What Is the menopause?
• The menopause happens when there are no more eggs in the ovaries.
• The eggs stimulate the ovaries to produce oestrogen, so there is drop in the
levels of oestrogen in the blood when the eggs in the ovaries run out.
• This fall in hormone levels disrupts the menstrual cycle and produces the
other symptoms that are associated with menopause.
Causes
• The menopause usually happens gradually. For a few years before menopause, the
periods may become irregular, happening every two to three weeks to every few
months. There may be a change in the amount of bleeding - slightly heavier
periods are more common.
• Women who smoke go through the menopause an average of two years early.
• Menopause is likely to happen later in women who have taken the contraceptive
pill or given birth.
• Surgery that removes the ovaries causes an immediate menopause.
• When menopause happens before the age of 40, it's considered a premature
menopause (or early menopause).
Symptoms
Although some women have no symptoms other than the ending of their periods, eight in 10 experience menopause symptoms. These can include:
• hot flushes - eight in 10 women experience flushes
• night sweats
• palpitations (a feeling of a thumping heartbeat in your chest)
• mood changes such as irritability, depression or anxiety, although it's possible
that these are due to life changes rather than the menopause itself
• difficulty sleeping (insomnia), due to night sweats or mood changes
• thinner, drier skin, hair and brittle nails
• aches and pains in your joints
• loss of interest in sex (libido)
• weight gain
• headaches
• vaginal changes - dryness, pain during sexual intercourse and increased risk of
vaginal infections
• urinary changes - inability to control urination (incontinence) and increased
risk of urinary infection
Herbs useful during Menopause
Saraca indica:
The bark of Saraca indica contains the estrogenic compound ketosterol. The bark has a stimulating effect on the endometrial & ovarian tissues, is useful in menorrhagia due to uterine fibroids in leucorrhea and in internal bleeding, where ergot is indicated. It is well established for its effectiveness in menorrhagia & dysmenorrheal. It also has a stimulatory effect on the ovarian tissue & may produce an estrogen like effect that enhances the repair of the endometrium & stops bleeding. It also strengthens and tones up uterus while keeping a check on pain and bleeding.
Asparagus racemosus:
The roots are used to treat debility, especially in women, and infertility, impotence, menopause, stomach ulcers, hyperacidity, dehydration. It provides strength to uterus and acts as generalized tonic.
Symplocos racemosus:
Symplocos racemosus provides prompt relief from uterus swelling and normalize it by proper contraction of muscle of the uterus thus gives relief from excessive bleeding from uterus.
Aloe vera:
Aloe vera promotes blood circulation to uterus and thus increases its contraction action, which leads to onset of menstruation.
Cedrus deodara:
Devdaru favorable in vitiated condition of pain therefore it works as an herbal analgesic. Hence it provides prompt relief from painful symptom of menopausal disorders.
Terminalia chebula:
It is known as adaptogen and anti stress. Terminalia chebula provides relief from uterus swelling and also checks leucorrhoea thereby leads to strengthening the muscles of uterus.
Glycerrhiza glabra:
Glycyrrhizin, a glycoside obtained from G. glabra is observed to be very useful as an anti-arthritic and anti-inflammatory agent. It strengthens the muscles of uterus and useful in leucorrhoea. Also, it is well known as a rejuvenator and brain tonic hence provides relief from both painful and psychological symptoms associated with menopausal disorders.
Centella asiatica:
Centella asiatica is known for anticonvulsive activity, besides producing significant alteration in the neurochemistry of the brain. The extract of the plant significantly inhibits gastric ulceration induced by cold restraint stress. Also, it is well treated as brain tonic and anti depressant thereby provides alleviation of mood and prompt relief from psychological conditions associated with menopause.
