What is the menopause?The menopause is the change of life that signals the end of your childbearing years. It generally occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 years but can start before or after this for a variety of reasons. What happens at the menopause?The release of eggs from the ovaries becomes more erratic and your monthly periods space apart and eventually stop. As oestrogen levels fall, many women experience symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, headaches, emotional moods and falling libido. |
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Your natural hormone balance is a finely-tuned rhythm of follicle-stimulating hormone, oestrogen, luteinising hormone and progesterone. As one hormone increases, another subsides as they all have a different job to do in reproductive processes. At the menopause, oestrogen and progesterone levels fall. Many women sail through the menopause symptom-free, whilst others experience troublesome symptoms for months and even years.
If we were to view the menopause as a ‘deficiency disease’, a logical solution would be to replace the missing hormones with artificial ones by giving HR, but we now know this is not a risk-free option. Artificially replacing oestrogen and progesterone in a constant dose is like driving a car in one gear; you may have more energy but there are serious long-term implications for our health.
New clinical guidance recommends GPs offer HRT in only the worst cases and for a period of only five years. Both the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists and the British Medical Association discourage GPs from prescribing HRT to prevent osteoporosis.
“HRT is no longer considered a safe option for women.”
Two large studies conducted recently have demonstrated the dangers of taking Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
In the Million Women Study, a long-term NHS-led piece of research carried out in 2003, a significant risk of breast cancer was demonstrated by those taking combined HRT (oestrogen and progesterone). The researchers estimate there have been 20,000 cases of breast cancer over the last decade owing to HRT. It was also found that oestrogen-only HRT carries a significant risk of endometrial cancer.
In the same year, the results of another large trial of 16,000 women studied in Houston, Texas, found they did not gain any symptomatic improvement from menopausal symptoms such as hot flushes nor from emotional symptoms such as mood-swings after using HRT. In earlier studies HRT has also been linked to stroke and its role in protecting against osteoporosis has not been borne out by other trials.
Homeopathy is safe and effective, especially when used in conjunction with lifestyle and dietary changes, in the treatment of hot flushes, mood-swings, menopausal headaches and a host of other troublesome symptoms. Evidence has shown the benefit of homeopathy in this area and a NHS Well-Woman clinic in Sheffield offering homeopathic treatment to these women, is now in its seventh year and is an established service.
Ref: Relton C,Weatherley-Jones E. Homeopathy service in a National Health Service community menopause clinic: audit of clinical outcomes. Journal of the British Menopause Society 2005 May
At the menopause, it is important to make other changes to your life. Changes to your diet, such as increasing foods that contain natural phyto-oestrogens (soya products are rich in these) and reducing protein in your diet, may check osteoporosis. By taking Vitamin E and avoiding hot spicy food, you may reduce hot flushes and by drinking fewer caffeine-rich drinks, you can reduce anxiety and palpitations.
Weight-bearing exercise, such as walking or jogging, is great for maintaining the health of your bones and swimming and yoga will maintain joint mobility. Your homeopath may offer advice on diet and exercise.
Men may also experience transitional changes around their late forties and in their fifties. They also may benefit from homeopathic treatment and from a fresh look at their diet and lifestyle and can be helped by homeopathic treatment to make the best preparation for the next stage of their life.
Your homeopath will make an assessment of your symptoms, including the physical, mental and emotional effects of the menopause. How you feel, your personality and how you respond to your environment, are important too. All these factors go into the melting pot allowing your homeopath to find the right medicine for you. Hormonal imbalances respond very well to homeopathic treatment. The remedies will boost your constitution to restore a healthy balance, bringing a renewed sense of well-being. You will enjoy taking charge of your health and will be laying down the foundations for good health for years to come.
A remedy or remedies will be chosen by your homeopath from a variety of natural sources, vegetable, animal and mineral. Remedies such as Pulsatilla (Pasque flower), Sepia (the ink from Cuttle-fish), or Sulphur (a mineral) are a few of the thousands of remedies to choose from. The choice of remedy is highly individual and requires expert help – this means it is advisable not to try and choose your own remedies in a shop, for your menopausal problems.
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Our Register is available free of charge by post or visit www.homeopathy-soh.org
Homeopathy, Past, Present & Future Medicine
Homeopathy Simply Explained
Homeopathy in Pregnancy and Childbirth
Homeopathy for Men
Homeopathy for Stress, Anxiety and Depression
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