By the time this article goes to publication two weeks will have passed. Nonetheless, today as I write, it is World Menopause Day! Happy World Menopause Day everyone. Well, perhaps ‘happy’ is a bit of a stretch (for some). It definitely is a journey of sorts though, requiring much acceptance and surrender, and a brave and open heart ♥
It wasn't so long ago that menopause was not such a talked about thing. Then came ‘Menopause the Musical’, and with the use of tongue-in-cheek humour and a few songs belted out cabaret-style, the topic of menopause slowly began to enter mainstream conversation. Hallelujah and amen, brothers and sisters! Let us kiss goodbye the very inappropriate labels of ‘hysteria’, ‘unstable’ and ‘off to the nuthouse with that one’. Enough!
Meno (menstruation) pause (ending) is, technically speaking, when a woman ceases to menstruate and her body is thus no longer available for reproduction. This transitional period is sometimes referred to as a second puberty (or Queenager as I like to call it), or ‘the change’, and consists of four stages: pre-
menopausal (one or more climax years), peri-menopausal (meaning ‘around the time of’), menopause (the actual moment of cessation from menstruation) and the climacteric phase (representing the years following menopause when symptoms come and go (as they bloody well please).
As I have said many times before, we are all so unique and individual as human beings, as to are the ways in which our bodies experience life; and menopause is by no means an exception to this rule. Having been through ‘the change’ myself, and supported many friends, family and patients through their journeys too, I have to say that whilst there have been many similarities of experience, none two have ever been quite the same.
Supporting the mind, body and spirit in all avenues of healthcare is an essential practice, in my professional and personal view. I recommend daily journaling, mindfulness practices, spending quiet time in nature, and being in and around water; these are all excellent practices for restoring calm and balance
to the body, mind and spirit.
As one journeys toward the change, paying extra attention to diet will also lessen the intensity of menopausal symptoms. The general recommendation is to increase the variety and quantity of calcium-rich and phyto-oestrogen rich foods, which will help protect against osteoporosis, heart disease, neurological decline and emotional swings.
Leafy green vegetables and whole-milk yoghurt are both excellent sources of calcium. Some foods that are rich in phyto-oestrogens include: flaxseeds (linseeds), sesame seeds, tofu, tempeh, endamame, peaches, blueberries, strawberries, garlic, and cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, rocket and kale.
Being an Herbalist, I am naturally inclined to prescribe herbal remedies to support the body through the hormonal changes during the different stages of menopause. Herbs such as Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus), Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), Wild Yam (Dioscorea spp.), Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), Sage (Salvia off.), Milky Oats (Avena sativa), and a variety of herbs to help support the nervous system, including for mood swings, depression and anxiety.
I also highly recommend Hawthorn for the heart, not only on a physical level but also to help support the feelings of loss, grief and heartache that many experience through menopause. The ginsengs are great for helping to remedy loss of energy, and herbs to support the adrenal glands are absolutely essential.
When the hot flashes come (as they inevitably do), eliminating overly stimulating foods (coffee, alcohol, chocolate, sugar, chillies and other spicy foods) will dramatically reduce the intensity, severity and length of these notorious surges of heat in the body. And relax! Fighting and resisting these changes and
challenges will only create more intensity! My advice is to get really okay about sweating...everywhere....and at anytime! My particular favourites are the night sweats, or the ‘doona on, doona off’ nocturnal dance. Yep, they’re extra special! They will rob even the strongest and robust of us with the vital rest the body needs through the night, making the following day’s activities just that little
bit more challenging.
Regular exercise is another important component of the self-care package throughout the menopause journey. It needs to be enjoyable, and an activity that is not too taxing on the body. Walking, Tai Chi, yoga and swimming are all excellent pursuits.
I have friends who run women’s circles and sacred ceremonies to honour and celebrate this very special and momentous rite of passage; the transition from motherhood to the ‘Maga’ years, immediately preceding the Crone phase of life. It is a time where women can really come into their personal power and deep wisdom; “emerging wiser, healthier, and stronger in both mind and body than ever before”, says Dr Christian Northrup in her world renowned book “The Wisdom of Menopause”. All we need do is accept and surrender: to the process, to the unknown, and to the mysterious path that is unfolding before us. And trust. And breathe. And surrender some more.
If you feel you could use some support and guidance through any of the menopause stages mentioned above, please do not hesitate contacting me.
I am available for consultations Tues-Fri in my Club Lane clinic in the Lismore CBD.
BLessed Be!