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Understanding Menopause
through Ayurveda
Just recently, I realized the glisten in my Since estrogen receptors are located
eyebrows was actually a grey hair that all over the body, the changes are
had popped its way through the black manifold. They include accelerated
mop of my eyebrow hairs! I was not in bone loss, decreased thyroid function,
the least bit prepared for this milestone, weight gain, increased risk of heart
but knew it was one of the many “joyous” disease, and arthritic pain. Other
transformations I’ve had to come to terms symptoms may include depression,
with since starting menopause some difficulty concentrating, vaginal dryness,
three years back. After the initial shock, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), and
I found myself reaching to Ayurveda to difficulty experiencing orgasm. Eating a
gain an appreciation of this next phase of healthy diet, staying active by walking,
life through the wise perspective of the doing yoga, or other forms of exercise,
ancient ayurvedic acharyas. and making sure to get enough calcium
for optimal bone health are important
First, the Western perspective of during this period of life.
menopause…
The average age of menopause is 51 and Conventional medicine offers many forms
occurs for most women between 45 of therapy for women suffering from
and 55 years of age. It means the end of menopausal symptoms. Since the 1960s,
the female monthly menstrual cycle in the therapy of choice had been hormone
which the body sloughs off the built-up replacement therapy (HRT), which is the
endometrial lining along with mucus and use of estrogens alone or in combination
blood, if fertilization of the ovum does with progestins to replace the waning
not take place. Starting around the mid- hormone levels. But the results of two
forties, during the perimenopausal years, large studies on HRT [The Heart and
estrogen levels gradually begin to wind Estrogen/Progestin Replacement Study
down, which can cause temperamental (HERS) and the Women’s Health Initiative
periods (as well as mood swings), hot (WHI) Study] showed important negative
flashes. and trouble sleeping. Only a consequences on women’s health and
small number of women experience more quality of life that have greatly lowered
severe symptoms or long-term issues. the use of HRT in recent years. Instead
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