The menopause & hormone levels :

The Menopause is the period in a woman's life when glandular & hormone level changes denote the end of her menstrual cycles & reproductive years.
It is usually caused as a result of the decreased production of the female sex hormones, oestrogen & progesterone and usually happens between the ages of 40 – 55 years and usually lasts up to  4 years.
During the menopause stage, ovulation fails and hormonal activity wanes. Intervals between periods become longer - monthly periods become scantier, may stop gradually or suddenly.

Some women report no severe adverse effects during this period while others suffer terribly.

Peri-menopause / perimenopause :

Peri-menopause is described as the onset of typical menopausal symptoms, even while a woman is still ovulating. Some signs of peri-menopause include an uneven rise and fall of hormone levels. These abrupt changes in hormone levels often create mood swings, hot flushes / hot sweats and irritability.

Night Sweats, Hot Flushes / Hot Flashes :

This is the flushing and sweating experienced by menopausal women. Waves of redness and intense heat (not always intense) sweep upwards from the neck to face at any time of day or night.
A similar condition (non-hormonal) may happen to men after eating curries or hot spicy foods or those who suffer from diabetes or certain skin complaints.
Hot flashes usually last between thirty seconds and five minutes.
The frequency and intensity of menopause hot flashes vary and alter as you get closer to full blown menopause. The flushes vary in intensity from a mild 'warming feeling' to an intensity powerful enough to wake a woman up out of a deep sleep.
The latter is called a menopausal night sweat.
If these night sweats are often and intense enough, they can severely disrupt the sleeping patterns of premenopause women.

The rise and fall of hormone levels is a normal cycle which most women are endured for many years. However, during the peri-menopause stage, these hormonal changes can cause Premenstrual (PMS) like symptoms.

The menopause stage :

Once a women has not had a period for 12 months, she is passed the peri-menopause stage and entered into the female menopause.
In the menopause, hormone levels will decrease steadily which many cause some unpleasant symptoms such as vaginal dryness, thinning of the vaginal wall and susceptibility towards urinary tract infections increase.

A few Menopausal Symptoms are:

• Hot flushes / flashes
• Depression
• Urinary frequency
• Mood swings
• Headaches
• Low energy
• Abdominal pains
• Irritability
• Backaches
• Painful breasts
• Leg cramps
• Nosebleeds
• Varicose veins
• Dry skin
• Change in appetite & taste
• Weight gain
• Restless nights / insomnia
• Osteoporosis (not always)
• Short attention and/or memory span
• Thinning hair / hair loss
• Lack of sex drive

The body usually readjusts & menopausal symptoms disappear within a period of a few months to 2 years but many Western women seem to continue having menopause related problems for far longer than that.
In Naturopathic medicine opinion, this extended menopausal stage is normally due to long term nutrient deficiencies caused by a poor diet (foods poor in nutrients & high in toxic chemicals) and/or poor eating habits.

This is why many menopausal women report reductions in unpleasant symptoms once they improve their diet and begin taking various food supplements in the form of herbs, vitamins, minerals & oils.

More menopausal & pre-menopausal women are looking for natural alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) drugs due to the side effects reported following long term use.
There is much clinical evidence AND world wide testimony from women that various supplements & herbal combinations can help to ease the symptoms during this stage of life - without the use of hormone replacement therapy drugs.

MENOPAUSE SUMMARY Eliminate junk foods & improve eating habits Increase intake of vegetables, fruits, linseeds & soya foods Increase activity levels Moderate alcohol intake BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS Agnus Castus Black Haw Helonias Dong Quai Pfiaffia Atriplex Black Cohosh Selenium Vitamin E Zinc Calcium Wild Yam Oats Raspberry Leaves Soy products

Summary page on perimenopausal symptoms, night sweats, menopause hot flushes, natural alternatives to HRT and hormone levels during the menopause.