Natural Management of Menopause

By: Serafina Corsello, MD
Last Reviewed on: June 25, 2002

Introduction

Before reaching menopause, a potentially liberating stage of life, women go through perimenopause?the transition time between regular menstrual cycles and their complete cessation. On the average, women move into menopause around ages 50 to 52. If all is well, perimenopause should not exceed one year. Over the course of my lengthy clinical practice, however, I have witnessed a dramatic increase in both the length and intensity of this transitional phase.


In my practice, I use natural remedies and stress management to facilitate smooth sailing through this tumultuous period. I think that women, by nature, have a tremendous amount of creative energy. For many, a good portion of that energy is channeled into birthing and raising children during the reproductive years. When reproductive capability ceases, and perimenopause and menopause begin, women have the opportunity to redirect their creative energy.


Early Symptoms

Perimenopause is marked by a disruption of the hormonal feedback loop (the relationship between ovarian hormones and the brain signals), which inevitably increases as we age. The ovaries begin to receive confusing messages and go through bouts of estrogen overproduction. Concurrently, progesterone rapidly declines as the frequency of anovulatory (without ovulation) periods increases. Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), one of the hormones responsible for ovulation, spikes irregularly, as if a whirling dervish is trying to awaken the last few eggs to their final hurrah.

One of the earliest symptoms of perimenopause is a change in the character of the menses (monthly periods). Subtle emotional shifts may begin to occur. Family, work, and other stressors that were previously manageable now trigger irritable responses. Some women begin to have insidious recall or short-term memory difficulties that threaten their livelihood. Sleeping patterns may be disrupted, the sex drive may dwindle, and vaginal dryness can lead to painful intercourse. Unexpected weight gain while maintaining the same eating habits may add to the distress of this often unrecognized early transitional stage.

Estrogen impact
These bursts of estrogen in response to the FSH spikes can cause unpleasant premenstrual-syndrome-like symptoms?mood swings, anxiety, irritability, depression, acne, and carbohydrate craving. An overproduction of estrogen leads to excessive insulin production, which in turn is responsible for inexplicable weight gain. If uncontrolled, this hyperinsulinism can lead to type 2 diabetes. With falling progesterone levels unable to balance the estrogen bursts, the result is further estrogen dominance. Estrogen dominance can lead to increased incidence of breast, uterine, and ovarian cancer.

Inadequate progesterone
When we stop ovulating, we no longer form a corpus luteum?the site of progesterone production. The corpus luteum is the cholesterol accumulation that occupies the space left by the exiting egg. It is from cholesterol that all hormones are produced. As ovulation becomes less and less regular, progesterone levels decline rapidly.

Since progesterone plays a role in many important body functions, including glucose metabolism, mineral balance, cell division, good thyroid function, mood stability and bone metabolism, inadequate levels can have many consequences in midlife. Symptoms can be very surprising?such as midlife asthma. Since progesterone is an involuntary muscle relaxant, declining levels of the hormone can result in constricted breathing in women who either have allergies or an inherent lung weakness.

Decreased testosterone
Testosterone is most often associated with men, but women do produce a small measure of testosterone, and their testosterone levels begin to decline in midlife. Low testosterone levels play a major role in osteoporosis, decreased libido, and loss of initiative and drive. Fifty percent of postmenopausal women have substantially decreased testosterone levels.

Thyroid interaction
The thyroid gland is to the body what the starter is to the car. By midlife, the thyroid has been subject to much wear and tear, becomes less efficient, especially because progesterone, the thyroid?s hormonal assistant, is low.

A sluggish thyroid worsens both the weight gain and fatigue associated with menopause, and fat distribution begins to takes on more of a male pattern, with accumulation of fat at and above the waistline (apple shape). Besides the loss of the appealing feminine waistline, an apple shape is associated with a greater risk of heart disease.


Treatment for Perimenopause

In my practice, I approach the midlife transition in two phases:

Phase One
Phase One is usually sufficient for women who are generally in good health and have mild to moderate symptoms. Treatment includes bowel and liver detoxification, lifestyle modifications, some hormone-mimicking herbs and foods, bone nutrients, and an over-the-counter hormonal cream. Additional nutrients are recommended for specific concerns, such as "brain fog." insomnia, and urinary problems.

Bowel and liver health
A healthy bowel and liver is essential for overall body health. It is particularly important during perimenopause. Nourishing and keeping the liver clean enables the organ to efficiently process and release excessive estrogens from the body. In my practice, I use a three-step process called the Bowel Healing Program to remove toxic estrogen species (xenoestrogens).

Diet and phytonutrients
Although it is always wise to eat a highly nutritious and balanced diet, it is particularly important during this major hormonal transition.

If you are not already doing so, you should include soy products in your diet. Soy products (soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, soy protein powder, etc.) are rich in phytoestrogens?good plant estrogens. Soy is high in a type of phytoestrogen called isoflavones (primarily genestein and diadzein). Intestinal bacteria convert isoflavones into hormone-like substances that have weak, but protective, estrogenic activity. These phytoestrogens have been shown to bump toxic forms of estrogen out of the receptor site (receptor sites are the portals through which various hormones enter the cell) and thus counteract their harmful effects. Researchers have found that soy offers benefits for mature women, such as decreasing perimenopausal symptoms, lowering the risk of a wide range of cancers, and preventing osteoporosis and heart disease.

Another food I have recommended for years, and that should have a preeminent place in the diets of mature women, is flaxseed. Flaxseed contains a type of phytoestrogen known as lignans. Lignans, like soy isoflavones, are acted upon by colonic bacteria to produce more weak, but protective, estrogenic-like substances. Lignans have been shown to offer protection against both cancer and heart disease.

Limit or avoid harmful foods
Refined carbohydrates and sugars should be limited or avoided, as they can increase hot flashes. And as you already know, they have a tendency to be turned into fat when they are not utilized for energy production. Limit red meats and sodas. Besides being acidic, they are also high in phosphorus, which is an element that depletes skeletal calcium.

Natural hormonal supplements
Since consistently consuming large amounts of phytoestrogen-containing foods is difficult for some women, I recommend combining dietary phytoestrogens (20 to 45 milligrams) with the phytoestrogens and hormone precursors found in herbal members of the plant kingdom. Herbs, such as black cohosh, licorice, chaste berry, wild yam, dong quai and ginseng have been found to relieve menopausal symptoms and promote overall health and vitality. I recommend you supplement your diet with these powerful healers.

In my practice I also use an over-the-counter natural hormone cream that contains progesterone, a small amount of pregnenolone (a precursor hormone to DHEA, or dehydroepiandrosterone), and a small amount of DHEA, which is included to modulate the shunting of progesterone into testosterone. My perimenopausal patients have found using one teaspoon a day helpful in relieving a variety of symptoms. Progesterone also prevents osteoporosis. To this end, we also recommend supplementing the diet with calcium and other nutrients essential to bone health.

Stress management and exercise
Managing stress during perimenopause is crucial. Your progesterone is already waning, and stress accelerates its decline.

Exercise is an essential longevity strategy, especially important during the female hormonal wind-down as stress-releaser, energizer, and heart-protector. Its role in the prevention of osteoporosis is well documented.

Yoga is one of the best exercises for the prevention of osteoporosis. The slow, deep stretching of the muscles facilitates bone rebuilding by improving re-absorption of calcium.

Phase Two
Phase Two is for women who are experiencing a more challenging transition. We add pharmaceutical-grade, individually prescribed natural hormonal combinations that are based on clinical symptoms and tests.

Some osteoporosis risk factors include:

Refined carbohydrates
Alcohol
Smoking
Coffee
Stress
Caffeinated Tea
Lack of exercise
Soda pop
High animal protein intake
Low ovarian hormones, especially
Low calcium intake
Progesterone
Diabetes
Conclusion

While it is true that modern life has made menopause more difficult, we now have enough knowledge of natural nontoxic strategies to make it easy. These same strategies make us stronger, more intelligent and able to enjoy the "wise woman" stage, unencumbered by the responsibilities of child-rearing.