Living with The Change: Holistic Perimenopause and Menopause

Humans are one of the only species that experiences menopause (it’s us and killer whales!). Researchers have speculated that the ‘grandmother effect’ gave our menopausal ancestors a survival advantage, and communities where the wisdom and support of elders was available to younger generations thrived.

Traditional Chinese Medicine sees menopause as a manifestation of the changes that are part of human life, not as a disease. In Chinese Medicine anatomy, a meridian (energy channel) called the Bao Mai connects the Heart, seat of our consciousness, and the Uterus. Nourishment and energy from the Heart moves down to the Uterus, and are released every month with the period. During perimenopause, this meridian begins to reverse. Energy flows back to the Heart, in preparation for the third act of life where our wisdom is conserved rather than shed, available to support ourselves and our whole community.

This energetic reversal can be a difficult, painful and disorienting time for many people - I have often talked with patients and friends about ‘the peri-menopause rollercoaster’ or ‘going through second puberty’ as our bodies and minds take us on a wild and unpredictable ride.

Symptoms identified with perimenopause and changing hormone levels include:

• Irregular menstrual cycles
• Very heavy bleeding
• Changes in libido
• Vaginal discharge or dryness
• Skin becoming softer and bruising more easily
• Hair loss
• Changes to tendons causing issues like frozen shoulder
• Trouble sleeping, especially waking in the night
• Hot flashes and night sweats
• Increased anxiety or depression
• Brain fog or trouble remembering words (‘perimenopause brain’)

And many more!

Hormone therapy is an increasingly available treatment, but is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Other Western medical options include anti-depressants and anti-anxiety medication. The difficulty of finding the right combination of hormones, medication side-effects, long-term health concerns and the ineffectiveness of these treatments are just some of the reasons people seek other options.

Holistic Support for Perimenopause

Acupuncture: acupuncture has been extensively studied for many perimenopause symptoms, and is especially effective for insomnia, hot flashes, PMS, hormonal headaches and other pain conditions like tendonitis or frozen shoulder.

Herbs, Supplements and Hormones: Traditional Chinese Medicine offers many herbal combinations for menopausal symptoms, individually selected for your particular constitution and issues. Some common herbs in menopausal formulas include dang gui (angelica), wu wei zi (schisandra berry), shu di huang (rehmannia) and yin yang huo (epimedium). Herbal medicine offers effective treatments for hot flashes, heavy periods, pain, emotional issues, skin conditions and more.

At Energy Matters, we also often recommend individual herbs and supplements, such as chaste tree, lemon balm, fatty acids, magnesium and vitamin D. We may also dispense topical treatments with herbs or low-dose plant-based hormones, especially for skin issues, hot flashes and vaginal dryness and discomfort.

Food as Medicine: Foods that support the system and ease perimenopause symptoms include seeds, especially black sesame and flax seed, traditional soy foods like tofu, tempeh or edamame, dark green vegetables like kale, mustard greens and collards, collagen rich bone broths, and green tea. As for every life stage, eating a nourishing diet rich in plants and fiber will do a body good.

Movement: Stuck energy makes every symptom worse, and during perimenopause we can experience the effects of a lifetime of stuck and suppressed energy! Whether you’re walking with a friend, dancing in the kitchen, gardening, learning to powerlift or taking up Qigong, exercise can aid symptoms, stave off bone and muscle loss, and also help you feel at home in a changing body.

You are not alone! Perimenopause can be physically, emotionally and spiritually overwhelming. To learn more about holistic support and treatment, schedule an appointment with Angela, Mandy or Prajna, or book a free 15 minute phone call with me to learn more about your options.