Forget HRT try Natural Hormone Therapy

Menopause is an inevitable and natural change in every woman’s life where the monthly menstrual and ovulation cycles draws to an end. We hear of some pretty disturbing symptoms from fellow females who have been through the menopause, however it needn’t be so traumatic if we embrace the changes by adjusting our diet and lifestyle before and during this period. After all the more balanced your diet and lifestyle is when you hit the change age strongly determines how smooth your transition will be. Stress is the main cause to erratic and problematic menopause. According to Ayurveda, we can expect varied menopausal symptoms depending on our dominant ‘dosha type’, vata, pitta or kapha.

Typical vata symptoms

Pain in the abdomen

InsomniaNervousness/anxiety/panic

Mood swings

Vaginal/bowel dryness

Aching joints

Increased sensitivity to the cold

Typical pitta symptoms

Night sweatsHot flushes

Irritability

Anger/hot tempered

Heavy bleeding

Acne

Urinary Tract Infections

Typical kapha symptoms

Tiredness/lethargyWeight increase

Sluggishness

Fluid retention

Depression

Yeast infections

A practitioner can help you identify your dosha type and may incorporate herbal-based medicine, purification practices, diet and lifestyle guidance, spiritual healing, yoga. Here are a few pointers to get you on road to stress free hormonal changes.

A diet plan according to ones dosha will ensure that menopause stays manageable from the outset. For a vata type of person, warm foods and drinks, regular meal and sleep times, warm oil massage, regular gentle exercise such as walking and hatha yoga. Include spices such as cumin, fennel, cardamom, liquorice and useful herbs include ashwagandha.

For a pitta type, opt for cooling and water based foods such as yellow squash, cucumber, courgettes, fennel, watermelon, grapes, coconut oil massages and meditation. Favourable herbs include shatavari, aloe vera and arjuna.

For the kapha type opt for warm, light and dry foods such as whole grains, leafy & green vegetables and bitter and pungent spices such as ginger, turmeric, black pepper Avoid cold/heavy foods such as cheese, meats, yoghurts and ice in drinks. Exercise and periodic fast are favourable as well as massage with mustard oil and opt for spices such as mustard, cayenne, cinnamon.

We can optimize the production of estrogen even after menopause as the female body is designed to continue its production by having a ‘balanced nutrition with plenty of whole grains, spouted grains and beans, lentils, flaxseed, sunflower seeds, asparagus, sweet potatoes, carrots, garlic and broccoli, grapes, pears, plums and strawberries. Ayurvedic herbs can support this.

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