There should be no illness associated with this time in a woman’s life when her natural cycle of fertility is coming to an end. There are many factors to take into account, however, and every woman is different.
My experience of thirty years in a predominantly female practice has helped me to prepare the woman for the change (commonly called the climacteric). Those likely to have pain, bleeding, hot flushes, a dry vagina and emotional disturbance are those who have usually had trouble with their menstrual cycle.
Don’t wait for the mid-forties to early fifties to seek help. As soon as a hormonal problem manifests itself after puberty take action immediately.
Your systems need balancing in some way. Maybe your spine needs adjusting; or the chi energies of acupuncture are topsy-turvy; you may need nutritional counselling or your body requires homoeopathic remedies.
From the very first period, if there is menstrual pain, find out why. Taking ‘the pill’ to relieve dysmenorrhoea or acne is just not on. This suppression of symptoms causes complications to a woman’s health later on in her life.
The correction of any structural pelvic problem by a chiropractor is the first consideration. This is not traumatic. It is an easy and uncomplicated adjustment when the injury first occurs. The treatment can be a little more complex with time and age. Falls and sports injuries contribute to these pelvic and spinal strains.
Balancing the chi energies with acupuncture is stunningly effective and it can be done with needles or the laser machine. Combining these two therapies, I find, halves the number of treatments needed and makes it easier for both patient and practitioner.
Correct nutrition is an important adjunct to therapy. If you suffer constant tiredness start with a protein breakfast which usually eliminates the headaches and emotional turmoil that often accompany hormonal cycles. Mineral and vitamin supplements are needed if eating patterns are not good.
Calcium is needed early in life to prevent osteoporosis later on; it also stops heavy bleeding, and magnesium phosphate tablets ease cramps. Many women seem to require mineral supplementation. This is easily determined by a hair analysis. As vitamin C doesn’t store in humans, we need it daily to help prevent broken capillaries as well as for many other conditions. Stress unfortunately depletes our supply of vitamin B found in whole grains.
A mixture of hops, centaury, agrimony, wormwood and bog beans are herbals suggested as a tissane (tea simmered slowly and used as a tonic). Another mix is raspberry, lime blossom and Pulsatilla. My choice for women’s health problems is red clover tea.
Women who decide to take control of their lives and have started to do yoga, tai chi or such in their fifties, have shown dramatic improvement in their health – from alleviating painful intercourse to the equally painful suppression of emotional distress.
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