Don't Let The Menopause Depress You - Redefine Yourself!

Menopause is often a time when depression sets in. But is it due to the menopause, or is it, maybe,due to the changes that occur at the age menopause occurs.

It's often a time when children are leaving or have left home, leaving you to reassess your life and redefine yourself, and that, can be scarey!

Before reaching for the bottle of Prozac, it's worth trying to face your fears, anger, sadness, regrets etc. Of growing older, letting the kids go, not acheiving what you had hoped from life, not reaching your potential.....the list goes on.

A really good way to do this is to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), and once you are proficient in this, an offshoot of the technique, which I find easier, TAT, which I use all the time.

If you do need that extra help,remedies which are useful are St John's Wort (check with doctor or pharmacist if taking other medication), Rhodiola Rosea and L-theanine.
Also have a look at 5-HTP which is a metabolite of Trytophan which increases Serotonin and posssibly Melatonin levels in the brain and so helps with depression and insomnia. 5-HTP doesn't agree with everyone, so if you get any undesirable effects with it, stop taking it.

Take this time as an opportunity to chase away those demons, once and for all!

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.