From the monthly archives:

January 2008

A Naturopathic Doctors Says You Can Prevent or Alleviate Five Common Effects of Menopause

by Wendy on January 30, 2008

InsomniaInsomnia 

Shaila Schwartz, a naturopathic doctor in San Francisco recommends ways you can minimize these common effects of menopause:  [click to continue…]

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A Naturopathic Doctor’s Approach to Treating Menopausal Symptoms

by Wendy on January 28, 2008

Shaila Schwartz N.D.In previous posts, I’ve written about my decision to forego synthetic hormone replacement therapy and try instead, a natural approach.  Both my general internist and gynecologist told me that for most women, natural, botanical products don’t alleviate menopausal symptoms, but I had heard enough anecdotal evidence from friends and friends of friends to want to try it.  [click to continue…]

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It All Starts with a Good Night’s Sleep

by Wendy on January 25, 2008

Woman SleepingWoman sleeping 

Of all the symptoms of menopause that women complain about, hot flashes and sleep disturbances are among the most common and I seem to have licked both with a daily dose of Black Cohosh. Or is it the Gaba that’s doing the trick? [click to continue…]

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Is the FDA looking out for Women or Wyeth? A Physician’s Point of View

by Wendy on January 21, 2008

Marsha Nunley M.D.I recently had an opportunity to interview Dr. Marsha Nunley, a San Francisco-based physician, about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy and her opinion about the FDA’s recent action against certain compounding pharmacies. She made several compelling points that I want to share with you on this blog. [click to continue…]

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Does a Daily Dose of Fish Oil Really Help?

by Wendy on January 14, 2008

Fish Oil CapsulesFish Oil CapsulesFish Oil Capsules

Between the two tablespoons of flax seed and the four tablets of strawberry-flavored fish oil I take daily, I ingest four grams of Omega 3 fatty acids every day not counting what’s in the fortified foods I eat throughout the day.  But is this really doing anything for me? [click to continue…]

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About Bio-Identical Hormone Therapy - From the FDA

by Wendy on January 11, 2008

For an explanation of Bio-Identical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) — a term that the FDA does not recognize — and the issues that led to the FDA’s action this week against certain compounding pharmacies, see the agency’s latest update, “Bio-Identicals: Sorting Myths from Facts.”

What is your point-of-view on BHRT? Has it made a difference for you?

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Is the FDA Looking Out for Women or Wyeth?

by Wendy on January 10, 2008

The FDA announced that it will be “cracking down” on pharmacies that sell customized hormone mixtures prescribed by physicians to alleviate menopause symptoms. This is the latest move in an ongoing debate over the growing use of “compounded” hormone products. [click to continue…]

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Power Surge + Hot Flash = Insomnia

by Wendy on January 7, 2008

It happens just about every night.  After reading for about a half hour, I’m finally sleepy and relaxed. I turn out the light and sink into my down pillows and high thread-count sheets. I’m just falling asleep when, wham – it happens. It feels like my body has been plugged into an electrical socket and… who turned up the heat?  I throw off the covers, grab my fan and contemplate another sleepless night ahead. [click to continue…]

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Exercise Doesn’t Alleviate Hot Flashes After All

by Wendy on January 3, 2008

Contrary to what we’ve read (and hoped was true), exercise is not a cure for hot flashes, according to a study whose results were just published in the January issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.  Researchers had hoped to prove that exercise could be an alternative to HRT for women suffering from hot flashes, but apparently, it’s not that simple.  [click to continue…]

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