September 23, 2024
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What is Menopause?

Menopause literally means the stoppage of menstruation. Greek “meno” means monthly and “pauses” to stop. Perimenopause is the stage that occurs prior to menopause and post-menopause is afterwards.

Causes & Symptoms of Menopause

Although Menopause is a transformational and natural part of a woman’s physiological life cycle, many women experience unpleasant signs and symptoms such as;

  • Irregular & heavy menstrual bleeding (oligomenorrhoea & menorrhagia)
  • Hot flashes & night sweats
  • Low libido & vaginal dryness
  • Moodiness & depression
  • Low metabolism & weight gain
  • Osteoporosis, arthritis and many others.

Research has shown, that women who have existing or more health issues or stress are expected to suffer more during the time. In a systematic review of the effects of menopause in Australia; vasomotor symptoms affected 50% of women, over 70% had loss of libido and more than half had psychological symptoms (Gartoulla, Islam, Bell & Davie, 2014).

Winter Magnolia

Diagnosis

The most common diagnosis is the absence of menstruation for more than 12 months and potentially any of the signs or symptoms mentioned above (Goolsby, 2001).

How to Support Your Body Naturally Through Menopause – A TCM Perspective

I have written this article to provide women with some more holistic advice that they can consider on their menopause journey.

  1. Exercise – is one of the best ways to actively feel better through the menopause transition it is so important. Every day even if it is just a walk for twenty minutes. Appropriate strength training can strengthen bones, not to mention make you feel physically and mentally well.
  2. Avoid inflammatory foods and habits: I can’t stress this enough. These foods will cause your body more heat and blocks the natural function of your bolily processes as it is difficult for your body to process inflammatory substances: seed oils (canola, margarine, sunflower oils etc), wheat, dry, packaged, junk foods, sugar, alcohol, black tea & coffee (cause a lot of dryness and heat) etc.
  3. Rehabilitate inflammatory habits: going to bed late, not moving your body, no strength training, not drinking enough water, smoking, vaping and doing drugs. Coffee on an empty stomach.
  4. Love Your Body: Dee made a wonderful point in our recent Empowered menopause workshop. “I realised that if I want to live a long life and enjoy this next chapter in my life, I need to do it differently”. When you make changes to your diet from a place of love and gentleness, it feels better and your body responds better too.
  5. Enjoy a healthy, balanced diet – A varied diet, including plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, healthy grains like steamed rice and essence bread, and some meat and fish. Get the omega three and natural fats in (coconut oil, ghee, grass-fed butter). Drink natural beverages like herbal teas, the occasional real chai tea, ceremonial cacao, bone broth, kombucha and matcha etc.
  6. Reduce Heating Foods – In menopause a woman’s yin declines hence why the body manifests false heat such as dryness, night sweats and hot flashes thus you need to minimise caffeine, alcohol, dry food (too much bread, roasted and baked goods) and spicy food. Heating foods and drinks will make your signs and symptoms worse. The aim is balanced not hot or cold.
  7. Probiotic Foods – regularly enjoy kombucha, sauerkraut, kefir, miso soup, yoghurt and other fermented goodies. These contain natural probiotics and Vitamin K which is beneficial for Vitamin D absorption and bone health.
  8. Drink plenty of filtered water to hydrate the body. In Chinese medicine we prefer hot and warm water as it is easier for your spleen (digestive energy to absorb) and improves metabolism and circulation. If you feel hot drink water at room temperature. Not freezing cold.
  9. Reduce and Manage Stress – Yes, the stress will make signs and symptoms worse! Try to breathe, listen to meditation and don’t put yourself out or into stressful situations, self-prioritise.
  10. Try a course of treatment with Herbs & Acupuncture – in Chinese medicine, menopause is usually the decline of both kidney yin and yang, so not only does the treatment principle aim to nourish yin and clear heat, but support the yang. Both combined have been shown to have better effect than just herbs alone.
  11. Avoid Ice Cold Things – please don’t resort to eating and lathering yourself in ice, or lengthy cold baths or showers. Nor drinking litres of ice-cold water, menopause is not a full-heat condition, you may get temporary relief but you will completely smother your yang (warming energy) which will only exacerbate the yin (yang deficient) signs and symptoms such as the bloating, arthritis, poor metabolism, weight gain, poor circulation and poor libido etc.
  12. Get Plenty Of Sleep – yes the obvious! Let your body rest and rejuvenate.
  13. Boundaries – to have more energy, rest and peace stop giving your energy out. Stop overgiving. You need time and energy to rest and rejuvenate if you are looking after everyone else how are you supposed to get through this transition with ease and flow? You are worth feeling good.
  14. Menopause Honouring Thyself: many women reach this stage and awaken to the mistreatment and cellf abuse they have been inflicting on their bodies. It is such a great time to realise that you are worthy and deserving of having time, self care and prioritising yourself.
  15. Herbal Tea Blend: make your own menopause support tea with equal parts of dried sage, red clover, yarrow, raspberry leaf tea, nettle and hops. Full of minerals, blood tonic herbs and ones that calm the mind. Enjoy a pot per day (2-3 cups).
  16. Tissue Salts: read more about tissue salts here. The main remedies that are very important for menopause are ferrum phos which oxygenates the blood and supports the body to clear heat and inflammation. Calc Phos is also so good, it allows your body’s Jing (essence) cells to access the nutrition it needs for to support cell regeneration, digestion and blood production.
  17. Vitamin E can reduce the severity of hot flushes and other symptoms associated with menopause. 100IU daily. Caution if there are blood pressure or heart problems.
  18. Vitamin C is a cooling vitamin, hence moderate to high doses can help with this. Start with 100mg and can take up 1000mg per day. Best take in doses eg. 200mg every three hours five times daily. Vitamin C as ascorbate is more alkaline than ascorbic acid.
  19. Evening Primrose Oil: can help support you with flushing, mood changes and fluid retention. Dose ranges between 1-3g daily.
  20. Dress: light and loose fitting clothing made from natural fibres such as cotton and wearing lighter layers than a big heavy jumper. Cotton nightwear. Sleep on a soft towel so if you do sweat you can throw the towel off in the night.
  21. Special foods to boost your body with antioxidants from the Medical Medium Anthony Williams and I highly recommend reading his books: wild blueberries, tahini (sesame), avocados, black beans, asparagus, apples, spinach, black grapes, cucumbers and elderberry.
  22. Natural hormone creams: Dr Ilana loves the Modere balancing cream. Contains vitex which is a herb that supports progesterone and contains calming essential oils and wild yam.
  23. Essential Oils: the Australian Bush Flowers make a lovely essential oil roller with the flowers that is balancing for women’s hormones called Women’s Essence.
  24. Flower Essences: She Oak is a remedy that can hydrate the body and support healthy hormone function and Mulla Mulla can clear heat and inflammation.
  25. Chinese Herbs: there are a lot of different formula that can help it really depends on your presentation. Er Xian Tang is good for women who feel cold but also experience hot flushing. I have a masters in Chinese herbal medicine and have been practising for over 15 years so please ask if you have any questions and only take a formula if you know it is for your appropriate presenting pattern of symptoms.
  26. The Liver, Hormones & Stress: if you would like to read and know more about the intricate processes of our organs and how are hormones are affected I highly recommend reading this article by the Weston A Price foundation. I do find reading beneficial to helping you truly get why you are following a certain dietary and lifestyle program.

The Importance of A Prescribed Chinese Herbal Formula

Although you can buy many herbs and concoctions over the counter it is always safest and most effective to have a prescribed formula by a good practitioner. This is because different formulae have different intentions and if misprescibed can give you unwanted side effects. Most of the time if you are taking the wrong herbal formula it will do nothing.

Chinese Medicine Menopause Consultations

At Femme Vital, expect the best holistic health consultation, coaching, tailored treatment and advice with 16 years experience supporting wellbeing with acupuncture and Chinese herbs in clinic and online.

For in Clinic or Online appointments Book Online or contact us on 03 9005 6730, by appointment only.

Copyright © 2024 Ilana Sowter · All Rights Reserved

References

Gartoulla, P., Davies, S.R., Worsley, R. & Bell, R.J. (2015) Use of complementary and alternative medicines for menopausal symptoms in Australian women aged 40-65 years. Med J Aust. Aug 3; 203(3):146, 146e.1-6.

Gartoulla, P., Islam, M.R., Bell, R.J. & Davis S.R. (2014) Prevalence of menopausal symptoms in Australian women at midlife: a systematic review. Climeractic; Jan; 17(5); 529-539. DOI: 10.3109/13697137.2013.865721

Goolsby, M.J. (2001) Management of Menopause. J Am Acad Nurse Pract. Apr; 13(4):147-50. DOI: 10.1111/j.1745-7599.2001.tb00237

Haines, C.J., Lam, P.M., Chung, T.K.H., Cheng, K.F. & Leung, P.C. (2008). A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study of the effect of a Chinese herbal medicine preparation (Dang Gui Buxue Tang) on menopausal symptoms in Hong Kong women. Climeractic; Mar(11):3; 244-251. DOI: 10.1080/13697130802073029

Monteleone, P., Mascagni, G., Ginanini, A., Genazzini, A.R. & Simonicini, T. (2018) Symptoms of menopause – global prevalence, physiology and implications. Nature Reviews Endicrinology, Feb. DOI: 10.1038/nrendo.2017.180

Pace, D (2017) The menopausal woman: the need for an individualized plan of care. The Nurse Practitioner; 42(12), p.43-49. DOI: 10.1097/01.NPR.0000526765.60971.37

Patching van der Sluijs, C; Bensoussan; A, Chang, S; & Baber, R (2009) A randomized placebo-controlled trial on the effectiveness of an herbal formula to alleviate menopausal vasomotor symptoms. Menopause. Mar; 16(2):336-344. DOI:10.1097/gme.0b013e3181883dc1

Zhou, J & Qu, F (2007)The Effect of Chinese Medicinal Herbs in Relieving Menopausal Symptoms in Ovariectomized Chinese Women. Explore: the Journal of Science and Healing, Sept; 3:5,  pp. 478–484. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.explore.2007.06.002

Zhu, X, Liew, Y & Zhao Lan Liu (2016) Chinese herbal medicine for menopausal symptoms. Cochrane Gynaecology and Fertility Group. DOI:10.1002/14651858.CD009023.