World Menopause Day aims to increase awareness of the menopause and the support available.
What is Menopause?
A woman is considered menopausal when she hasn’t had a period for 12 full months.Infact, The Menopause Charity defines it as the single day when you have not had a period for 12 months; after this one day, you are post menopausal.
What Age will I be Menopausal
The average age to become menopausal in the UK is 51.
However, some ladies will have an early menopause – under age 45. Early menopause might be triggered by some underlying health conditions or as a result of receiving treatment for cancer.
Surgical menopause is where you have your ovaries removed – you will immediately go into menopause.
Many people describe themselves as menopausal when they start experiencing symptoms such as hot flushes, erratic menstruation, alterations in their mood and a whole host of other signs. This is infact perimenopausal, also known as your menopause transition period.
This year’s World Menopause Day theme is bone health.
Oestrogen is essential for the formation of healthy bones. When oestrogen levels drop after the menopause, this can lead to a decrease in bone density and an increase in the risk of osteoporosis.
Haitham Hamoda is Consultant Gynaecologist and Lead for the Menopause Team at King’s College Hospital as well as being Chairman of the British Menopause Society. He discusses bone health and the advantages and risks of HRT in a short, informative video which you can see here.
Menopause – HRT or the Holistic Approach?
Haitham Hamoda advises that HRT is the first choice of treatment for osteoporosis in women under 60.
HRT can help manage your menopausal symptoms and improve your quality of life. HRT has also been shown to reduce cardiovascular disease.
Whilst for most women, the benefits of HRT are believed to outweigh the risks, it is recommended that you discuss your individual case with your medical expert as well as doing your own research.
You may, however, prefer a more holistic approach with lifestyle changes such as healthier diet choices, ceasing smoking, reducing intake of sugar and other stimulants, increasing your exercise, implementing a sleep routine and making time for you.
A quick search will produce lots of information. One site with lots of information is The Menopause Charity.
Sally Earlham is a renowned reflexology specialist and creator of Reflexology for Menopause – this unique course looks at the menopause, reflexology research, lifestyle factors for easing menopausal symptoms and focused reflexology techniques aimed at supporting your body through this time of transition.
I am delighted to be a qualified Menopausal Reflexology Practitioner. If you would like to know more about this treatment, please visit /complementary/#Reflexology or contact me.
Menopause and You
Your menopause experience will be as unique as you are.
Whilst the symptoms may be unwanted, please remember that this too will pass.
Perimenopause and menopause are natural processes. This is a great time to reflect and reframe and think about what you would like moving forward to the next stage of your life.
It is the transition phase a woman goes through on her journey towards menopause (cessation of menstruation).
What Age does Perimenopause Start?
Perimenopause most usually begins when a woman is in her 40s however it can start when a woman is in her 30s, or, occasionally, but quite rarely, even earlier.
How Long Does Perimenopause Last?
Every woman is unique and her experience of Perimenopause is personal to them.
Perimenopause can last anything from a few months to around a decade. Most women experience perimenopause for approximately four years. However, according to the NHS site, 10% of women will experience symptoms lasting in excess of 12 years.
When does Perimenopause End?
Perimenopause ends when you are menopausal. Menopause is defined as the cessation of your menstrual cycle.
It is stated that you are menopausal once you have had twelve months without a period.
Why do I feel out of sorts?
As you approach menopause, oestrogen, progesterone and testosterone fluctuate within your body.
Oestrogen is one of the primary female sex hormones, produced by the endocrine system. Oestrogen affects the central nervous system, the cardiovascular system, your bladder, teeth, skin, nails, and hair. Oestrogen helps develop and maintain a woman’s reproductive system – puberty, periods and pregnancy. It aids in the development of female characteristics such as breasts. Oestrogen also helps with bone strength and maintaining cholesterol levels. Oestrogen assists with temperature regulation, sleep and your mood.
Progesterone helps to regulate your menstrual cycle and prepare your uterus for pregnancy.
Testosterone fluctuations can affect your libido. Testosterone also helps maintain muscle and bone strength and can contribute to your mood and cognitive performance.
How Will I Know if I am Perimenopausal?
Whilst some women will be unaffected during their menopause transition period, many will experience symptoms they would rather not have!
Also, a proportion of women may not consider perimenopause as being responsible for how they are feeling as they are still menstruating.
Dr Louise Newson, the menopause doctor, tells us that, infact, perimenopause and menopause symptoms are the same, explaining that cessation of periods is often the last part of your menopause journey.
The most common way of diagnosing perimenopause in the over 45s is by the symptoms they may be experiencing.
Symptoms of perimenopause can include:
Hot flushes
Night sweats
Increase in PMS symptoms
Breast tenderness
Decrease in libido
Low energy levels
Menstruation changes
Urine leakage
Increase in mictuation
Vaginal dryness
Mood swings
Sleep issues
Anxiety and stress
Weight gain
Aching joints
Headaches
Brain fog
Hair loss
Facial hair
Dizziness
Gum disease
Bad breath
Weak nails
If you are struggling with any perimenopausal symptoms please make an appointment to see your nurse practitioner or GP.
For hot flushes, you may find it helpful to keep a diary and note any triggers.
What can I do to Help Myself through my Menopause Transition Period?
Whilst the symptoms listed above may not be welcome, it is helpful to remember that perimenopause is a natural process that ageing women will go through. This transition period is an ideal time for personal reflection and growth; a time to think about any changes you would like to make and how you will achieve them.
One of the best things you could do is adopt The Five Pillars of Perimenopause Health. These are:
Diet
Exercise
Relaxation
Sleep
Purpose
Are you mindful of these?
It is recognised that elevated cortisol, the stress hormone, can magnify perimenopausal symptoms. It is therefore recommended that you take time to regularly relax and destress. Whether it is exercise, time with friends, or a therapeutic treatment – do something for you that you enjoy.
Many studies have, in fact, been carried out showing how massage, acupuncture, reflexology and aromatherapy can all help with perimenopausal symptoms. An internet search will highlight these if you are interested to read more.
Why not schedule a treatment to help you as you move towards menopause? You can read more about relaxing treatments that might help on the /massage/ page and /complementary/ page.
Today is Holistic Therapy Day, celebrated annually on 26th July.
Holistic is derived from the Greek Holos meaning whole.
Holistic therapies, frequently referred to as complementary and alternative medicines (CAMs), treat the whole person.
Whereas modern medical practice tends to focus on and treat the symptoms a person is presenting with and may prescribe something to cure that ailment, an holistic therapist considers your whole being – mind, body, spirit and emotions – and aims to help you achieve optimal health and well-being by bringing about balance and harmony within you.
Holistic therapies have been around in some form for centuries, however, they started to gain more awareness and popularity in the 1960s when some people became anxious and felt they were just a body to be prodded and poked about by the medical profession; plus, many people became reluctant to rely solely on drug related treatment that tended to treat the symptom and not look for the cause.
Oooh, that sounds great! Should I try holistic therapies?
Yes! Whether you are suffering from an illness or not, holistic therapies are a great way to improve your sense of health & well-being and bring balance and harmony to your body. They can also help reduce stress and anxiety, promote relaxation and bring you peace and calm in a frantic world.
Additionally, holistic therapies can help if you are on the NHS waiting list but want to take control of and start managing your illness and symptoms straight away; or if you would like to try another treatment alongside what the medical professionals have offered.
Which Holistic Therapy is the best?
According to the FHT (Federation of Holistic Therapists) the most popular complementary therapies are reflexology, body massage, and aromatherapy.
However, all offer great benefits, and all consider your mind, body, soul and emotions and work on you as a whole. Which treatment you choose is personal to you, you may even wish to try a few different therapies! You should be guided by your own preferences and desired outcomes.
What Holistic Therapies do you offer Lorraine?
Here at Lorraine’s Treatment Room you can experience treatments such as massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, reiki, and Indian head massage.
For more information on these treatments and to book, please click here.
Awesome! I’m a bit nervous though, what will happen at my treatment?
Depending upon the treatment you have booked, you may be asked to disrobe to your underwear before relaxing into the heated therapy couch.
Whilst you are getting ready, I will leave the treatment room to allow you some privacy.
You will be covered throughout your treatment with sheets, towels, or blankets and I will only ever reveal the part of the body I am working on ensuring your dignity is maintained at all times.
If you are having aromatherapy, the oils will be blended for you whilst you are getting ready.
After your treatment, I will leave you whilst you slowly and gently get off the couch and put your clothes back on. There will be a glass of water for you to rehydrate.
If you would like extra assistance to get on and off the couch, please just let me know.
If you have any other questions regarding your treatment or what to expect at your appointment, please do not hesitate to contact me lorraine@lorrainestreatmentroom.co.uk .
Are there any other holistic therapies I can try?
There are many holistic therapies, some of the most popular ones are listed below:
Reflexology – a specific type of massage and application of gentle pressures to your feet – works on the principle that your body’s organs and systems are linked to and reflected in your feet.
Body Massage – uses hands-on movements to manipulate your soft tissues and muscles aiming to relax, revive and heat your body and enhance your well-being.
Aromatherapy – uses bespokely blended aromatherapy oils to encourage rest and relaxation and aims to treat and prevent illness.
Alexander Technique – teaches you to improve posture and movement, helping you unlearn bad habits assisting in the rebalancing and realignment of your body. Believed to give greater awareness of body and mind and give improved movement and clarified thinking.
Ayurvedic Medicine – aims to balance your body’s doshas and connect body, mind, and spirit. It is believed that reaching equilibrium will encourage wellness and prevent illness.
Ear Candling – also known as thermo-auricular therapy. A hollow, cone shaped candle is put into your ear canal. The candle stimulates the ear and helps facilitate the removal of excess wax and impurities and can promote relaxation and revitalisation.
Homeopathy -works on the principle that ‘like cures like’. Highly diluted substances (most often in tiny tablet form) aim to trigger the body’s natural healing process.
Hypnotherapy – a natural state of heightened awareness during which the hypnotherapist makes positive suggestions to you which are aimed at relieving your symptoms and influencing your behaviour.
Naturopathy – promotes your body’s innate ability to heal itself and acknowledges that your health is dependent upon a number of factors.
Pilates – holistic exercise of controlled movements that coordinates your mind, body and spirit aiming to improve flexibility, strength, posture and body awareness.
Reiki – translates to ‘universal life force’. It is believed that energy flows through all living things and if this becomes stagnated, disrupted, or blocked that stress and illness will follow. Reiki aims to use energy to rebalance their client.
For a more comprehensive list of therapies, please click here.
Are Holistic Therapies the Same as Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)?
Holistic / Complementary Therapies are mostly categorised as those which may be used alongside your medical treatment/s such as yoga, massage, reiki, meditation etc.
Alternative Medicines usually replace your medical treatments and include such therapies as Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic Medicine and some herbal remedies.
According to the NHS Website, holistic therapies and CAMs are treatments that fall outside of mainstream healthcare.
Mind UK tells us these are therapies that take an holistic approach to your physical and mental well-being with many of these approaches having their roots in ancient Eastern philosophies of health or using traditional healing methods that were used long before the development of present day treatments.
In fact,
Mind perfectly describes these therapies as any kind of treatment that is not generally available through the NHS – although the NHS do have some funding for treatments that NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) have identified as being effective and good value for money.
For example, your doctor may have referred you to a manual therapist for pain you may be experiencing or, if you are suffering from Parkinsons you may have been referred to an Alexander Technique professional.
It should be noted, however, that the terms are used interchangeably. Consequently you are best to seek guidance and advice from your medical professional and also carry out your own research as to which therapy may be best suited for you and your personal medical history.
Final words…
As always, please do not hesitate to contact me via email lorraine@lorrainestreatmentroom.co.uk or on 07973307092 should you have any further questions.
This blog is not intended to replace healthcare advice or recommendations from your medical professional, simply to make you aware of some of the holistic therapies available and how they may benefit you.
