FAQ: Menopause
What are the possible symptoms of peri-menopause, menopause and
post-menopause?
The Symptoms may include any or all of the following: Hot flashes, dizziness,
fatigue, decreased interest in sex, tinnitus, feeling angry, moodiness,
sometimes big mood swings, depression, feeling agitated, flushed cheeks,
night-sweating, heat in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, or cold
hands and feet depending on the pattern, afternoon or tidal fever, weight
gain, feeling hot, hot flashes followed by feeling cold, sore back, dry mouth,
dry skin, dry hair, itching, vaginal dryness, constipation, palpitations,
insomnia, blurred vision, dry eyes, achy joints, a feeling of oppression of the
chest, phlegm in chest, a feeling of fullness in the epigastrium, a feeling of
distention in the breasts, belching, nausea, no appetite. Your tongue may be
red or very red. It could look raw or peeled with a lot of cracks.
Not every woman will have all these symptoms. In Oriental Medicine we
have discovered 6 main patterns of dysfunction that account for all of the
symptoms listed above. To successfully treat menopause and post-menopausal
symptoms we need to determine which pattern of dysfunction you are
experiencing. Once we make that determination based upon your exact
symptom pattern that you have we can formulate an effective treatment
strategy that many times is herbal medicine. Less often the treatment may
require acupuncture.
Is it true that the most recent, largest, most comprehensive medical
study of treatment of menopausal symptoms by hormone replacement
therapy concluded that it was possibly too dangerous and should not
be used by most women?
post-menopause?
The Symptoms may include any or all of the following: Hot flashes, dizziness,
fatigue, decreased interest in sex, tinnitus, feeling angry, moodiness,
sometimes big mood swings, depression, feeling agitated, flushed cheeks,
night-sweating, heat in the palms of the hands or soles of the feet, or cold
hands and feet depending on the pattern, afternoon or tidal fever, weight
gain, feeling hot, hot flashes followed by feeling cold, sore back, dry mouth,
dry skin, dry hair, itching, vaginal dryness, constipation, palpitations,
insomnia, blurred vision, dry eyes, achy joints, a feeling of oppression of the
chest, phlegm in chest, a feeling of fullness in the epigastrium, a feeling of
distention in the breasts, belching, nausea, no appetite. Your tongue may be
red or very red. It could look raw or peeled with a lot of cracks.
Not every woman will have all these symptoms. In Oriental Medicine we
have discovered 6 main patterns of dysfunction that account for all of the
symptoms listed above. To successfully treat menopause and post-menopausal
symptoms we need to determine which pattern of dysfunction you are
experiencing. Once we make that determination based upon your exact
symptom pattern that you have we can formulate an effective treatment
strategy that many times is herbal medicine. Less often the treatment may
require acupuncture.
Is it true that the most recent, largest, most comprehensive medical
study of treatment of menopausal symptoms by hormone replacement
therapy concluded that it was possibly too dangerous and should not
be used by most women?
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Answer: Yes. Those were the studys conclusions. More recent research has
said no women should take hormone replacement therapy as it only relieves
hot flashes temporarily and there are other better ways to treat those
symptoms. A study published in late April, 2003 concluded that hormone
replacement therapy did not even alleviate the symptoms of hot flashes, and
low sex drive.
How do you treat these symptoms, Dr. Eichenauer?
The primary method of treatment-and this can be all that is necessary-are
inexpensive, highly safe and effective herbal formulas including my
preparation of a custom tailored prescription for those women who have more
complex symptom patterns. In some cases acupuncture can be very beneficial,
but it is not necessary. Prices for custom herbal formulas are $50.00 for up to
a months supply (depending upon dosage).
How effective are the treatments?
In most cases women experience the complete cessation of symptoms even if
they have had an hysterectomy as long as they keep taking your herbs. My
patients report feeling phenomenally better on the herbs.
Are there things I Can do to help myself?
Yes!
a. Avoid taking any warming herbs or spices since they consume will dry you
out and create heat leading to hot flashes. Examples of herbs that create heat
in the body are Chinese, or Korean Ginseng, Schisandra, Turmeric, Cayenne
pepper, Tabasco sauce, black pepper, chili powder, curries, ginger and any
other hot spices. Note: it is best not to self prescribe herbs. Seek the assistance
of someone trained in Oriental Medicine and herbology.
b. Food therapy which is paying attention to the effect of food on your body.
Reduce the amount of hot spicy foods, including hot spicy American, Chinese,
Mexican and Thai dishes. Also reduce or avoid altogether coffee, alcohol, and
cigarettes as they all create heat in the body. Soy products are good for
menopausal symptoms and good sources of soy are miso, soy milk, soy beans
(of course), Boca Burgers and other products made with soy including tofu.
Drink Green Tea as it is cooling yet can still give you a bit of a caffeine boost if
you need it. Green tea also has anti cancer properties.
Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables to insure an adequate intake of calcium to
and other minerals to prevent osteoporosis. The most important single thing to
prevent osteoporosis is to walk as much as possible. Avoid alcohol, caffeine,
sugar, spicy foods and hot soups and drinks since they can trigger hot flashes,
aggravate urinary incontinence and make mood swings worse. Drink cool or
cold drinks and let your soup cool. These foods make the blood more acidic
which prompts the bones to release calcium to try to counter the acidification
of the blood. This is an important factor in osteoporosis (bone loss). If you have
Osteoporosis, call Dr. Eichenauer at the Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine
Center for help with this serious condition.
c. Life style. reduce stress. Try not to worry about things out of your control.
Learn to meditate, it's easy. Ask me how. Get regular moderate exercise. It is a
fact that walking promotes strong bones and can reverse osteoporosis, since it
causes the bones to absorb calcium.
d. Vaginal dryness. A paste made of aloe vera gel and slippery elm powder
mixed to the consistency of tooth paste and inserted into the vagina can
relieve vaginal dryness and itching. If itching persists, open a vitamin E
capsule and apply the oil to the itching vaginal area. However all these
symptoms can most easily be treated by taking herbs.
e. You can try the following herbs, supplements or over the counter remedies
available at most health food stores: Black Kohash, Remifemin a product which
contains Black Kohash. Try taking Gotu Kola & Dong Gui to relieve hot flashes,
vaginal dryness and depression. If you have osteoporosis take calcium citrate
with vit. D, or better yet Calcium Factor Coral Calcium (This is available
through my office) since it is the most easy assimilated, magnesium &
potassium, Dioscorea (Chinese Yam root), vitamin C with mixed bioflavinoids.
All this is hit ormiss and trial and error.
If you want to get results now, please call me at 926-4711 to make an
appointment. I will diagnose your symptoms and prescribe a formula or
prepare a custom made formula that will help your body function better so that
the uncomfortable symptoms either go away or are significantly reduced. I
have manufactured formulas and I make up custom herbal formulas using the
finest pharmaceutical quality herbal extract powders.
If you want me to treat you, call me at 941-926-4711 to schedule an
appointment. Click here to go to For My First Visit for a welcome letter and
new patient intake form.
said no women should take hormone replacement therapy as it only relieves
hot flashes temporarily and there are other better ways to treat those
symptoms. A study published in late April, 2003 concluded that hormone
replacement therapy did not even alleviate the symptoms of hot flashes, and
low sex drive.
How do you treat these symptoms, Dr. Eichenauer?
The primary method of treatment-and this can be all that is necessary-are
inexpensive, highly safe and effective herbal formulas including my
preparation of a custom tailored prescription for those women who have more
complex symptom patterns. In some cases acupuncture can be very beneficial,
but it is not necessary. Prices for custom herbal formulas are $50.00 for up to
a months supply (depending upon dosage).
How effective are the treatments?
In most cases women experience the complete cessation of symptoms even if
they have had an hysterectomy as long as they keep taking your herbs. My
patients report feeling phenomenally better on the herbs.
Are there things I Can do to help myself?
Yes!
a. Avoid taking any warming herbs or spices since they consume will dry you
out and create heat leading to hot flashes. Examples of herbs that create heat
in the body are Chinese, or Korean Ginseng, Schisandra, Turmeric, Cayenne
pepper, Tabasco sauce, black pepper, chili powder, curries, ginger and any
other hot spices. Note: it is best not to self prescribe herbs. Seek the assistance
of someone trained in Oriental Medicine and herbology.
b. Food therapy which is paying attention to the effect of food on your body.
Reduce the amount of hot spicy foods, including hot spicy American, Chinese,
Mexican and Thai dishes. Also reduce or avoid altogether coffee, alcohol, and
cigarettes as they all create heat in the body. Soy products are good for
menopausal symptoms and good sources of soy are miso, soy milk, soy beans
(of course), Boca Burgers and other products made with soy including tofu.
Drink Green Tea as it is cooling yet can still give you a bit of a caffeine boost if
you need it. Green tea also has anti cancer properties.
Eat plenty of green leafy vegetables to insure an adequate intake of calcium to
and other minerals to prevent osteoporosis. The most important single thing to
prevent osteoporosis is to walk as much as possible. Avoid alcohol, caffeine,
sugar, spicy foods and hot soups and drinks since they can trigger hot flashes,
aggravate urinary incontinence and make mood swings worse. Drink cool or
cold drinks and let your soup cool. These foods make the blood more acidic
which prompts the bones to release calcium to try to counter the acidification
of the blood. This is an important factor in osteoporosis (bone loss). If you have
Osteoporosis, call Dr. Eichenauer at the Acupuncture and Alternative Medicine
Center for help with this serious condition.
c. Life style. reduce stress. Try not to worry about things out of your control.
Learn to meditate, it's easy. Ask me how. Get regular moderate exercise. It is a
fact that walking promotes strong bones and can reverse osteoporosis, since it
causes the bones to absorb calcium.
d. Vaginal dryness. A paste made of aloe vera gel and slippery elm powder
mixed to the consistency of tooth paste and inserted into the vagina can
relieve vaginal dryness and itching. If itching persists, open a vitamin E
capsule and apply the oil to the itching vaginal area. However all these
symptoms can most easily be treated by taking herbs.
e. You can try the following herbs, supplements or over the counter remedies
available at most health food stores: Black Kohash, Remifemin a product which
contains Black Kohash. Try taking Gotu Kola & Dong Gui to relieve hot flashes,
vaginal dryness and depression. If you have osteoporosis take calcium citrate
with vit. D, or better yet Calcium Factor Coral Calcium (This is available
through my office) since it is the most easy assimilated, magnesium &
potassium, Dioscorea (Chinese Yam root), vitamin C with mixed bioflavinoids.
All this is hit ormiss and trial and error.
If you want to get results now, please call me at 926-4711 to make an
appointment. I will diagnose your symptoms and prescribe a formula or
prepare a custom made formula that will help your body function better so that
the uncomfortable symptoms either go away or are significantly reduced. I
have manufactured formulas and I make up custom herbal formulas using the
finest pharmaceutical quality herbal extract powders.
If you want me to treat you, call me at 941-926-4711 to schedule an
appointment. Click here to go to For My First Visit for a welcome letter and
new patient intake form.
| Acupuncture & Alternative Medicine Healing Center |
| Call now to get your free consultation or to schedule your first appointment to improved health! (941) 926-4711 |
