Menopause is like Pre menstrual syndrome, but continuous. All women experience a time every month when all sexual hormones stop a few days before menstruating. This is a time when women become very sensitive particularly to issues that “normally” would not affect them. Why is that so?
When female hormones start to kick in during teenage years, they act like “drugs” that are protective, in that they help you to navigate a difficult world. Once a month, young women are given you a sense of reality when they shut off before menstruation. Suddenly, young women see what is really behind the scenes. this is a time of clarity that is often dismissed by others as “she is having her period”. In fact it is actually a time to pay attention, to notice what is happening and not to suppress the feelings that arise. They are alerting to something that needs addressing.
Fast forward to menopause. This is a time when these wonderful protective hormones shut off completely. A small amount of oestrogen is contained in fat cells, and can help women to overcome severe symptoms of menopause. One of the symptoms most difficult to manage is emotional sensitivity, especially if in a relationship. Others are the waking up at night at odd hours, often with anxiety, dry and sensitive vagina, loss of libido, thinning skin, fragile bones and, of course, hot flashes.
What to do, what to do?
Many women find it so difficult to navigate this time. It is only a period, as your body adjusts to the new normal. Many women then opt for Hormonal replacement therapy (HRT). This is where artificial hormones are used to mimic the lost hormones. In that there may be no changes at menopause. It is equivalent to taking contraceptives (which are artificial hormones disrupting the menstrual cycle), for the rest of a woman’s life. But why not go this way, you may ask? And, yes, this is a way you may go. However, there are side effects not often spoken of. These are: Common side effects of menopausal Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) include breast tenderness, bloating, nausea, headaches and irregular bleeding. These often subside within 3–6 months, but long-term use carries risks of breast cancer, blood clots (venous thromboembolism), stroke, and gallbladder disease. Other more serious effects come from the woman’s body fighting against the hormones, as they are seen as foreign. The liver has to work harder to inactivate the hormones, and when stopped, bone density decreases dramatically. Long term use brings the risk of breast cancer, every women’s nightmare.
Some women use low dose hormonal vaginal creams that help thicken the skin in the vagina. These hormones are absorbed into the blood as well, and thus are not really different to HRT. So what is the alternative?
It is part of Western culture to adulate youth, while viewing age as something to be avoided at all cost. You only have to see how much money is spent by Influencers on reversing aging. We cut down or throw away flowers after the bloom has faded and become wrinkled. We forget that below the bloom, a fruit and seed is growing. This is what is happening to women as they age. They are developing the seeds that they will leave on the earth when they leave this planet.
There is much that can be done to balance the symptoms of menopause, discover the lessons in this vital time of life, and flourish with Homeopathy. Homeopathy does not replace hormones but gently helps to lessen the worse symptoms, while allowing gentle aging. Homeopathy supports mental and emotional changes, and helps women to find a new purpose in an aging life. It does not bring back youth, but does bring back energy for a new era. it helps graceful aging like wine maturing to perfect balance. It helps to navigate relationships that strain through the changes. Give it a try, you will not regret it