HEALTH SOLUTIONS

MENOPAUSE HOME

WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
All women go through it - do you know what's happening?

STRESS
Excessive stress can make symptoms worse.

CONVENTIONAL TREATMENTS
Problems and deficiencies to look out for.

A WOMAN'S WISDOM
Why tried & tested natural options are a wise choice.

DIET
Guide to preparing meals that will ease symptoms.

SUPPLEMENTS
Vitamins, minerals & herbs for symptom relief.

LIFESTYLE CONSIDERATIONS
The right choices during menopause & beyond.

NATURAL THERAPIES
Powerful health options for your mind, body and spirit.

BEAUTY
Dry skin and hair, weight control, hair loss and more.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
Other ways to stay well and happy during menopause.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER
A guide to making it work for you!

Many women first become really conscious of the signs of aging on their faces and bodies during menopause. Self-esteem is important at any age but particularly during times of change. Remember how awkward you felt as a teenager going through puberty?

Consider the following:

1. Ayurveda (ancient Indian medicine and philosophy) teaches us to balance external beauty with internal beauty by eating high-quality foods, drinking life-sustaining liquids, exercising, living in a nurturing environment and developing as a person.
2. The Chinese say that our health and appearance are the end products of what we eat. Everything we put into our mouths daily, determines how we look and feel. A balance between yin and yang energies needs to be adopted to achieve perfect beauty.
3. Modern science tells us that our body will look better if we eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals, and exercise regularly.

Maintaining optimum health, and therefore beauty, depends not only on adopting good habits but also in abandoning bad ones such as:

Smoking: Smoking speeds up the aging process! In fact smokers reach menopause up to five years earlier than non-smokers (this includes passive smokers) and hot flushes tend to be more troublesome. Smokers are also more likely to get osteoporosis and heart attacks.

Drinking Alcohol and Caffeine: Alcohol depletes the body of vitamins A, B and C, and is a powerful oxidant causing premature wrinkling of the skin as well as triggering hot flushes. Caffeine, found in coffee, black tea, chocolate and soft drinks, is particularly bad for menopausal women because it triggers hot flushes.

Eating Junk Food: Garbage in, garbage out! Since we know that beauty comes from the inside, it’s never too late to discover the exciting colours and flavours of healthy, living foods. Good food is packed with antioxidants which help slow down the signs of aging and help repair damage to cells.

Your Body

Keeping your body in good condition throughout menopause requires the same combination of exercise, nutrition, and hygiene that it always has.

Fitness – Best achieved through a moderate diet and exercise program. Correct digestive problems and hormonal imbalances and concentrate on releasing tension and stress through breathing techniques and massage. Encourage lymphatic and blood circulation through massage therapy, purification programs and regular exercise. Do not overwork or push yourself beyond your limits.

Weight Loss - If you have excessive weight, your goal should be the same as at any other stage of your life - to reduce it. Excessive weight can increase the intensity of hot flushes and extra weight in the torso could indicate the build up of fat around crucial organs such as the heart, liver and kidneys which may result in some serious illnesses later. For easier weight loss, improve your liver function through raw vegetable juice consumption. Take a liver tonic to help the liver burn fat. The herbs brindle berry, bitter melon and gymnema sylvestre improve the metabolism. The mineral chromium picolinate reduces cravings.

Your Skin

Skin the only vital organ you can see and touch, should be cared for both externally and internally. The appearance of your facial skin is a reflection of what is happening inside. Research has shown that the aging of skin tissue is not only a result of the slowing down of metabolic functions but also the lack lustre performance of the glands, nerves, muscles and supportive circulation and elimination systems. It is not time which wreaks havoc with you skin and face, but your ability to nurture yourself in all aspects of your life.

In addition to the nutrients listed in the dietary considerations section, you might also consider vitamin A and sulphur which are critical nutrients for the skin. The best natural sources are dark green and yellow vegetables, cold-water fish and eggs for vitamin A; and onion, garlic, sprouts, cabbage and broccoli for sulphur.

Silica is one of the most important elements of all body tissues. It is of great importance for maintaining the elasticity, firmness and strength of connective tissues and skin. A rich source of silica is found in the herb horsetail which is available as supplements.

Water is the “miracle” liquid that makes life possible. Purified water helps the healing and purification of the skin tissues. It helps to release the toxins accumulated in the skin’s deep layer. Hydration makes skin tissues more metabolically active and will help to enhance the suppleness and elasticity of the skin.

Lack of oestrogen, progesterone and DHEA will cause lines and wrinkles on the face due to loss of skin elasticity and tone. As will excessive sun exposure, this is one of the major factors of premature skin-aging. Australia is known for its sunny weather and our activities in the sun, be smart when you are outdoors. Avoid smoking and excess alcohol, as these accelerate aging of the skin.

Your Hair

A naturally shiny, healthy head of hair is a beauty asset. You can spend a small fortune achieving the desired effect with commercial formulas but if your underlying health is affected, then shampoos and conditioners will give only temporary benefits. Nutrition is a factor in hair strength and appearance, and hair and nails are 'barometers' of health frequently showing the first signs of a health problem.

The external attention and money that you spend to gain a good head of hair is going to be largely wasted if your nutrition is inadequate, you are stressed or not getting sufficient sleep. Research shows that hair cannot be fed from the outside. It can only receive nutrients from the blood supply to the follicle. You can, however, protect and improve the appearance of your hair by using toiletries and cosmetic containing natural ingredients.

Commercial hair care formulas are merely a chemical blend of detergents, waxes and other artificial aids that make your hair appear thick, shiny and healthy. Labels on commercial products are required to list contents in order of percentage, the highest being first and the smallest, last. Take a look at the average bottle of herbal shampoo and you might find that the herbal content is last on the list. Even if less then 1% of an herbal extract is present; the product can be legally called an 'herbal shampoo'.

More importantly make sure your hair is regularly looked after, and pay as much as you can afford for a style that really suits you. As far as general hair care is concerned, use the mildest and most natural shampoo and conditioner you can find. There are shampoos without SLS available in health food stores and pharmacies.

Hair Loss - There are many reasons why hair begins to fall out at a faster than usual rate, low levels of progesterone is just one. The following drugs can cause mild to major hair loss: aspirin, HRT or birth control pills, diet pills, cortisone, anticoagulants, amphetamines and chemotherapy. Major trauma such as a serious accident, the death of someone close, divorce, prolonged illness, liver disease, hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) or hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) can all cause hair loss.

Supplementing with MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane), vitamin C and flaxseed oil will help slow the loss of hair. The herbs horsetail and kelp, which provide silica and other minerals, will help with hair building. Selenium and zinc will help keep hair strong. As will phyto-estrogens such as isoflavones, lignans and coumestans. If you carry weight in the upper body and abdomen, weight loss will help to reduce hair loss.

Take heart. If the situation is remedied and the stress brought under control, the hair loss is not usually permanent and hair growth will start in a few weeks. If the hair loss is genetic or caused by alopecia areata (loss of hair from isolated areas on the scalp), you still have choices, there are several centres that deal with hair loss that you might wish to consult - they are not just for men.

Grey Hair - Grey hair is a mixture of your natural colour and white hairs, and is just as healthy as pigmented hair. Grey hair can be very attractive and you may not want to go to the trouble of regular colouring, but if you do, you will have a choice of commercial or natural. Commercial hair colorants can make hair brittle, easily damaged and dry.

Colouring hair with natural products may not be as dramatic as those produced by chemical dyes. The benefits of these natural dyes are that you aren't using dangerous and toxic chemicals, and the condition and colour of your hair will be improved.

Dry hair - Dry hair may be the result of ill health, harsh shampoo, overuse of hair dryers and/or curling wands, too much exposure to sun and wind. But more often then not it is a result of nutritional deficiency. Try taking vitamin A, E and essential fatty acids.

START Welcome Change

PREVIOUS Natural Therapies

NEXT Other Considerations

Beauty Tips

Healthy Hair Hair only needs washing once a week unless you have been doing something that has made it really dirty. One shampoo is sufficient, squeaky clean hair is a myth - it means that all natural oils have been removed and your hair will be unmanageable. Over-washing also makes dry hair drier and oily hair oilier.

Feeling Comfortable If you suffer from hot flushes or night sweats, avoid synthetic fabrics such as polyester or nylon and wear cooling natural fibres such as cotton. Don’t wear tightly fitting garments whatever the material as they will make you sweat even more.

Help with Weight Loss For easier weight loss and body maintenance, improve your liver function through raw vegetable juices and using a liver tonic to help the liver work more efficiently in burning fats.

Facelift without Surgery A facial fitness regime can help your face enormously. Facial exercises involve tensing and relaxing facial muscles and can be learnt through books and videos.