Menopause in not a disease!

If you’ve read the startling news in the last 2 years about hormone replacement therapy, you know that new scientific studies reveal that millions of American women have been prescribed synthetic estrogen by MISTAKE. Menopause is a natural part of life. When deciding on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), be sure it is safe and beneficial for you and that you know your options.

Hormones play innumerable roles in your body. Lack of a single hormone can make the difference between well-being and life-threatening illness.

Physiological dosages of hormones are very small, just enough to restore balance. Pharmacological doses are many times what the body itself would make. Synthetic hormones are not the same as the real thing. HRT estrogen is not natural, although part of it is made from the urine of pregnant mares. It is not, however, natural for women!

The results of long-term studies done on women have scandalized the medical profession.

The truth is: HRT increases the risk of breast cancer by 40% (more in women with a family history). In 2001, the Journal of the American Medical Association wrote that each year you take HRT, your risk of breast cancer rises by 9%. Take the synthetic pill for ten years and your risk has gone by up to 70% HRT increases the risks of uterine cancer, liver disease, thrombosis, diabetes, fibroids, hypertension and hypothyroidism HRT offers no protection against heart disease. The primary reason synthetic estrogen drugs have been pushed on women – for their heart protective virtues – turn out to be nonexistent The claims made for synthetic estrogens in preventing osteoporosis and Alzheimer’s are grossly exaggerated What are the possible HRT side effects? The synthetic estrogens, estrogens in high doses and without progesterone can cause: Salt and water retention, headaches, lack of libido, breast tenderness, mood swings, PMS, depression, cervical dysplasia, irritability, vision problems, asthma and strokes Estrogens may change the effects of the drugs: steroids, antidepressants, barbiturates, acetaminophen, anticoagulants, etc. Estrogens can also cause depletion of the B vitamins, which can lead to elevated homocysteine levels, a major risk factor for heart disease, carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical dysplasia. The side effects of the progestins are so severe that many women refuse to take them, preferring the risks of unopposed estrogen to the unpleasantness of progestin side effects They also increase the risk of stroke, migraine, loss of vision, weight gain, fatigue, and they are hard on the liver. They can also cause insomnia, nausea, breakthrough bleeding, and amenorrhea, excessive hair growth where women don’t want it, hair loss where they do want it, and a variety of rashes. Progestins can cause high blood sugar, reduce “good” cholesterol, raise “bad” cholesterol and cause photosensitivity. They increase your risk of respiratory infections, suppress adrenal function and increase appetite. In case your physician wants to argue with you that HRT progestins and progesterone are the same, you might remind him that progesterone is the first and foremost hormone necessary for a healthy pregnancy, while progestins taken during pregnancy cause birth defects.” (Earl L. Mindell, author of Vitamin Bible)

 

PMS - Premenstrual Syndrome

Many women experience severe emotional disturbances a week before their period. The cause is cyclic or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – the primary hormonal disturbance with elevated estrogen levels and reduced progesterone. An increased estrogen-to-progesterone ratio leads to impaired liver function with cholestasis, reduced serotonin (mood-elevating neurotransmitter) in the brain, and alterations in other hormone levels.

The strength of symptoms may vary from light fatigue and headaches to painful joints, palpitations, constipation, fever, restlessness, insomnia, and many others. Different combinations are present but symptoms are not specific.

Up to 40% of women ages 18-55 have PMS. PMS diagnosis is often not easy, not the least because some doctors consider it to be a "fact of life" rather than a serious disturbance it actually is in many cases.

Often, PMS develops in women who have either some chronic disease, or occupational hazards. Low thyroid function has been shown to affect a large percentage of women who have PMS. PMS may arise at many points in a woman's life (after a pregnancy, after birth control, etc). A personal diary can help pinpoint the exact complaint connected with your period.

Modern medicine has a lot of different tools that may help women suffering from PMS. These include specific drug therapies, physical therapy, herbal medicine, psychotherapy and acupressure. Quality of sleep is very important because sex hormones are produced mostly at night and any sleep disturbances can change the efficacy of their synthesis.
If you get PMS, you should change your life style especially during the second phase of the period. Try to get more rest, walk, go to a pool, take a warm bath with sea salt, try aerobics, tennis, yoga or belly dancing.

Pay more attention to your diet. Alcohol, coffee, spicy and salty food will worsen PMS symptoms. Don’t drink too much water and eat sweets during 14-28th days of your period. Eat more vegetables, nuts, and seeds and less meat. Reduce fat and sugar intake. Studies show that in patients with PMS, excessive secretion of insulin occurs in response to consumption of sweets, making calorie conversion into fat and weight gain easier. If your weight is higher than ideal, make efforts to normalize it.

Primrose oil and soy may be helpful to ease PMS, as well as supplementations with vitamins, especially E, B6, B12, and minerals (magnesium). Herbal cholagogues and choleretics may enhance liver detoxification and ease PMS.

For those who suffer from severe emotional symptoms during the second part of their cycle, various psychotherapy methods can be used successfully to treat the psychological aspects of PMS.