Navigating Menopause

A women’s hormone journey is like an ocean tide, symptoms come and go, and they are ever-changing. Sometimes it can be stormy and for others, it can be a peaceful and calm transition.

What is menopause?

Menopause refers to a life stage where your reproductive cycle slows, and your ovaries reduce their function. Women are born with around 1-2 million eggs. These eggs steadily decrease as we reach puberty and travel through each menstrual cycle. When supply decreases, typically your transition towards “perimenopause” will occur. It usually is first noticed in women in their 40s when there are changes in the regularity of their menstrual cycle. This can cause changes in the flow, frequency, length, and timing.

Blood pathology can also check the levels of your hormones, FSH and oestradiol. As you start your journey through perimenopause, FSH levels will rise, and oestradiol levels will drop. Menopause occurs when you have had 12 months without a menstrual cycle.

During this hormonal change, many women may experience symptoms that can come and go at different stages, such as:

• hot flushes
• mood swings
• heart palpitations
• low libido, vaginal dryness, vaginal tenderness
• headaches, migraines or sleeplessness
• breast soreness, joint pain & muscle aches
• slowing of metabolism and weight gain
• brain fog, lethargy or low energy
• itchy and dry skin
• digestive & bowel movement changes

Ways to manage your journey

Supporting your body systems with fresh organic foods and herbs will help your body process these changes in your body more efficiently. Ditch those inflammation-causing foods that are processed and loaded with hormones, fake fillers, chemicals, colours, and preservatives. Most importantly give your liver some love! Your liver is the powerhouse of your body systems and works 24hrs a day, to help you process and remove excess hormones and toxins. Ashwagandha, Ginseng and Schisandra are all herbs which can assist with reducing stress & promoting calmness. In addition to this, exercising, meditation & sleep are all important factors which may also help with regulating symptoms.

Products we love

Fem 21: blend of herbs and functional foods that may help to balance hormones, cleanse the liver and digestives, alkalise the body

Fusion Menopause Heat Relief: blend of herbs traditionally used to help hot flushes experienced with Menopause.

Anna’s Wild Yam Cream: contains the phytoestrogenic active ingredient Wild yam to help reduce menopausal symptoms.

5 natural remedies to support menopause

• eat calcium and vitamin D rich foods to support bone density loss through hormonal changes. Foods high in phytoestrogens (naturally occurring plant compounds that can mimic the effects of estrogen in the body) can help balance hormones.
• Limit or avoid certain foods that can affect your hormonal imbalances, such as caffeine, alcohol, high sugar or spicy foods. These can affect night sweats, hot flushes and mood.
• Get moving
  Regular exercise is beneficial for all, but especially during hormonal changes where sweating out excess toxins to support your liver, stabilise your mood and release endorphins to boost your energy levels.
• Hydrate
  Menopause can dehydrate your cells – from dry skin, through to affects with your metabolism and kidneys. Drink plenty of water throughout the day, particularly if you are experiencing night sweats. Coconut water is a great natural electrolyte to help top you up as well as take care with choosing the right moisturiser to support hormonal skin breakouts. We love Juniper Skincare – naturopathically formulated to support this. Their cooling rose spray is fabulous to have I your handbag should a hot flush creep in.
• Natural supplements
  From Fem 21, Korean ginseng, red clover, Black cohosh for hot flushes and wild yam cream, our team also recommend supporting your live through this process. Some herbs can be helpful for low libido such as maca and others can help with insomnia and fatigue such as lemon balm. It’s personal journey and everyone’s symptoms can vary, so speak with our team to see how we can best support you.

For hormonal support or to discuss your symptoms, pop in to your local Flannerys store & speak to one of our friendly naturopaths. We’re here to help you through this process in a confidential manner – whether it be with herbal supplements, dietary advice, or even general support.

Words by Assunta Hamilton

*Flannerys Members SAVE 20% off Vitamins & Supplements on the first Friday & Saturday of the month. 

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