Calm Spirit
Dealing
with Menopause
Hot Flash!
If you're having them, and you've reached this page, you know what they are!
Menopause is a time of dramatic change in a woman's body, and every woman experiences menopause differently, in her own personal way. Some women simply stop having their periods and go on with their lives. And other women, while wanting to get on with their lives, find their lives disrupted with earthquake-like hot flashes during the day, and with sleep disruption from night sweats and insomnia. Hot flashes are the main reason women who are pre-menopausal and in menopause consult their physicians for relief and prescriptions for hormone replace therapy.
Deciding whether or not to take HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is ultimately each woman's decision. However, if you are having hot flashes and take HRT now, you will probably experience hot flashes if and when you decide to stop HRT.
Whether or not you decide to use HRT, there are several things you can do to feel better during menopause, and for the wonderful years that follow menopause. Of course there are the common sense healthy habits: eating low fat and high fiber, exercise and stress management. Here are some other things you can do that will help you feel better and be healthier.
As you get older (and wiser), you may want to reevaluate the type of exercise you do. Aerobic exercise such as running, Nordic tracking, and aerobic classes expends your body's energy. Eastern exercise, like yoga and tai chi conserve and build your body's energy, while providing aerobic action through breathing, and weight bearing exercise to keep your bones healthy. Yoga and tai chi practices are also helpful for stress management, and improve many health conditions, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and keep your body fit. Yoga and tai chi help you to learn how to balance your body, which also helps balance your eating habits, and help with insomnia. Inverted yoga positions, like downward facing dog, and positions that raise the lower half of your body can help diminish hot flashes.
Herbal support can also help hot flashes. The Chinese herbal formulas page lists some of the most helpful. They work naturally with your body to bring about balance. Black cohosh is also effective, and two standardized capsules can be taken daily with any of the Chinese herbal formulas on the products page. Other herbs that may be helpful include vitex (chasteberry), red clover, and dong quai. Many women also claim that soy products are helpful.
Your mental attitude about menopause greatly effects the way you experience this time in your life. Getting in touch with your spiritual side can make this transition easier to accept and deal with. Perhaps menopause itself is a spiritual experience for you, the heat coursing through your body burning away negative aspects and preparing you for what can be the best part of your life. This can be a time to reevaluate your life and make some decisions about how you are going live your life. Menopause is time to get in touch with your mortality. You realize how fast your life has been going by and you are more than half way through your life span. You are older and wiser, and have the maturity to decide what is best for you now
Weight gain is not inevitable! Regular, vigorous exercise can help you avoid midlife weight gain. Walking is one of the best exercises. It is not only good for your heart and your bones, it decreases your risk of breast cancer and helps your mood. It lessens the likelihood of depression. And it improves your cognitive functioning. Another bonus is that improves your your sexuality.
The most recent research on menopause has shown a study of women who have severe hot flashes compared to women who have more mild hot flashes. The study concluded that women who have more severe hot flashes may also have cardiovascular problems and be more at risk for heart attack and stroke. It doesn't matter if your hot flashes are being managed through herbal or prescription medication; the hot flashes might mean that you should get your heart checked to see if you are at risk for heart disease.
Menopause can be a gift, a time to make the changes you want to make, and make the rest of your life more satisfying and fulfilling.
Menopause
Chinese Herbal Medicine "Power Pack"
Recommended Reading
Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way Alternative Approach for Women 30-90 by Susun S. Weed.
Yoga Over 50 The Way to Vitality, Health and Energy in the Prime of Life by Mary Stewart
Tai Chi for Body, Mind and Spirit by Eric Chaline
The Gift of a Year How to Achieve the Most Meaningful, Satisfying, and Pleasurable Year of Your Life by Mira Kirshenbaum
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