Menopause And Insomnia

Insomnia can be a real plague during the menopause, because this is precisely when you need the healing and uplifting power of sleep the most.

There are many remedies that can be of help in helping you sleep, including Valerian, Melatonin and even Homeopathy.

Try the different options and see what suits you best. Valerian is the most popular one and works very well on most.

If you must take prescription medication (on the advice of your doctor of course), make it short term.
Whatever you do, try not to get into the habit of taking prescription sedatives!

Does Menopause Trigger Hayfever?

Does menopause trigger hayfever? Whilst menopause does not trigger hayfever, some women do experience increased allergies as part of their menopause symptoms and this of course includes hayfever.

As women approach the menopause and their hormonal profile changes, some may begin to experience a heightened sensitivity to allergies that previously had only subtle effects, or new allergies might spring up seemingly out of nowhere.

The stress of menopause symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia and depression amongst others can leave you physically and mentally exhausted. This as well as the hormonal changes caused by the menopause can dramatically impair your immune system which in turn leaves you more susceptible to allergies including hayfever.

One trick I find that helps me with hayfever is to smear vaseline into the nostrils before being exposed to pollen etc. This traps the pollen before it has a chance to enter the body and for me, reduces their impact.

Vitamin E for Hot Flushes

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Hot flushes and those dreaded night sweats!

As many as 75% of menopausal women experience hot flushes. They vary in intensity and frequency and may recur over months, or even years.
This refers to the dilation, or relaxation, of the tiny blood vessels near the skin, leading to a rise in skin temperature and flushing of the skin.
Increased heart rates, headaches, dizziness, weight gain, fatigue or insomnia may accompany hot flushes.

Vitamin E (200-600iu per day) has long been established for helping many menopausal problems especially hot flushes, night sweats, palpitations and vaginal dryness.
The combination of bioflavonoids, especially hesperidin, together with vitamin C (at about 1000mg of each per day) can also be useful for flushing and other circulatory problems.

Natural sources of vitamin E are plant oils (hemp, olive), seeds (linseeds, hemp seeds, sesame), wholewheat products (wholemeal bread, cereals), tinned tuna and asparagus.

Apparently it doesn't always work, but if you've tried all else, like I have, it's definitely worth a try!

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