Do you think that women who desired for smoking hot bodies might have anticipated menopause? And that too early in life, before their 40s’ as seen in many cases across the world? That is most unlikely as many women may have had no clue about the changes within when they might have started to experience the hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood swings and other signs of menopause. However, assuming menopause to be an illness may not be right because it is a transitional phase of a woman’s life during her midlife years. The temporary symptoms of menopause that show up are caused by hormonal fluctuations in her body that may or not require treatment.
Among the three phases of menopause, most of the menopausal symptoms are known to show up among women during their perimenopause and tend to last from anywhere between 4 months to 10 years even according to research. With natural menopausal age averaging at 46.2 years in India, which is very early as compared to the women of the western countries whose menopausal age is over 50-55, the symptoms may be twofold more intense than their western counterparts.
However, the best menopausal treatments may be the ones that are natural and alternative to drugs and other medications since the menopausal treatment is to remedy the symptoms of menopause that occur temporarily, without paving way for the side effects or additional health complications in the future.
Unravelling the benefits of some of the menopausal treatments
Herbal cures, Natural supplements, Ayurvedic cures, Hormonal therapies, Physical activities like yoga and exercises, Lifestyle changes and hysterectomy are some of the widely suggested menopausal treatments across the world that ease the symptoms of menopause largely.
Herbal cures for menopausal treatments:
Herbal therapies are available in the form of supplement pills. They may work wonders in relieving signs of menopause like hot flushes, insomnia, mood swings, and more. However, if you are on prescription medications, or are prone to allergies, consulting your medical practitioner before taking the herbal supplements to treat menopausal indications is advisable as the herbs may react with the prescribed drugs. Some of the popular herbal remedies are:
- Black Cohosh: It is also called bugbane or snakeroot and is known to have been an age-old remedy used by Native Americans for a variety of female health conditions that includes alleviating hot flashes. However, it is known to contain SERM properties. However, if not carefully used or overused, it may cause liver dysfunctions.
- Ginseng: When had as a tea, it is known to have worked well for sleeplessness and uplifts the mood-improving women’s wellbeing during the menopause.
- Red Clover: It is mostly found in Northern Africa, Europe, and Asia. It contains mildly estrogenic isoflavones that may be able to relieve women from the bouts of terrible mood swings, sweating, hot flashes and improves vaginal health. However, rashes, muscle ache, nausea or headache maybe some of the minor side effects of using red clover.
- Evening Primrose oil: This is popular for alleviating the harshness of hot flashes, joint inflammation and known to improve skin health and blood circulation. However, it must not be taken along with anticoagulants as it is lacking the blood clotting ability. Nausea and diarrhoea are among some of the side effects of Primrose oil.
- Dong Quai: it has been an ancient Chinese remedy for menopausal symptoms like fatigue and headache. It is known to encourage estrogen-like activity. However, women with fibroid issues and haemophilia must refrain from using this remedy.
Natural supplements to augment women’s wellbeing:
Research and reports suggest that most women across the world may be avoiding the effective hormone therapies with the side effects and serious health hazards that they may cause in the older years after menopause. They might have shifted their preferences and resorted to natural remedies that are plant-based and non-hormonal.
A balanced intake of essential vitamins, minerals, calcium, antioxidants, and proteins are essential. Natural supplements that contain vegetarian ingredients like fermented soy extracts and flaxseeds along with B vitamins present in Femarelle capsules are known to alleviate the menopausal symptoms and protect women from cardiovascular and bone loss issues post-menopause. Your medical practitioner may suggest a simple Femarelle tablet to be taken twice along with your meal plan and lifestyle changes to enhance your overall well being.
Indian home remedies and ayurvedic treatment:
Studies suggest that in the age-old Ayurveda system of treatment, the mental, emotional, and physical health of a human is based on the balance of the doshas that include: Vaata(gas, air), Pitta(bile) and Kapha(phlegm). Menopause is considered the Vaata phase of a woman’s life. It causes an imbalance in the doshas that must be restored. The symptoms of menopause are defined by the women’s doshas. They are:
Vaata: Symptoms like nervousness, anxiety, pain, mood swings, vaginal dryness, loss of skin tone, feeling cold, and sleeplessness are seen more in women with the Vaata dosha.
Pitta: Indications like hot temper, anger, irritability, feeling hot, hot flashes, night sweats, heavy periods, excessive bleeding, urinary tract infections are prominent in women with the Pitta dosha
Kapha: Women with this dosha are prone to Weight gain, lethargy, fluid retention, laziness, depression, lack of motivation, and slow digestion.
To fix these imbalances, there is a systematic diet to follow, herbal remedies to be taken, lifestyle to be followed and things to be avoided during menopause for the respective category of menopausal women. The remedial herbs include Bayberry, cayenne, Guggulu, mustard, ashwagandha, astragalus, cardamom, comfrey root, garlic, ginseng, guggul, hawthorn berries, sandalwood, Aloe vera, arjuna, golden seed, saffron, and Shatavari.
Menopausal Hormonal therapies may not be a good fit for all:
MHT was widely suggested by gynaecologists and doctors across the world until the early 2000s. The levels of the hormones estrogen and progesterone drop drastically when women start menopause causing hormonal imbalance and symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, vaginal atrophy, headaches, loss of libido and more.
To treat these symptoms, medicinal prescriptions of hormones are given by the medical practitioners to replace the lost hormones and alleviate the harshness of the menopausal signs. There are different kinds of hormonal therapy like the Bio-identical hormone therapy that uses naturally obtained plant-based estrogen that has similar compounds matching with human estrogen composition. Estrogen therapy, Testosterone therapy for menopausal non-binary and transgender people. Progesterone therapy is another hormone therapy.
However, many prefer alternative natural non-hormonal therapies as the side effects of HRT may lead to complicated issues like cardiovascular problems, Osteoporosis, cancer and more post-menopause. Also, Menopausal hormone therapy cannot be recommended to people with pre-existing conditions of fibroids, PCOD, PCOS, cancer, etc. Most women may not even opt for Menopausal hormone therapy beyond a year.
Menopause can be surgically induced through Hysterectomy:
When women decide to be through with menstrual periods and pregnancy, abdominal or vaginal Hysterectomy puts a permanent end to menstruation and induces menopause permanently. In cases of developing fibroids, cancer or uterine prolapse, women are most likely to opt for this surgical removal of the uterus in a part or overall. It may include removal of ovaries, which induces menopause before time in a surgical manner.
When hormone therapy cannot be administered to women who have had pre-existing conditions of endometriosis, cancer, etc., the medical practitioner may suggest a Hysterectomy as a permanent solution. Most women whose menstruation cycles go on for a long duration with severe bleeding and cramps; those who are through with the pregnancy or have decided against it, may seek the surgery to avoid further complications like anaemia, excessive bone loss caused through early menopause, and more. Around 17 among every 1000 Indian women seem to have undergone hysterectomy according to a report. It also shows that most women going through the procedure are within 40 years of age.
However, surgery may not be advisable for women who intend to get pregnant in the future or are maintaining healthy wellbeing. For those with healthy uterine health and who are dealing with the common symptoms of menopause, the options are many as they can choose from natural and non-hormonal alternatives to herbal or hormone therapies to ease through the signs of menopause.
Yoga, exercises, and physical activities:
Yoga is a practice that includes meditation techniques and physical exercise that are beneficial for menopausal women’s emotional, physiological, and psychological well being. According to research, they seem to be working wonders to boost women’s emotional well-being.
Engaging in exercises, cardio workouts, dance workouts, Pilates, aerobics for at least 30 minutes in a day may benefit menopausal women by improving their sleep patterns, enhance digestion and alleviate the signs of menopause like hot flashes, temperature regulation, mood swings, etc.
Conclusion:
Treatments for menopausal indications are available in plenty. However, consultation with your medical practitioner to decide on pursuing the best treatment is completely on you. So, menopause is that time of your life when you wise up and secure your health for old age to come and grow gracefully.
