Menopause symptoms

To reduce cellulite, use any of the hormone-balancing solutions I discuss throughout my blog. You can also try dry brushing and my "latte lather," both of which reduce the appearance of cellulite from the outside.
 

Not too long ago, I wrote about an Ayurvedic therapy call shatavari in my newsletter. It is yet another therapy option to reduce menopause hot flashes and other effects of menopause. Shatavari is considered to be the ultimate uterine tonic, with cooling and moisturizing properties that are wonderful for hot flashes, irritability, brain fog, and vaginal dryness. Try the Banyan Botanicals brand.

 

According to a nine-year study of 221 middle-aged women by researchers from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, women in perimenopause are more than twice as likely to develop depression compared to reproductive-age women. Also, women in postmenopause are more than three and a half times as likely.

It's well known that depression tends to happen in women more than men...but are female hormones to blame? The fact that depression is more common in postmenopausal versus perimenopausal women has confused researchers because, with every year into postmenopause, a woman’s estrogen levels become more stable, not less. Some researchers believe that maybe it's estrogen deficiency, rather than hormone fluctuation, that causes depression among postmenopausal women.

Clearly, more studies need to be conducted to really determine what role female hormones play in depression. But if you find that you are experiencing depression as an effect of menopause, try therapies such as T’ai chi, qigong, and meditation to help lift your spirits. Exercise is also an excellent way to improve your mood. And if you feel the need for extra help, I recommend talking to a professional counselor and/or trying a natural mood-lifting supplement like SAMe.

Here is another yoga pose that's good for beginners, and for anyone looking for menopause relief. This one is called "The Pump."

This exercise improves blood circulation through the pelvis, thereby promoting healthier ovarian function. It helps relieve menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, as well as PMS and menopause-related anxiety. It also strengthens the back and abdominal muscles.

• Lie down and press the small of your back into the floor. This allows you to use your abdominal muscles without straining your lower back.

• Keep your back flat on the floor and let the rest of your body remain relaxed.

• Slowly raise your right leg while breathing in. Make a conscious effort to move slowly. Imagine your leg is being pulled up smoothly by a spring.

• Hold for a few breaths; exhale as you lower your leg.

• Repeat this exercise on your left side.

• Repeat entire sequence, alternating legs, 5-10 times.

Yesterday, I wrote about how wonderful yoga is for reducing perimenopause symptoms, particulary hot flashes and night sweats. To follow up, I wanted to give you a few poses this week that are easy, even for beginners. This one is called "The Sponge."

This exercise relieves anxiety and stress due to emotional triggers or menopause-related tension, and other menopause problems. As an added bonus, it relieves lower back pain, and also reduces eye tension and facial swelling.

• Lie on your back with a rolled towel under your knees. Your arms should be at your sides, with your palms facing up.

• Close your eyes and relax your entire body.

• Inhale slowly, breathing from the diaphragm.

• As you inhale, visualize the energy in the air around you being drawn in through your entire body. Imagine your body is porous and open like a sponge, drawing in this energy and revitalizing every cell in your body.

• Exhale slowly and deeply, allowing all tension to drain from your body.

• Repeat 2-4 times.

In this book, Lilias, who has been practicing and teaching yoga for more than 30 years, guides readers through her favorite poses and stretches—all of which are adapted for older practitioners who have reached menopause. One of the chapters I like best is called “The Yin Approach.” In traditional Asian medicine, health and well-being are believed to be a balance of two equally important, but opposing, principles—yin and yang. Yin is associated with femininity, receptivity, calmness, coolness, and moisture, while yang is associated with masculinity, aggression, heat, and dryness.

When dealing with menopause symptoms, you have a deficiency in yin and an abundance of yang. But with Lilias’ approach to yoga, you can focus on increasing yin, thereby reducing the heat that can lead to menopause hot flashes and other symptoms.

This is a fabulous book to get you started in yoga. I highly recommend it!

Everyone has days when they feel frazzled, stressed, exhausted, and "out of it." This type of stress affects not only your physical health and emotional well-being, but also your female hormones, estrogen levels, and overall hormone health.

Next time you need to de-stress and create balance, try an exercise called grounding.  Grounding is the process of reminding yourself that you are made of the same elements as the earth and, as a result, you share in its stability and powers. An excellent grounding method is to simply walk barefoot on the beach or even through your backyard and feel the intimate connection with the earth’s powerful force. But if you otherwise can’t get outside, try this exercise:

I have been using red light therapy for many years to treat a wide variety of conditions, including skin problems, migraines, and even to balance estrogen levels.  

You might be wondering what red light is all about, so let me explain. Various wavelengths of red light easily penetrate the skin and stimulate energy production within the mitochondria, the energy-producing parts of the cells. They enable the energy from food to be released and trapped as high-energy bonds called adenosine triphosphate (ATP). ATP is found in all of our cells and releases energy needed to fuel nearly all chemical reactions in our bodies. So, red light therapy helps our bodies create energy, vitality, and stamina, so every tissue and organ system can run more efficiently. 

If you suffer from PMS, irregular menstrual cycles, menstrual cramps, or menopause symptoms like hot flashes or night sweats, red light therapy can be a powerful treatment. For example, if you are post-menopausal, your ovaries and adrenal glands continue to produce small amounts of estrogen and male hormones, even though you no longer menstruate. Red light therapy helps to maximize their production, balancing out your estrogen levels and providing your tissues with more hormonal support. 

You can use red light therapy right in your own home with specially designed hand-held devices. Two red light devices I use and have been recommending for years are the X-Light from the Chee Energy Company and the Red Light-Shaker from the Light Energy Company.

L-carnitine is an amino acid found primarily in meat (especially beef and lamb) and dairy products, with smaller amounts also present in grains, fruits, and vegetables. The body also producesL-carnitine and stores it primarily in the heart and skeletal muscles. Unfortunately, the body doesn't produce a sufficient amount of L-carnitine, and most women do not consume enough in their diet to make up the difference.

The primary role of L-carnitine is to shuttle fatty acids into the mitochondria, where they are essential for the production of ATP, your most readily available form of energy. Low levels of L-carnitine can lead to poor energy and excess fatty acids in the blood, thereby increasing harmful blood lipid levels.

Several studies have been conducted on L-carnitine and weight loss. One study in particular found that individuals who took supplemental L-carnitine every day, in addition to eating a well-balanced diet and engaging in moderate exercise, lost an average of ten pounds in three months--a 25 percent greater weight reduction than patients who did not take L-carnitine. 

I recommend taking 1,000 mg of L-carnitine per day, in divided doses.
 

The antiseptic properties of teat tree oil have been used for centuries to clean and treat wounds. Even the early settlers of Australia and metal workers during the Second World War used this camphorous-smelling essential oil to treat cuts and insect bites.

After washing the affected area, place one drop of Australian tea tree oil directly on blemishes. Read the product label carefully to be sure the oil contains 50 to 60 percent terpenes (preferably terpin-4-ol) and no more than 15 percent cineole.

And studies have shown that Aloe vera reduces the scaliness, itchiness, and extent of seborrheic dermatitis; prompts the remission of psoriasis; relieves poison ivy; assists the healing of chronic leg ulcers; and speeds healing after dermabrasion, a technique used to remove acne scars and create wrinkle free skin.