Menopause is an important stage in the female life cycle. It is a healthy and necessary transition from fertility to the wiser years.
Although completely normal and necessary, menopause can be accompanied by physical and psychological discomfort. Women going through menopause are generally looking for tips and advice on how to ease their symptoms and harmonize their hormonal health.
To help women navigate the menopause journey, we've created a guide that illustrates the three major phases of menopause, while providing tips on how to navigate each phase with greater ease.
Peri-menopause: the beginning of the road to menopause
The peri-menopause stage is the first step a woman takes towards menopause. It's a period of normal and necessary hormonal changes that precede the cessation of menstruation.
The peri-menopausal stage generally refers to the age range between 35 and 45. During this phase, the body sends a hormonal signal that the fertile years are coming to an end. This is the body's way of preparing to complete the female fertile cycle. During the peri-menopause, the menstrual cycle is still active, but more irregular.
The appearance of various symptoms is due to the drop in progesterone and rise in estrogen associated with peri-menopause. In fact, the ovaries produce considerably more estrogen during peri-menopause than they did in previous years.
Peri-menopause takes place over a period of several years, ranging from 6 to 13 years, depending on the woman, so it's important to address any uncomfortable symptoms as soon as they appear.
One of the most commonly reported symptoms of peri-menopause is heat. 80% of North American women experience hormonal hot flushes during peri-menopause. These hot flashes, which occur mainly at night, contribute to sleep disorders, anxiety and a cascade of symptoms resulting from poor sleep. It's important to address this symptom promptly to prevent excessive fatigue and the onset of secondary discomforts.
Sage oil included in MenoForce is a medicinal plant that soothes heat and relieves hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). This is how it works, MenoForce relieves heat and promotes restful sleep. If sleep is too disturbed by heat, it is beneficial to support it by incorporating Deep Sleepa synergy of valerian officinalis, which stabilizes the sleep cycle, and hops, which promotes a state of calm and harmonizes estrogen levels. Hops are also used in traditional botanical medicine to relieve nocturnal heat, and make a good complement to MenoForce.
As the frequency and intensity of heat increases with fatigue and stress levels, it's a good idea to incorporate calming herbs to soothe the nervous system. The oats in AvenaForce calms the nervous system and improves stress tolerance.
In Germany, where integrative medicine and herbalism are well recognized, the use of vitex (agnus castus) is common practice in the healthcare system to relieve peri-menopausal symptoms. The vitexsometimes called chasteberry, helps counteract the symptoms of low progesterone. For women wishing to become pregnant during these final years of fertility, supplementation with vitex helps support pregnancy by maintaining adequate progesterone levels.
Menopause: the end of the menstrual cycle
The word menopause is derived from the Greek roots pausis (end, completion) and men (month). Thus, the word menopause means the completion of the monthly cycle. A woman is said to have reached menopause when she has had no menstrual bleeding for at least 12 months. Women generally reach menopause between the ages of 49 and 55, the average age being 51.
At menopause, the drop in estrogen is added to the drop in progesterone. This drop in estrogen affects many aspects of our health. Indeed, cardiovascular and bone health become sources of concern for menopausal women.
In order to support the body and compensate for the drop in estrogen associated with menopause, it is beneficial to consume phytoestrogens, i.e. estrogens derived from plants. These estrogens are non-invasive, healthy and safe. They have an affinity with mammalian estrogen receptors, and their regular consumption helps alleviate symptoms associated with estrogen depletion. Unlike xenoestrogens (the toxic estrogens found in pesticides, plastics and parabens), phytoestrogens are safe and do not contribute to estrogen dominance responsible for the formation of mammary and/or uterine tumors.
The soy isoflavones found in Menosupport Complex are among the beneficial phytoestrogens that reduce the frequency and intensity of menopausal symptoms. Menosupport Complex also contains red sorrel, a type of hibiscus that supports both the nervous and cardiovascular systems. Several clinical studies have demonstrated that red sorrel lowers cholesterol levels and blood pressure. Red sorrel is also a highly protective plant for the urinary tract, making it an ally for menopausal women at risk of developing urinary tract infections. 1,2,3
At menopause, some women will experience memory loss due to the drop in estrogen. This can easily be addressed by adding ginkgo biloba to Menosupport Complex. Visit ginkgo biloba is a natural remedy that promotes better cognitive health and will work in conjunction with soy isoflavones to restore good cognitive faculties.
Postmenopause: the years following menopause
The symptoms of previous years disappear, giving way to a new form of hormonal stability. After the menopause, women continue their lives as postmenopausal.
During the post-menopause, estrogen levels are at their lowest. This can lead to increased dryness of the skin, hair and vaginal mucosa. Muscle and joint aches and pains may become more evident or appear. Consumption of phytoestrogens from legumes, fermented soybeans and flaxseed can help reduce the signs of low estrogen, including muscle and joint stiffness.
Due to low estrogen levels, postmenopausal women are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease and osteoporosis. It is therefore necessary to implement or maintain healthy lifestyle habits, including an exercise routine that promotes bone health. To address bone mineralization, Assimil-Calcium optimizes calcium absorption from the diet and helps prevent fractures.
Menopause is not a nightmare or a punishment. It's a healthy and necessary stage in every woman's life. It is possible to obtain the support of plants and natural health to get through menopause with greater ease. By incorporating our recommendations into a balanced diet and healthy lifestyle, menopause can go smoothly and without too much discomfort.
Happy menopause!
About the author
Naturopaths of La Boite à Grains
Team of licensed and certified naturopaths (ND) in Gatineau, Outaouais.
Original article written by Véronique Cousineau, Naturopath
Sources
Gottfried Sara, MD (2013) The hormone cure. Scribner.
Northrup Christiane, MD (2010) Women's bodies, women's wisdom, Revised Edition. Bantam Books.
Aviva Room, MD (2018) Botanical Medicine for Women's Health, Second edition. Elsevier.
Desulniers, Veronique DC. (2019). Heal Breast Cancer Naturella, Second edition.
Scientific studies cited
1.Gurrola-Díaz CM, García-López PM, Sánchez-Enríquez S, Troyo-Sanromán R, Andrade-González I, Gómez-Leyva JF. Effects of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract powder and preventive treatment (diet) on the lipid profiles of patients with metabolic syndrome (MeSy). Phytomedicine. 2010;17(7):500-505.
2.Serban C, Sahebkar A, Ursoniu S, Andrica F, Banach M. Effect of sour tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) on arterial hypertension: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. J Hypertens. 2015;33(6):1119-1127.
3.Alshami I, Alharbi AE. Antimicrobial activity of Hibiscus sabdariffa extract against uropathogenic strains isolated from recurrent urinary tract infections. Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Disease. Volume 4, Issue 4, August 2014, Pages 317-322.
