Menopause, the cessation of menstruation, often produces a host of aggravating symptoms that sometimes last for years.  Like PMS, the victim is not the only sufferer.  Spouses, family members, friends and fellow employees also get the privilege of going through menopause with the victim.  A few years back at one of my Sick & Tired Seminars, a man came up to my emcee and lamented:

My wife and I have been going through menopause for ten years!

I guess that pretty much sums up menopause from the husband’s point-of-view!

            Contrary to popular opinion, difficult menopause need not be a fact of life for all women.  There are natural, non-drug approaches that, at the very least, can minimize menopausal discomfort.  But before we get to that, let me share some background from the conventional medical perspective on menopause.

            The physical and psychological changes occurring at menopause result from decreased production of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, combined with increased amounts of gonadotropin hormones produced by the pituitary, plus higher amounts of male hormones (androgens) present in the blood.  Rather than decreasing gradually, the hormonal output may start and stop, resulting in menopausal symptoms.  Menopause usually occurs between ages 45 and 55, with the average age being about 51.

MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

1. Hot Flashes — About 70% of menopausal women experience hot flashes and night sweats.  On average women experience these symptoms from two to five years in varying degrees of severity.
2. Vaginal Dryness — As estrogen levels decrease, the vaginal skin thins and its secretions diminish.  The vagina thins and loses elasticity, and more easily develops infections.  Intercourse often becomes difficult and painful due to vaginal dryness.
3. Urethral Syndrome — Shrinkage may also occur with the neck of the bladder and the urethra, resulting in a feeling of needing to empty the bladder more frequently.
4. Poor Memory and Concentration
5. Osteoporosis — The bones tend to lose calcium more rapidly during the first two to five years of menopause, though over a period of ten or more years osteoporosis may develop.
6. Cardiovascular Changes — The hormonal changes of menopause often cause a rise in blood pressure and in blood fats like cholesterol and triglycerides.  This can result in fat deposits in the blood vessels (atherosclerosis), coronary heart disease, or stroke.
7. Emotional Symptoms — Irritability, tearfulness, anxiety, depression and other emotional states commonly accompany menopause.  In addition to the obvious cause of lack of estrogen, emotional symptoms may also be related to the sleep deprivation caused by night sweats.

CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE APPROACH

            The A.M.A. Encyclopedia of Medicine notes that hormone replacement therapy (H.R.T.) is given “if symptoms are severe.”  However, in my experience, synthetic hormone replacement seems to be recommended to almost all menopausal women by their medical doctors, regardless of symptoms.  There are 13 million American women on H.R.T.

            The conventional medicine logic is simple:  hormones low — add hormones.  They never seem to ask the question — “Why are the hormones low?”  But more on that later.

            Estrogen replacement therapy has been plagued by a number of potentially serious side-effects.  Susan Lark, M.D. in her book, The Menopause Self-Help Book, notes that estrogen should not be used by women at high risk of breast or uterine cancer, fibroid tumors of the uterus, endometriosis, liver or gall bladder disease, or depression.  Concerns with synthetic estrogen replacement are:

1. Breast Cancer — Does estrogen replacement therapy cause breast cancer?  Well, there have been contradictory studies on this.  Most conventional doctors feel that, while there is not a definite connection, there is increased risk if you have a strong family history of breast cancer, have pre-existing breast disease, or if you develop breast lumps while on estrogen therapy.  My feeling is that if there may be a connection, why not err on the side of caution?
2. Cancer of the Uterus — Originally conventional doctors used estrogen by itself for menopause and found a five-fold increase in the rate of uterine cancer.  For many years it was combined with progestin (PremproTM) to supposedly protect against this.  In July 2002 a federal eight year study of 16,000 women was halted after just five years due to conclusive proof that Prempro raised the risk of heart attack, stroke, blood clots and breast cancer.  The heart attack rate was 29% higher, the stroke rate was 41% higher, and the risk of invasive breast cancer was 26% higher.  The medical world is reeling over this finding. 
3. Uterine Fibroids & Endometriosis — Fibroid tumors are stimulated by estrogen and normally shrink after menopause.  Therefore, if you already have a fibroid problem, maintaining high estrogen via synthetic hormones after menopause, is contraindicated.
   Endometriosis occurs when the lining of the uterus, the endometrium, grows outside the uterus, implanting in the pelvis, resulting in pain and adhesions.   Endometrial growth can be stimulated by estrogen in hormone replacement therapy.

4. Liver and Gall Bladder Disease — Among other things, the liver is responsible for breaking down estrogen.  Therefore, if you have liver disease, you don’t want to increase the estrogen levels, adding further burden upon the liver.  Estrogen replacement therapy also increases risk of gall bladder disease in susceptible women.  Susceptibility is increased by obesity, high fat diet, elevated cholesterol, diabetes, or Native American ethnicity.
5. Depression — While some women find that H.R.T. improves their mood, others find estrogen and progestins to produce depression.
6. Heart Disease & High Blood Pressure — With the new federal study previously cited, H.R.T. is not likely to continue to be presented as a heart disease preventive.

            Beyond these specific concerns on hormone replacement therapy, my overall concern is that you should not just treat symptoms!  Let’s look at some underlying causes of menopausal problems.

CAUSES OF MENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

1. Nutrient Deficiencies — Just as with PMS, proper nutrient levels are needed to have proper hormone balance.  Deficiencies of especially magnesium, vitamin B-6, vitamin E can be a significant cause of menopausal symptoms.
2. Problem Foods — Menopausal symptoms are typically aggravated by dairy products, refined sugar, caffeine (including chocolate) and meat.
3. Lack of Exercise — This affects most health problems, of course.  Regular walking, for example, stimulates balance in the body overall, while having a calming effect.
4. Adrenal Weakness — Estrogen production is not just a function of the ovaries.  The adrenals are one of the body’s secondary sources for estrogen and other hormones.  My theory is that as the ovaries slow down their estrogen production, the adrenals are still there to maintain some hormone levels.  But many, if not most, people have so exhausted their adrenals with overextended lifestyles and incorrect handling of stress.  Adrenal weakness usually shows up in our testing on clients with menopausal problems.

DIETARY APPROACH

            The same general dietary advice that applies to health in general applies to menopause, though there are some additional foods that may be helpful:

1. Avoid refined sugar — James Balch, M.D. in Prescription for Natural Healing, says hot flashes are primarily caused by sugar, dairy products and meat.  Refined sugar disturbs the blood sugar and adrenal function, which in turn may affect hormonal balance.
2. Avoid dairy products — With the exception of yogurt (which has other benefits), dairy products tend to produce magnesium deficiency through their high calcium content.  Hormonal residues from the cows may also upset a woman’s hormonal balance.
3. Avoid caffeine — Coffee, regular tea, colas, and chocolate should be avoided for general health, but are particularly bad for female hormonal problems.  Caffeine stimulates the adrenals to do their “fight or flight” response.  Continually stimulated adrenals become weak and less likely to help with the estrogen and progesterone needs at menopause.
4.   Avoid Meat — With the exception of fish, beef and poultry (of course, I tell everyone to never eat pork) have the same hormonal residue problem as dairy products.  Fatty acids have a lot to do with hormones, and the fatty acids derived from meat (arachindonic acid) are generally negative toward the body, as compared to those from vegetable sources (gamma linoleic acid)
5. “Phytoestrogen” — Many plants contain natural estrogen and progesterone substances.  Studies on Japanese women, where the diet is high in phytoestrogens (and lower in meat, dairy and sugar) show their bodies having 100 to 1000 times the plant estrogens as the average Western woman.  Japanese menopausal women generally do not have hot flashes as a result.  Foods that contain phytoestrogens include apples, carrots, yams, green beans, peas, potatoes, red beans, brown rice, whole wheat, rye, sesame, and soy products.

NUTRITIONAL SUPPLEMENTS

            After you have a good dietary foundation, then supplements are appropriate for enhancement.  The following are typically used:

1. Multi-Vitamin-Mineral — Often I will use a special multi oriented toward female hormone issues.  Such a product will have extra magnesium, B-6, and herbs for hormonal balancing.
2. Multi-Mineral — Almost always a separate chelated multi-mineral with a high magnesium content is necessary.  This should include osteoporosis preventing ingredients like boron, manganese, equisetum herb, etc.
3. Ovarian Glandular — Ovarian glandular supplements are often helpful for balancing out low estrogen situations.
4. Female Herbal Combinations — Various combinations are available for hot flashes and menopausal symptoms in general.  Common herbs used include Dong Quai, Mexican Wild Yam, Blessed Thistle, Black Cohosh, Red Raspberry, Damiana, and others.
5. Homeopathic Formulas — At our clinics we also use various homeopathic formulas designed for menopausal symptoms.  This is often helpful in conjunction with the other supplements.
6. Vitamin E — Some women seem to particularly respond to extra Vitamin E with hot flash and other symptoms.  If we find you testing deficient to Vitamin E, you may need a supplement.
7. Natural Estrogen and Progesterone Creams — We now have available both natural estrogen and progesterone from plant sources in the form of creams that are rubbed into the skin.  The reason for this method of administration is that these hormones tend to be destroyed in the digestive tract when consumed orally.  Absorption through the skin, of course, bypasses the digestion.

            In some cases the creams will be helpful when used intravaginally for vaginal dryness.

            Just one final word about supplements — testing.  The above are just the “possibilities.”  What you need, what will work for you can only best be determined by individual electrodermal testing at the clinic.  With the right diet and supplement program, you should be able to go through the change of life with minimal discomfort.

Better Health Update is published by Pacific Health Center, PO Box 1066, Sisters, Oregon 97759, Phone (800) 255–4246 with branch clinics in Boise, Idaho, Post Falls, Idaho and Portland, Oregon.  E-Mail:  drkline@pacifichealthcenter.com.   Monte Kline, Clinical Nutritionist, Author.  Reproduction Prohibited.

DISCLAIMER:  The information contained in this publication is for educational purposes only.  It is not intended to diagnose illness nor prescribe treatment.  Rather, this material  is designed to be used in cooperation with your nutritionally-oriented health professional to deal with your personal health problems.  Should you use this information on your own, you are prescribing for yourself, which is your constitutional right, but neither the author nor publisher assume responsibility.