We’ve all heard about menopause. We’ve all heard about the symptoms that some women experience: hot flashes, dry mucous membranes, insomnia, anxiety, depression, decreased libido. We typically associate these symptoms with decreasing levels of hormones: mainly estrogen and progesterone. While this is true, it is not the whole story. Our hormonal system is complex, and while we usually think of “hormones” as our reproductive hormones there are several others, all of which have important functions in the body. When we are thinking of menopause relief we have to look at hormones beyond those of the reproductive system.
The main hormonal system I want to bring to your attention is that of the adrenal glands. These small glands sit above our kidneys and are comprised of two main sections. The outer section produces two main hormones important to this discussion: cortisol (2, in figure) and DHEA (3), both are derived from cholesterol (1). In general, cortisol is active during stress and DHEA is active during relaxation. More specifically cortisol increases our blood sugar, stores fat around the belly, suppresses the immune system, decreases inflammation and inhibits proper thyroid function. DHEA, on the other hand, regenerates tissue, restores our energy, improves our mood, increases immune function and builds bone and muscle.
As you can see in the figure, DHEA leads to the production of sex hormones (4). During and after menopause (5), when the ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, the adrenal glands step up to take on this job. BUT, when we are chronically stressed (which is common in our fast-paced, North American society), our adrenal glands are too busy producing cortisol. In fact, your body will choose to produce cortisol over DHEA in the face of chronic stress! This is compounded by a natural decrease in DHEA with age. Don’t get me wrong, cortisol is an important hormone. However, when it is chronically elevated at the expense of DHEA then it becomes a problem. Without DHEA, we cannot produce our reproductive hormones after menopause. Our menopausal-induced reproductive hormone deficiency is made even worse by our chronic stress!
What does all this jargon mean for your menopausal symptoms? I hope I have made it clear that stress relief is an important part of menopause relief. Give your adrenal glands a chance to support the normal hormonal pathways. The adrenal glands LOVE routine and the best ways to support them include:
- maintain steady blood sugar levels. Eat a small meal containing fiber and protein every 2-3 hours.
- get adequate sleep at the right time - go to bed at 10 pm in a completely dark room.
- exercise regularly.
- avoid stimulants, including sugar and coffee.
- practice deep breathing, meditation or yoga.
- consume adequate essential fatty acids, minerals and protein.
- see your local Naturopathic Doctor for the perfect treatment plan to suit your menopause relief needs.
It is important to support our adrenal glands all the time as they have a big job to perform. However, it is especially important to support them as we age because their job gets even bigger!
Naturopathic medicine is a safe, effective and natural approach to you and your family’s health. Naturopathic doctors can and will empower you to live a healthy lifestyle while treating and preventing disease. Find more information on the services I offer at Arbour Wellness Centre at Nanaimo Naturopathic Doctor.
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