How To Manage Menopause Naturally

October 1, 2014

Menopause is a process when your ovaries start producing less estrogen and stop releasing eggs altogether. This means that your ovaries are no longer stimulated for your monthly periods.

This transitional time can be quite difficult in a woman’s life, as the body goes through a multitude of change, both internal as well as external. According to Dr. DeOrio M.D. D.Ho, while Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is a commonly used treatment during menopause, it also increases the risk of heart disease, stroke and even cancer.

Healing your body from within can be a good way of dealing with the symptoms of menopause. Understanding the concept of the Chinese healing philosophy of yin and yang and paying attention to the need for reproductive balance is crucial, as it can help reduce or completely eliminate the unpleasant symptoms that menopause brings with it.

Understanding how your Yin Yang energy works during menstruation and menopause
According to the Chinese medicine, our bodies consist of two opposing energy forces – yin and yang. When your yin and yang are not in balance, your body’s capacity to heal itself is low, leading to various health related issues.

This yin yang energy is also believed to regulate your menstrual cycle. The yin is dominant in the two weeks before ovulation while the yang becomes dominant in the two weeks after your ovulation. For a woman, the yin energy is the main force that helps you from within, but during your menstruation there is a deficiency in its energy reserve.

Chinese medicine believes that menopause is also a result of deficiency in the kidney yin energy and so it can get difficult to balance your yin and yang, especially during menstruation. When your yin energy is low, it leads to an excess of the yang energy. This in turn produces heat in your body in the form of toxic materials. As a result, you start experiencing uncomfortable symptoms like hot flashes, pain, depression, mood swings and trouble with sleep.

Balancing symptoms of menopause with Yin and Yang
Understanding your yin and yang is the key to start eliminating the uncomfortable symptoms. Yin energy is associated with cold, dark, contracting and moist tendencies, while yang energy is associated with hot, light, expanding, and dry tendencies.

Foods to help balance Yin and Yang
As you want your yin to be dominant during menopause, you need to incorporate foods that will cool your body from within.

Have foods that are cooling in nature and are a good source of Vitamin E, as they help stimulate the production of estrogen.

Sesame seeds
Barley
Wheat germ
Black beans
Aloe Vera juice
Soy products

Avoid foods that can build up body heat or act as stimulants.

Black Tea
Coffee
Alcohol

Acupuncture for balancing Yin Yang
Chinese medicine also believes that acupuncture is a good tool to help balance your yin and yang energies.

To reduce stress, locate the spot also called ‘sea of tranquility’ located approximately a hand’s width above the base of your breastbone, on the center of the line that runs through the front of your body. It is related to your yin and considered extremely calming.Lightly press on the spot. This will help you take deeper breaths and unblock any energy that maybe increasing your body’s heat levels. This will further remove any excessive yang energy and reduce stress.
To help with sleep, try this acupressure technique. Point your toes and locate the center of the hollow that is created. Rub along the bottom of this center which is related to your yin energy. This stimulates your yin, relaxes your mind and prepares it for sleep. It also helps reduce the excess yang energy that may be preventing your mind and body from relaxing.

Alternative healing methods for menopause
In addition to practicing a balance of yin and yang, Dr. DeOrio recommends using the following modes of treatment in consultation with your doctor: