Menopause means the permanent ending of menstruation in a woman due to the ovaries’ decreased production of hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which means the end of a woman’s natural ability to bear children. Menopause occurs anywhere between late forties and early fifties. Menopause before age 35 may occur as a result of a surgical procedure, treatment of a disease, or illness. In these cases it is referred to as induced or premature Menopause. Each woman experiences menopause differently. Menopause is an important time in a woman’s life. Her body is going through changes that can have an effect on her social life, her feelings about herself, and her performance at work. Contrary to the old-fashioned view that life is all downhill after menopause, many women today find that the years after menopause offer new recognition and fresh beginnings. To have a positive attitude towards menopause as a natural, essential and healthy phase of womanhood is important.
Menopause occurs in two stages:
1. Peri-menopause: This is the onset of noticeable signs of Menopause when a woman may begin experiencing irregular periods and changes such as hot flashes, night sweats, and vaginal dryness. Some women do not experience these bothersome changes until menopause actually occurs. The perimenopausal period can be particularly difficult for women. Unfortunately, there is no effective conventional treatment for alleviating these initial symptoms of menopause. That is why a variety of Homeopathic remedies are being used to help during this transition.
2. Post-menopause: This is the time 12 months after your last period, when the ovaries are no longer producing estrogen and progesterone. This is when you notice the severity of your physical and emotional symptoms.
Symptoms of Menopause:
Not all women experience symptoms, but for those who do the most common menopausal symptoms are:
• Hot flashes.
• Vaginal dryness which increases the chances of vaginal infections.
• Psychological disturbances causing mood swings, depression, anxiety, emotional confusion, making a woman more sensitive, tearful, and fearful.
• Sleep disturbances.
• Night sweats.
• Loss of libido, that is decreased or loss of interest in sex.
• Heart palpitations.
• Headaches and backaches.
• Changes in skin and hair.
• Urinary Incontinence.
• Postmenopausal women are at higher risk of heart disease and osteoporosis (thinning of bones).
• Weight gain.
Why treat Menopause with Homeopathy?
Growing number of women today are dissatisfied with the harmful side effects of Conventional Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) and are on the lookout for safer, more Holistic ways of approaching the symptoms of menopause. Classical Homeopathic treatment can be used as an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy, in the treatment of menopausal symptoms, as it is individually geared to each woman’s condition and constitution by treating her at the mental, emotional, and physical levels which makes it a popular alternative for menopausal discomforts.
Natural therapy like Homeopathy is the safest and well recommended treatment before, during, and after menopause because it stimulates the natural hormonal balance without the use of harmful drugs. Homeopathic treatment along with healthy living and a sense of purpose in life can minimize the changes that happen during this period.
Homeopathy offers a wider range of options than Conventional medicine. Constitutional Homeopathic treatment with the management of an experienced and professional Homeopath is an excellent choice for menopausal symptoms. Below I have noted a very few basic Homeopathic remedies. There symptoms indicate the characteristic features of the woman’s individuality, to who this remedy might be suitable for Menopausal symptoms.
Sepia: This remedy is best indicated for woman who has hot flashes with profuse perspiration all day and night, but with a chilly feeling. Her symptoms are worse for slightest exertion mental or physical. She has profuse perspiration at the genitals during menopause. Difficult or painful intercourse. Constantly has a dragging feeling in the pelvis. She feels worn out and weak. She is likely to be sad and indifferent to her job or family.
Pulsatilla: This remedy is indicated for a woman who is usually soft and emotional, with changeable moods and a tendency toward tears, with irregular periods, uneasy and insecure feelings, alternating heat and chills, and lack of thirst. Her symptoms are mainly aggravated in stuffy rooms and she feels better in open air.
Staphysagria: These women have severe vaginal dryness and thinning, with very painful soreness from sexual intercourse. She also complains of involuntary urination.
Sanguinaria: is indicated when the right side of the body is more troubled than the left. The woman suffers from itching all over her body, heavy vaginal discharge, sore breasts mainly right, and headaches on the right side of her head.
Lachesis Mutus: Is a good remedy for women who wake up from hot flashes. She feels hot all the time. This remedy bests suits woman who are talkative, jealous and suspicious. She prefers to be alone and may be especially depressed in the morning. Symptoms are better in the open air and after emotional outbursts, but worse during and after sleep, in warmth and in the sunlight.
Natrum Muriaticum: The woman complains of vaginal dryness and water retention with a marked desire for salt. Best suited to woman who are sensitive and introvert. She may have suffered from prolonged grief and suppressed feelings.
Other measures along with a Homeopathic treatment that can significantly reduce the risk of Menopause and dramatically optimize health are as follows:
• Stress management and Exercise, would help control your hot flashes, insomnia (sleeping problems). Regular exercises, like walking, may also help prevent osteoporosis. Exercise helps increase conversion of androgens to estrogens and can help ease menopausal symptoms.
• Wearing cotton clothing for night sweats.
• Use vaginal lubricants or moisturizers for dryness of the vagina or painful intercourse.
• Doing Kegel exercise for your pelvic floor muscles to control urinary incontinence.
• Women who are taking high consumption of soy products have a low incidence of hot flashes during menopause. Soy products contain compounds called Phytoestrogens that are related in structure to estrogen.
• Getting enough calcium in your diet can help strengthen your bones.
• Other ways of reducing negative effects of menopause include eating a healthy diet, which includes fruits, vegetables and grains, reduce sugar and salt intake.
• Avoiding caffeinated drinks, alcohol. These beverages can make the blood vessels dilate and worsen hot flashes. Quit smoking.
Other women health problems that can be successfully treated with Homeopathy are Premenstrual symptoms, Menstrual disorders, Menstrual cramping, Cystitis (Bladder Infections), Vaginitis (Vaginal inflammation due to infections), Cysts & Fibroids, Endometriosis, Fertility and Contraception, Pelvic Inflammatory disease, Prolapse, Pregnancy problems like morning sickness, varicose vein, etc., Postpartum depression, Breast Infections during breast feeding, Depression, Anxiety, and many more.
Homeopathy is reassuring and helpful for both physical and emotional aspects of menopause, and most women, in addition to relief from their discomforts, experience an enhancement in self-awareness and well being after the treatment. Thus you can rely on Homeopathy to achieve optimal health during menopause and into the later years of your life. Hence, to conclude Homeopathy can present good health to women in all stages of their lives from infancy through
old age. It is of assistance in all sorts of emotional, mental and physical problems that a woman is likely to experience, and can help her through the transitional and developmental milestones of her life.
Neepa Sevak is an experienced, registered Homeopath with the Arizona Homeopathic Board of Medical Examiners. She is currently practicing Classical Homeopathy at the Desert Institute of Classical Homeopathy. Her mission is to “Promote Health through Homeopathy with a Holistic, Totalistic, and Individualistic approach”.