The menopause is a natural point of transition in a women’s life and homeopathy can ease this time of change.
This is not a topic about which I have written previously. The simple fact is that there are many more female homeopaths than males. For obvious reasons female issues often become the speciality of female homeopaths!
To rather prove the point I was one of a handful of blokes attending the recent annual conference (online) of the Society of Homeopaths titled Wisdom of the Crones. I would say the ratio of men to women was about 1:20. The chosen title may risk censure, but a life lived, equates to wisdom. Age brings its positives!
Be that as it may around 100 attended to listen to a remarkable group of speakers, three of whom joined from the USA (I am not a great fan of online events but one advantage is the ease of crossing continents).
Amongst such a worthy bunch, it is perhaps unwise to highlight one, but I have to say that Karen Allen is always worth listening to. She shared some cases and challenged those listening to reflect on to how they would respond.
Karen set a high bar, but the co-speakers each brought their wisdom and insights.
All the ladies presenting would agree to the simple fact that the menopause just as the menarche (puberty) are natural event is the life of every woman. They mark the alpha and omega of a woman’s child bearing years. It has been so since the time of ‘Eve’.
The (very) recent change that see these events as requiring medical intervention is consequently rather strange. Teenagers are prescribed the contraceptive pill to combat menstrual pains and hormone replacement therapy is a common approach to easing the symptoms of the menopause*.
[* Interestingly Karen Allen told participants that the term HRT – hormone replacement therapy – has become HT or hormone therapy, because hormone levels which should diminish at menopause are not strictly being ‘replaced’ at all]
True, I am a bloke so what would I know! I offer no defense other than sympathy.
Still, all the speakers had significant experience in working with women using both homeopathic and naturopathic approaches. Particulary in the case of naturopathic medicine (phytotherapy) there is a harking back to the wise old women (aka ‘crone’) in the village who know of local herbs and their usage.
In the Western world the term ‘Medicine’ is now synonymous with biochemical synthetic drugs. But the pharmacy of not so long ago was a very different place. The apothekers of old prepared prescriptions – usually herbal – not just sold them.
Medical Herbalists exist today, Clinic Naturae being one example (I happen to know Rumana – based in Newcastle) and an online search will bring forth some names local to you.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is also quite commonly found on the ‘High Street’ again working with herbal products. Speaker Myriam Shivadekar drew on the TCM perspective in her talk.
One of the speakers, Marilyn Glenville PhD, is a nutritionist specialising in women’s health. She has written an excellent blog on the menopause. As you can read, she uses a range of approaches, from dietary choices to supplementation. Such an approach rarely produces adverse ‘side-effects’.
Looking at my own bookshelf, there is a lot of overlap between that of Dr Glenville and Patrick Holford. He has written many books
As to Homeopathy, its medicines (or remedies) are again rather different. I explained this in an earlier blog in more detail. Homeopathy has long recognised that there are certain remedies that have a particular affinity with the female. Amongst these, Sepia, Pulstailla and Lachesis. Some have correspondence with the naturopathic, such as Agnus Castus.
Travelling back across the ‘pond’ Homeopathy Lauri Grossman shared insights into homeopathic remedies originating from healthy tissue (sarcodes). Amongst these is Folliculinum which is in effect oestrogen and has proven to be a very useful remedy. There are a range of others which come under the heading of the Matridonal Remedies – many pioneered by the late Melissa Assilem
It was very clear from the conference that nutrition, herbal and homeopathic medicines can help significantly with unpleasant memopausal symptoms. Furthermore, it should be re-stated that the menopause like puberty is not a disorder, but a natural period of physical and emotional change to which some women adjust better than others.
There is a delicate balance between the ovaries, hypothalamus and pituitary glands. The goal of treatment in homeopathy and all forms of natural medicine is to bring the body back into harmony; to restore balance.
Perhaps you would be interested in exploring Homeopathy? I offer a free 30 minute discovery call to allow you to investigate further.
Disclaimer: I am a qualified professional homeopath and not a medical doctor. The NHS has many resources, and seeking the opinion of your GP is always of value.
Dibden Purlieu, Southampton