The Kitchen Witch's Pantry...

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Comment by Laura Perry on August 19, 2009 at 9:16am

What I learned in my graduate courses for my N.D. is that most of the nasty menopause symptoms, as well as things like morning sickness during pregnancy, are caused not by the actual levels of hormones but by the PROPORTIONS of estrogen to progesterone. If your proportion of estrogen is really high compared to progesterone you can get hot flashes, sweats, chills, headaches, dizziness, lack of concentration, nausea, you name it.

Some of the best articles I've found online about how to deal with menopause in a natural way are from John Mercola's website (www.mercola.com). Simply type 'menopause' in the search box on the front page. He discusses the hormonal basis of symptoms and natural ways (both diet and supplements) you can help alleviate symptoms.

Please be aware that the site www.menopause.org is a conventional medicine-based site run by a foundation that accepts funds from the big pharmaceutical companies. While it has accurate information regarding the medical causes of menopause symptoms, its information is necessarily slanted toward the profits of the big drug companies. These days, it's hard to find any big organization that isn't taking pharma money ~sigh~

Comment by Dee on August 19, 2009 at 5:32am

Thanx for the feedback..I have been off/on black cohosh for about 5 years. I also take flaxseed oil, mag/calium/zinc, and have a love-hate with 5htp/st. jonh's wort. I will try the web site for other info. Blessings )o(

Comment by goldencougarwolf on August 18, 2009 at 8:20pm

just checked my nursing books. I have been taking courses in nursing lately. It states that it is caused by an influctation of both estrogen and progesterone. You still create both throughout life but at lower levels. It can also cause extra calcium to be dispersed from your bones which is why so many get osteoporosis. Although most symptoms are generated when the flux goes to estrogen and lowers the estrogen levels in which the body generates progesterone to level out the estrogen which causes a hot flash when the hypothelmus starts thinking that it is getting to warm. Once levels stabilize the hot flash is over. And it does it again when the progesterone levels flux. This is an endocrine pathology. Because it deals with hormones. At least this is the lastest theory on hot flashes and only one of many.

Here I found this online. I hope this helps you.
http://www.menopause.org/expertadvice.aspx

Comment by Laura Perry on August 18, 2009 at 8:17am

And BTW, it's usually low progesterone, not low estrogen, that generates the annoying menopause symptoms. Your liver and your body fat continue to generate estrogen your whole life, even after menopause, but only your ovaries generate progesterone. Hence the proliferation of natural progesterone creams in the health food stores. I find it tricky to get just the right dose with the progesterone supplements so I stick with the traditional menopause herbs.

Comment by Laura Perry on August 18, 2009 at 8:15am

Dee, I second the comment about hormones. Lack of concentration is a typical menopause 'side effect' (oh joy!) and so far I haven't found any herbs that really help. The ones for improving brain oxygenation/function (ginkgo, rosemary) don't seem to do much good.

What might help, if you're shy of MD's, is an overall menopause tonic herb or combination. The handful of herbs that most women find very helpful for the broad spectrum of menopause symptoms include black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), chaste tree berry (Vitex agnus-castus), motherwort (Leonuris cardiaca) and dong quai (Angelica sinensis). Herb Pharm makes a PMS Comfort Tonic that includes three out of the four and works nicely for menopause, or you could just buy individual tinctures and either mix them or try them individually. Do be aware that black cohosh tends to constipate many women (me included - groan!) so go easy on it at first.

Hope this helps :-)

Comment by goldencougarwolf on August 17, 2009 at 11:43am

Sounds like your hormones are out. Try talking to your doc about it. Low estrogen levels can cause that. You can try Ginko as well. But I would talk to the doc.

Comment by Azraelwitch on August 17, 2009 at 10:33am

That apple cider sound s good !

Comment by Laura Perry on August 17, 2009 at 8:54am

Linda, I highly recommend Clayton College of Natural Health (www.ccnh.edu). That's where I got my MSNH and ND.They do distance learning classes but you also get a real, live advisor to talk to via phone or e-mail. They have certificate classes for herbology and related subjects if you don't want a full degree. They're very thorough and responsible.

I also second the idea of hands-on training if you're going to do a lot with herbalism, either medically or magickally. I did an apprenticeship in herbalism that gave me the confidence I needed to actually work with the herbs from the seed to the finished product. One of the best places to find local people who can help you is a health food store or metaphysical bookstore - they might have a bulletin board or you can ask the people who work there.

Hope this helps!
Blessings,
Laura

Comment by Dee on August 17, 2009 at 7:47am

Good mornin' ..does anyone have a herbal suggestion for a little help with concentration. I'm leaving my menapause stage and it's keeping my power of concentrate. It's amazing how fast it goes..I could block out a freight train or use my candle to see, but now I dance from one thing to another. I even tried the beginner timer of first 1 minute then 2, and so on. It's getting a little better but it's like being born again, not to mention very fustrating. )o(

Comment by goldencougarwolf on August 16, 2009 at 5:14pm

I learned aromatherapy and essential oils at massage school. They were courses we had to take. Colorado Springs did the licensing then and required 1000 hours of training so the schools added things that would benefit us. I don't know about schools that offer herbology or botany. I would say most colleges probably have them.

http://www.sagewomanherbs.com/

This is the best herbologist in our area here in Colorado. She may know of others in your area. She offers classes in herbology.

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