General Considerations
In many parts of the world, most women do not experience the symptoms associated with menopause in the United States.
Social and cultural factors contribute greatly to how women react to menopause. In the United States, sixty-five to eighty percent of menopausal women experience hot flashes to some degree.
Women with atrophic vaginitis (vaginal drying and irritation due to lack of estrogen) should avoid substances that tend to dry the mucous membranes, including antihistamines, alcohol, caffeine, and diuretics.
Rather than use estrogens to artificially counteract the symptoms of menopause, the natural approach focuses on improving physiology through diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation, and the use of botanical medicines.
Several nutrients have been shown to be effective in relieving hot flashes and atrophic vaginitis in clinical studies, including vitamin E, hesperidin in combination with vitamin C, and gamma-oryzanol.
Extracts of black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) are a widely used and thoroughly studied natural alternative to hormone replacement therapy in menopause.
Japanese researchers report excellent results in using GAMMA ORYZANOL, extracted from rice bran and rice germ, in alleviating climacteric (menopausal) symptoms. (See: Menopause Abstract References)
Pre-Disposing Factors:
a. Hormonal imbalance (adrenal, ovarian, thyroid, anterior pituitary).
b. Iodine deficiency.
c. Excess refined carbohydrate, alcohol or caffeine in the diet.
d. Obesity and/or lack of exercise.
e. Excess hydrogenated fats and oils in the diet.
f. Food allergy/sensitivity.
General Recommendations
Many natural measures can help alleviate the most common symptoms of menopause. In most cases, hormone replacement therapy is not necessary. However, in women at high risk for osteoporosis and women who have already experienced significant bone loss, hormone replacement therapy may be appropriate. For the immediate treatment of atrophic vaginitis, topical vitamin E preparations should be considered. If a woman is smoking, she should begin a smoking cessation program.
Dietary Suggestions:
a. Sip 3 ounces (about 1 mouthful) of filtered or distilled water every 30 minutes while you are awake and drink more if you are sweating (no well water or water containing fluoride or chlorine).
b. Eliminate all refined carbohydrates, processed foods, alcohol and caffeine containing foods such as cola, coffee, chocolate and tea.
c. Eliminate all hydrogenated fats and oils. Use only fish oils, coconut oil and extra virgin olive oil as your source od dietary oils.
d. Increase raw foods and quality proteins especially fish and sea vegetables.
e. If food sensitivity is suspect, eliminate dairy products and gluten containing grains during the initial evaluation.
ALSO:
Increase the amount of phytoestrogens in the diet by consuming more foods, fennel, celery, parsley, high-lignan flaxseed oil, nuts, and seeds. Also include more fish and their oils.
Check thyroid and metabolic rate status by taking your axillary temperature as noted in the Health Problems section at the end of HYPOTHYROIDISM. This is most important because the more your metabolic rate is below normal most often the symptoms of menopause are worse.
Nutritional Supplementation
Primary Nutrients:
1. EQUI-FEM – 2 tablets, 3 times daily after meals.
2. BIO-C PLUS 1000 – 1 tablet, 3 times daily after meals.
3. M S M POWDER – 1/2 teaspoonful 2 to 4 times daily depending on the severity of symptoms. NOTE: Try to take MSM with your Vitamin C.
4. IODIZYME-HP – 1 to 4 tablets daily for Iodine
5. CYTOZYME-AD — 3 to 4 tablets 2 to 3 times daily between meals for Adrenal Support
8. GINKO BILOBA – 1 tablet, 3 times daily after meals.
9. GAMMANOL FORTE with FRAC – 2 tablets, 3 times daily with meals.
10. CYTOZYME PT/HPT – 2 tablets, twice daily between meals (3 hours after or 1 hour before a meal) for one month then discontinue.
10. ST. JOHN’S PLUS – 2 capsules, twice daily morning and evening.
NOTE:
ALSO check the HRT (hormone replacement treatment) section found in FEMALE HORMONES.
It is important to check your axillary temps and determine whether or not you should be prescribed NatureThroid? desiccated thyroid. If so, then follow the thyroid dosage instructions as shown in Common Health Problems under NATURETHROID – DESICCATED THYROID section.
ADDENDUM
Links:
Nippon Sanka Fujinka Gakkai Zasshi 1982 Feb;34(2):243-51
Clinical effect of gamma-oryzanol on climacteric disturbance-on serum lipid peroxides.
Ishihara M, Ito Y, Nakakita T, Maehama T, Hieda S, Yamamoto K, Ueno N
Though gamma-Oryzanol has been applicated as the autonomic agent in various fields for a few decades, recently its effect on lipid metabolism comes to be much more interested. We studied on the effect of gamma-Oryzanol on climacteric disturbance, and besides on the difference of lipid peroxides level which has an important and indispensable connection with mary syndromes involving aging. We obtained the following results from 40 subjects with climacteric disturbance after administration of gamma-Oryzanol Fine Particule 1.5 g (gamma-Oryzanol 300 mg included) for 4 to 8 weeks. (1) 90% of the cases improved generally; Excellent 16 (40%), Good 14 (35%), Effective 6 (15%), No change 4 (10%). (2) Effect on climacteric disturbance was judged by the Kupperman method and the Ueda method; generally recovered 85%, 80% each. (3) Significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride and increased HDL-cholesterol were noted in cases with hyperlipidemia (TC greater than or equal to 220 mg/dl, TG greater than or equal to 140 mg/dl, HDL-chol. less than or equal to 45 mg/dl). Therefore, atherogenic index was excellently recovered. (4) In cases with climacteric disturbance lipid peroxides level was high, and they were significantly recovered by administration of gamma-Oryzanol. (5) During this study, no side effects have been recognized and no particular change in function test was found. Thus, we confirmed the efficacy and utility of gamma-Oryzanol on many complaints in climacteric disturbance and also on lipid metabolism.
Adv Ther 1999;16:177-186.
St. John’s Wort extract: efficacy for menopausal symptoms of psychological origin.
Grube B, Walper A, Wheatley D.
Herbal remedies such as St. John’s Wort preparations can be used successfully to relieve the psychological and vegetative symptoms of menopause. This drug-monitoring study investigated 12 weeks of treatment with St. John’s Wort, one tablet three times daily (900 mg Hypericum, Kira), in 111 women from a general medical practice. The patients, who were between 43 and 65 years old, had climacteric symptoms characteristic of the pre- and postmenopausal state. Treatment outcome was evaluated by the Menopause Rating Scale, a self-designed questionnaire for assessing sexuality, and the Clinical Global Impression scale. The incidence and severity of typical psychological, psychosomatic, and vasomotor symptoms were recorded at baseline and after 5, 8, and 12 weeks of treatment. Substantial improvement in psychological and psychosomatic symptoms was observed. Climacteric complaints diminished or disappeared completely in the majority of women (76.4% by patient evaluation and 79.2% by physician evaluation). Of note, sexual well-being also improved after treatment with St. John’s Wort extract.
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