Managing Menopausal Changes - Part 2
In our earlier discussion about menopause we recognized that this transition, although marketed as a disease of crisis proportions by the pharmaceutical industry, is in reality a normal part of life. Cessation of ovulation and the concurrent decline in ovarian hormone production does not automatically initiate the myriad symptoms associated with menopause. Many women, in fact, are hardly aware of any changes in their bodies. Our problems arise when balances within the endocrine system are disrupted.
We discussed the relationships of diet and health as applied to menopausal changes, especially the need for managing blood sugar fluctuations, and the importance of adequate micronutrients in our diet. We considered exercise and rest, mental stimulation and play, relationships and emotional needs. We ended by mentioning natural agents, including bio-identical hormones, as management tools. We’ll pick up this discussion by exploring some of these natural interventions.
When we look at nutritional agents in menopausal transitions we must start with the basics needed for normal cellular function. Improving our ability to process energy within cells, to transport water and nutrients across cell membranes, and to remove toxins from cells is the prime requirement for improving our health. Start with a therapeutic multivitamin designed to deliver nutrients more than once a day, add a balanced mineral formula, an essential fatty acid supplement, and broad antioxidant capacity. Specific needs might include vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin D, pantothenic acid, vitamin B12, vitamin B6, folic acid, fish oils, evening primrose or borage oil, magnesium, zinc, and calcium. Amino acids such as l-tyrosine, l-theanine, or 5-hydroxytryptophan may also be useful in some patients. Nutrient choices should always be matched to your individual needs and used to support healthy function and repair.
Herbals get a lot of press, both positive and negative, much of it inaccurate, misleading, and heavily hyped. When used appropriately most herbals are safe and can be effective tools for symptom management. Nutrients support many required body functions and serve primarily to allow the body to repair and restore normal capacity; herbals are more directive, drug-like agents, altering function to achieve desired (or undesired) results. Although many herbal agents and combinations are useful, those most commonly used with menopausal issues include di-indolylmethane, indole-3-carbinol, and milk thistle to enhance hormone detoxification and metabolism, vitex (chaste tree berry) to improve progesterone levels, black cohosh, red clover, and soy isoflavones to improve estrogen responses, and valerian or chamomile to assist sleep. Herbals may interact with medications and as with nutrients should be closely matched with individual needs.
Homeopathic approaches to health are used to stimulate, direct, or improve our healing responses rather than for direct drug effects of the chosen remedies. Available homeopathic products fall into two classes, single remedies for classical or constitutional homeopathic therapy and complexes used in clinical homeopathic treatment. Most self help books on homeopathy discuss the use of single remedies but classical approaches are most effective when directed by a homeopathic physician. Self directed care is much simpler with the complexes used in the clinical approach and complexes developed for menopausal symptoms, menstrual irregularities, fatigue, or sleep are commonly employed.
Glandulars and hormone precursors may be chosen for direct activity and to boost our own hormone production. Glandulars contain the building blocks our own endocrine glands use to produce their respective hormones. Glandular agents may be used to stimulate hypothalamic, thyroid, adrenal, or ovarian function although adrenal and thyroid agents are more commonly selected. In some women hormone precursors may also be effective management tools. These agents are active hormones that are routinely metabolized into other hormones in the body. Pregnenolone, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), androstenedione, and progesterone may all be considered precursor hormones. Pregnenolone may be converted into either DHEA or progesterone; progesterone into aldosterone and estrogens; DHEA into andostenedione into testosterone into estradiol into estrone into estriol…..needless to say it can get somewhat complicated. Glandulars and precursor hormones generally might be considered when nutritional agents, herbals, and homeopathics have not provided adequate help for a struggling system and professional assistance is recommended in selection.
Bio-identical hormones are therapeutic agents that have the identical molecular structure of hormones produced in the human body. The hormones mentioned as precursors are bio-identical although this term usually refers to the prescribed use of estradiol, estrone, estriol, progesterone, and testosterone or some combination of these agents. When bio-identical hormones are used to restore normal levels and normal relative values, to restore balance in an individual, they may be the safest option for active hormone replacement therapy. In fact, by definition this is the only replacement therapy- commonly prescribed synthetic options are actually hormone substitution therapy. Be aware, however, that bio-identical hormones may carry similar risks to synthetic agents if they are used inappropriately (out of balance).
You are unique. Your fingerprints, your genetic expression, and your hormone needs are your own. If you struggle with symptoms associated with menopausal transitions, shouldn’t your therapy be designed just for you? Look for a physician, pharmacist, or other health professional to assist you with developing a holistic, individualized regimen and you may rediscover the energy, the vitality, the You you’ve been missing!