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Article Series: Menopause
Menopause Symptoms and Relief
Menopause:
An Ayurveda Approach
For many years, menopause was looked upon
much like a disease; people demanded a cure for it or, at the
very least, wanted something to magically make all the symptoms
disappear. Studies determined that menopause occurred
when the woman’s body stopped producing eggs, signaling that
she
was done with her child-bearing years and that, with this change,
the body began producing smaller and smaller amounts of the
hormones that it needed. Because of this belief, the concept
of Hormone Replacement Therapy, or HRT, was born. Its purpose
was to basically ’maintain’ the levels of hormones in a woman’s
body, therefore offering her some relief from pesky symptoms
and the feel of growing old and undesirable in the eyes of
society.
It wasn’t until further studies revealed that the injections
of hormones were increasing the risks of breast and other forms
of cancer. Because of these findings, HRT was reconsidered.
While it did relieve some of the symptoms, it rarely eliminated
them and it was decided that, in most cases, hormone replacement
treatments were more harmful than beneficial. Furthermore,
new studies were revealing that menopause was simply another
stage of life and that the body was acting towards it, as it
should. In other words, there were far too many doctors administering
hormone injections to their clients, when the treatments failed
to do anything, save for complicating matters more.
Ayurveda
is the science of long life; the oldest known health
system in the world, it is believed to have been practiced
in India for thousands of years. Promoting holistic medicine
with focus on spirituality and balance, Ayurveda stresses that
menopause is not an illness that needs treatment but, rather,
it is a state of life that should be embraced, learned and
traveled freely. As more and more people seek healthier alternatives,
Ayurveda is gaining even more popularity now, in the United
States. The Ayurveda approach is a mixture of herbalism and
spiritualism, blending together and promoting inner reflection
and meditation, rather than pharmaceutical products. In a time
when many suddenly feel so lost and alone, it offers a breath
of hope.
In addition to offering a holistic approach to menopause,
Ayurveda also encompasses dietary needs and routine, promoting
a strong and healthy lifestyle, full circle. Cooking with spices
such as cinnamon, coriander and fennel are thought to help
with some symptoms, as well as eating cooked leafy greens and
small amounts of cumin seed, whereas hot and spicy foods are
frowned upon.
One must also make an attempt to achieve balance through lifestyle.
Just as one would not wear one sock to bed and leave the other
off, so does Ayurveda encourage a well-balanced lifestyle to
compliment the diet. Suggesting its followers wake no later
than 6 a.m., the Vedic method of holistic medicine suggests
morning massages with sesame oils, helping to relax and refresh
the skin, while promoting good circulation. Frequent light
meals are also promoted, at spaced times throughout the day,
and it is recommended that everyone retires for the evening,
no later than 10:00 p.m. This allows the body sufficient time
to both rest and cleanse itself of any impurities. Combining
routine with healthy living and a low-stress atmosphere has
become quite popular, continuing to amass more and more followers.
While skeptics will always exist, the Ayurveda approach seems
quite similar to what recent studies have been revealing; that
eating and maintaining a healthy lifestyle will keep menopausal
inconveniences to a minimum. Diet and exercise are essential
to the menopausal woman, as well as to everyone else in our
world. That the Vedic approach has taken this and then woven
it in with a mixture of spirituality and self-reflection is
a brilliant concept.
Menopause is not a disease, nor is it an illness. It is another
stage in the metamorphosis that is our existence, bringing
new challenges, new adventures and new rewards. Through a mixture
of healthy living, good diet, serene surroundings and inner
peace and understanding, we are better able to cope with the
stress around us and then shed it away. This enables us to
open our eyes and truly see that menopause is simply another
step forward on the grand adventure that is our life. Rather
than worrying about it, or shunning those that have it, we
should embrace it as a new and fascinating new stage of life. # # # # #
SolveYourProblem.com
: 2006
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