Menopause Symptoms - What's the Hype About?

Dr. Loretta Lanphier, ND, CN, HHP, CH

Everywhere you turn these days—TV, magazines, newspapers, radio, junk mail, Internet—menopause and aging are turned into a disease to get rid of quickly! That is, if they are talked about at all. Advertising and media play a very powerful role in American life. So much so, most of us will not take the time to educate ourselves about particular issues, especially health issues. And why should we, when someone else will do it for us? We have been lulled to sleep by those who would say, “Don't worry we’ll take care of you.” It seems that you cannot deal with these natural processes—aging and menopause--without some form of drug or surgery being advertised as the newest solution. Until recently, menopause wasn’t even talked about openly in the media. It was something to dread and quietly mention to your personal physician.

When symptoms of menopause arrive, many women go directly into denial and/or dread. Some believe they have some sort of disease or emotional problems and some decide that they are no considered an "old woman". Who wouldn’t with all of the negative messages and conflicting information? That’s what the pharmaceutical companies want. Everything they promote give the same message; that menopause is an illness to be attacked in order that one may remain young and vibrant. Notice how many makeover and cosmetic surgery ads/shows have sprung up? As the baby boomers age and arrive at menopause/andropause, everyone seems to want to cash in on the spending power of this group to look youthful. It’s becoming as overwhelming as the diet industry—lots of products that don’t really work without experiencing side effects or wasting money, but only a few lifestyle solutions. Presently, many doctors feel pressured to suggest synthetic hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to every woman, whether she needs it or not -- like pressure to push Viagra for every man over age 45. After all, traditional medicine has a history of viewing the female organs as a disease-makers. Or they are the cause of emotional problems, as in Freudian psychotherapy. Why is it that we insist on making these natural processes -- physical aging, menopause and andropause -- into a disease? I suggest that we look in the directions of greed and the monetary gains to be made.

Not all cultures think this way. Indigenous cultures, many outside of the United States, view women in menopause as entering their wisdom years. They are valued as important leaders of their family group and tribes. Many of them are the leaders and directors of the culture, passing down historical and valued knowledge to the younger members. Elders are not viewed as limited physically or mentally, but more wise because of their reflective experience.

In this article I cover the most common symptoms and some natural, even inexpensive, ways to ease these symptoms. Handling menopause gracefully is a lifestyle approach with a set of positive beliefs and a healthy mindset. Buying into the hype is only a way to harm yourself in the long run, and only delays the inevitable. The sooner you learn to accept the natural processes of your body and love yourself, the easier the transition into perimenopause and menopause.

Did you know that not all women get severe menopause symptoms? Studies show that only a minority of women experience menopause symptoms that cannot be easily alleviated. Most of these women have stress related issues which aggravate symptoms. Did you know that there are three kinds of menopause? Most women will experience natural menopause, the gradual cessation of monthly periods during ages 45 to 55. The other types involve a smaller percentage of women who experience early menopause in their thirties or early forties, and artificial menopause, caused by surgery. 

Menopause symptoms are actually health concerns that represent imbalances in the body that were already growing and unmasked by the shifting hormones. The most common symptoms and their natural treatment options are listed below:

What about bio-identical estrogen?  I am not an advocate of estrogen supplementation of any type, but when there is a true estrogen deficiency then phyto-estrogens from foods are the best choice. We have so many chemicals in our environment, food and water that mimic estrogen.  So much so that estrogen supplementation can put a person into estrogen dominance very quickly -- we must proceed with caution in this area of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy. 

As you can see, one can take a proactive role in the elimination and/or management of menopause symptoms. Just remember, symptoms are an indicator that something is out of balance. As a naturopath I remain convinced that the most important factor in sailing through menopause with minimal symptoms is developing a very healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle. You can find out more about a healthy menopause diet, menopause health as well as dealing with symptoms of menopause in my e-Book, Proven Secrets to Whole Body Hormone Balance -- You Can Feel Good!

Loretta Lanphier is a Naturopathic Doctor, Clinical Nutritionist and Holistic Health Practitioner in Houston, TX as well as Founder/CEO of Oasis Advanced Wellness. An educator and author, she counsels Oasis Advanced Wellness clients about the aspects of whole-body health and wellness. As a stage III cancer survivor, she is able to relate extensively, both as a patient and a practitioner, to clients suffering from disease and illness. Dr. Lanphier has been privileged to share her cancer survival story with hundreds of people during seminars and lectures. Her passionate style of truth and straight-forwardnessin an easy-to-understand format is very refreshing to even the most discerning of audiences. Dr. Lanphier is the author of several e-books and many articles on health conditions and natural hormone balancing. Dr. Lanphier is dedicated to helping people create lasting changes in their health and enhancing well-being through whole body nutritional balancing. Dr. Lanphier is also Editor and contributor to the worldwide newsletters Advanced Health and Wellness and Hormone Health Connection.