Human females are unique: we menstruate and then we cease to be reproductively available after we've lived only half our life span. The years just before and just after the menopause itself are referred to as the 'climacteric'. For most women the climacteric spans from early/mid 40s to late 50s/early 60...
The ancient women's mysteries tell us of the powers and initiations of these unique events: menstruation and menopause - the years of transformation from potential mother to wise, whole crone - the menopausal years.
It is very rightly called the change of life as it is a metamorphosis (complete change at a cellular level). Change includes these three stages, before menopause, during menopause, and after menopause.
For many women, menopause brings relief from monthly periods, freedom from worry about unplanned pregnancy, and excitement about entering a new phase of life. For many others, menopause brings physical and emotional upheaval linked to changes occurring as the female body makes its transition out of the child-bearing years.
Each stage and phase has its special needs and offers special challenges. Whether you're delighted or in despair or somewhere in between, chances are that you will at some point seek relief from the symptoms of menopause, which include insomnia, depression, stiff joints, bloating, vaginal dryness, sore breasts, and hot flushes. Hot flushes, which are characterized by a sudden increase in heart rate, peripheral blood flow, and sweating, are for many women the most uncomfortable aspect of menopause. Research suggests that about 75 percent of menopausal women are affected at one time or another by hot flushes, 15 percent of them seriously so.
Risk factors for hot flushes
- Low estrogen
- Diets low in phytoestrogens-flaxseeds, peanuts, macadamias,rice bran oil promotes endorphin release
- Insulin resistence
- Anxiety, fear, tension
- Adrenal stress
- Thyroid imbalance
- Low body weight
- Premature menopause
Suggestions:
- Magnesium - regulates body temp, vasodilation of blood vessels, adrenal stress depletes magnesium.
Consume:- sea veg, wheat bran/germ nuts bananas, molasses, rye brewers yeast, dk. green veg., whole grains. - Potassium - magnesium is used used to hold potassium in cells. increases secretion of hormones. Consume- sea veg, bananas, whole grains, sunflowers.
- Sage tea:- one tb. per cup infused for 20 minutes.
- Relax and enjoy your hot flashes. Ride them like waves, feel them in your spine, ski the edges of your flushes, honour the volcanic heat of your core. Like labour pains, hot flashes are the outward sign of metamorphosis. Like labour pains, they are worse when resisted.
- Herbal allies help those with unrelenting hot flashes.
- Gain up to a pound a year for ten years. Thin women have more hot flashes and an altogether more difficult menopause than heavier women. Fat cells produce estrone, a kind of oestrogen.
