From Proyar Laboratory we want to share with you the 2nd part of an exclusive article for Proyar Laboratory, written by Dr. Jorge Alonso. Physician, MN 67,640, Director of the Phytomedicine postgraduate program at U.B.A. and President of the Latin American Society of Phytomedicine.
Menopause: Why not enjoy it? (Part 2)
We understand Menopause as that period of a woman's life cycle characterized by the cessation of menstruation (more precisely it begins after one year has passed since the last period) and which coincides with a decline in hormonal activity… See First Part.
We doctors must remember that we took a Hippocratic oath, in which one of its main aphorisms said: Primum non nocere (first, do no harm). In second instance we must think about the natural laws of our existence. If at some point in life, the organism stops making hormones, it's for a reason. Why then go against nature and introduce hormones out of time and inopportunely? Since ancient times, man knew how to interpret nature's message through the legacy of plants. They are not only there to give life and color to our environment, but also to give us food and medicines.
For example, the Chinese used angelica or dong quai (Angelica sinensis) and soy (Glycine max) to treat these menopause symptoms. Hence it could be established that in Asian populations, menopause goes almost unnoticed. Today, soy isoflavone-based supplements (capsules, tablets) have positioned themselves as a very valid alternative for this life cycle. Even textured soy proteins tend to give very good results in terms of attenuating menopausal symptoms. A significant detail for this stage of life is that isoflavones improve the lipid profile in safeguarding the cardiovascular system. People with a history of gynecological cancers should consult about the convenience or not of taking soy supplements.
Europeans tend to use sage (very useful for hand perspiration, and for its mild sedative effects). Sage carries this name as it derives from the Latin salvare = to save, in a clear praise of the virtues of this plant. An old Spanish saying alleged about it: "...to think that this woman has died, having sage in her garden...!!!". Sage can be taken as an infusion or drops (40 drops twice a day, morning and night). In some European countries antiperspirants based on this plant are marketed.
North American natives used black cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) since the 17th century, a species with a large number of clinical trials that validated its efficacy in controlling women's hot flashes. Red clover (Trifolium pratense) and hops (Humulus lupulus) have also given very good results. This last plant contains lupulin, which gives beer its characteristic bitter taste. It also presents mild sedative effect, and sleep inducer (something that tends to be altered in Menopause). Evening primrose can be a good product to relieve symptoms and combat mucosal dryness. And finally, chaste tree tincture (or vitex in Spain) helps maintain regular menstrual cycles in the perimenopause stage. Not by chance, evening primrose and chaste tree are used together so that women can become pregnant when other treatments fail.
Most of the cited species contain phytoestrogens (plant hormones that nature provides us), which have shown to be extremely effective in controlling menopause symptoms, without the adverse effects of synthetic hormones. Additionally, they have a bonus of benefits as they have demonstrated to reduce the incidence of colon cancer, reduce the decalcification process, and elevated lipid levels. The possibility that science gives us to incorporate these plants through dietary supplements, tinctures or phytomedicines, makes it so that in a practical and simple way women can incorporate them into their daily routine.
Among foods, we should highlight beyond soy, alfalfa (consume it in the form of sprouts together with soy sprouts), chickpeas, and the vast majority of green vegetables (which in smaller proportion, are also a source of phytoestrogens). Among fruits, choose peaches, plums and grapes. And among beverages, we can even incorporate (without overdoing it) red wines (Malbec for example).
Regarding the nervous disorders that occur at this stage of life, we can harmonize and balance the nervous system based on species such as valerian, lemon balm or passion flower, and even work on depression (which tends to be temporary in these circumstances) with very effective species such as St. John's wort or hypericum.
To conclude, it is necessary for women going through this stage of life to be informed that there are alternative treatments to synthetic hormonal products. These alternatives undoubtedly provide not only safety, but also efficacy when incorporating them. At the same time, it is recommended to follow a vegetarian-type diet, recreational and physical activities that undoubtedly provide an extra benefit of undoubted value, that the body and mind will eternally appreciate.
