Hi - Menopause

[Guest guest]

Just joined the group. Are members mostly laypersons or acu

practitioners, students? I am a writer for the Pulse of Oriental

Medicine (http://www.geocities.com/acupunk99/). Looking forward to

participating in this group!

 

Brian

____________

 

By way of introduction, here is something I wrote about Menopause:

 

Menopause and

By Brian Benjamin Carter

 

Menopause is a natural process that alters the balance of Yin and

Yang. After menopause many women discover (and may be disturbed by)

the more yang (energetic, aggressive) side of themselves. As men grow

older, they tend to discover their yin (passive, yielding) side.

 

Many people don't realize how powerful Oriental Medicine treatments

can be for women's health conditions. In fact, gynecological problems

have been treated with acupuncture for over 2000 years, and for 5000

years with herbal medicine.

 

Oriental Medicine holds that mind and body are one, and considers the

whole woman and her experience of life in diagnosis. These life

experiences (especially when out of balance and not dealt with

properly) can manifest as disease in the body, and especially as

gynecological problems in women.

 

Interestingly, TCM considers all premenstrual and perimenopausal

symptoms to be signs of ill-health. The biggest factors in

determining your comfort through this time will be the dietary and

emotional health you have maintained throughout your adulthood. Even

if you haven't lived perfectly, there's still hope! Acupuncture and

herbs can eliminate your discomfort and restore internal balance.

 

So make an appointment to get treated with acupuncture and herbs! In

the meantime, try out some of these dietary suggestions:

 

* Cut back on your sugar intake.

* Take a break from coffee, chocolate, colas (tough for a lot of

people, but think about feeling better!)

* Eat more tryptophan-rich foods such as turkey, bananas, figs, whole

grain crackers, figs, and dates.

* Eat more foods rich in phyto-estrogens and progesterones: soy

flours and beans, red clover sprouts, yams, and linseed.

* Eat more foods with high indoles: for example, brussel sprouts,

broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage.

 

Copyright 2001, Brian Benjamin Carter, The Pulse of Oriental Medicine

 

 

Brian Benjamin Carter is the Editor of The Pulse of Oriental Medicine

(an online resource for the public which received 28,000 visitors in

its first 2 years), a writer for Being Well (a monthly e-newsletter),

and an Intern at the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine. Brian

lives in beautiful San Diego, California and is shamelessly addicted

to double espressos.