Natural Remedies for Perimenopause

The onset of puberty for girls is marked by menstruation. This is an important stage of a woman's reproductive life cycle. Menstruation makes a woman capable of supporting a pregnancy. As women age, they approach menopause, which marks the end of their reproductive life cycle. Perimenopause, also known as menopause transition, is the transitional period that precedes menopause. As women complete the age of 40, they begin to experience irregularities in the menstrual cycles. Such changes are attributed to a decline in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Under normal circumstances, a woman's menstrual cycle ranges anywhere between 28 to 35 days, but as a woman approaches menopause, the ability of ovaries to release eggs is greatly affected. As a result, the duration of the menstrual cycle starts getting affected. During this transition, women may experience heavy menstrual flow, along with various discomforting symptoms. Women are said to reach menopause only if one whole year passes by, without a menstrual period. For some women, perimenopause may last for a few months, while some may experience such symptoms for years. It is therefore important that women prepare themselves for this transition. In this article, we will look into the problems that women may experience during this phase, along with natural remedies for perimenopause.

Symptoms of Perimenopause

As mentioned earlier, perimenopausal symptoms are attributed to the dip in the levels of estrogen and progesterone. Before the menstrual cycles stop completely, women may have frequent periods. Heavy menstrual bleeding and other irregularities in the menstrual cycle often stresses them out. Physical changes such as breast tenderness, hot flashes, chills, headaches, night sweats, flushed skin or fatigue are usually accompanied by mood swings, depression, anxiety and irritability. Hormonal changes may also affect the levels of serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that plays an important role in regulating sleep cycle and has an impact on one's memory. This is the reason why some women may have trouble getting proper sleep, which in turn, may make them highly irritable. Women may also face trouble concentrating. Impairment of short-term memory may also be seen in some women. Reduced sex drive and vaginal dryness may also occur due to hormonal changes. Some women may also suffer from water retention, unexplained weight gain or urinary incontinence during this transitional period.

Remedies for Perimenopause

The effect hormonal changes may have on a woman's mind and body when she is menopausal will vary depending on her overall health. For some women, the symptoms may not be very severe, while some may be in great distress. For women suffering from severe symptoms, hormone replacement therapy might be suggested for perimenopause treatment. However, synthetic hormones may make women susceptible to heart disease, blood clotting disorders or breast cancer. Selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM) drugs may be prescribed to ease the symptoms during the menopause transition, but certain side effects may be associated with these drugs as well. Thus, following natural remedies is definitely a safer option. Given below are some simple and natural ways to deal with perimenopause.

Tackling Hot Flashes: Most women feel a sudden rush of heat in their body during this time. They must, therefore, wear light clothing made from cotton or any other breathable fabric. Sipping cold water or applying cold compresses on the face will also provide relief. Caffeinated drinks, alcohol and spicy foods can also cause flushed skin, so, refrain from consuming them. Women may find relief if they include dietary sources of omega-3 essential fatty acids to their diet. Soy products, dark leafy vegetables and legumes that contain phytoestrogens can also help in reducing the incidence of hot flashes.

Relaxation Techniques: Most women suffer from anxiety and mood swings during perimenopause. In order to deal with stress, women can perform meditation, yoga or deep breathing exercises. These can help women tackle the emotional symptoms of perimenopause. Many women suffer from a disturbed sleep at night during perimenopause. Since taking a nap during the day, may affect their ability to sleep at night, women who are having difficulty sleeping must not sleep during the day. Relaxation techniques will also regularize the sleep cycle.

Herbs: Since the decline in estrogen and progesterone levels is responsible for causing the physical as well as emotional symptoms, one can take herbs that stimulate the production of these hormones. Under Chinese medicine, herbs such as cornus, rehmannia, poria, Chinese wild yam, moutan bark and alisma are used for making herbal tea. This herbal tea is believed to be one of the most effective natural cures for perimenopause. Other herbs such as dong quai, chasteberry, Siberian ginseng, gingko biloba, evening primrose, black cohosh and Peruvian maca root may also put one at ease. One must, however, consult a herbal practitioner before following any herbal remedy.

Besides the aforementioned natural remedies for perimenopause, women must also follow a well-balanced diet that provides their body with the essential nutrients. One can also take natural supplements for perimenopause. Since hormonal changes can cause weight gain, women must stay physically active during this time. Quitting smoking, and lowering the intake of alcohol and processed foods will also help. It is also important to stay well-hydrated at all times. Opting for the right lifestyle choices will definitely help women prepare themselves well for a menopause transition.