Milk Thistle For Menopausal Sypmtoms

Milk Thistle has been used for centuries as a tonic and is a potent detoxifier and liver cleanser. It is an antioxidant that stimulates the liver and protects and repairs it.
The active ingredient Sylimarin is found in the seeds of milk thistle and is said to:

- repair liver damage
- lower cholesterol
- treat gallbladder disorders
- reduce insulin resistance in diabetic pateints  with cirrhosis of the liver
- improves liver function in hepatic patients
- reduces cancer cell growth in certain cancers
- treats diabetic nephropathy ( a type of kidney disease in diabetics)

It helps the body clear any toxins and the surges of hormones that often accompany the menopause and are hindering its functioning and in doing so, may alleviate hot flashes and other menopausal sypmtoms, such as  anxiety and feelings of depression.
More on Milk thistle here.

Gelatin Helps With Menopausal Sagging Skin

Gelatin Helps With Menopausal Dry and Sagging Skin

A couple of months ago I was having problems with a very painful arthritic knee and as I had heard so much about the benefits of gelatin for joint pain, decided to do do a bit more research into it.

There are numerous benefits attributed to Gelatin and some of them are associated with the menopause:

- regulates fat metabolism
- soothes the stomach
- detoxifies the liver
- reduces cellulite
- helps spare progesterone and opposes estrogen and hence regulates hormones
- regulates immune system
- improves skin, nails and hair
- helps absorb calcium
- relieves joint pain and stiffness

After two months of taking the gelatin, I have found my joint stiffness and pain substantially reduced (although I am taking sea cucumber too).

The main thing I have noticed and that really excites me, is the fact that my skin is really improving. My skin that I have noticed since the menopause has begun to sag, is tightening up and the dry skin on my calves and heels is getting much better.
My frown lines are getting softer and my nail cuticles stronger. I'm hoping that my nails will become stronger too (as they have a tendency to split) and my hair thicker, as gelatin is also supposed to help this.
I'm already looking younger and can't wait to see how much better my skin will be after a few more months!!

I have been taking one tablespoon of powdered Gelatin every morning on an empty stomach and not eating for half an hour after that.
I dissolve the powder in a tiny amount of cold water and wait for a minute, before adding coffee, sugar and hot water and stirring well (I have it black without any addition of milk). I find it easy to take it this way. You can add a bit of hot water to dissolve and then add cold orange juice or any other beverage to it.

Sea Cucumber For Menopausal Arthritis

Could Sea Cucumber help menopausal arthritis?
I have been suffering from osteoarthritis of the left knee and have started taking gelatin for joint pain. However it takes a bit of time before results can be felt and seen, about 6 to 9 weeks.

In the meanwhile, whilst waiting for the results to kick in, I decided to try Sea Cucumber capsules as well. I started by taking 1 capsule 4 times a day (to be reduced to 1 capsule twice a day after a month or so).

I felt an almost immediate reduction in pain and stiffness, which I was really surprised about. I'm wasn't sure whether it was a coincidence and the effects of the the gelatin were beginning to kick in or whether it was the sea cucumber.
I stopped the sea cucumber and the pain increased but was not as bad as before.

Apparently, sea cucumber contains chondroitin which helps joints, but it also relieves pain and inflammation, so maybe the pain relief part was what gave immediate results.
To read more about the medicinal uses of sea cucumber click here and here.

Anti depressant could be 'Female Viagra'

'Anti depressant could be female viagra' so claim Sprout Pharmaceuticals, a bioscience company based in North Carolina, which has completed several clinical trials involving pre and post-menopausal women.

They were investigating a drug called Flibanserin which is a novel serotonin agonist and 5-HT2A antagonist, and has been shown to increase sexual desire and reduce distress in women with a reduced sex drive.

A German company called Boehringer Ingelheim originally developed Flibanserin as an anti depressant. However, whilst it didn't help depression, many study participants reported increased sexual interest while taking the drug.

Boehringer Ingelheim failed to win approval from the FDA two years ago for the use of the drug in the treatment of low sex drive in women.

The Risks of Osteoporosis, Fracture and even mortality greater if you have an Early Menopause.

The Risks of Osteoporosis, Fracture and even mortal is greater if you have an Early Menopause.
More bad news for those of us who have been through an early menopause as this was the conclusion of a Swedish study that looked at the long-term effects of early menopause on mortality, risk of fragility fracture and osteoporosis and which was published in 'An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology.'
They suggest that women who go through the menopause early are nearly twice as likely to suffer from osteoporosis in later life were also found to have a higher risk of fragility fracture and of mortality ie death.
However, these results found in women with an early menopause need to be explored further as many other factors could affect this such as medication, nutrition, smoking and alcohol consumption.
The good news is that now that we are aware of this, we can do all that we can to prevent osteoporosis as early as we can.
To read more about this study...

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Reduces Hot Flashes

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or CBT is a safe and effective therapy for hot flashes and night sweats, the most common symptoms of the menopause and an alternative to Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).
This is according to two new studies published this month. Both studies were led by Professor Myra Hunter of the Institute of Psychiatry at King’s College London.

Almost a quarter of women going through the menopause commonly suffer from hot flushes and night sweats which leads to them experiencing sleep disturbances, embarrassment and discomfort.

The first study followed women who had hot flashes and night sweats after breast cancer treatment and the second followed healthy menopausal women and was published in Menopause: The Journal of the North American Menopause Society.

In the second study, 140 healthy menopausal women were followed in a Randomized Controlled Trial over 26 weeks and were divided into two groups. One had group cognitive behavior therapy and the other self-help CBT. It was found that both group and guided self-help forms of CBT led to significant improvements in how women coped with the menopause symptoms.
In addition, mood, quality of life and sleep improved.
What's more, these improvements following brief interventions of CBT were still effective 6 months later.

Source: King's College, London