Treating Menopause Naturally | Best Ways To Cope With It

Treating menopause naturally could be the hope of every middle-aged woman struggling with menopause.

Some women even consider it to be a myth, but we are here to tell you that it is a reality and an achievable goal.

However, regarding treating menopause naturally, you have to understand what is happening to be able to deal with it.

Menopause is a condition that happens naturally to every woman, which means she lost the ability to have children. 

If you know someone or you are a woman going through menopause, you may already know that it can be taxing. 

Although it is a natural process, many women try to find a way around it, which is why they search for ways for treating menopause naturally which is by common sense easier, safer, and can be done at home.

How does menopause occur

Women are born with their entire egg count stored in their ovaries, these ovaries are also responsible for releasing feminine hormones like estrogen and progesterone, which manage menstruation and ovulation.

Menopause happens when the ovaries become unable to release the eggs, hence the hormone level is affected.

Natural menopause happens in women around their early 50, Sometimes menopause may not be natural. 

Women who had one or two of their ovaries removed experience early menopause or as a result of some medications like chemotherapy.

Whether you are considering treating menopause naturally or by using medications, you should understand that menopause has three main stages that may affect the treatment.

These stages are:

Perimenopause

This starts years before the actual menopause, in this stage, the ovaries release less estrogen.

Menopause

In this stage, your ovaries stop producing eggs completely and your period stops.

In this stage, the estrogen level has significantly dropped down.

Postmenopause

A stage that starts years after the actual menopause.

You may experience less intense symptoms, but the health risks of low estrogen increase with age. 

What are the symptoms

Treating menopause naturally is basically just coping with the symptoms that can be very different from one woman to another. 

From the number of symptoms, the intensity, or even how long they last, each woman experiences this process in her own way.

However, there are more common symptoms such as:

Hot flash

Out of all the symptoms, this is the most common one, while 80% of women have it for 2 years maximum, 20% have it for longer.

Hot flashes start around the last period because of low estrogen levels.

Hot flashes do not just cause a rise in body temperature, but may also cause her heart rate to go up as a response in order to reducing the body temperature.

This fast heart rate will result in an unpleasant feeling of palpitation (awareness of heartbeats), dizziness, and numbness.

When these flashes happen at nighttime, they tend to cause night sweats.

Atrophy of the vagina

Vaginal and urethral tissues become thin, dry, and at high risk for infection and inflammation. This can be irritating during intercourse.

Pelvic muscles relaxation

Weaken pelvic muscles cause urinary incontinence and increase the risk of the uterus, bladder, urethra, or rectum protruding into the vagina.

Hair growth

The hormonal imbalance affects hair growth in an unpleasant way, you may notice some facial hair growth and/or hair loss on the scalp. 

Mood changing

Recent studies have shown that the mental health of women who are going through menopause is not different from other women. 

However,  Psychological and emotional symptoms such as exhaustion, irritability, insomnia, anorexia, and nervousness could be due to both the low estrogen level and the stress caused by aging and social life changes.

Treating menopause

When talking about treating menopause naturally or even with hormone replacements, you should understand that menopause is not reversible. 

However, the treatment aims to cope with the symptoms and lower the risk of health complications rather than trying to reverse menopause.

You can choose either treating menopause naturally or using hormone replacement. 

The hormone replacement could either be an estrogen-progestin combination or estrogen alone, however using this type of treatment should be done after a thural evaluation done by your doctor and comparing the risk to the benefit.

Still, it remains safer and also effective to try treating menopause naturally. 

Treating menopause naturally

There are a lot of natural treatment options for menopausal symptoms. But as mentioned earlier, treating menopause naturally means dealing with the symptoms in natural ways.

Treatment of hot flashes

• Black cohosh

Black cohosh is a type of buttercup planet. Some studies have shown that it decreases hot flashes, and night sweats, and even lowers blood pressure.

However, on the negative side, hepatitis was reported in some cases.

• Soy

Soy contains isoflavone, which is considered a source of plant-based estrogen. Studies have shown that only food forms like tofu or milk are effective. So using powder or tablets is not useful.

• Flax seeds (ground or oil)

 Same with soy, the omega-3 in flaxseed is considered a planet-based estrogen. It is recommended to use flaxseed oil or grounded flax seeds, as the seed itself is hard to digest. 

• Cold beverages

Drinking cold beverages, and keeping a bottle of hot water nearby, especially at night could be very helpful in reducing body temperature. 

• Life hacks

Sleeping near the fan, wearing light clothes, or even taking a shower may help you adjust your body temperature and feel comfortable.

However, most of these treatments are still under study. So, always consult your doctor.

Treatment of other symptoms

• Vitamin E for vaginal atrophy

Rubbing the vagina with vitamin E oil or even any over-the-counter vaginal lubrication could help with the discomfort.

• Breathing exercises

Yoga, tai chi, or any breathing exercises are great ways to reduce your heart rate, blood pressure, and even your stress level hence giving you better sleep.

• Kegel exercises

This type of exercise strengthens your pelvic muscles, therefore helps with urinary incontinence.

• Life hacks

Just try to live a healthy life. Stay away from alcohol and smoking, eat a healthy balanced diet, get enough calcium (1,200-1,500 mg) and vitamin D (400 IU) per day, and keep a good social life for your mood swings.

To sum everything up

Treating menopause naturally is not impossible, it is affordable and somehow safer.

But keep in mind that most of these treatments may have side effects and many of them are still under study.

In case you decide to take supplements or any medications, read the ingredients and look them up. 

And do not ever hesitate to talk to your doctor regarding any treatment or exercise.