the fibroids to grow delays the drop in hormone levels needed to make them shrink.

How do your Periods Stop? The way your periods stop is as varied as the timing of Menopause. They may stop abruptly; even though your cycle has been perfectly regular, one month your period does not appear and you never have another one. Sometimes periods are regular but bleeding becomes shorter and shorter until it stops. Other women experience irregular bleeding and often periods become heavier but with gaps of several months in between.

Menopause does not always happen as it should. Surgical intervention, and unusually small supply of eggs and even stress can lead to a sudden rather than a gradual Menopause. Surgical Menopause occurs because of the removal of the Ovaries. Ovaries can be removed because they are diseased, but healthy ovaries are often removed as a matter of routine during a hysterectomy. If the ovaries are taken out before Menopause then the effect can be very traumatic for you and your body, because it then arrives literally overnight. As soon as the ovaries are removed, the female hormone supply from the ovaries is cut off. Hormone Replacement Therapy is usually prescribed to prevent the onset of Menopausal symptoms.

When you think about natures way - it gradually reduces the amount of oestrogen produced over a period of 15-20 years. With surgical intervention this is cut off over night. It can be devastating for a young woman whose periods have stopped to discover that she has reached menopause. Not only does it make having a baby impossible without the use of donor eggs, but it also means she has to cope with problems such as hot flushes vaginal dryness and, even more dangerous for young women, osteoporosis. Hormone Replacement therapy would normally be given to help avert this condition.

What is Ocular Rosacea? - It's More Than Red Eyes

What is ocular rosacea? - also known as rosacea eyes

If you have rosacea and suffer from eye problems such as irritation, inflammation, decreased vision, or conjunctivitis, you could be suffering from ocular rosacea and may need treatment from your doctor.

In order for an ophthalmologist to make a diagnosis, they will need to examine your symptoms, and your treatment will depend on the symptoms and the severity of the disease.

Why do you need an ophthalmologist as opposed to an optometrist to diagnose your symptoms?

Ophthalmologists are different from optometrists in their training and in what they can diagnose and treat.

An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor, and licensed to practice medicine and surgery, and treats all eye diseases, performs eye surgery and prescribes and fits eyeglasses and contact lenses.

Ophthalmologists are required to complete:

• Four years of college and four years of medical school


• One year of internship


• At least three years of residency (hospital-based training) in the diagnosis and


• Medical and surgical treatment of eye disorders

An optometrist is licensed to practice optometry and determine the need for eyeglasses and contact lenses, prescribe optical correction and screen for abnormalities of the eye. In some states they can prescribe a limited number of drugs to help diagnose and treat certain eye conditions, but they do not generally perform surgery.

Optometrists attend two to four years of college and four years of optometric college.

Ocular Rosacea eye problems

Red, dry, itching, or burning eyes

Sensitivity to light

The feeling of grittiness in the eyes

Blurred vision or other vision problems

Eyelids that become inflamed and swollen

Some people with ocular rosacea have reported that certain triggers can cause their condition to be worse. The triggers include:

• Heat (including hot baths)


• Heavy exercise


• Sunlight


• Wind exposure


• Very cold temperatures


• Hot or spicy foods and drinks


• Drinking alcohol


• Menopause


• Emotional stress


• Humidity

Treatment

Ocular rosacea symptoms are usually treated with oral antibiotics, such as tetracycline or doxycycline. Your doctor may also prescribe eye drops to increase tear production. They may also recommend that you use a humidifier or prescribe silicone plugs to close the tear drainage ducts - especially if you live in a dry climate.

Although there is no cure for ocular rosacea, the good news is that it can be treated in order to alleviate and lessen the symptoms.

Other treatments may include:

* Keep eyelids and eye lashes clean - treatment Wash the eyelids daily with diluted baby shampoo on a warm wet washcloth to help keep the tear glands clear and unblocked. Place a hot compress on your eyes for five minutes before the diluted baby shampoo is used to gently clean the corners of the eyes.

* Use hot compress

Apply a warm moist washcloth to the eyes several times a day. This will be helpful for the infection.

* Remove eye make up

Remove all eye make up before going to bed, and scrub the lashes very gently using diluted baby shampoo.

* Replace eye makeup

Doctors recommend replacing eye makeup every three to four months as there is a good chance of bacterial growth from the applicator after using it on your eyelids.

By replacing your eye makeup you can easily solve the problem of flaring or worsening of ocular rosacea symptoms.

New concepts for ocular rosacea treatment

Some doctors believe natural treatments are your best options because they work better, and they don't have the serious side effects of conventional rosacea medicines. For many people, using the right natural treatments will provide long term relief from ocular and rosacea.

As Paul Harvey says, and now for the rest of the story . . . if you are interested in learning more about ocular rosacea, please visit www.antiaging-skincare-solutions.com

Holistic Menopause Treatments

The average American woman reaches menopause at about age 51. Similar symptoms associated with pre menopause and early menopause could strike much earlier than this.

Holistic menopause treatments are more in vogue now days, not so much because women are driven to them, but away from HRT (hormone replacement therapy).

The current methodology for various cancer treatments is chemotherapy and radiation. It is entirely possibly that future Americans will view these "treatment plans" in the same way that we now view "so-called" medical procedures during the dark ages, or torture during the Spanish Inquisition.

Millions of Americans have lost loved ones at the altar of medical science due to the ravages of chemotherapy and radiation. Unfortunately, these horrific procedures are still foisted upon millions of unsuspecting Americans, annually.

Similarly, HRT has been clinically proven to greatly enhance a woman's chances of contracting heart disease, various types of cancer and other life-threatening illnesses.

The question could be asked, "Why would the medical community take the risk of exposing a patient to life-threatening illnesses in an effort to curb the hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause?"

The same question could be asked in regard to cancer treatment, "Why would the medical community take the risk of exposing a patient to the ravages of chemotherapy and radiation to combat cancer."

The answer to both of these questions is the same - because these are the treatment plans that are available to the medical community. Medical practitioners are trained in the use of these procedures. The treatment procedures follow a well-organized plan. The procedures are endorsed by every known, well-renowned and prestigious medical society, organization, top pharmaceutical company, hospital, and research clinic.

Unfortunately, the advocates of chemotherapy and radiation offer no guarantee of success, even during the second, third, fourth, or even fifth bout with reappearing cancer.

Too many patients literally give up the will to live while enduring the ravages of chemotherapy and radiation.

Many women are now seeing similarities to HRT as it is the same type of recommendation as that offered by medical professionals in relation to cancer treatment.

In lieu of the life-threatening implications associated with HRT, many women are turning to the safety of holistic menopause treatments which many now believe can offer the same amount of protection as the much maligned HRT, but without the risk.

Savvy women are asking the tough questions - "Why put oneself in the crosshairs of some laboratory concoction when safer, all natural holistic menopause treatments exist?"

Holistic menopause treatments have literally been around for thousands of years. Many women are reverting to the "old-school" benefits of holistic menopause treatments, though these efforts are often pooh-poohed by the medical constabulary.

It takes a tough mental attitude to depart from conventional thought patterns, or to even consider outside-the-box medical alternatives like holistic menopause treatments.

Another alarming fact is that the majority of alternate therapies (to HRT) are not only not recognized by the medical community, but also not covered by medical insurance. This fact takes a "take charge" attitude and real commitment.

In spite of this, some women have opted not to stand in line for the so-called "Cool-aid" but instead, have opted for the safety of holistic menopause treatments.

The efficacy of holistic menopause treatments has been called into question.

Here, a little knowledge based on personal investigation and to a degree, trial and error is required. There are as many bogus holistic menopause treatments on the market as there are good ones.

Most of the available holistic menopause treatments, if not effective, are benign and will cause no harmful effects.

Scalp Sweating - What Are the Culprits That Cause Scalp Sweating?

If you are bent on truly understanding the possible methods of treatment for the condition of scalp sweating, it would be best to first focus on knowing the causes and symptoms of this particular medical condition. Here are just some of the known causes of excessive sweating in the scalp as well as a few of the identified effective ways by which you may once and for all, put a stop to your excessive sweating in the scalp.

1.Genetics or Genetic Predisposition
First and foremost, know the roots of the problem. Make it a point to consider the possible factors that may be triggering this very embarrassing situation. Genetics is one factor to which excessive sweating or hyperhidrosis is primarily attributed to. A person who is genetically predisposed is believed to have greater tendencies of developing this condition.

2. Emotional Factors
Also, there are the emotional factors that can trigger the sweat glands to produce more sweat than what the body actually necessitates. A person suffering from too much anxiety, stress factors and worries can actually be exposed to greater chances of developing excessive scalp sweating. This is for the reason that the minute a person gets overly anxious about something, or gets too worried over nothing, or gets burned out with the daily hustles and bustles of his life, then it only triggers the sweat glands to produce even more sweat; thus, the excessive perspiration in the head and face, or in the other parts of the body.

3.Menopause In Women
The stage of menopause is actually one factor known to contribute to excessive scalp sweating. If it happens that you are already beyond your forties, then expect that there can be bouts of excessive sweating in you occasionally. What is worse, you do not only sweat in your hands and palms, but also in your feet, face and head or scalp.

4.Traditional Means Of Treatment
With such known causes of your condition of hyperhidrosis, it would be more strategic now to find the best alternative solutions to the problem. There are other people who will resort to the more traditional ways of alleviating their excessive sweating in the scalp by using sage tea leaves to boil and using the broth to wash their heads with.

5.Over-The-Counter Products For Treatment
Most people nowadays would go for the quick-fix solutions such as using roll-ons and antiperspirants that are prescribed by the doctor. There are so many available over-the-counter that you may try, but it would be best to opt for the ones that are known to have medical grades.

6.Oral Medications Or Drugs
What is more, there are also available drugs or oral medicines that you may take to help in calming your nerves down; and therefore, relaxing your sweat glands. One of the most commonly prescribed by doctors are the anti-depressants that are meant to reduce the level of your stress by slackening your adrenaline's sudden occurrences. And since these medications are known to be addictive, make sure that you follow your doctor's prescribed dosage to finally get rid of your scalp sweating.

The Herbal Equilibrium For Menopause

Menopause will create extreme hormonal imbalance to a women. When the ovaries stop producing hormones, the whole body will encounter a lot of changes. This is what causes the signs and symptoms of menopause. All women will undergo this stage, and it is not controllable. However, we can do ways on how to prevent or at least ease the symptoms that comes with it.

The herbal equilibrium for menopause offers a gentle, natural and effective relied for the hormones that will change prior to menopausal stage. They are estrogens, testosterones and the progesterone.

Here is the herbal equilibrium for menopause:

繚 Black cohosh - this is a very effective herb that helps ease the symptoms of menopause like hot flashes and night sweats.

繚 Red Clover - this works like the black cohosh in relieving hot flashes together with mood swings.

繚 Passionflower - we can find this in some ingredients for home remedies for treating menopausal symptoms. It has been said to be a very effective relief in symptoms like anxiety, irritability and insomnia.

繚 Chastberry and Wild Yam - these has been used since the earlier years in curing anxiety and mood swings. They are types of botanicals which traditionally cures insomnia.

繚 Ashwagandha - this is an herb that is famous for its mood-regulating property. It is perfect to ease the mood swings of a person.

繚 Flaxseed - this is a known herb in curing night sweats.

繚 Ginseng - this herb has been with us in centuries and curing lots of diseases. Now, we can also use it in the treatment for menopausal symptoms like hot flushes. It also helps boost the mood which is good for depression associated by menopause.

繚 Sage - this herb has estrogen-like effect that is good for stabilizing the hormonal imbalance in our body.

繚 Dong Quai - this is a very friendly herb for women as it has been used for treatment to a lot of illnesses involving females.

繚 Soya - this can cure hot flashes. Drinking soya milk might be good for women in battling against other menopause symptoms as well.

The Herbal Equilibrium for menopause is all-natural ingredients that are free of wheat, animal, and dairy products. They also have no preservatives at all. This can be changed or maybe some will be added if there are new discoveries. Most women rely to this equilibrium to find ways in treating their menopausal conditions.

Herbs are actually more useful than medications. It is because they do not have any side effects especially to our liver. Another thing is that menopause is just a normal condition for women. It is not health related although there can be numerous symptoms. Medicines are not really needed for this.

3 Reasons Why You Should Choose Natural Menopause Treatment

Since hormone replacement therapy might have long term effects, more and more women prefer to use natural menopause treatment to relief menopause symptoms. Studies have shown that natural and healthy ingredients in herbal treatments work more effectively than other medication and it seldom have any side effects. If you find that synthetic drug isn't comfortable for you, consider these natural alternatives.

Restore Energy Levels

Loss of energy that often goes along with menopause is a big deal to most women. A woman may find her body's system often gets out of balance when hormone production becomes abnormal. Even by taking more vitamins, many women have found that it is still very difficult to give them their energy levels back. However, during this stressful time, the abnormal adrenal circadian rhythms can be solved by using the menopause treatment that contains natural ingredients.

Regain Normal Sexual Desire

It is important that you need to balance your hormones so that your body can functioning well in sexual sense. The natural menopause treatment can help to keep that side of life going smoothly during those wildly diverse years although your body can back to the normal changes of menopause eventually. It will be common to having symptoms like vaginal dryness, moodiness resulting in a lack of sex drive, and disinterest in your partner when the natural hormones decrease. To safely restore your libido, you should try menopause treatments that contain natural ingredients.

For Immune System Health

Your immune system will be suffered as your body is doing additional work and the occurrence of sleep disruptions. This can cause serious illness and infection to you. Natural menopause treatments are very good in regulating the cortisol cycle which related to the health of your immune system.

There are more and more women choosing to experience a natural menopause change as they are educated about their health and know what they want. Consider menopause treatments that contain natural ingredients to relief the symptoms of menopause and help in giving you your life back. These treatments are very effective in any stages of menopause.

Skin Crawling Sensations and Menopause

One of the creepiest feelings associated with menopause, without a doubt, is skin crawling. In fact, during menopause, a number of skin/nerve related conditions might be experienced, including itchy or dry skin, tingling feelings, and skin sensitivity. These conditions are all normal, but there are also a number of treatments available for menopausal women who are experiencing pain or problems with their skin.

Flashback for a moment--probably around the time you were in middle school. Whether you were a member of the cheerleading squad or you spent most of your time in the library matters not; most girls this age battle a common problem: acne. It is no coincidences that this trouble starts to occur around the time girls first start menstruating. When this begins, the hormones in a young girl's body are rapidly changing, and the skin reacts in a somewhat negative way.

Hormone levels in an adult woman's body are no different. As menopause begins, your skin reacts to the changing levels in your body, and the results can be sometimes unpleasant.

The prickly crawling feeling that many women experience is called formication. Women usually experience this one to two years after their last period and during the end of perimenopause and the beginning of menopause. While doctors are still largely unsure of its cause, formication goes away on its own in a relatively short period of time for most women. Many speculate that the cause of this is an overworked, hot liver, which happens when your hormones are changing rapidly, as they are at the onset of menopause.

However, itchy, dry, sensitive skin can last much longer and become painful if it goes untreated. For treatment, see a dermatologist. Often times, the same remedies that worked when you were a teenager also work now--moisturizing your skin, washing sensitive areas like your face very gently and with special washes, using prescription acne medications, washing your pillowcases often, and using less oily makeup.

Unlike formication and sensitive skin, tingling in the extremities might be a cause to worry. Although many menopausal women experience tingling in their feet, hands, legs, and arms, they can also be signs of more serious problems, like diabetes, vitamin deficiency, depletion of calcium, depletion of potassium, or blood vessel/circulation problems. Be safe--always see a doctor if you experience the tingling for an expended period of time.

Seeing a doctor is simply your best bet in the end for any type of menopausal problem, skin related or not. He or she can suggest a number of treatment options, including medication, natural remedies, therapy, diet change, exercise programs, and alternative treatment options.

Testing for menopause is difficult--your hormones during this time period change rapidly from day to day--but what doctors can do is rule out any other medical reasons for the skin problems you are experiencing.

Sometimes menopause can be confused with the onset of a serious disease or disorder, so if you have any doubts in your mind, talk to a health care professional about your crawling, dry, itchy, or tingling skin sensations.

Non-Estrogenic Herbal Supplements for Menopause

Ongoing research over the last decade has cast the efficacy and potential safety of many commonly prescribed synthetic drugs into doubt. Hormone Replacement Therapy has come under particular scrutiny during this period, with research suggesting links between long-term use of the treatment and an increased risk of heart disease, blood clots, breast and ovarian cancer and stroke. This concern over the potential side-effects of HRT has led many women to look for safer, cheaper and more natural ways to treat their uncomfortable menopausal symptoms without synthetic hormones. In this growing trend towards natural medicine, non-estrogenic herbal supplements for menopause have become a first line of treatment for many women.

What are non-estrogenic herbs?

The most effective kinds of herbal supplements for menopause are either phytoestrogenic or non-estrogenic. Phytoestrogenic herbs contain a natural compound which is very similar to human estrogen, which means they can help balance fluctuating hormone levels when they are consumed on a regular basis. Non-estrogenic herbs, however, - as the name suggests- do not contain any substance that replicates the effects of estrogen in the body. Instead, this kind of herb works by stimulating the pituitary and endocrine glands to produce more of the body's own natural hormones more efficiently.

There are many varieties of plant that can be considered non-estrogenic, but only a small number contain the nutrients needed to improve the function of the endocrine system and balance hormone levels, and fewer still have been clinically proven to be beneficial to menopausal women.

What are the benefits of non-estrogenic herbs?

Non-estrogenic herbal supplements for menopause are effective for many women because they encourage the body to produce more of its own natural estrogen, at a time when hormone production is gradually winding down to a halt. By nourishing the endocrine gland, non-estrogenic herbs help to restore hormonal balance and prevent many of the problems caused by fluctuating hormone levels during menopause, including hot flushes, night sweats, depression, mood swings and vaginal dryness. Furthermore, because non-estrogenic herbs help to keep estrogen at a healthy level, it is thought that herbal supplements of this kind could help prevent osteoporosis and cardiovascular disease, two conditions which menopausal women are particularly vulnerable to as their estrogen levels start to decline.

Recent medical research has indicated that certain kinds of non-estrogenic herbal remedies for menopause can be used as a natural alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy. These herbs promote hormonal balance in a very similar way to HRT, but instead of introducing synthetic hormones to the body, they improve natural hormone production and work in harmony with the rest of the body. Non-estrogenic herbs are widely prescribed in countries such as Germany, France and Japan for menopausal women who report uncomfortable and distressing symptoms and they have become increasingly popular in America and across the rest of Europe. These herbal remedies for menopause generally come in capsule form and are recommended for daily use.