Alternative Therapy to Help With the Effects of Menopause

Alternative therapy to help with the effects of menopause are a natural choice for many women. After all, studies show that nearly half of all women I the US have tried some form of alternative medical treatment. And those treatments are usually for illness. Menopause is simple a natural part of the process of life. Many women feel that an alternative therapy to help with the effects of menopause is the most natural thing that they can do for their bodies and for themselves.

Hot flashes are a common occurrence during menopause. An alternative therapy that can help with this condition is simply in choice of clothing to be worn. Wearing layers so that outer clothing can be removed as the heat beings, and in particular wearing loose fitting cotton clothing is a great way to control hot flashes naturally. Also splashing the face and hands with cold water and staying well hydrated, getting regular exercise and keeping regular hours when sleeping will certainly help. Also avoiding spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol, in particular red wine.

When a woman ages the metabolism slows down. Exercise helps to keep the metabolism high and is a great natural remedy for menopausal symptoms. Exercise also helps with the redistribution of fat in the body. Most health care professionals, when discussing use of exercise as an alternative therapy to help with the effects of menopause recommend working out about five times a week, and combining some weight training with cardiovascular activities. The exercise must be long enough to get the metabolism speeded up, and thirty minutes is usually recommended.

Whether or not a woman is taking estrogen, she should also take calcium. Menopause depletes calcium in the system and can lead to brittle bones, and especially during exercise that can be a problem. It is recommended that 1,000 milligrams of calcium be used daily by those women who are taking estrogen and 1,500 daily by those who are not.

Another promising alternative therapy to help with the effects of menopause are phytoestrogens. These plant sterols have a weak activity that resembles estrogen. They bind to estrogen receptors in the body and act as estrogens. Studies are still out but most healthcare professionals have a strong belief in the power of these sterols.