All Symptoms of Menopause

With age comes the natural transition of menopause, signaling the end of a woman’s fertility. Some women experience great emotional and physical suffering because they believe their femininity and sexuality are in an inevitable decline, when the truth is many symptoms of menopause are easily treated, and they are now ready for some of the best sexual experiences in their life.

Symptoms

Menopause is the natural biological process of the cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycle. Though not a medical illness, the physical and emotional symptoms of menopause can disrupt sleep, sap energy and trigger feelings of sadness and loss. 

Most menopausal women experience some form of the “Seven Dwarves of Menopause” - Itchy, Bitchy, Sleepy, Sweaty, Bloated, Forgetful, and All Dried Up - in addition to other symptoms:

• Hot flashes
• Night sweats
• Loss of sexual desire
• Irregular periods
• Sleep disturbance
• Tiredness & chronic fatigue
• Vaginal dryness
• Mood swings
• Some hair loss
• Lack of focus
• Irritability, Angry-Without-A-Reason
• Memory lapses
• Joint pain or discomfort
• Spontaneous dizziness
• Weight gain
• Osteoporosis or fragile bones
• Burning tongue
• Headaches
• Bladder incontinence
• Tingling extremities
• Muscle tension
• Panic disorder
• Bloating
• Gum problems
• Allergy
• Fragile or brittle nails
• Changes in body or vaginal odor
• Irregular heartbeat
• Electric shock sensation
• Itchy skin
• Frequent depressed
• Anxiety attacks
• Breast discomfort or pain
• Digestive problems

Scientific research and the acceptance of holistic herbal methods have proven that most menopausal symptoms are easily treated. Unfortunately, many women are still burdened by an old psychological agenda that makes them believe their sexuality must decrease with age. In the new paradigm, a woman can treat her symptoms and begin to enjoy sex in a whole new way.

Causes

Menopause is a natural event that begins when the ovaries start making less estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that regulate menstruation, and eventually shut down, ceasing menstruation and the possibility of conception.

Menopause is commonly divided into two stages:

Perimenopause is a period of four years or longer when hormone levels rise and fall unevenly, signaling the approach of menopause. Symptoms include irregular periods, decreased fertility, vaginal dryness, hot flashes, sleep disturbances, mood swings, increased abdominal fat, thinning hair and sagging breasts.  The average age of onset varies from 40-50.

Menopause is official once twelve months have passed since the last menstrual period. The years that follow are called postmenopause, when the ovaries produce much less estrogen and no progesterone and cease releasing eggs. The average age of onset is 51.

Natural Solutions

Menopause itself requires no medical treatment but generally involves relieving or preventing the chronic symptoms associated with this aging process. Hot flashes and night sweats can be alleviated by isoflavones, and ashwangandha has been used for thousands of years as a restorative tonic to treat general debility, exhaustion, stress-induced fatigue and insomnia.

Haritaki is known in Ayurveda as an anti-aging agent, and licorice helps support the genitourinary tract, soothes mucous membranes and relieves muscle spasms.  Cinnamon supports uterine muscular fiber, while arjuna is an excellent heart and liver tonic, promoting an increase in HDL-to-total cholesterol ratio and improving the cardiovascular profile overall.

Herbal supplements are most effective when combined with lifestyle changes such as maintaining regular exercise, avoiding caffeine, eating a diet rich in whole foods and avoiding processed foods, not smoking and getting enough sleep.