Menopause is defined as occurring 12 months after your last menstrual period. Perimenopause encompasses the years leading up to menopause -anywhere from two to eight years — plus the first year after your final period. During the perimenopausal transition you may experience a combination of PMS and menopausal symptoms or no symptoms at all.
Several physical issues can worsen perimenopause and menopause symptoms, including adrenal issues, thyroid dysfunction, nutritional issues and hormone imbalances. If you experience severe symptoms please consider key lab tests to guide treatment. Click on the “Lab testing” tab above for more information.
Western Naturopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine have been used for generations to give relief for normal menopausal symptoms and offer much safer treatment than prescription drugs.
Natural Treatment Approaches
Naturopathic Medicine treats the full range of menopausal symptoms–mental, emotional and physical. Herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids are used to correct endocrine imbalances. Natural hormone preparations carry far less risk than synthetic hormones. Natural approaches are effective for sleep issues and help maintain mood.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the fundamental changes that occur during menopause can be attributed to kidney deficiency. Other common conditions that occur in menopause are kidney yang deficiency; kidney essence (jing) deficiency; liver qi stagnation; blood deficiency; and uprising deficiency heat.
Kidney yin deficiency is characterized by delayed menstruation; hair loss; scanty vaginal discharge; dryness of vagina; dizziness; tinnitus; hot flashes; night sweats; heat and irritable sensation in the chest, palms and soles; hot flashes; insomnia; increased dreams; itchy skin and soreness and weakness of lower back and knees.
Liver qi stagnation presents as irritability; nervousness; hypochondriac distention; constipation; palpitations; insomnia; emotional instability; and generalized weakness.
Kidney yang deficiency is characterized by heavy menstrual bleeding; metrorrhagia or complete ceasing of menstruation; soreness and weakness of the lower back and knees; edema of the face and limbs; cold limbs; cold appearance; loose stools; polyuria; and urinary incontinence.
Kidney essence (jing) deficiency can be diagnosed with such symptoms and signs as weakness and soreness of the lower back and legs; inability to stand for a prolonged period of time; and decreased bone mass density. Kidney jing deficiency is directly related to the Western diagnosis of osteoporosis.
Kidney tonic formulas regulate the endocrine system. Some herbs have estrogen-like effects and should be avoided in patients who have estrogen-dependent cancer. Use only under professional supervision.
Unsure what to order? Please call us, we can help! Call a CHS healthcare Professional at 714-886-9026 for guidance.
Note: Do not allow anyone to supplement your estrogen levels without using a balanced approach involving progesterone. This has been proven to increase your cancer risk.
Women may have different signs or symptoms at menopause. That’s because estrogen is used by many parts of your body. So, as you have less estrogen, you could have various symptoms. Here are the most common changes you might notice at mid-life. Some may be part of aging rather than menopause.
- Change in your period: This menopause symptom might be what you notice first: your periods may no longer be regular; they may be shorter or last longer; you might bleed less than usual or more. These are all normal changes. Certain symptoms may indicate a need for medical attention, such as, your periods come very close together, you have heavy bleeding, you have spotting, or having your periods last more than a week.
- Hot flashes: Many women have hot flashes around the time of menopause. They may be related to changing estrogen levels. Hot flashes may last a few years after menopause. A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper part or all of your body. Your face and neck become flushed. Red blotches may appear on your chest, back, and arms. Heavy sweating and cold shivering can follow. Flashes can be very mild or strong enough to wake you from your sleep (called night sweats). Most hot flashes last between 30 seconds and 10 minutes. Hot flashes can also be caused by thyroid dysfunction, anxiety and hormonal imbalances.
- Problems with your vagina and bladder: Changing estrogen levels can cause your genital area to get drier and thinner. This could make sexual intercourse uncomfortable. Or, you could have more vaginal or urinary infections. Some women find it hard to hold their urine long enough to get to the bathroom. Sometimes urine leaks during exercise, sneezing, coughing, laughing, or running.
- Sleep problems: Around mid-life, some women start having trouble getting a good night’s sleep. Maybe you can’t fall asleep easily, or you wake too early. Night sweats might wake you up. You might have trouble falling back to sleep if you wake during the night. Sleep problems may also be caused by several physical and psychological problems such as stress, adrenal issues, and thyroid issues.
- Sex: You may find that your feelings about sex are changing. You could be less interested. Or, you could feel freer and sexier after menopause. After 1 full year without a period, you can no longer become pregnant.
- Mood changes: You might find yourself more moody or irritable around the time of menopause. Scientists don’t know why this happens. It’s possible that stress, family changes such as growing children or aging parents, a history of depression, or feeling tired could be causing these mood changes. Mood changes occur with several physical and psychological conditions which may not be related to menopause.
- Your body seems different: Your waist could get larger. You could lose muscle and gain fat. Your skin could get thinner. You might have memory problems, and your joints and muscles could feel stiff and achy.
- Skin changes: At menopause, our skin starts to produces slightly less collagen and elastic fibers. Collagen is the supportive protein structure of the skin, and elastic fibers provide the ability to bounce back. So the drop in collagen and elastic fibers accelerates wrinkling and sagging. Skin symptoms which may occur during menopause include:
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Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Information provided by CHS is not intended to replace a one-on-one relationship with a qualified health care professional and is not intended as medical advice. Any information given is only intended as a sharing of knowledge and information from scientific world literature. You are encouraged to make your own health care decisions based upon your own research of the subject and in partnership with a qualified health care professional.