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Menopause: Outlooks,
Approaches, Alternatives
By: Daniel A.
Wasserman, D.O.M.
Menopause is defined as the cessation of menstruation for six to twelve
months in older women. That, alone, would not be so terrible if it was
not accompanied by anxiety, insomnia, headaches, irritability, fatigue
and vaginal dryness, not to mention the hot flashes, which 65-80% of
American women will experience.
Conventional medicine views menopause as a disease in need of
treatment. A woman’s body ceases to produce sufficient amounts of
estrogen, one of the hormones thought to be responsible for the changes
that are taking place. Therefore, the way to solve the problem, says
the current medical model, is to supplement the deficiency. Does anyone
remember the book, Feminine Forever? The author postulated that
menopause is an ‘estrogen deficiency’ that must be corrected or else a
woman will become a libido-less “caricature of her former self.” This
catapulted the concept of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) into the
treatment of choice for menopausal ladies.
Periodically, over the last ten to fifteen years, numerous studies have
surfaced revealing that many of the wonderful claims regarding HRT
turned out to be the figment of a drug company’s imagination. Recently,
the public has become even more confused regarding this ‘replacement’
approach after a national study had to be terminated midway due to a
clear increase in strokes, heart attacks, and breast cancer in the
hormone–treated group.
The use of hormone replacement therapy has major flaws. Although it can
provide symptomatic relief and some protection for women’s bones, the
list of side affects, some of which are life threatening, is
tremendous. We need to investigate other options that can make the
menopause transition a smooth one.
Here are two questions to consider. First, why is it that women in
industrialized countries almost exclusively experience the untoward
complaints of menopause? Second, why do the majority of women in
indigenous cultures experience very little, if any, symptoms? Perhaps
the answers to these questions could help our women proceed unscathed
through this stage of life. Let’s investigate!
The first noticeable difference is in activity level. The life of a
woman in an indigenous society is one of physical exertion and would be
termed anything but sedentary. Certainly, Scandinavian researchers
found that daily exercise can ward off hot flashes, while improving bone
density and energy levels. Enough could not be said regarding the
profound benefits that an exercise regimen can have. It is truly the
golden elixir for many of the problems that are ailing our society as a
whole.
Also, our diets differ radically from that of our indigenous
counterparts. Many of the nutritive substances that are contained in
foods are removed during their refinement and preparation process. We
make a feeble attempt at fortifying some of these foods; it is not
enough. Many of these lost vitamins and minerals are necessary for
producing energy, protecting us from heart disease and cancer, as well
as maintaining bone density.
Additionally, upon comparing the types of fats consumed, we would note a
radical difference. Many of the ‘good’ fats found in nuts, seeds and
fish are replaced by the saturated fats of dairy and animal sources in
the SAD (Standard American Diet) diet. ‘Good’ fats are naturally
anti-inflammatory as well as cardioprotective, lowering cholesterol and
blood pressure. Many of these oils, like evening primrose, black
currant, and flax seed oil, have been used specifically for
menopause-related complaints such as vaginal dryness and hot flashes.
Even when we use vegetable oils, we often subject them to a process
called hydrogenation to increase shelf-life. The down side is that
these oils are transformed molecularly to resemble animal fats. We
still have not yet fully determined the long-term effect hydrogenation
has on our bodies.
After a review of all the data, soy seems to be a key ingredient in a
successful menopausal management diet, warding off hot flashes and other
complaints. The Chinese, whose menopause symptoms are rare, consume
this bean in large amounts. Soy can be consumed in the form of tofu,
roasted soy nuts, tempeh, soy milk, and soy beans. Interestingly
enough, in those countries that consume large amounts of soy,
osteoporosis is also extremely uncommon as well, despite the fact that
cow’s milk is rarely consumed. Moreover, soy contains a type of protein
that mimics the body’s estrogen. However, unlike ERT, which has been
linked to breast cancer, soy appears to be protective against this
common cancer. Other foods that contain similar components are fennel,
apples, rye, flax seeds and alfalfa.
It should be mentioned that the traditional medicines of the world
have much to offer in the way of effective therapies. Native Americans
have used black cohosh for many gynecological complaints. Black cohosh
has a very low side effect profile while providing excellent, clinical
results. Traditional Chinese Medicine has been treating hot flashes and
other menopause-related symptoms through the use of acupuncture and
herbal medicine for almost 3000 years. For example, Dang Quai, Licorice
and chaste berries all contain components that mimic the body’s own
hormones. Another Chinese botanical is Gingko biloba.. The leaf of this
tree received its fame for the ability to improve memory and
concentration. Gingko has also proven useful for cold hands and feet,
another common menopausal complaint. It is critical to emphasize that
no one should ever self-administer herbal medicine, but rather consult a
licensed herbalist.
The changes we can make to mimic an indigenous lifestyle and diet serve
as a gentle approach to managing menopause. These recommendations come
with few side effects and they have withstood the test of time.
Furthermore, the awareness of treatment options empowers a woman to make
a wise decision regarding her health.
© 2002 Daniel Wasserman
Bio:
Dr. Daniel Wasserman is a Doctor of Oriental Medicine practicing
holisitic and complementary medicine at The Wellness Institute of Aventura. For
questions or comments, please contact him at (305)530-9276.
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