This week it was reported that a recent study found that post-menopausal women who underwent synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) had a sharply increased risk of ovarian cancer. The study included 900,000 Danish women between the ages of 50 to 79 and resulted with scientists determining that 140 cases of ovarian cancer within an eight-year period could be linked to synthetic hormones.
Is anyone surprised?
For years, Dr. Lark has been reporting on the negative risk factors and side effects associated with conventional HRT. Previous studies have shown that this therapy increases a woman's risk of heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, and breast cancer, and it can intensify pre-existing conditions such as heavy bleeding from fibroids, migraine headaches, and blood clotting problems. Plus, some women experience terrible side effects, such as depression, anxiety, breast tenderness, weight gain, and fluid retention.
There are numerous non-hormonal solutions to treat menopause symptoms. Just a couple months ago, Dr. Lark discussed this very topic in her newsletter,
Women's Wellness Today. Among her recommendations were:
* Black Cohosh: In conventional review studies, black cohosh is the one therapy that is universally named as the most effective for hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. There's a specific formulation of black cohosh that Dr. Lark recommends that's known among researchers as “CR BNO 1055". This form has shown a reduction in "heating episodes" (i.e. hot flashes) of up to 80%.
* Omega-3 Fatty Acids: In a 6-month, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of women suffering from five or more troublesome hot flashes per day, supplemental omega-3 fatty acids brought highly significant and increasing relief of hot flashes. Dr. Lark recommends taking 1,200–2,000 mg of omega-3s in the form of fish oil.
* Melatonin: A good night’s sleep is a necessity for all women, but night sweats can seriously interfere with that. Inadequate sleep also interferes with your ability to get your natural nightly dose of melatonin—the hormone your pineal gland secretes when you’re in a deep sleep during the darkest part of the night. Taking supplemental melatonin can help you sleep better, even if your sleep disturbance is due to night sweats. Dr. Lark recommends taking 3 mcg–3 mg of melatonin every night, about 30 minutes before you go to bed. Start with the lower dosage and increase, if needed, until you get the desired effect.
Dr. Lark has dedicated herself to providing women with natural, safer alternatives for menopause symptoms. You can find many more of her solutions on her blog and web site.
To learn more about the recent study, click here.