Thoughts and Updates

The Menopause – a new phase of life

The word menopause comes from the Greek Menos meaning month and Pausos meaning ending. It is often recognised as something negative instead of positive, which is unfortunate as it a natural stage in a woman’s life, we should embrace this phase.

There are three stages of the menopause:

  • Pre-menopause — used to describe the time from a woman’s first to their last menstrual cycle
  • Peri-menopause – is the point when a woman has her last period and has no further bleeding for 24 months. This phase can last from 2 to 6 years.
  • Post-menopause – the time after the peri-menopause

Some of the symptoms we can experience during the peri-menopause are:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • General feelings of anxiety
  • Low energy
  • Migraines and headaches
  • Changes in skin texture and hair
  • General aches and pains
  • Mood swings
  • Poor concentration and mental focus
  • Weight gain
  • Loss of libido
  • Vaginal dryness
  • Changes to menstural cycle
  • Osteopinoea – loss of bone density

What can you do to help yourself during this phase? There are several options that could be beneficial from hormone replacement therapy (HRT), changes to your diet, aromatherapy, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, homeopathic and herbal remedies to exercise and meditation.

I have put a few suggestions together which were recommended from friends, family and clients:

Herbs* – black cohosh, St Johns wart, Chinese angelica, red clover, sage and agnus cactus
Aromatherapy – geranium, rose, melissa, ylang ylang and jasmine
Bach Flower Remedies* – impatiens, olive and walnut
Diet – flax seeds, soya, oily fish, chickpeas, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and dairy products
Hypnotherapy – can help with stress, anxiety, weight gain and sleep disturbances
Exercise – yoga, walking, weight training and pilates
Meditation/mindfulness

*Seek advice from a qualified health professional – ‘natural’ doesn’t always mean safe. 

Suggested reading:
Natural solutions to menopause by Marilyn Glenville
The wisdom of menopause by Christiane Northrup
A change for the better by Patricia Davies

Useful websites:
menopausematters.co.uk
daisynetwork.org.uk
Dr-kristy.com

Whatever approach you take to help ease your symptoms I hope it works.

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