Sailing through the Menopause with Homeopathy

1. Sailing through the Menopause with Homeopathy Jane Lindsay – Registered Homeopath Aude Sapere – Health for all the family – Naturally Woodford Folk Festival 2013 - 2014

2. What is Menopause? • The Change – Transition • Welcomed & embraced • Feared & denied • Physical Changes • Emotional changes • Mental Changes • Hormonal Haze , Havoc or Harmony? • Opportunity for personal growth • May coincide with empty-nest syndrome

3. The 3 Stages of Menopause • Peri-menopause – years prior to cessation of menses when the oestrogen levels beginto fall • Menopausal Transition – Peri-menopausal years; ovulation & menstrual transition become irregular & finally cease • Post- Menopause –Lack of menstruation for 12 months. Low oestrogen & a change in ratio of androgens to oestrogen

4. Menopause – a transition in the hormonal balance of the body • 1st half of menstrual cycle the pituitary gland produces FSH, which stimulates the ovary to ovulate & produce oestrogen • 2nd half of the cycle the pituitary gland produces LH which stimulates the ovaries to produce progesterone, which brings about the shedding of the uterine lining & results in bleeding. • As we approach Menopause , the ability of the ovaries to produce oestrogen begins to dwindle • The pituitary gland responds by increasing levels of FSH • These elevated levels of FSH with diminished oestrogen are indicators of menopause.

5. Menstruation also regulates: - • Elasticity & integrity of hair, skin, bone & tissue • Oestrogen & Progesterone fat soluble hormones & are stored in fat cells • Brain cells - containfat & many women find themselves forgetful, disorientated & unable to concentrate as they enter into Menopause • Sleep patterns may also change, this may also be attributable to lowered levels of oestrogen or progesterone in the nervous system.

6. Types of Menopause • Natural - when oestrogen & progesterone decline naturally • Premature – when periods stop before age 40 – Factors effecting may include genetic, medical conditions i.e. diabetes, thyroid, smoking, shock • Artificial /induced menopause - Surgical procedures i.e surgical removal of ovaries or chemotherapy/ radiation therapy

7. Common Symptoms - Physical • Hot flashes/Night sweats • Vaginal dryness • Lower fertility/loss of libido • Urinary incontinence/UTI • Disturbed sleep • Irregular Periods • Fluid retention • Migraines/headaches • Unusual skin symptoms • Hair loss/ increase of hair • Joint/ bone/ back pain • Palpitations

8. Common Symptoms - Psychological • Irritability, • Anxiety • Depression • Weepiness • Uncontrollable crying • Mood swings • Violence • Loss of confidence • Withdrawn • Forgetfulness • Sleep disturbance

9. Treatment considerations • Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) • Bio identical Hormones • Natural Progesterone – Creams & pessaries • Alternative Therapies – Homeopathy, • Acupuncture, • Herbal medicines • Flower Essences • Diet & nutrition • Exercise – rest & relaxation

10. HRT – Is it right for you? Oestrogen - Keeps hair & skin younger - Keeps vaginal membranes moist - Maintains bone mass & prevents Osteoporosis - May reduces hot flashes Drawbacks – - Increased risk of Ovarian Cancer & breast cancer Increased risk of gall-bladder disease - Increase migraines/ headaches - Profuse/ unusual bleeding

11. Homeopathy • Hormonal imbalances respond well to homeopathy - • 81% of women at an NHS well-woman clinic in UK reported improvement of Menopause symptoms after Homeopathic treatment • Homeopathy treats the individual as well as the physical symptoms • Stimulates the body’s natural healing responses • No unwanted side –effects, non-addictive • Helps transition positively

12. What is Homeopathy? “Homeo” – Similar “Pathy “– Suffering or disease Similars – “Like cures like” - Allium Cepa – Red onion – “Hay fever” remedy - Ipecac – In hospitals to induce vomiting - Coffee – In potency helps insomnia

13. What is Homeopathy • A complete system of medicine which can be applied to any “dis-ease” • Holistic - All symptoms – physical, emotional & mental are taken in account • Our psychological issues or our life situations can block the energy to our life force ... • Individual Medicine • Remedies work to facilitate the bodies natural healing potential

14. Minimum Dose • The smallest possible dose • Dilution & succussion • Potentization– By shaking the fluid after each dilution the healing information of the substance is imprinted • Water has a memory

15. Key Remedies for Menopause Support • Graphites • Lachesis • Calc Carb • Sepia • Lycopodium • Folliculinum • Pulsatilla

17. Itchy - Graphites • Skin ; red face; skin eruptions & rashes • Obesity - significant weight gain • Hot flushes - flushed face; heat ascends sweat front of body , offensive odour. • Fainting& weakness, • Scanty or heavy periods, • vaginal discharge, dryness, ovarian cysts; - Warm hearted & down to earth, - Indecisive& cautious Anxious, moody, fear about the future & loss of loved ones. Depression & difficulty concentrating.

18. Bitchy - Lachesis Poison of the Bushmaster, an aggressive & poisonous snake, • Anger – Verbal, easily wound-up quick to anger, vivacious - Loquacious , jealous, moody, anxiety in am, passionate, high vitality • Left sided symptoms • Hot flushes in whole body, no sweat , disturbed sleep • Boating & discomfort after eating • Menstrual flooding, headache before period Worse in the morning, period, coffee & heat

19. Sweaty – Calc Carb • Cold clammy sweat alternating with heat & intense flushes • Apprehensive & anxious • Forgetful & confused • Sensitive to light • Ears – throbbing, pulsating, deafness, cracking noises in the ear • Dizziness & vertigo • Menstrual flooding

20. Sleepy -Sepia • Lethargy – Sleepy, tired and depressed. • Indifferent& hurtful , Irritable, angry • Wants to get away from family • Drynessof vagina • Prolapse • Urinaryincontinence • Lack of libido • Hursute– unwanted hair! • Physical symptoms –backache, headaches

21. Bloated - Lycopodium • Bloated abdomen, digestive disturbances • Hot flushes worse if anxious, clammy sweat • Hair loss • Sleep disturbance with restless or jerky legs • Depression, anxiety & irritability • Lack of confidence • All symptoms worse 4-8 pm, < full moon

22. Forgetful - Folliculinum • Forgetful - Anxiety& panic attacks, drained, self-denial • Hot flashes, night sweats • Vaginal dryness &/ or discharge • Candida/ yeast infections • Cystitis – chronic e-coli infections • Dizziness • Weight gain • Sugar & wheat cravings • Allergies, hay-fever • Skin rashes, itchy, dry skin Human Ovarian Follicle - Oestrogen

23. Psycho -Pulsatilla • Extreme & changeable moods • V emotional, - tearful & weepy • Needs sympathy, reassurance & company • Hot flushes – Waves of heat, night sweat & perspiration • Stress incontinence • Fearful – Claustrophobic, fears dark, being alone • Discharges – ears, nose, eyes • Indigestion & diarrhoea after rich foods

24. Deep Depression - Cimicifuga Racemosa • Blackness/depression • Hot flashes at 10.30 pm • Insomnia • Business failure • Lovesick - disappointment • Nervous, fidgety, intense agitation • Fear & anxiety • Muscular ,cerebrospinal & cramp/ numbness

25. Diet & Nutrition in Menopause • Beans & legumes - Contain fibre, protein, calcium, folic acid and phytoestrogens which may help with blood sugar control. • Zinc - a precursor for progesterone, a hormone involved in balancing oestrogen. Zinc keeps your immune system strong • Boost your boron - Helps the body hold onto oestrogen & keeps the bones strong by decreasing the amount of calcium needed each day. • Hold off the "hot flash" foods - Limiting spicy foods, caffeine, and alcohol • Fresh Produce - A variety of fresh fruits and vegetables contain beneficial plant oestrogens.

26. Foods Highest in Calcium

27. Diet & Nutrition cont… • Keep bones strong - Menopausal women risk developing osteoporosis because of the drop in oestrogen. Calcium and vitamin D (along with a healthy diet and regular exercise) are preventative • More magnesium! - Helps with mood swings and insomnia bone health - beans, legumes, nuts, green veggies & whole grains. • Understand good and bad fats- Fat should provide 30% or less of your total calories. Avoid saturated and trans fats, which raise blood cholesterol levels & increase risk of heart disease . • Reduce sugar - Sugar causes blood sugar to spike, which stimulates the pancreas to release more of the hormone insulin. • Feast on flax. - Ground flaxseed or oil offers a high amount of essential fatty acids and lignan, a natural antioxidant and phytoestrogenwhich help hormonal balance in Menopause

28. Explore the Goddess within! • Archetypes - Athena – Wisdom, knowledge, career, social justice - Aphrodite – Love- relationships, romance, beauty & arts - Persephone – Underworld, spiritual, visionary & mystic - Artemis – Outdoors, practical, adventurer, animals & environment - Demeter – Earth mother, nurturing, children, women's cycles - Hera – Queen of heaven, marriage, partnerships & men, issues of power • Role Models

29. Useful references • Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom – Dr Christina Northrop • Wisdom of Menopause – Dr Christina Northrop • Beauty in Bloom – Homeopathy to support Menopause – Eileen Nauman • Menopause & Homeopathy – IfeomaIkenze • The Female Brain - LouannBrizendine • Women who run with the Wolves, Myths & stories of the Wild Woman Archetype– Dr Clarissa PinkolaEstés • Passage to Power – Leslie Kenton • What your doctor may not tell you about Menopause – Dr John Lee • The Goddess within – A guide to the eternal myths which shape women’s lives - Jennifer Barker Woolger & Roger J. Woolger • Jane Hardwicke Collings – Midwife & Teacher of the Women's Mysteries - www.moonsong.com.au Workshops 2014 - Feb 8,9 (NSW), May 17, 18 (Melb) Oct 4, 5 (NSW )

30. Follow your Passion! www.Janelindsay.com.au E: Jane@janelindsay.com.au