Hormonal Imbalance and Menopause

Hormonal Imbalance
and Menopause
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Contents
HORMONAL IMBALANCE ................................................................... 4
MENOPAUSE ..................................................................................... 8
CONDITIONS LINKED TO MENOPAUSE............................................ 11
MANAGING HORMONAL IMBALANCE & MENOPAUSE ....................... 13
AYURVEDA FOR HORMONAL IMBALANCE & MENOPAUSE ................ 15
HERBS FOR HEALTHY HORMONAL BALANCE ................................ 16
DIET FOR HEALTHY HORMONE BALANCE ..................................... 23
LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS .................................................. 26
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES ............................................................... 29
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Disclaimer
The information in this book is intended to be used for educational
purposes only. This book is published with the understanding that
authors and publisher are not providing medical advice of any kind,
nor is this book intended to replace medical advice, nor to diagnose,
prescribe or treat any disease, condition, illness or injury.
Before beginning any diet or exercise program, including any aspect of
the guidance in this book, it is advised that you seek full medical
consultation from your physician about your medical condition. Author
and publisher claim no responsibility to any person or entity for any
liability, loss, or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or
indirectly as a result of the use, application or interpretation of the
material in this book.
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HORMONAL IMBALANCE
Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are chemicals that transmit signals between the cells in your body
to help regulate biological processes. They play roles in diverse mechanisms
like growth, tissue repair, blood pressure, appetite, metabolism, fertility,
reproduction, pain management, and sleep cycles.
Hormonal imbalance is characterized by disrupted hormone levels in the
body. It can occur in both men and women of any age due to natural
changes in body chemistry. Hormonal imbalance occurs in women when
their estrogen and progesterone levels become unstable.
Causes of Hormonal Imbalance in Women
Stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and other lifestyle factors impair the
body’s ability to maintain proper levels of estrogen and progesterone, thus,
causing an imbalance. Other causes include:

Polycystic ovary syndrome

Thyroid disease

Tumors
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
Endocrine disruptors
More women than men experience hormonal imbalances because of
premenstrual syndrome (PMS). PMS occurs when the body has low levels of
minerals and vitamins.
Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance
One excessive or depleted hormone level can affect the entire body and
result in the following symptoms:

Hot flashes and night sweats

Menstrual problems

Oily skin

Increased hair growth

Exhaustion

Weight gain

Insomnia
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
Fatigue

Low libido

Vaginal dryness

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Mood swings

Depression

Endometriosis

Fibrosis

Foggy Memory
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Long-term effects of Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones control reproductive health, mood, blood pressure, blood sugar,
and other essential processes. Hormonal imbalances can lead to serious
harmful effects such as:

Infertility

Cancer

Depression
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MENOPAUSE
Menopause is the time when a woman’s menstruation stops and she is no
longer fertile. Every woman will come to face menopause. The average age
for women reaching menopausal stage is 52.
Clinically, a menopause is confirmed when a woman has not had a menstrual
period for one year. The symptoms of menopause include:

Irregular periods
Menstrual pattern will start to change. Some women may experience a
period every two to three weeks, while others may not have one for
months at a time.

Lower fertility
This occurs during the peri-menopausal stage of a woman’s life where
her estrogen levels drop significantly. This decreases the chances of
pregnancy.

Vaginal dryness
Some women may experience pain during intercourse and
inflammation in their vagina due to lack of lubrication and thinning of
tissues.
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
Hot flashes
A hot flash is a sudden feeling of heat in the upper body. It may start
in the face, neck or chest, and then spreads upwards or downwards
(depending on where it started). The heart rate may suddenly increase
or may become irregular or stronger than usual palpitations. Hot
flashes occur during the first year after a woman’s final period.

Disturbed sleep
This is generally caused by night sweats. It may also be caused by
insomnia or anxiety. Women will experience difficulty falling asleep
and staying asleep as they go through menopause.

Urinary Tract Infections
Women are more susceptible to lower urinary tract infections such as
cystitis. Having the urge to urinate may also occur more frequently.

Moodiness
Mood swings can be triggered by poor sleep.
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
Poor concentration and memory
Women may experience short term memory problems and difficulty in
concentrating for too long.

Hair loss
Menstruation is regulated by the hormones estrogen while progesterone
prepares the body for pregnancy. Peri-menopause starts when the ovaries
begin to produce less of the two hormones and cause menopause. Naturally,
the body produces less estrogen and progesterone by the time a woman is
in her late 30s.
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CONDITIONS LINKED TO MENOPAUSE
After menopause, it is common for the following chronic conditions to
develop.

Cardiovascular diseases
A drop in estrogen levels is linked to an increased risk of
cardiovascular diseases. They are the main cause of death amongst
men and women. Promote healthy cardiovascular system by
maintaining regular exercise, getting at least 7 hours of sleep every
night, and eating a well-balanced diet.

Osteoporosis
During the first few years after menopause, a woman starts to lose
bone density. The lower a woman’s bone density gets, the higher her
risk of developing osteoporosis.

Urinary incontinence
Menopause causes the tissues of the vagina and urethra to lose their
elasticity, which can result in frequent, sudden, strong urges to
urinate. Stress incontinence may also become a problem such as
urinating involuntarily after coughing, sneezing, or lifting something.

Low libido
Low libido has been linked to disturbed sleep, depression, and night
sweats which are effects of menopause.

Excessive weight / Obesity
Women are more susceptible to weight gain during menopausal
transition. The chances of piling on pounds rise significantly after
menopause. Women are advised to reduce their caloric intake and
exercise daily to prevent weight gain.
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
Breast cancer
Women are at a higher risk of breast cancer after menopause. Doctors
advise women to exercise often to reduce risk of breast cancer.
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MANAGING HORMONAL IMBALANCE & MENOPAUSE
Women suffering from hormonal imbalance and menopause are offered
various treatments based on their symptoms and medical history. The
treatments include:

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) or Hormone Therapy (HT)
This is an effective treatment for a majority of the symptoms that
occur during menopause including vaginal dryness, vaginal itching,
vaginal discomfort, urinary problems, bone-density loss, hot flashes,
and night sweats. HRT has its risks and benefits:
Benefits of HRT
 Effectively treats many troublesome menopausal
symptoms.
 Helps prevent osteoporosis.
 Lowers colorectal cancer risk.
Risks of HRT
 Raises breast cancer risk
 Raises ovary cancer risk
 Raises uterine cancer risk
 Raises coronary heart disease risk
 Raises stroke risk
 HRT also accelerates loss of brain tissue (required for
thinking and memory) amongst women aged 65 and
above.
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
Low-dose antidepressants
Selective Serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown to
decrease menopausal hot flashes.

Omega 3s
Studies suggest that Omega-3 eases psychological distress and
depressive symptoms often suffered by menopausal and perimenopausal women.

Gabapentin (Neurontin)
This medication treats hot flashes. It is commonly used to treat
seizures.

Vaginal estrogen
Vaginal estrogen can be applied locally using a tablet, ring, or cream.
This medication treats vaginal dryness, discomfort during intercourse,
and urinary problems.
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AYURVEDA FOR HORMONAL IMBALANCE & MENOPAUSE
Ayurveda is an ancient medical system based on the principle of balance. Its
fundamental aim is to keep the body, mind, and spirit in perfect harmony.
Ayurveda links hormonal imbalance to disease development and prescribes
the use of herbs for treating hormonal imbalance and preventing disease.
While pharmaceutical companies extract active ingredients from plants and
sell them as drugs, the benefits of medicinal plants cannot be replicated
because their synergistic combination of hundreds of naturally occurring
phytochemicals cannot be reproduced in laboratories.
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HERBS FOR HEALTHY HORMONAL BALANCE
Amla (Phyllanthus Emblica)
Ashwagandha (Withania Somnifera)
Asparagus Adscendens (Asparagus Adscendens)
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Bacopa (Bacopa Monnieri)
Bamboo (Bambusa Arundinacea)
Black Gram (Vigna Mungo)
Chebulic Myrobalan (Terminalia Chebula)
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Chinese Smilax (Smilax China)
Eclipta (Eclipta Prostata)
Gotu Kola (Centalla Asiatica)
Indian Madder (Rubia Cordifolia)
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Neem (Azadiractha Indica)
Nutmeg (Myristica Fragrans)
Picrorhiza (Picrcorhiza Kurrooa)
Shatavari (Asparagus Racemosus)
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Spanish Pellitory (Anacyclus Pyrethum)
Tribulus (Tribulus Terrestris)
Turmeric (Curcuma Longa)
The following India Herbs supplements contain concentrated extracts from
these hormone balancing herbs:
Kama Rani for Menopause - http://www.kamarani.com
Radiancio for Clear Skin - http://www.radiancio.com
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Visit http://www.kamarani.com to learn more!
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Visit http://www.radiancio.com to learn more!
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DIET FOR HEALTHY HORMONE BALANCE
Your diet has a major impact on your hormone production. The following are
highly recommended to maintain a healthy hormonal balance.
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 helps maintain healthy hormonal balance. It affects estrogen,
progesterone, androgen, and glucocorticoid. Vitamin B6 is also necessary for
converting food into glucose for storage, the formation of amino acids, and
the breakdown of toxic amino acids. It is used to create neurotransmitters
like serotonin, taurine, dopamine, norepinephrine, and histamine. Good
sources of vitamin B6 are tuna, bananas, chicken, turkey, cod, salmon,
snapper, beef, and halibut.
Vitamin B12
Estrogen inhibits vitamin B12. Those with high amounts of estrogen should
increase B12 vitamin intake. Vitamin B12 is necessary for healthy mental
function. Good sources of vitamin B12 are snapper, salmon, beef, lamb,
scallops, shrimp, halibut, and yogurt.
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Vitamin C
Vitamin C regulates thyroid hormone production and also reduces the
amount of histamine in the body. Thus, vitamin C can be used to reduce
allergies. It is also an antioxidant, antihistamine, and an immune system
booster. Vitamin C also aids with stress and colds. Good sources of vitamin C
are red peppers, broccoli, strawberries, oranges, cantaloupe, kiwi, and
cauliflower.
Vitamin E
Vitamin E boosts progesterone production while reducing excessive amounts
of estrogen. It helps regulate vitamin A, reduces wrinkles, and protects the
skin from skin cancer and sunburns. Vitamin E also protects the brain from
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. It also aids with menstrual pain and
low sperm count. Good sources of vitamin E are almonds, sunflower seeds,
olives, spinach, and blueberries.
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Omega-3 Fatty Acids
Omega-3 fatty acids will help maintain a good hormonal balance. Good
sources of omega-3 fatty acids can be found in flax seeds, pumpkin seeds,
and sunflower seeds.
Good Fats
Eat plenty of good fats. Low fat diets could be the reason young and old
women are having problems. Hormones are made from cholesterol. If you
don’t eat enough good fats, your body won’t produce sufficient hormones.
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LIFESTYLE RECOMMENDATIONS
Meditate Daily
Women who participate in daily meditation exercises experience less
hormonal swings than those who do not meditate in some way. Meditate at
least 10 to 15 minutes daily to achieve optimal peace and clarity.
Get Sufficient Sleep
When we sleep, our body recovers from imbalances occurred during the day.
Lack of sleep aggravates hormonal imbalance. Get at least 8 hours of sleep
every night to maintain healthy hormonal balance.
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Maintain a Healthy Diet
A healthy diet is essential for a healthy body and a healthy mind, it is
important to maintain health and a sensible body weight. Avoid snacks,
processed foods and sugary drinks.
Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine, a stimulant, causes the adrenal gland to over-produce hormones.
Try to cut down or cut out your caffeine intake.
Exercise Frequently
Exercise increases circulation, delivery of oxygen and nutrients to skin cells,
and removal of potentially damaging toxins. It also increases sweating which
unclogs pores and mediates the production of testosterone-related hormones
that might trigger acne and androgenic hair loss. Exercise for at least 30
minutes, three times a week. Progressively extend your workout hours to an
hour and try to maintain the frequency of your work exercise regime.
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Stay Hydrated
Drink sufficient water for general health, toxin elimination through urination,
and proper kidney and liver function. Water hydrates, detoxifies, and
oxygenates your skin. Drink at least 2 liters of filtered water each day.
Water will not only help you remain radiant and in shape but it will also help
your brain work better.
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
More information about hormonal imbalance, menopause, and other health
topics can be found on the Kama Rani and Radiancio websites:
http://www.kamarani.com
http://www.radiancio.com
And in our Newsletter archives:
http://www.india-herbs.com/monthly_newsletter.php
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