The Good Health Guide

By Liz Bygrave
The typical symptoms of menopause - hot flushes, dizzy spells, fatigue, mood swings, osteoporosis etc, are often regarded as an inevitable part of ‘the change’.  But why is it that some women suffer immensely, whilst others experience few or no symptoms at all?

The importance of nutrition
By our 40s and 50s, when the menopause happens (the typical age is around 50), many of us, even if we’ve eaten a reasonably healthy diet throughout our lives, will be mildly to severely deficient in various vitamins and minerals essential to a smooth transition through the change of life, as well as to our overall health.  In our 20s, and even our 30s, a poor diet, or even a good diet but one which is not quite right for our individual make up, will frequently result in no obvious symptoms.

By our 40s and 50s however, we may be suffering from all sorts of minor to major health problems which tend to be put down to the aging process, but which could easily be remedied by making a few improvements to our diet.  Menopausal symptoms are one example of this.  Whether you already suffer from menopausal symptoms, or you are in your 30s or 40s and want to practise some preventative medicine for when you are older, consider seeking help from a nutritionist or kinesiologist who can assess your diet and recommend appropriate changes.

Other remedies
Menopausal symptoms respond very favourably to alternative medicine, which should often be the first port of call before turning to medical drugs.  Homeopathy, reflexology, flower essences, shiatsu & kinesiology are just a few of the therapies which can make a huge difference.

Daniel Maxwell, who practises acupuncture in Crouch End, says that hot flushes are often caused by yin deficiency.  Most of us are familiar with the terms yin and yang.  Yin is the cool and yang is the hot energy in our bodies.  As with our cars, if there is not enough coolant (and this property naturally gets used up as we age), things overheat and we get symptoms such as hot flushes.  Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine work with nourishing the yin to restore balance between these two energies.

Ella Owen, local kinesiologist, explains that as we get older, the adrenals take over hormone production from the ovaries.  If the adrenals are underfunctioning, and by our 40s the adrenals’ role in stress regulation means that they are often pretty exhausted, they can’t do this properly and menopausal symptoms are frequently the result.  Herbal formulas can often help this problem.

Ella Owen, kinesiologist and nutritional therapist, can be contacted on 020 8883 4350.  She practises in Crouch End.

 Daniel Maxwell, acupuncturist and Tui Na (Chinese massage) therapist, also practises in Crouch End and can be contacted on 07946 390212 or see his website at www.danielmaxwell.co.uk