Most women dread the "M" word - menopause. It is synonymous with ageing and signals the end of a woman's reproductive capacity. Menopause is a natural life process that every woman must go through. Its most obvious characteristic is the total cessation of a woman's menstrual cycle.

Signs and symptoms of Menopause

Menopause does not happen overnight. A woman gradually experiences some symptoms for a period of time before her menstrual cycle eventually stops. During menopause and the years leading to menopause, or perimenopause, a woman may have some or all of the following symptoms:

• weight gain
• irregular menstrual cycle
• insomnia
• hot flashes
• night sweats
• vaginal dryness
• joint pain
• fatigue
• mood swings
• itchy skin
• urinary tract infection

Treatment

While it is not a disease or sickness, menopause is accompanied with uncomfortable signs and symptoms that may require some treatment to alleviate the discomfort. The method that works for you without affective your overall health is the best one.

Natural Therapies

Although Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is effective for some women, and is often prescribed by medical practitioners, it should never be a woman's first choice for relief of menopause symptoms. HRT is not for everyone because of its serious side effects (documented cases of blood clots and heart disease), besides, natural therapies work extremely well for many women, especially when prescribed by a natural health therapist.

Each woman is different, and her symptoms and the degree at which they impact her life will vary as well. Individual assessment will enable her to be advised on the best combination of natural therapies for the relief of her symptoms.

These include the use of traditional herbs like black cohosh, red clover, dong quai, and ginseng. Black cohosh and ginseng are known to reduce hot flushes. Dong quai can be used for treating migraine, improving blood circulation and alleviating most symptoms of menopause while red clover contains isoflavones, a phyto-oestrogen or plant oestrogen that is said to mimic the effects of the hormone oestrogen in the body.

Diet

Diet plays an important role in the absence or severity of menopausal symptoms. This may explain why symptoms vary across cultures. Japanese women, for example, hardly complain of hot flushes, perhaps owing to their soy-based diet.

Symptoms of menopause may also be addressed by changes in one's diet. To prevent frequent migraines, for instance, it is best to avoid foods that are high in sodium such as cheese and cured meats. Ideally, a good diet for menopause consists of good amounts of unsaturated fat, calcium, magnesium, B vitamins and phyto-oestrogens.

Unsaturated fat contains essential fatty acids that help the body adjust to hormonal changes during menopause. Examples are nuts, seeds, and oily fish. Phyto-oestrogens or plant based oestrogens found in soy-based products like tofu, miso and soy milk may lessen the incidence of hot flashes. Calcium is also important during menopause because declining oestrogen levels leads to osteoporosis. Some good sources of calcium are yogurt, sardines, green leafy vegetables and non-fat milk.

Menopause heralds a new and exciting phase in a woman's life, one that should be approached with positivity and good health decisions. Your natural health practitioner and dietitian are best placed to advise you on managing menopause naturally.