Are there any natural health solutions for menopause?
The simple answer is a resounding "Yes!" The longer answer involves the nature and nurture of a woman experiencing menopause.
For starters, what is menopause? Just ask any woman typically between the ages of 45 and 55 and she'll tell you she's experiencing one or several of the following symptoms:
- Changes in the cycle or flow
- Hot flashes and/or night sweats
- Vaginal dryness and skin changes
- Depression
- Memory loss
- Anxiety
- Sleeping problems
- Loss of interest in sex
So, what exactly is happening to a woman's body during this time?
Physically speaking, a woman's ovaries gradually produce less estrogen, resulting in the cessation of ovulation and menstruation. More importantly, though, menopause is a natural health process and a necessary transition into another phase of life. Transitions of any kind involve change, sometimes uncomfortable changes, with a transformation resulting upon completion of the transition. Menopause is not meant to be treated like a disease.
Frequently, women are not aware of alternative options. Thus, the they will seek the guidance of their physician who typically will recommend hormone replacement therapy. There are synthetic kinds, namely Premarin, Prempro, and Provera, which are the most commonly used (which are made from horse urine).
There are also bio-identical hormones, which have recently received much buzz from well known celebrities. Bio-identical hormones are manufactured in the lab to have the same molecular structure as the hormones made by your own body.
Yet, our bodies are dynamic, ever-changing organisms that require a very individualized approach with natural health solutions. Not every woman will respond to the one-size-fits-all approach of synthetic or bio-identical hormones. And, being that menopause is a transition, a natural health approach that supports a woman through this time will be the most effective and caring approach.
This is where classical homeopathy comes in. A qualified practitioner will find a homeopathic remedy that is individualized to her unique needs. The remedy is made from mostly plants and simple minerals and takes the healing intelligence of nature to stimulate her own unique healing response. In this way, the body will become strengthened to support it's own transition. This is especially important for a woman as her body is so inherently interwoven into the rhythms of nature. Such interweaving is modeled in the very context of her menstrual cycle, which symbolizes a birth and death every month through the release of an egg and shedding of tissue. This typically coincides with the very lunar cycle of the moon's orbit around earth. How much more connected to nature can you get?!
Thus, as the menstrual cycle changes during menopause, it indicates she is ready to move on to the next phase of her life. This is a beautiful process that is honored in a woman through classical homeopathy.
Classical homeopathy cannot regenerate an endocrine gland that may not be working anymore, thus necessitating a synthetic or bio-identical hormone replacement. This is best discussed between a woman and her doctor. However, in most cases, classical homeopathy will aid a woman through her transition and help support her in adapting to the change.
Additional to the use of homeopathic remedies, women are advised to be involved in adopting healthy lifestyle habits such as proper nutrition, adequate exercise, and effective stress management. There is no replacement for healthy lifestyle habits!
There are hundreds of homeopathic remedies to choose from to help a woman experiencing menopausal symptoms. She is best advised to consult with a qualified homeopathic practitioner who will individualize the remedy to her unique needs, and who will also advise her on healthy lifestyle habits.