The menopause signifies the completion of 'reproductive years' for women – when the levels of oestrogen and progesterone drop. The term climacteric comes from the Greek ‘klimakterikos’ meaning the rung of a ladder – women have thus gone up another rung!

The menopause is an individual experience with variable associations for each woman. It is the threshold of a new life phase and not an illness. The signs and symptoms of the menopause may be profound, affecting women on both an emotional and physical level. In most cases women go through the menopause with only mild symptoms.

It is estimated that as few as 10% go through an extremely difficult time, whilst approximately 20% will hardly notice any change at all.

Statistically, in the UK, women go through the menopause at the average age of 47; however, some can, to their surprise begin menopause much earlier. This tends to run in the family or be caused by, illness, poor nutritional care or extreme stress. And for others the menopause is not reached until they are in their mid-fifties. Overall, women are becoming menopausal earlier, reflecting the fact that menstruation is occurring at an earlier age.

Menopause is a time of fundamental hormonal and functional adjustment and so many of the well-known distressing symptoms such as hot flushes, sweats, vaginal dryness, cystitis, insomnia, depression, mood swings, palpitations, etc. are the result of the body trying to adapt to these changes.

Many women are reluctant to start or continue to take Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT). This is understandable due to the vast number of unwanted adverse effects.

Let’s consider the other options...

A good, healthy, well-balanced diet will go a long way in helping to stabilise some of these uncomfortable feelings. Cut out or considerably reduce the consumption of tea, coffee, alcohol, sugar and chocolate as well as foods with chemical and steroid additives.

Increase the intake of whole grains, especially brown rice, millet, oats and barley. In addition, eat plenty of fresh fruit and fresh vegetables as well as sprouted seeds, tofu and other (non-modified) soya products, which will be beneficial. Add in fennel, garlic, rosemary and sage in cooking.
It is interesting to note that the incidence of menopausal symptoms is significantly lower in the Eastern countries. Over 80% of us suffer hot flushes compared to 6% of Japanese women. So why the difference?

It appears to be all down to the diet. The consumption of the vegetable protein soya is very much higher compared to the Western part of the world. These cultures also have a diet low in animal fats and alcohol.

It would not be feasible to eat the vast quantities of soya-based foods necessary to match our requirements, nor could our digestive system cope. Unaccustomed to soya beans, our bodies often experience wind and discomfort. In the West, we are now offered many soya foods, as well as Asian foods such as tofu.

However, there are a number of products currently on the market as an alternative. Phytogen is a natural phytoestrogen (an oestrogen-like substance obtained from plants) and consists of isoflavones which are thought to act like gentle oestrogens, with the remarkable property of helping to bring the body’s overall oestrogen level back to balance. Phytoestrogens appear to exert their beneficial effects by helping to control the way in which oestrogen is transported in the blood. It also has the added all-important advantage of being free of all the dreaded adverse effects so often encountered with HRT.

Black Cohosh possesses oestrogen-like action and in clinical trials has been shown to be particularly useful for hot flushes and the emotional problems associated with the menopause, which would normally benefit from HRT.

Sage has been found to be beneficial in reducing the frequency and severity of hot flushes and night sweats which accompany the menopause, because it contains phytoestrogens, helping to correct the lower levels of oestrogen.

At this time of life, the oestrogen production from the ovaries diminishes; this in turn triggers the release of a specific regulating factor from the brain, situated in the hypothalamus, encouraging more hormone production from the ovaries. The hypothalamus is the control centre for temperature regulation. It functions as an important intermediary between the nervous system and the endocrine system. Many of the physical and mental symptoms occurring during the menopause are a result of an imbalance in this control mechanism. Sage (Salvia officinalis) works along this pathway.

When mood swings and irritability are prominent features, a zinc supplement is recommended.

As well as addressing the obvious features experienced during the menopause, the important issue of reducing the risk of osteoporosis must also be considered. The loss of bone mass in women, after the menopause, is greater because of oestrogen deficiency which favours bone breakdown.

An original Vogel homoeopathic preparation containing urtica and silica plus easily absorbed sources of calcium necessary for bone formation is especially useful where a lack of calcium is present. It helps to strengthen the bones, as well as preventing bone loss in later life. Three tablets should be taken twice daily dissolved slowly under the tongue.

Naturopathy offers a wide range of alternative treatments to help ease women through what can be a challenging stage in their lives.