The Menopause is often feared by some women and seen as an end, something to be endured; something that indicates we are over, finished, past it.  For some women there are difficulties both physically and psychologically but for the vast majority of women, menopause is NOT a medical condition, it is simply a change.  In this blog I hope to encourage women to embrace this change as a time of empowerment and to put aside the negative connotations that our society places on menopause and women of a certain age.

To prepare for the onset of menopause it is important to remember that what we eat can impact on our hormones and our health.  Buying chicken and meat that has been fast reared on growth hormone and then presented to consumers in plastic is asking for problems.  The growth hormone and xeno-oestrogens in the plastic will play havoc with our hormones and cause imbalance which will lead to some of the problems associated with menopause.  It is best to have a balanced diet with lots of good, wholesome, whole foods that have been grown and reared organically. This also means leaving out processed and junk foods.  Legumes such as lentils and chick peas are good foods to include in one’s diet as they contain phyto-oestrogens.  These plant oestrogens will attach to our oestrogen receptor sites without harm, unlike the xeno or toxic synthetic hormones that lead to an overbalance of oestrogen that can then cause health issues.  Fortunately there are herbal remedies which can ameliorate menopausal difficulties but they are most affective when we are eating a healthy diet.  (Make sure you are getting a balanced nutrition and include Omega 3 oils.) Nettles are wonderful , full to the brim of all the nutrients we need including calcium for strong bones.

Nettles will cleanse the blood of any spent hormones reducing toxicity and will build you up so that you feel more energetic and more grounded.  This plant is a great ally at any time but especially during life’s tranformational times.

Some of the most common issues facing women going through the menopause are hot flushes/hot flashes and night sweats.  The hot flushes felt to me, as if someone was waving a hot burning torch over my body from the base of the spine to my face, which would become red.  At times, this rush of heat felt quite exhilarating and at other times it felt exhausting. Sage is an excellent herb to help reduce the flushes and the sweats and taking three cups of Sage tea a day will soon bring relief.  What I found really helpful was, instead of flinching and resisting this process, I relaxed into it and stopped resisting.  Not just going with the flow but being the flow! It made a difference – I also used a fan and dressed in layers so that I could remove clothes if I got too hot.

Our nerves can also become affected during this time and some of us can feel weepy, depressed, anxious or even regretful.  I think that this is really due to our culture’s emphasis on youth.  We are no longer youthful but we have wisdom, experience, empathy and compassion.  We have a life time of learning behind us and this means we are powerful beings.  Just because it might seem that society wants menopausal women on the scrap heap, don’t listen!  Talk louder!  Ensure that you are seen and heard.  If you are feeling anxious, identify what it is that you are anxious about and take steps to reduce the anxiety.  Remember that we can only live in the present moment and so there is no point worrying about what might happen in the future.  To help you, there are lots of wonderful nervine herbs.  Lemon Balm if you can tolerate it, is very soothing and calming and would work well with Nettles.  Another herb to try, if there are feelings of overwhelm as well as needing support for the reproductive system, is Motherwort.  If you are feeling useless and finished due to the “empty nest”, Motherwort can give lots of support. If you are depressed,

St. John’s Wort is a specific at this time  Sometimes, due to the night sweats and anxiety, women can find it difficult to sleep.  Other nervine herbs and sedative herbs can help here.  Think of Valerian, Skullcap, Hops, and Oats.  Use the Oats in a bath and add some Lavender essential oil or Lavender flowers.

Mugwort, one of the wonderful Artemsias, can also support both the womb and the transition from Maiden to Mother and then to Crone.

It is worth remembering that menopause is NOT a medical condition.  There are some issues which can arise, but if we look at the root cause, such symptoms could be a result of something else going on in the body.  It could be poor diet, stress or some issue with the reproductive system.  My personal story is that I became extremely anaemic at that time of my life.  I had no energy, was tired, became anxious and mildly depressed; my nerves were on edge and at times I wanted to die. The problem stemmed from heavy bleeding and this was caused by fibroids which either arrived or became active during my menopause time.  Fortunately there are herbs that can help stop the bleeding and reduce fibroids.  A formula might contain some Vitex Agnus Castus, (Chaste Tree) as this amazing plant is a true ally.  Chaste Tree can alleviate flooding caused by fibroids, reduce the night sweats and hot flushes and lift depression – because it is working on the source of trouble, a hormonal imbalance!

Yarrow

Shepherd’s Purse or Yarrow could be added due to their ability to stop bleeding and add some Yellow Dock as a source for iron.

As menopause is a huge milestone in any woman’s life it is not surprise that in times past it was regarded as a Rite of Passage.  I think it is vitally important, especially in our youth obsessed society, to take the time to prepare a ceremony to mark this transition in life.  Use candles, use a sweeping brush, use whatever resonates with you but create a ritual to claim your power as a wise elder.  Claiming your power, claiming your voice, claiming the deep, truest part of yourself will make the final decades of life so much more interesting and enjoyable.