Menopause
For many women, this menopausal or peri-menopausal phase can affect their quality of life. The menopause often brings with it a host of symptoms that can be difficult to manage: Stopped periods, mood disorders, vaginal dryness or weight gain... But the phenomenon that comes back most often concerns hot flushes and night sweats. They are described as a sensation of intense, sudden heat in the neck, décolleté and face, and may be associated with excessive sweating and redness. Inconvenient and exhausting, these sweats occur uncontrollably up to 15-20 times a day, and affect 75% of women. At night, they disrupt sleep. For 11% of women, these episodes are truly disabling. Their onset is linked to a drop in the hormones that play a major role in regulating body temperature.
And yet, there are natural solutions that can help you cope better with these changes. Among them, Bach Flower Remedies can be a valuable ally in alleviating symptoms and getting through this stage as smoothly as possible.
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What are Bach flower essences?
Bach flower essences, also known as Bach remedies, are natural preparations based on thirty-eight different flower essences. Each essence was carefully selected by Dr. Edward Bach, a British physician of the early 20th century, for its potential to rebalance a specific emotional state and bring mental and physical well-being. Their action is gentle and non-invasive. They are an interesting natural solution for managing menopausal symptoms.
The mode of action is based on the idea that negative emotions can affect our physical health. Dr. Bach therefore developed a method for transforming flower energy into a therapeutic solution. He selected flowers considered to have a particular energetic vibration, capable of affecting our emotions.
To make these elixirs, the flowers are delicately picked, then sun-infused in spring water. The water is then filtered and mixed with organic brandy, an alcohol that preserves the flowers' vibratory energy. This process produces a solution capable of acting on the individual's emotional states. Elixirs can be taken alone or in combination to create a personalized treatment tailored to each individual's needs.
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Why are Bach Flower Remedies particularly effective against hot flushes?
Hot flushes are a common symptom of the menopause. They manifest as a sudden sensation of intense heat, often accompanied by sweating and sometimes redness. They can disrupt daily life and sleep. Many solutions exist to relieve these symptoms. Bach Flower Remedies are particularly appreciated for their ability to treat the emotional imbalances associated with hot flushes.
Hot flushes are not just a physical phenomenon: they are often linked to emotional factors such as stress, anxiety or frustration. Bach Flower Remedies work on an emotional level, regulating the emotions that can aggravate physical symptoms. A holistic approach that combines emotional balance and relief of physical symptoms is therefore beneficial for women going through menopause.
Which Bach flower essences are suitable for menopause?
Some of Bach's flower essences are particularly suitable for helping women through the menopause. As each flower targets a specific emotional state, there is an ideal combination for every woman, depending on her own emotional and psychic symptoms.
Honeysuckle is particularly useful for women who have difficulty accepting this new phase in their lives. This elixir enables you to live in the present and detach yourself from preoccupations with the past. If hot flushes are exacerbated by nostalgia or difficulty adjusting to menopause, this flower helps to overcome these feelings and promote acceptance of the present moment. Honeysuckle helps to let go and accept the body's natural changes, reducing the emotional stress of menopause.
Annual Gnavelle (Agrimony) is indicated for fluctuating, contradictory feelings. It helps stabilize emotions and restore inner balance. Agrimony is ideal for people who hide their emotions. Behind a mask of joviality, they try to avoid intense feelings of frustration, anxiety or anger. When these emotions are repressed, they can lead to physical symptoms such as hot flushes. Agrimony releases repressed emotions and soothes inner tensions. It helps to release negative emotions and improve inner balance. This improved emotional state helps reduce the intensity of hot flashes.
Larch is an ally for women who lack self-confidence during this period of change. A lack of self-confidence can create stress and aggravate physical symptoms, particularly hot flushes. Larch boosts self-esteem and helps develop a more positive approach to menopause. This flower promotes self-confidence and acceptance of one's body and its changes. It helps reduce stress and associated hot flashes.
Wallnut is invaluable for those who need help adapting their identity to this new stage of life. It helps to be flexible in the face of change and to manage this transition smoothly. Walnut is a very useful Bach Flower for periods of transition, such as the menopause. It helps to free oneself from external influences and protect one's emotional balance in the face of hormonal changes. If hot flushes are aggravated by feelings of powerlessness or resistance to change, Walnut is an excellent ally. It helps to navigate more serenely through periods of transition, reducing anxiety linked to physical and emotional upheaval.
Elm is a Bach flower that helps restore energy and motivation when you feel overwhelmed by responsibilities. This feeling is often amplified by the symptoms of menopause. Elm is particularly useful for women who feel overwhelmed by the demands of daily life, which can contribute to a fragile emotional state and aggravate hot flushes. Mode of action: Elm provides renewed inner strength to face challenges without being overwhelmed.
Plumbago is recommended for women who doubt themselves and their ability to manage menopausal symptoms. This additional stress can aggravate hot flashes. Plumbago promotes moreserene decision-making in the face of hormonal changes. Plumbago contributes to self-confidence and judgment. It reduces the emotions of stress and uncertainty that can contribute to hot flushes.
Vine is a useful Bach Flower for those who experience frustration or excessive control over their lives. This feeling of wanting to control everything can create emotional tension that manifests itself in hot flushes. Vine promotes letting go, allowing you to relax and reduce the intensity of symptoms.
Each elixir can be used alone or in combination with others, depending on each woman's specific needs. It is recommended to consult a trained Bach Flower Remedies practitioner to determine the best combination of elixirs.
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How to use Bach Flower Essences?
Bach flower essences are generally taken as drops diluted in water or directly on the tongue.
Choosing the right flowers:
Depending on your emotions, choose one or more Bach flowers. For example, if you're stressed or anxious, choose Agrimony or Walnut. If you're not sure which flowers to choose, a Bach flower consultant can help you create a personalized blend.
Dosage:
Take 4 drops of your chosen elixir, 4 times a day, preferably between meals. You can also dilute the drops in a bottle of water and drink throughout the day.
Duration of treatment :
The effects of Bach Flower Remedies can be felt from the very first days, but it is advisable to follow the treatment for at least three weeks to see significant results.
The 3 pillars of a serene menopause: diet, exercise and emotional balance.
Feeding
According to Naturopath Bertille MARIA, diet plays a vital role in effectively accompanying menopause. There are a few good dietary reflexes to adopt to combat the effects of menopause:
- Hormone-like foods are to be preferred: green anise, caraway, sage, wholegrain cereals. In fact, the hormonal deficit induced by menopause can be compensated for by foods that play the role of female hormones. However, these foods should be avoided if there is a risk of hormone-dependent cancers.
- Choose fruits and vegetables rich in calcium, silicon and vitamin B9, which protect bones from osteoporosis: cabbage, watercress, parsley, chervil, broccoli, onion, fennel, dandelion, spinach, pineapple, kiwi, apple, pear, peach, grapes, citrus fruit, figs...
- Opt for good organic first cold-pressed vegetable oils for omegas 3, 6 and 9: olive, rapeseed, linseed, wheat germ and the good seeds contained in walnuts, hazelnuts and almonds.
- Make the most of lentils, dried beans, gluten-free pasta and brown rice, all of which are excellent sources of vegetable protein.
- Choose wheat germ for sprinkling and sprouted seeds for their contribution of essential vitamins and minerals. Alfafa is particularly interesting for its remineralizing and slightly estrogen-like properties.
- Avoid salt and use herbs instead to limit water retention.
- Walnuts, peanuts and pumpkin seeds contain high levels of arginine, which is highly effective against hot flashes.
- To control weight gain, thyme tea, which is rich in chromium, can be effective.
- Limit dairy products because of their inflammatory nature and the hormonal residues they may contain. Choose lighter sheep's and goat's milk.
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Don't hesitate to add exercise to your weekly agenda!
Menopausal and peri-menopausal women shouldn't stop moving - on the contrary! It's essential to walk at least 30 minutes a day. Don't hesitate to incorporate a playful dimension into these daily activities to keep you on the move! Yoga is also ideal, especially yin yoga and hormone yoga. Emotional balance for a successful menopause.
Emotional balance
As we've seen, menopause is a period of drastic change in a woman's life. Whether in terms of self-acceptance, physical or psychological effects. However, support for the emotional sphere is often neglected. Sadness, if it takes hold, can develop into more widespread malaise, a loss of self-confidence and even depression.
Fortunately, there are solutions! Sophrology and meditation are ideal for balancing emotions and self-acceptance. These two relaxation techniques will bring a real sense of balance and well-being to menopausal women. Sophrology can help reduce the intensity of hot flushes and stress peaks, calm irritability and prevent bouts of sadness. It helps you rediscover a positive connection with your body.
Based on the intimate relationship between body and mind, it teaches us to find the energy within ourselves, to do ourselves good and to discover our own resources. Meditation Focusing attention on the present moment. This is how mindfulness meditation can be summed up. While a number of studies have already demonstrated its benefits, American researchers have suggested that it can help prevent some of the problems associated with menopause, such as stress and irritability.
In 2019, scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota investigated whether these findings could be extrapolated to menopausal women. Their study involved 1,744 women aged between 40 and 65. Each of the participants completed a questionnaire designed to assess certain menopausal symptoms and the possible practice of mindfulness mediation. The result: those who meditated had lower levels of stress, irritability and depression.
Sea buckthorn oil and its Omega 7: Bertille Maria, naturopath's favorite way to combat menopausal symptoms.
According to naturopath Bertille Maria, sea buckthorn oil's omega-7 fatty acids are a real vegetable nugget for menopause.
In the In version, the omega-7 contained in the La Rayonnante dietary supplement from Maison de l'Argousier has the particularity of significantly reducing certain effects of premenopause and menopause. Thanks to their action on hormonal rebalancing, they act in particular on vaginal and mucous membrane dryness, hot flushes, mood swings and weight control. Omega 7s are also recognized for their anti-inflammatory properties.
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Weight gain is common in the peri-menopausal and menopausal phases. It is caused by the fall in estrogen levels, which leads to a drop in metabolic performance (less muscle mass, storage of fat cells, water retention...). The average weight gain between the ages of 42 and 50 is 0.8 kilos per year, and up to 1.5 kilos for some women. These women often find that their silhouette has changed, with an increase in weight around the waist and stomach.
Omega-7s reduce fat storage, protect the liver, smooth blood sugar levels and reduce type 2 diabetes by lowering insulin resistance. They also raise "good cholesterol" (HDL) and lower "bad cholesterol" (LDL). They thus contribute to good cardiovascular health. They also promote satiety, resulting in better weight control!
