Menopausal women experience fluctuating levels of oestrogen and progesterone, which can cause hot flushes, insomnia, restless legs, mood swings and muscle pain. It can last for a number of months or years and can be quite uncomfortable. However, there are a few things that women can do to keep the symptoms under control.
HRT (hormone replacement therapy) is the main treatment used to relieve the symptoms of the menopause, but many women choose to reject this because of the associated risk factors. Instead, there are herbal and natural remedies that many people swear by!
Vitamin D
This essential vitamin helps to promote healthy bones, cell growth and hormone balance, which are all made worse when women enter into the menopause. It’s often referred to as the ‘sunshine vitamin’, which is because your body can naturally produce it when exposed to the sun, but levels tend to dip in the winter when we spend more time indoors and the sun doesn’t shine as often.
As women age, their ability to absorb the rays and create vitamin D decreases, and so adding vitamin D supplements is a great way of counteracting the symptoms of the menopause.
CBD
Another great supplement that you could try adding to your routine is CBD, which is said to help with symptoms of insomnia, aches and pains, mood and restful legs. If you have become highly anxious whilst hitting the menopause, CBD should really relieve this symptom and you should quickly find your mood becoming more stable. Many people rely on this to get through nights without waking up with hot flushes too!
Acupuncture
Many women have found relief from their menopausal symptoms by trying acupuncture. It’s been studied more recently, with evidence to show that the alternative treatment can be quite effective in improving many bodily functions and promoting a healthy life. It’s thought to improve sleep condition, soothe aches, calm mood and give an overall sense of improved well-being. Although some people believe it has a placebo effect, there are just as many who believe it to help.
Black Cohosh
This is amongst one of the most popular remedies for easing the symptoms of depression and regulating body temperature for menopausal women as it mimics the behaviour of serotonin. It comes in capsules, tablets and can be mixed into water to drink. Despite it being one of the most popular forms of natural treatment, there is little scientific evidence to prove if it really works or not.
Mindfulness
Being mindful can really help improve all sorts of aspects in your life. For menopausal women, it should help with mood swings and anxieties and may even help you get a better night’s sleep. If you’ve got aching bones and joints, try practising yoga and breathing mindfully – you should begin to feel your body relax and feel less painful after a short while.
As with any treatments, it’s a good idea to talk to your doctor before taking on any huge lifestyle change. General good health and fitness will go a long way in helping you regulate your hormones and remember it won’t last forever!
