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Alternative Therapies for Menopausal
Diseases
 By
Narinder K. Saini M.D.
Menopause is officially defined when the last period ends,
but in reality, hormonal changes and menopausal symptoms
often last for years. Menopause is triggered when the
ovaries run out of eggs, as they are destined to do. Menopause
usually occurs between the ages of 35 and 58.Surgical
menopause occurs when a woman has both of her ovaries
removed.. For most women, menopause is a normal phase
of life that does not require medical intervention. However,
some menopausal women seek treatment for hot flush symptoms,
cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. Symptoms of menopause
vary, some women will have severe symptoms others will
have mild symptoms or none at all. The symptoms may occur
for a few weeks, a few months, or even several years.
Although 85 percent of menopausal women have hot flushes,
only one half of these women find them disturbing. Twenty
percent of women will experience symptoms for less than
one year, but approximately 50 percent of women may experience
symptoms for five years or more. Some of the physical
symptoms may be like, disturbed sleep patterns, or other
sleep disorders, hot flushes or a sudden sensation of
heat in the whole body or in the upper part of the body,
irregular menstrual periods, night sweats, pain during
sexual intercourse, known as dyspareunia.We really do
not understand what “Hot Flush” is; we think it is an
imbalance in the temperature center in the brain, which
is dependent on estrogen. Brain thinks body is too hot
so puts the “heat loosing mechanism” in
action. The blood vessels in the limbs, face dilate and
skin temp. rises. This causes face to become red and start
sweating.
Menopausal Diseases
1. Conventional treatment for hot flush symptoms
usually consists of hormone replacement therapy..
2. Cardiovascular disease prevention traditionally
includes smoking cessation, diabetes management, controlling
of lipid levels, blood pressure control, weight control,
and exercise. The role of Hormonal supplement in this
area is unclear.
3. Prevention of osteoporosis usually consists
of Hormonal replacement, calcitonin, exercise, or calcium
and vitamin D supplements
Naturopaths and herbalists do not prescribe 'natural'
HRT, but rather use remedies and supplements that ease
the transition to and through menopause. Herbs and supplements
are used to effectively facilitate the transition from
the reproductive to the post-reproductive phase of life.
Herbal medicine has much to offer women in the treatment
of symptoms associated with menopause. For many it is
the therapy of choice. In this area of herbal treatment,
a blending of tradition and science has begun, which has
the potential to allow practitioners and patients to be
confident in a wider range of effective therapeutic interventions.
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