Natural solutions for menopause symptoms

During the menopause there is a decrease in hormone levels that can result in a variety of symptoms, including fatigue, hot flushes, insomnia and night sweats, mood disorders and low libido. Decreased oestrogen levels can also lead to an increased risk of osteoporosis, where the bones become weak and are more likely to break.

Conventional treatment includes hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and, in some cases, antidepressants; however, HRT carries the risk of increased rates of breast and ovarian cancer, while antidepressants may cause weight gain, digestive upset and low libido. There is another way, however, and there is no need to suffer in silence and accept menopause symptoms as a part of life.

Herbal medicine is a comprehensive healthcare approach that has been used for many years to promote well-being. Herbal medicines, such as black cohosh, wild yam and red clover, have been particularly well studied with regards to their effects on menopausal symptoms as they contain phyto-oestrogens that can help negate the effects associated to decreased oestrogen levels. Other herbs have successfully been used to improve sleep, regulate mood and increase libido in menopausal women, including Ayurvedic herbs such as Shatavari and Ashwagandha.

If you’re interested in finding out more about how herbal medicine or Ayurveda could help you, you can book an appointment to see Lois Bradnam, our Medical Herbalist and Naturopath who specializes in women’s problems, including the menopause. Initial consultations cost £50 and personalized herbal remedies are priced at £6 per week. Alternatively, you can book a free 15-minute chat with Lois to find out more about her, as well as how herbal medicine can be of benefit during the menopause.

Functional Blood Chemistry - why should I bother when it is free at my GP's?

When interpreting blood chemistry lab results, there is a Functional Range and a Pathological Range. Test values that fall between the Functional Range and the Pathological Range are considered subclinical and can indicate the beginning stages of disease. They should be used as markers, indicating something that is not as good as it should be; or they can be a sign of a developing condition that is not bad enough to treat medically…at least not yet.

Most health practitioners today use only the Pathological Ranges and do not address the subclinical findings until they become a serious medical condition. The goal is to identify developing nutritional problems and prevent them from manifesting into a serious medical condition. This will help us on our path to true health and a better quality life.

Benefits of a Comprehensive Blood Chemistry Analysis

• Determine which nutritional, homeopathic and/or botanical products will best address your individual needs.
• Avoid wasting money on “The Supplement of the Month”. In other words, on products that provide nutrients that you are not deficient in and don't need to supplement.
• Provide nutritional protocols that address your deficiencies and help your body return to a healthy state.
• Provides early detection of emerging, life-threatening health conditions.
• It is an inexpensive way to determine how effective your nutritional program has been. Follow-up testing allows you to chart the effectiveness of your program and make precise adjustments when needed.
• Maintaining your blood marker values within the optimal ranges will allow your immune system to function better, allow you to utilize nutrients more efficiently and help you live a much healthier, happier and hopefully longer more vibrant life.
• It is essential to gather evidence from symptoms and health history in order to accurately make use of this analysis.

Book your free initial consultation here