HEALTH REPORT
Managing menopause nauturally
I n many cultures, menopause is celebrated as a positive beginning of a new stage in life. Natural remedies can ease you through this transition. Menopause is a sequence of small gradual changes that move you into this new phase of your life. The Western view of menopause tends to see it as a time of physical and emotional loss – the loss of periods, the ability to bear children, the feeling of being young and energetic – and it is not uncommon for women to feel that it disrupts the quality of their lives. Although some of these natural changes may make you feel uncomfortable, there are many tools available which will ensure you still feel and look your best. Here we have answered the most common questions asked by women entering menopause, because if you familiarise yourself with what is happening with your body, it will help you to manage the changes and have a more positive attitude towards the menopause. When does menopause start? Menopause officially begins one year after you have had your final menstrual period. However, perimenopause – which is the
number of transitional years leading up to this final period – can vary considerably between women, lasting anywhere between four and six years. The perimenopause can begin at different ages, with the average age of actual natural menopause being 51. This means a woman may enter early menopause, or perimenopause, any time from her mid to late 40s. Women who smoke tend to enter perimenopause and menopause even earlier. Premature menopause may also occur spontaneously in women who have undergone certain medical procedures, notably a hysterectomy or cancer surgery, or who have an underlying health condition, such as thyroid or autoimmune disease. What happens during perimenopause? When a woman enters perimenopause, fluctuations in levels of three key reproductive hormones inher bloodstream - oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone – can affect the length of her menstrual cycle and the heaviness of her menstrual periods. These changing hormonal levels may also cause all or some of the following symptoms: hot flushes, irritability, mood swings, depression, body aches and pains, headaches, night sweats, and poor sleep with frequent night-time awakenings and accompanying daytime fatigue.
HERB OF CHOICE: Black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemose)
Of all the different herbs which can play a role in eliminating undesirable menopause symptoms, black cohosh is one of the most well-researched. Black cohosh root is rich in compounds that mimic the effects of oestrogen. It acts as a hormone balancer and has proven benefits for relieving hot flushes, depression and night sweats. Black cohosh may also be prescribed for other gynaecological problems, including periods (absent, painful or heavy) and premenstrual tension.
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ISSUE 62 • 2021
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