17 Menopause Symptoms

What is Menopause?

As the menopause nears, there is a decrease in estrogen production by the body which, directly and indirectly, brings about various menopause symptoms. This usually happens between the ages of 45 and 55.

This situation can be helped by using a programme of natural healthcare including diet, exercise, relaxation (or avoidance of stress) and natural herbal or similar remedies - which can be very valuable at menopause. Herbs are very popular with many women (see Natural Remedies for Menopause). As well as herbal remedies, homoepathic remedies and acupuncture can also be very helpful at this time.

Symptoms of Menopause

A woman’s body is going through so many rapid changes at this time because of the hormone system rebalancing itself and producing these various menopause symptoms that nearly every system is affected in some way.

Specific menopause symptoms arising include:

• hot flashes, called hot flushes in the UK
• irritability, anger, or frustration - anger internalised
• night sweats
• tiredness or a drained feeling
• loss of libido
• vaginal dryness
• insomnia
• depression - while menopause is not thought to be a cause of depression the two can occur at the same time
• foggy thinking
• change in appetite
• rapid heart beat (properly called palpitations)
• decreased skin elasticity
• ringing of the ears (tinnitus)
• panic attacks

Some other symptoms can be exacerbated during menopause which a woman might not be so easily aware of. These include:

• arteriosclerosis
• osteoporosis

Herbs, homoeopathy and acupuncture can certainly help many of these symptoms; but bear in mind they are best used as part of a wholistic approach to healthcare at this time.

Agnus Castus

It can be easy to confuse menopause symptoms with those of low blood sugar. Some mistake menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, moodiness etc as the symptoms of low blood sugar. They may then think that the solution is to consume large amounts of calories to counteract this.

Unfortunately, this just results in raising blood sugar levels - becoming a ‘self-fulfilling prophesy’. Then the symptoms experienced can be exacerbated, or new ones created because of the ‘blood sugar spike’ in the blood stream. The body has the extra sugar to deal with - which can impose a strain on the pancreas, producing other symptoms.

Is anything to be done about Menopause Symptoms?

Fortunately there are various things which can be done to head off menopause symptoms early - before they start - or to help deal with them when they arrive.

The best amongst these solutions are natural solutions - exercise, diet, and natural therapies including herbs. Herbs such as agnus castus and dong quai have a long history of helping women. Both for periods in general and for menopause in particular many women think first of using herbs.

Resources

Herbs:
Menopause Herbs
90-day Menopause Programme
Agnus Castus
Black Cohosh
Dong Quai
Ginkgo
Femarone 40+
Motherwort
Red Clover
Red Sage
Siberian Ginseng
St John's Wort
Wild Yam 40+

Articles:
Agnus Castus
Dong quai
Ginkgo
Menopause in general
St John's Wort
Hot Flashes in Menopause - 4 Key Natural Treatments
4 Natural Remedies for Menopause
Hot Flashes - What Are They?
Menopause Symptoms - 17 Key Indications
Menopause and Exercise
Menopause and Stress