From the category archives:

Natural Remedies

Dr. Andrew Weil On What NOT To Take For Menopausal Symptoms

by Wendy on July 15, 2008

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I was surprised to read Dr. Andrew Weil’s comments about the fallacies of taking some natural remedies to alleviate menopausal symptoms in his “Dr. Debunker” column in the latest issue of AARP Magazine. After all, isn’t he known as a leading proponent of natural medicine? [click to continue…]

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A Trip to “Menopauseland” Is In Our Future

by Wendy on April 22, 2008

MenopauselandMenopauseland 

I guess if ED can be talked about in TV ads, so can menopause. The company that makes Estroven, a natural OTC supplement that claims to alleviate menopausal symptoms, will soon launch a $20 million TV, print and online advertising campaign beckoning us to visit Menopauseland. They describe it as a “cool and calming destination… lush instead of flushed,”  presumably where you can enjoy life symptom free - if you take Estroven, that is. [click to continue…]

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10 Foods with High Amounts of Phytoestrogens

by Wendy on April 1, 2008

Edamame

If you are experiencing menopausal symptoms typically associated with estrogen deficiency, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and food cravings, you may want to try increasing the amount of plant-based hormones - or phytoestrogens - in your diet.  Phytoestrogens are chemicals that are found in plants that may act like the estrogen produced naturally in the body.  Consider adding these foods to your weekly visit to the farmers market or grocery store. [click to continue…]

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Designer Flax Seed from a North Dakota Farm

by Wendy on March 10, 2008

Flax Seeds 

Last weekend, while shopping at Costco, I purchased a 40-oz container of organic, cold-milled, quadruple-cleaned, ground, golden flax seed with 2700 mg of Omega 3 and 800 mg of Omega-6 per serving of two tablespoons. Was this typical of all flax seed brands? Or, had I stumbled upon a super, high-quality processor?  I purchased it and called the manufacturer’s toll-free number to find out. [click to continue…]

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Why the “Sunshine” Vitamin is so Important for Menopausal Women

by Wendy on February 13, 2008

Vitamin DVitamin D Bottles 

 

Vitamin D is one of 13 vitamins our bodies need to function properly, according to the American Dietetic Association. It’s a fat-soluble vitamin that promotes the absorption of calcium and phosphorus and helps deposit these minerals in bones and teeth to make them strong. It’s so important to our well-being that a group of prominent scientists have formed The Vitamin D Council, a non-profit organization with a mission to educate the public and professionals about Vitamin D deficiency and its numerous associated diseases (such as heart disease, stroke, osteoporosis, depression). [click to continue…]

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Flax Seed for Hot Flashes?

by Wendy on February 11, 2008

Flax SeedFlax Seed

I mentioned several weeks ago that I had begun a daily regimen of Black Cohosh, Flax Seed and Fish Oil.  I’m happy to report that the hot flashes that I had been experiencing for more than a year have completely stopped.  Based on everything I’ve read, I  attributed this to the Black Cohosh, while the Flax Seeds have undoubtedly benefited me in other ways.  But a new study suggests that it could have been the flax seed after all.  [click to continue…]

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Six Botanical Medicines That Can Help with Menopausal Symptoms

by Wendy on February 2, 2008

Ginkgo BilobaGinkgo BilobaIn my interview with Shaila Schwartz, a Naturopathic Doctor in San Francisco, I asked her about botanical medicines that she has found to be most helpful with her patients.  Her response follows: [click to continue…]

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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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