Author: Michele Moore, M.D., 2004
618.175
Moore

Allright, reading this book betrays my age and exposes some of the issues I’m going through. This is one of those books that, if the subject interests you, should be read with a more researching/sudying nature.

Here is the TOC:

1. Symptoms during Perimenopause, Menopause, and Postmenopause
2. Health Concerns: Cardiovascular disease, Osteoporosis, Endometriol and Breast Cancer
3. Overview of different therapies: Allopathic, Complementary, Herbal, and Homeopathic
4. Therapeutic approaches in Perimenopause
5. Therapeutic approaches in Menopause
6. Therapeutic approaches in Postmenopause
7. Estriol: The forgotten Estrogen
8. HRT

After reading Chapter 1, I think I’m at the brink of entering the Menopause phase. I know I’m not interested in HRT, considering the study outcomes, but I will entertain the herbal and homeopathic therapies to balance the hormones. My heart will be fixed up soon, my bones are in pretty good condition, I just got a clean bill of mammography. So Chapter 2 is out.

Phytoestrogens are plant hormones that can be converted to estrogens. The plants that contain these are  Dong Quai, raspberry leaf, black cohosh, wheat germ oil, pomegranate seeds, sage. Herbal estrogenic sources are not as potent as estrogen; they have estrogen-like properties but do not pose the risks of estrogen. These help regulate the cycle and decrease spotting. Estrogen is also helpful to the memory, and may boost libido.

Phytoprogesterones are plant hormones that can be converted to progesterone. The plants that contain these are vitex, wild yam roots, yarrow.

Dong Quai is strongly estrogenic; used in regulating menopausal symptoms.

Cinnamon can be used as a tea, and is used to manage spotting or flooding. However, since it is spicy, it might aggravate hot flashes in some women.

GLA (Gamma Linolenic Acid) is found in evening primrose oil, borage oil, flax seed. It is suggested to use 2 Tablespoons of flax seed daily. Very therapeutic for excessive bleeding, breast tenderness, gives you shiny hair and adds moisture to the skin.

Exercise, both aerobic and stretching, helps prevent and decrease joint and muscle achiness. If stiff body is what you have, make sure you get Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. These can be found in fatty fish (salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, sardines) and fresh seeds, nuts, and grains. Or you can supplement with 2 Tbsp of ground flax seeds and one borage oil capsule every day.

Get regularly scheduled massage! It will increase your sense of well-being and provide deep relaxation.

Drink 8 to 10 glasses of water a day. And add 2-3 cups of green tea. Green tea is an antioxidant source and is a natutal diuretic.

Problem of dryness? Use olive oil for daily VG massage.

If estrogen by itself doesn’t help boost libido, then consider androgens, or male hormones. DHEA in doses of 10-15 mg may be sufficient. Else, use the natural testosterone or better yet, methyltestosterone, as transdermal cream.

For supplemental hormones, see the doctor for Estriol prescription. Progesterone might need to be used together with estrogen to protect the risk of endometrial cancer. But the negative side effect of progesterone is it can cause depressed mood. So it might be better taken as a transdermal cream to be applied at night.