Alternative Fibroid Tumor Treatments - How to Shrink Fibroids

Many women search for alternative fibroid tumor treatments because the options provided by their doctors are, quite simply, very disappointing.  As fibroids are very rarely dangerous or life threatening, this is, in a way, a double-edged sword.  On the one hand, many women feel utter relief when they realize that the large swellings in their stomach are not harmful. However, it is easy to get the impression that because of this, women are almost derided for "making a fuss", with many given the advice that they should simply take no action at all as fibroids will naturally shrink during the menopause.

Now this is all well and good if your fibroids are fairly small and causing no problems. It might also be acceptable if you are nearing the menopause and you can live with the symptoms. However many women find it very difficult to live with the symptoms associated with fibroids and it's no wonder really. With a long list including heavy periods, anemia, breathlessness, pain during intercourse, bladder and bowel problems and bloating-not to mention the fact that your clothes don't fit!

If fibroids are causing very severe problems, surgical treatments may be offered. These can take the form of surgery to either remove individual fibroids, blocking off of the blood supply, causing fibroids to shrivel or heat treatment. As a last resort, a hysterectomy might be offered. Very often when any of these treatments are offered, they are accompanied by drugs to shrink fibroids beforehand to make the surgery less risky. These drugs can only be taken for a short period of time as they have very unpleasant side effects including the risk of osteoporosis, thinning and drying vaginal tissues, facial wrinkles and other menopausal symptoms such as night sweats and short term memory loss. As if all this isn't bad enough, the surgical treatments (with the exception of a hysterectomy) are not considered permanent as the fibroids can regrow unless something is done to treat what has caused them in the first place!

There are alternative fibroid tumor treatments which will reduce fibroids to an acceptable level so that symptoms disappear or can, in many cases shrink fibroids altogether. The theory behind the treatment is based on the principle of treating what has caused the fibroids in the first place-and once what is causing the fibroids is no longer there, they will naturally shrink. As there is no "one" cause of fibroids, any such treatment needs to take a multi-faceted approach, looking at all the possible causes of fibroids and dealing with which may be applicable in your particular case. One cause of fibroids is excess estrogen, which is common in overweight women, so one aspect of treatment might be weight reduction, as estrogen is manufactured in and stored in fat cells. Certain pollutants can mimic the action of estrogen and are stored in the liver, so a good liver detox can be beneficial. It has also been shown that women who suffer from inflammatory conditions have a higher probability of having fibroids, so an approach which includes eating anti-inflammatory foods such as hops, oats, cumin and rosemary might be used.

What Are The Effects Of Early Menopause?

While it is estimated that some women can experience the onset of perimenopause and menopause beginning in their 30's, early menopause can cause great anxiety. What are the effects of early menopause?

While most people associate menopause with older women, it can occur in younger women as well. Any women who is going through the full menopause cycle before the age of 40, is considered to be experiencing premature or early menopause. Imagine the emotional affect this can have on a young woman. In addition to the associated symptoms of menopause, experiencing this premature cycle can add another level of emotion which could be just as devastating.

One of the causes of early menopause is premature ovarian failure, in which your body's immune system attacks itself causing your ovaries to stop functioning.

Early menopause can also be induced by surgery. So too, if you have had surgery either to remove the ovaries or a full hysterectomy, your hormone levels drop instantly and you will experience instant menopause. Even if you do not have your ovaries removed during a hysterectomy, the ovaries may be damaged during the surgical procedure or the blood flow to the ovaries may be affected resulting in early menopause. In addition, early menopause may also be derived by having your tubes tied. Other causes of early menopause include excessive weight loss associated with anorexia.

To determine the cause of premature menopause, it is necessary to ask your mom at what age she became menopausal. If there is a lack of estrogen, it is more likely that early menopause will lead to menopausal symptoms which include: hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, loss of libido, joint discomfort, change in skin, and sleep disturbances. These tend to be more severe for younger woman who are in menopause, than it is by women who experience menopause naturally.

If you are among many women who are going through menopause at an early age, it may help you to join a support group to help you through this rough time. Seek the advice of your doctor to determine if this in fact, early menopause or something else. More importantly, losing the ability to have children is devastating and the time should be taken to grieve. The support of family and friends is crucial at this time.

Finally, understand and experience the loss. Your feelings and thoughts should be expressed in an honest and forthright manner. Remember, these results of early menopause are not your fault; it just simply happens. You will be going through many emotions at this time, and adding guilt to them will not alleviate the pain. There are always alternatives which you can discuss at a later date, but for now, allow yourself the time you need to mourn.

Black Cohosh and Hair Growth - Herbal Treatment For Hair Loss in Women

Black cohosh and hair growth have been in correlation for years, but it wasn't until a few years ago that the relationship was officially recognized. It has always been used as a herbal remedy for women suffering from menopause as it regulates estrogen hormone levels. Now it has been used in very successful natural hair restoration treatments for women.

Black cohosh is a plant that grows in North America and Canada. Its root is very dark, thick and knotted, and it is this that which is used as a herbal remedy for many different ailments, including menopause. Menopause can cause a reduction in the production of estrogen - the very hormone that makes women women. This female sex hormone has many important roles that give women their female characteristics including preventing the growth of body hair and promoting head hair growth. It acts as a 5-alpha reductase inhibitor, blocking the production of DHT from testosterone, which causes hair follicles to die.

Women going through menopause tend to notice that one of the side effects is hair loss. This is because the level of estrogen produced can drop dramatically, causing the level of DHT to enter the hair follicles, blocking hair growth. Black cohosh, with its ability to regulate estrogen levels so they don't reduce, is therefore an excellent natural hair loss remedy for women.

Hair loss in women can be prevented with use of black cohosh, if going through menopause. It is believed that with it balancing the level of estrogen produced, DHT levels should remain restricted and controlled enough to stop clogging the hair follicles. Black cohosh and hair growth appear to therefore go hand-in-hand, and as a result has been included as a core ingredient in many hair growth products and natural hair loss treatments.

How To Take Black Cohosh

This plant contains vitamins A and B5, calcium, iron, phosphorus, potassium, lipids and resin. Not only is it found in natural hair loss treatments, but is also available as a supplement in capsule or tincture form.

What Are the Effects of Menopause and Vaginal Dryness?

Many people do not like to speak about the effects of menopause and vaginal dryness, but the truth is, it will happen to nearly all women at some point and time in their lives and it is quite discomforting.

Every woman that experiences menopause has their own different problems with it. Some of them have night sweats, weight gain and yes even vaginal dryness. Other effects could include, a headache, insomnia, a change in the sex drive (wanting less) and even mood swings.

There are pills which are prescribed by doctors and they can help you out a little bit. If night sweats are bothering you, wear lighter clothing to prevent sweating. If night sweats are unavoidable it may help to sleep on a towel to prevent excessive moisture on your body and bed. Don't be afraid to talk to friends or your doctor regarding your daily symptoms. Doctors may be able to prescribe some medical treatments to help deal with many of the menopausal symptoms including night sweats and dryness in the vaginal area.

There is also help for the mood swings and weight gain. Mood swings might happen due to the fact that all the changes are happening and hormone levels are fluxuating throughout the day. As for weight gain, exercise is the key. Try increasing your daily amount of exercise by 20-minutes to help offset symptoms. It sounds like a lot of extra time but remember exercise doesn't have to take place in a gym. It can be done anywhere, in most cases simply walking farther and longer during your daily activities will meet the goal.

There are pills to help improve your sex drive too. Although, a lot of women do experience a lower sex drive because of their dry experience. There are various lubricating gels on the market (even for those with sensitive skin) that can be used. These are safe during sex and help the woman to have no discomfort or dryness during sex.

Many department stores carry these gels. But a lot of women prefer buying them on the internet because it can be an embarrassing experience for many. There are prescription gels you can ask your doctor about. These are specifically for menopausal women. If you find you can not afford the prescription, some places have help paying for them and sometimes you may be able to get them cheaper at different places so make sure to check around.

Conception Despite Early Menopause

Early menopause or premature menopause can occur and for a variety of reasons. Conception is still possible even though your body is in the midst of ceasing your menstrual periods. This is rare but conceptions do occur. Periods are irregular so it is not easy to tell when you are in your fertile phase. Some women continue ovulating even though their periods seem to have ended.

Causes of Early Menopause

Early menopause can be caused by auto immune disorders. They can attack a normal reproductive system and prevent the production of female hormones (estrogen and progesterone).

Women have one active and one inactive X chromosome. Defects in the X chromosome can result in Fragile X Syndrome. A defect in the inactive chromosome can lead to early menopause and conception despite early menopause can occur. When women have ceased having their periods for a full year or longer, they can no longer get pregnant the natural way.

Chemotherapy and radiation treatments used to treat cancer can trigger early menopause. This is because as a result of the treatments, there can be ovarian damage. Damaged ovaries will not produce healthy eggs if they produce any at all. Ovarian damage from other surgical procedures can also trigger early menopause.

Another cause of early menopause is a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) and an oophorectomy (ovary removal). Removal of both ovaries is a lateral oophorectomy. Removal of the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries is a total hysterectomy. When any one of these procedures is performed, hormone levels drop and with a total hysterectomy, there is a quicker drop in hormone levels.

Symptoms of Early Menopause

The symptoms of early menopause are very similar to menopause as it occurs naturally in life. They may include any one or more of the following: hot flashes/night sweats, vaginal dryness, mood swings, and depression. Fatigue, low energy, weight gain, and incontinence can occur, as can aging skin, changes in hair quality, irregular periods and breast tenderness. If you suspect you are in either early or natural menopause, you should talk to your doctor to find relief for these symptoms. There are treatment options.

Treatment Options

For some women all you may need is some simple changes to your life style. Limit alcohol and quit smoking. A healthy diet and good exercise will help to alleviate some symptoms as well. Be open with your partner about what you want and possible changes in your sex lives.

HRT- hormone replacement therapy is a pharmaceutical option. Estrogen and progesterone (female hormones) levels are balanced with the use of synthetic hormones. There are some very serious and potentially fatal side effects including heart attacks and strokes.

An alternative treatment may be herbal supplements. Herbal supplements may have any one or more of the following ingredients: Black Cohosh, Chaste Berry, Damiana, Red Clover, Sarsaparilla, and Tribulus Terrestris. Another prominent ingredient is 5-HTP-5 hydroxytryptophan. Together these herbs and nutritive substances are beneficial to menopausal and early menopausal symptoms.

In order to ensure you are getting the highest quality supplements, the metabolic paths of the ingredients should be tested at the molecular level and the interaction of the ingredients should be tested. The herbs in the supplement should only be from standardized herbal extracts because this is where the active ingredients are found.

When manufactured, the supplements should be made according to pharmaceutical grade standards. Before adding herbal supplements to your health plan, be sure to talk to your doctor as some herbs can affect the performance of drugs you may be taking for other health conditions.

Conclusion

Conception despite early menopause can occur. This can be explained because with such irregular periods, it is difficult to tell when you are fertile or not. Some women continue to ovulate until their periods have fully stopped after a full year. If you suspect you might be in early menopause or are in early menopause and think you might be pregnant, consult with your doctor so you can get proper care.

Be sure to click Conception despite early menopause to learn more on menopause as a whole and to find out about the supplement we personally use with excellent health results. Visit the menopause source for more detailed information.

Menopause Insomnia, Argh! I Can't Sleep!

Living with insomnia is one of the most challenging health conditions there is. The side effects are dramatic and touch nearly every aspect of life. The good news is that most conditions respond very well to a natural insomnia treatment.

My intention is certainly not to be a medical authority, serious conditions that have chronic symptoms and neurological causes need medical treatment. Yet even such cases are often helped by natural remedies.

Few things in this world can weaken us faster than insomnia. Besides the obvious fatigue, there is the lack of concentration, memory lapses, irritability, and weakened immune system, just to mention a few symptoms.

A lack of sleep has the effect of bringing out the worst in us. The ability to cope simply goes down the drain. Life becomes like an endless stream of event in which we are required to participate; hopefully without making too many mistakes.

Insomnia can take the zest out of everyday life and dull our senses. To top it off, you just can't store up sleep, like food for the winter. Talk about something to bring on stress!

What is insomnia?

Everyone experiences the inability to sleep soundly once in a while. It is when it occurs often that the problems arise. Generally, it is defined as:

1. Trouble falling asleep

2. Waking up a lot during the night with trouble returning to sleep

3. Waking up too early in the morning

4. Having un-refreshing sleep, even after 7 or 8 hours of sleep

Losing sleep can cause problems during the day, such as fatigue, trouble thinking clearly or staying focused, or feeling depressed or irritable. It is not defined by the number of hours you sleep every night. Although the amount a person needs varies, most people need between 7 and 8 hours a night.

It is not necessary to lie awake at night, your mind marching through endless scenarios of sleep-depriving worry. There is a way to find the rest and peace you need!

Types of insomnia and their causes

1. Short Term- Lasting from a few nights to a few weeks.

2. Intermittent (on and off)- Short term , which happens from time to time.

3. Long Term or Chronic-Occurs at least 3 nights a week over a month or more.

4. Having un-refreshing sleep, even after 7 or 8 hours of sleep

Chronic insomnia is either primary or secondary. Primary means that it is not caused by any other health problem. Secondary means that it is caused by a medical condition, such as arthritis, cancer, depression. It can also be caused by a partner who snores loudly or poor sleeping conditions, such too much noise or light.

Women and men

Women are much more likely to suffer from insomnia than men. Some research suggests that certain social factors, such as being unemployed or divorced, are related to poor sleep and increase the risk of insomnia in women. Pregnancy and menopause may also disturb sleep. The well known symptom of hot flashes can cause sleeplessness as well. Menopause insomnia can make your days pretty long, fortunately there is a lot you can do to help yourself.

The inability to sleep well can also increases with age.

Are there any solutions that are safe and effective?

If your inability to sleep is primary, that is, not caused by another medical condition, then there are numerous ways to find some well needed rest.

Many old remedies are very effective and totally safe. For example, the warm milk drink before bed often works wonders.

Various herbal drinks such as chamomile are also very good, and there are many other herbal remedies that are non-addictive and have no harmful side effects.

One technique I have used many times is playing soothing sounds such as a rainstorm or even the purring of a cat. These products are designed specifically as sleep aids and have the added benefit of drowning out unwanted noise.

How to Survive Menopause?

Menopause means "change of life cycles" or the cessation of ovarian cycles for women.
Women can start to experience symptoms of menopause as early as in their 30s regardless of average menopausal age of 50+.

These symptoms are triggered by hormonal changes as women approaching their midlife phase.

It is impossible to predict when a woman will have a menopause onset, it does not matter the age at which she starts having her periods or even, what age her mother became menopausal.

Often women become menopausal around the age of 55.

Menopause means that, the ovulation ceased, the ovaries do not produce eggs any longer and the woman body loss the ability to be fertile.

The woman body does not produce estrogen and progesterone anymore and menstruation cycle stop completely.

When the woman is undergoing a menopause she might experience some or all of these symptoms:

*Irregular periods... shorter and heavier periods, phantom periods, shorter or longer cycles
*Heart palpitations or irregular heartbeat
*Mood swings, irritability
*Fatigue and depression
*Anxiety and feelings of dread and doom
*Hot flashes, night sweats
*Sleeplessness
*Dry vagina and loss of libido
*Memory loss and lapses
*Difficulty in concentrating, mental confusion and disorientation
*Aching, sore joints, muscles and tendons, muscles tension
*Headaches and migraines
*Itchy and sensitive skin
*Incontinence
*Thinning or hair loss
*Vertigo, episodes of losing your balance
*Changes in body odor
*Bleeding and sensitive gums
*Indigestion, nausea and bloating
*Electric shock sensation under the skin and in the head
*Ringing in the ears
*Fingernails break and crack easier
*Osteoporosis (after a few years)

One of the most annoying and bothersome symptom of menopause is not hot flashes but weight gain.

Studies show that there are factors that occur during menopause that may increase your ability to gain weight and have a harder time getting it off.

During menopause most women notice body and a skin change, one of the most common issues is a weight gain, especially around middle section of the woman's body.

These make women in their menopausal state more sensitive to weight issues and are sometimes insecure of the fat accumulating in their body naturally as they age.

One factor that could be a reason for weight gain is that you will have a lower estrogen level. Estrogen is the female sex hormone that is responsible for ovulation. Studies conducted with animals show that a lack of estrogen leads to a large amount of weight gain.

Menopause is a tough and hard to deal with. But there are many menopausal relief solutions available in the market today. You could try anti estrogen, hormone relief or simply use herbs. Herbal treatment might be more natural and less invasive way to treat symptoms of menopause. You will find that there are herbs that will provide menopausal relief naturally without any health risks involved.

*However did you know that there is such a thing as male menopause too?

Male menopause is called 'Andropause', it is usually though of not to exist because men usually do not have a definite period of menopause like women since they do not have periods.

However, you have to know that male menopause does exist. Male menopause is when the 'androgen' (testosterone) levels decline in the aging male or the state of having low testosterone. This decline happens not only when men age, but also might be caused by several diseases, like diabetes.

Some of the symptoms of male menopause include:

*Fatigue, weakness, depression, and sexual problems.

Testosterone decline in men is usually a much slower process due to the drop of hormonal level in the body as women experience during that period of menopause. During 'Andropause', bodily changes occur very gradually in men and may be accompanied by changes in attitudes and moods, fatigue, a loss of energy, sex drive and physical agility.

Menopause is natural and totally normal so men do not have to fear it. However, most men experience this decline in hormone late in their lives (about 60s to 80s).

As we age, we have to remember to take care and ease into our age better by eating healthy, regular exercise and a positive outlook in life. We can battle the signs of aging by arming ourselves with knowledge and awareness about what happens in our body as we age.

Menopause or 'Andropause' will eventually catch up with us, but we can avoid being "cranky old people".

We all just have to find an easier way to ease into menopause and still lead a positive lifestyle.