HOW TO EASE THE MENOPAUSE

Sarah Frankel takes on a tricky subject

 

“Ohhhhh!” said my mother, “Ohhhh dear!” she exclaimed, her face red. “What’s wrong?” I asked, worriedly. “Just a hot flush, nothing to fret about,” she responded cheerily. But I did. My mother is 90 years old. What worried me was the thought that I might suffer hot flushes till I’m 90 or more!

It is generally thought that your body will adjust to the hormonal changes and will settle into a rhythm. I was pleased to find out that my mother is the exception to the rule: usually the effects taper off by the mid 60’s.

Menopause usually begins sometime between 45 –55 and is the result of the fall in the number of eggs in the ovaries. Less oestrogen and progesterone are produced when the menstrual cycle starts to change. Symptomatic of the onset of menopause and the effect of hormone deficiency are all or some of the following: hot flushes, insomnia, headaches, mood swings and weight gain. Too much hair, not enough hair, loss of libido are other symptoms. The only good news is that it’s an end to periods.

Many middle-aged women suffer uncomfortable 'hot flushes'. These sudden rises in body temperature have been blamed on the menopause, but Californian researchers now believe the problem has more to do with insomnia. They're not sure if the flushes cause the insomnia, or it's the lack of sleep that causes the flushes, but either way there seems to be an association between the two.

The researchers interviewed 3,243 women in California whose ages ranged from 35 to 65 years. The vast majority, nearly 60%, hadn't reached menopause. Just 22% were going through the menopause, and the remainder were postmenopausal. Chronic insomnia, defined as poor or non-restorative sleep over a six-month period, was experienced by 80% of the women who also suffered hot flushes.

So what can we do to help ourselves?

• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): this can help alleviate symptoms in the short term and can protect against osteoporosis. If you suffer badly from menopausal symptoms, I would suggest you discuss HRT with your doctor and make an informed decision, as there are many things, both positive and negative, that should be considered. There are non-bleed versions of HRT.

• Complementary treatments: so many are touted as being able to ease menopause symptoms that I shall cover a few this month and more next month. It is very individual: different things help different people and sometimes combination therapy is helpful.

• Foods high in phytoestrogens, e.g. organic soya products, linseed and linseed oil, alfalfa, nuts, whole grains, fennel, celery and parsley, are highly recommended by alternative practitioners. It is believed that a high intake of phytoestrogens reduces menopausal symptoms and also helps protect against cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis.

• Herbal medicine: as with complementary treatments, this can be effective, but it depends on how you react. Riki Davies is a medical herbalist and a member of the National Institute of Medical Herbalists. Riki encourages menopausal women to adopt positive attitudes, lifestyle changes and good eating habits.

• One herb that mimics oestrogen’s effects on the body is Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), which has anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, anti-spasmodic and oestrogenic actions.

• Another herb, Hypericum perforatum, known as St John’s Wort, has a long history of use for anxiety or depression associated with the menopause. A study investigating the effects of Hypericum and Cimicifuga (Black Cohosh and St John’s Wort) in 812 patients with menopausal complaints, noted a reduction of hot flushes in 90% of the cases. It also showed that Hypericum (St John’s Wort) increases nocturnal melatonin plasma levels, making it useful for treating insomnia and depression.

• A third type of herb is Salvia officinalis, known also as sage. This can inhibit night sweats, profuse perspiration, anxiety and depression. It is thought to be a tonic to the nervous system, with its thujone content being potentially restorative and calming and is thought to contain oestrogenic constituents, particularly helpful for hot flushes.

• Acupuncture originated in China 5,000 years ago and is widely accepted in the West. Acupuncture stimulates the nerves in skin and muscle, and can produce a variety of effects including an improved sense of well-being after treatment. It can help with hot flushes and migraines. Despite the needles, inserted at specific pressure points, it is practically painless. Dr Selwyn Dexter, a long time member of the British Medical Acupuncture Society, says that even a needlephobe can be relaxed with acupuncture. A typical course of acupuncture treatment lasts 5 to 8 sessions.

Websites and contacts

www.menopause-info.co.uk 
www.rikidaviesmedicalherbalist.co.uk
www.nimh.org.uk
www.medical-acupuncture.co.uk
www.womens-health-concern.org

Dr Selwyn Dexter 020 7624 2804


If you are taking prescribed medication, you should check with your doctor before taking a herbal remedy. It is recommended that you do not self-prescribe over the counter, but consult a qualified herbalist.

Next month: Other ways of finding relief
 

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