Menopause is a term which refers to the time that marks the end of one’s menstrual cycles. It is derived from the word “Meno” meaning month or menstruation, and from the word “Pausis” meaning the end.
Many women are familiar with this natural biological process which can last anywhere from 6 years, to as long as 13 years. At any point in time from the age 49 to the age of 55, women experience very strong hormonal fluctuations, after which a new balance is restored.
Historically, in ancient times women lived, on an average, for a mere 48 years. Today, the average age in the western world is 89 years, which means women can refer to menopause as the “springtime” of their lives, as the beginning of the second half.
While in the first half of their lives most women are engaged in studying/ promoting their careers / establishing their family and child-rearing, this second half is the right time to perhaps invest in a second career, and to enjoy the fruits of their labor. This is the opportune moment to begin delving into a range of diverse activities and interests, as they no longer need to devote most of their time to raising young children.
It is during this time that women can change and begin to shape their own lives, to live their truths for the first time, or in ways that are more authentic than ever before. They are less apologetic, and often times find the strength to end an unsuccessful marriage that they had been holding together until the children grew up.
In ancient Celtic cultures, young women were considered to be flowers, mothers were considered fruit, and older women were like the seeds, within which lay knowledge and power, the ultimate symbol of locked potential. Their job therefore, was to sow truth and wisdom back into their community for the next generation.
Unfortunately, modern mental health practitioners and the field of medicine in general, refer to menopause as an illness and a loss, rather than looking at it for what it is: a natural biological process. Pharmaceutical companies use the media to pump out fear to the masses claiming that after a woman’s menstrual cycles cease, their bodies will decay and breakdown, unless they take medication, especially and more specifically – hormones.
During this time, most women will experience some discomfort as well as unpleasant symptoms, but there are a variety of natural treatment options available, including homeopathy.
Let’s look at the main symptoms of menopause:
- Irregularity- During perimenopause, menstrual cycles may lengthen or shorten, and women may experience symptoms like headaches and irritability.
Women who experienced severe symptoms going through puberty, as well as women who dealt with moderate or severe premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or postpartum depression are more susceptible than others to experience mood swings and other menopausal symptoms. - Hot flashes – characterized by a feeling of heat and sweating especially around the head and neck. Hot flashes can affect anywhere from 50% to 85% of women. For the majority of women, they come and go as a random sensation for a short period of time. Only 20% of women experience hot flashes that are accompanied by intense bursts of sweating, every few hours. Severe hot flashes can make accomplishing daily tasks difficult, and may even cause sleep disorders.
- Osteoporosis – You should know that half of the body’s bone loss occurs before menopause. Nevertheless, in addition to homeopathy, it is recommended to exercise, reduce intake of high phosphate foods and beverages (cola and other soft drinks/ liquor), to stick to a healthy nutrient rich diet, stop smoking, limit caffeine, and take vitamin D regularly.
- Mood fluctuations – all the tension that existed before, intensifies. At first glance, it may seem like most of life’s challenges will come to a standstill, however, in recent years, most women must deal with caring for an older relative, which can cause a lot of added stress and worry. The desire to “take care of” the now-adult children, is also ever-present, so first of all, stop worrying about the kids! The children will manage.
- Hair thinning
- Vaginal dryness
What Can Homeopathy Do?
The holistic approach of Homeopathic medicine is that any attempt to replace the body’s natural systems with artificial hormones is hazardous to one’s health and will result in system degeneration, and increase the chances of developing cancerous mutations in the body. Today, more so than ever, after extensive research has linked conventional hormone therapy to life threatening side-effects, the needs of hundreds of thousands of women remain unmet. Women who are suffering from hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms, need to know that there is an alternative. Opening up to the possibilities of homeopathic treatment, will provide a natural and effective solution to the many discomforts caused by hormonal fluctuations in women.
The homeopathic medicine asserts that a healthy and balanced female body will be able to undergo menopause without feeling the hormonal effects, such as hot flashes and sweat, and will be able to maintain healthy levels of calcium in the body without the need for external chemical intervention. Internal and external stress factors, and an unbalanced lifestyle, can be the reasons that the hormonal system fails to seamlessly adapt to the new state of the menstrual cycle. Homeopathic treatment in these cases will successfully restore the hormonal imbalance.
Moreover, one’s state of mind and psychological approach to accepting the new physical state of the body, will also play a huge role in determining the body’s response to change. Classical homeopathy is characterized by understanding physical pathology, while simultaneously employing psychological observation. An important emphasis is placed on how the patient is dealing with the changes that her body and mind are undergoing during this time. Is menopause accompanied by any fears? Are there fears of the changes that are to be expected to one’s mental capacity? Many such changes occur as a part of the process of the body’s development to prepare for its next phase in life. Are there any concerns about losing one’s femininity or fear of old age in general?
Homeopathy can accompany women through this major life transition and provide the necessary support both physically and spiritually. The treatment plan is very personal, and is constructed in accordance with the specific symptoms that the patient is experiencing, the patient’s perception of those symptoms, and in congruence with her personality. In the first stage of homeopathic treatment, in questioning the patient, I do not only focus on the menopausal symptoms that the woman is suffering from, but I will examine her lifestyle, her professional career and occupations, as well as identify her dreams, those she has fulfilled, and those that she has yet to achieve.
A woman can connect to the changes that her body is undergoing in a positive way, throughout any of the various stages of her life. With the belief that a positive approach can be applied to any stage of development in life, women can be empowered to view menopause as the stage in which they experience a rise in the internal perception of femininity and functioning in general. Many women feel that menopause can be perceived and experienced as the time in which feminine wisdom deepens. It is a period in one’s life where the one’s can enhance the expression of their personal potential. Thus, one’s personal freedom, the freedom that exists beyond the need to prove oneself, gains new meaning.