Ace-Menopause

Help! I’m Going Through the Menopause

I am in my late forties and going through the menopause. I’m experiencing all the usual symptoms – hot flushes, night sweats and terrible mood swings. Are there any natural remedies I can take to ease these symptoms?

I am in my late forties and going through the menopause. I’m experiencing all the usual symptoms – hot flushes, night sweats and terrible mood swings. Are there any natural remedies I can take to ease these symptoms?

The ayurvedic practitioner

Sebastian Pole says: “According to Ayurveda, menopausal symptoms are an indication of a natural imbalance between the nervous system and the metabolic and endocrine systems; otherwise known as vata and pitta, that can lead to dryness, anxiety and erratic and overwhelming heat signs.

Optimising the potential for a creative transition involves deeply nourishing your inner energy and embracing your true feminine nature along with strengthening your nervous system and clearing heat symptoms.

Shatavari is Ayurveda’s most respected herb for treating the menopause. Its cooling, regulating and nourishing qualities help to rejuvenate the hormonal, nervous and metabolic systems. It contains steroidal glycosides, steroidal saponins and B-sitosterol which all act as hormone precursors indicating its ability to help regulate hormone levels. Try Pukka Herbs Shatavari for Women (£15.45 for 90 capsules, available from the NutriCentre). Use two capsules three times a day.”

Sebastian Pole is an ayurvedic practitioner and herbalist as well as director of Pukka Herbs Ltd. Visit pukkaherbs.com

The herbalist

Deborah Grant says: “Menopause affects each woman in a unique way and can be a complex picture, which needs to have all the symptoms addressed before the woman can regain a sense of wellbeing.

There are several medicinal plants, which are very effective in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. An example is wild yam, which contains phytoestrogen. Although not as potent as oestrogen produced by the ovaries, it can still have a mild oestrogenic effect and convince the body that more oestrogen is present and thereby decrease symptoms of withdrawallike hot flushes and night sweats.

It has been proposed that black cohosh also has a mild oestrogenic effect on the body. A clinical trial over 12 months found that it reduced the number and severity of hot flushes. Sage was also shown to reduce sweat production in patients with excessive sweating and often makes my patients feel much cooler.”

Deborah Grant is a consultant medical herbalist at the Hale Clinic. Visit herbalist-medicine.com for details.

The nutritional therapist

Lisa Wulf says: “There are a range of key nutrients that can support women going through the menopause. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that protects fat-soluble vitamins and contributes to normal structure and functioning of the nervous system. It can be found in nuts and seeds, especially sunflower seeds and almonds, spinach, green vegetables and blueberries. In a controlled clinical trial, supplementation with vitamin E (400IU for four weeks) significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flushing. Eating soy products such as tofu and soya beans may also improve hot flushes.

The decrease in oestrogen levels associated with the menopause can lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis. Calcium is the best known dietary bone strengthening mineral so eat plenty of green leafy vegetables, sesame seeds, sardines, salmon and legumes.”