It wasn’t that long ago when it seemed I couldn’t do a surgery without seeing a woman of a “certain age” who had lost her thermostat and was spending a fortune on washing powder, because she was changing clothes and bed linen like it was going out of fashion. Today I see far fewer menopausal women which I suspect is due to the frightening headlines that would have us believe HRT is the devil incarnate. There are undoubtedly risks associated with taking hormone replacement therapy long term, but that doesn’t mean it is all bad and for some women a short course of HRT can be life changing.
We know that seven out of ten women suffer varying degrees of physical and emotional symptoms with the menopause, the most common being hot flushes, night sweats and mood swings. That figure hasn’t changed, but the number of women coming forward for help certainly has, which saddens me. Menopausal symptoms may not be life threatening but they can be miserable and it isn’t HRT or nothing. Non-hormonal blood pressure treatments or antidepressants may help and lots of my patients have found relief from herbal remedies like black cohosh, sage, agnus castus, dong quai or isoflavones– these are plant oestrogens which can be taken as supplements or in foods like soya milk and tofu. (There could be reason why there is no word for “hot flush” in the Japanese language!). So even if you don’t want HRT, have a chat your GP and perhaps you can give your washing machine a rest!
Natural remedies
Sage has been shown to significantly reduce the frequency and intensity of menopausal hot flushes and night sweats, and is thought to help to restore the natural hormonal balance in the body.
Soy Isoflavones have an oestrogen-like action in the body. As phytoestrogens, they resemble our body’s natural oestrogen and can help to boost low oestrogen levels during the menopause. Isoflavones have been shown to significantly reduce hot flushes and importantly helps to boost the formation of new bone, which can help to reduce the risk of osteoporosis.
Menopause Matters
Take a closer look at the menopause and find out about all of the natural treatments available to help combat night sweats, hot flushes, irritability and a low mood at www.menopausematters.co.uk . A site dedicated to helping women making an informed choice about managing their menopause.
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