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Menopause: step-by-step
continued from page 2
Mood swings or depression
Balancing blood sugar levels by eating fibre-rich food can help your mood. St John's Wort is well-known for its effectiveness against mild to moderate depression but it must not be taken with other medications and can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Avena sativa, known better as porridge oats, is used traditionally as a relaxant herb and can be taken in tincture form.
Memory
Many women complain of a worsening memory at this time. B-vitamins are important for mental function and are found in cereals, or try a Brewer's yeast supplement. The herb ginkgo biloba can improve circulation and help short-term memory problems.
Headaches or migraines
These often start, or get worse, during the menopause. Caffeine is a frequent trigger as are amine-rich foods and drinks such as wine, beer, chocolate, cheese, pickles and salami. Ginger can help to reduce headaches and migraines by dilating blood vessels that lead to the head.
Step two: the menopause
This is the moment when periods cease completely and the ovaries are no longer producing eggs. It is advised that contraception is continued until a year after periods cease - just in case! Conditions linked to high oestrogen levels, like fibroids and endometriosis - decrease at this time as hormone production stops. Some other common changes include:
Vaginal dryness
This can begin to be a problem in the peri-menopause but is worse after periods cease (oestrogen keeps tissues 'plumped out'). Many lubricants are available including those enriched with oestrogen, for short-term use from your doctor. Again, a diet which features soya may help. The popular menopausal herbs black cohosh and red clover can alleviate dryness.
Libido
There can be anxiety about decreasing libido. For women, sorting out problems with vaginal dryness certainly helps. Some herbs might be helpful - horny goat weed, an aptly named herb, can be a tonic. It is thought to stimulate sensory nerves and so improve sexual desire and satisfaction. The herb damiana works by stimulating oxygen flow to the sex organs and is useful when depression or decreased physical sensitivity is linked to low sex drive. Ginkgo biloba is also known to improve blood flow to the sex organs and can improve sex drive in those whose libido has been affected by antidepressants.
Balancing blood sugar levels by eating fibre-rich food can help your mood. St John's Wort is well-known for its effectiveness against mild to moderate depression but it must not be taken with other medications and can increase sensitivity to sunlight. Avena sativa, known better as porridge oats, is used traditionally as a relaxant herb and can be taken in tincture form.
Many women complain of a worsening memory at this time. B-vitamins are important for mental function and are found in cereals, or try a Brewer's yeast supplement. The herb ginkgo biloba can improve circulation and help short-term memory problems.
These often start, or get worse, during the menopause. Caffeine is a frequent trigger as are amine-rich foods and drinks such as wine, beer, chocolate, cheese, pickles and salami. Ginger can help to reduce headaches and migraines by dilating blood vessels that lead to the head.
Step two: the menopause
This is the moment when periods cease completely and the ovaries are no longer producing eggs. It is advised that contraception is continued until a year after periods cease - just in case! Conditions linked to high oestrogen levels, like fibroids and endometriosis - decrease at this time as hormone production stops. Some other common changes include:
This can begin to be a problem in the peri-menopause but is worse after periods cease (oestrogen keeps tissues 'plumped out'). Many lubricants are available including those enriched with oestrogen, for short-term use from your doctor. Again, a diet which features soya may help. The popular menopausal herbs black cohosh and red clover can alleviate dryness.
There can be anxiety about decreasing libido. For women, sorting out problems with vaginal dryness certainly helps. Some herbs might be helpful - horny goat weed, an aptly named herb, can be a tonic. It is thought to stimulate sensory nerves and so improve sexual desire and satisfaction. The herb damiana works by stimulating oxygen flow to the sex organs and is useful when depression or decreased physical sensitivity is linked to low sex drive. Ginkgo biloba is also known to improve blood flow to the sex organs and can improve sex drive in those whose libido has been affected by antidepressants.
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