WHAT IS MENOPAUSE?
It is a gradual stage in a woman’s life when the cessation of menstrual periods occurs, due to the termination of overall function of the ovaries. [1]When does Menopause start? When does it end?
- On average, women ages 48-52 experience menopause, and will experience symptoms years before and years after this time period.
- Women experience hormone fluctuations around 8-10 years prior to cessation to several years after. This stage is known as 'reproductive transition'.
- Everyone is different, so not everyone will experience symptoms at the same time, let alone the same symptoms [2]
SYMPTOMS
- Sleep disturbance
- Vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, night sweats)
- Joint pain
- Forgetfulness
- Fatigue
- Weight gain
- Hormonal changes
- Trophic changes in breast
- Anxiety
- Depression
TREATMENTS
MASSAGE THERAPY- Contributes to health (improves circulation, promotes relaxation, releases tension)
- Safe and accepted
- Improves quality of life
- Improves sleep patterns
- Affects activation of blood flow through blood vessels in the lymphatic system and in the connective tissues and muscles (leads to relaxation, sleep, tranquility, restoration of homeostasis etc.)
- Has shown to help some people with hot flashes (if inserted at standardized acu points – insertion points)
- In conjunction with electrical stimulation as well or other treatments (chiro, massage)
- Relaxation
- Reduces stress
- Adjustments/manipulations in lumbar and sacral regions of the vertebrae – specifically L2 and L3
- Affects sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems (which control hormone regulation)
- Less bloating, cramping, headaches and cravings
- Improves vasomotor symptoms, urinary frequency, depression, insomnia
Natural treatments to improve overall health utilizing the following:
- Nutrition
- Supplements
- Stress Management Strategies
- Exercise
- Sleep
- Acupuncture
- Registered Massage Therapy (RMT)
- Acupuncture
- Yoga
- Chiropractic
- Naturopathy
References
- https://www.medicinenet.com/menopause/article.htm#what_is_menopause
- https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Heather_Dillaway/publication/236825013_When_Does_Menopause_Occur_and_How_Long_Does_It_Last_Wrestling_with_Age_and_Time-Based_Conceptualizations_of_Reproductive_Aging/links/02e7e53598bfea8fba000000.pdf
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1984006314000327
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/1888/bea486649f8bb3681dd76194efd131466ce1.pdf
- https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=NaA-jm3nu1AC&oi=fnd&pg=PA212&dq=alternative+therapies+in+menopause&ots=RFPyM-ccuV&sig=LEpwk2nftbejW64N0nshRTU1wxA#v=onepage&q=menopause&f=false
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/410719
- https://www.chiroone.net/how-chiropractic-helps/pms-and-menopause
- https://draxe.com/5-natural-remedies-menopause-relief
