While we use biodentical (same chemical structure as in your body) hormones many times in our patients for hormonal symptoms during menopause, there are cultures who live traditional lifestyles that don't have significant hormonal symptoms and this transition is made very well without hormone replacement. No matter what you decide with your health care practitioner regarding the use of hormones or not (male or female) - if you don't do lifestyle basics FIRST, and continue to do them, you will not have nearly the benefit from your hormones, supplements or herbs than if you do the basics first and continue to do them which are: eat an unprocessed, whole food diet - mostly plants; exercise daily; do some type of stress reduction daily; live in a clean environment as possible; be in a good relationship (s); and have a daily sense of purpose.
How To Get Through Menopause Naturally and Without Hormones (28:49 min)
Kirk’s video overview of his interview with Dr. Horner ( 2:41 min)
Dr. Christine Horner shares her beliefs and research that very seldom do females have to use hormones to reduces or eliminate menopausal symptoms. These symptoms come from a totality of body imbalances and she notes that traditional Asian (didn't have a word for hot flashes) and Indian cultures (Ayurvedic medicine) didn't have adverse symptoms during menopause and after.
With "Westernization" of diet and lifestyles comes menopausal symptoms. Dr. Horner is very supportive and a believer in the Ayurvedic approach to menopause and health in general - Key lifestyle components that need to be balanced are:
- Sleep - getting to bed before 10 o'clock is critically important for reduction in menopausal symptoms and general stress
- Stress - Do stress reduction techniques, meditation, etc.
- Relationships - Having good ones are very important for menopausal symptoms, especially for libido and sexuality
- Exercise - Daily
- Diet - Whole food diet with lots of unprocessed plant foods
- Fats - Healthy fats from flaxseed, flaxseed oil, olive oil, and omega-7s from sea buckthorn
- Flaxseed use for the lignans which have anti-cancer properties
- Fiber from whole plant foods
- Whole grains - uses more quinoa and millet
- Sugar and processed carbohydrates avoidance
- Hydrated - staying hydrated, drinking water
Aside from a generally good lifestyle for these menopausal problems some supplements that may help in addition to lifestyle change include:
Cognition - omega-3 fatty acids (flax oil or flax seed, flax lignins)
Hot flashes - flaxseed, black cohosh, Maca (cruciferous family), Vitex (Chaste Tree Berry) and Dong quai, stay hydrated drink water
Libido - good relationship, not being fatigue, ashwagandha, Maca, ginseng
Vaginal dryness - use topical coconut oil or Calendula, or oral Maca, Black cohosh, flaxseed, hydration, Sea Buckthorn (omega 7s)
Key Point - If the diet isn't unprocessed, rich in whole plant foods (fruits, vegetables, "long carbohydrates," nuts, seeds, whole grains) and controls blood sugar by eating unprocessed carbohydrates and no added sugars, then the herbs and supplements won't work nearly as well.
Reason for Hormone Replacement
- After surgical menopause for a two or so year period
Dr. Horner recommends Nancy Lonsdorf, MD, an Ayurvedic medical doctor, specializing in women's health issues in Fairfield, Iowa who is skilled in helping women transition through menopause without hormones. Dr. Lonsdorf is the author of The Ageless Woman: Natural Health and Beauty After Forty with Maharishi Ayurveda (MCD Century, May 2004), and its hardback version, A Woman’s Best Medicine for Menopause: Your Personal Guide to Radiant Good Health Using Maharishi Ayurveda (McGraw-Hill, June 2002.) She is also co-author of a best-selling Ayurvedic health guide for women entitled A Woman’s Best Medicine: Health, Happiness and Long Life through Maharishi Ayurveda,(Tarcher/Putnam 1995).
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Dr. Christine Horner is a board certified plastic surgeon, expert in natural health, and best-selling author of the award-winning book, Waking the Warrior Goddess: Dr. Christine Horner's Program to Protect Against and Fight Breast Cancer and her new book released in March, 2016 Radiant Health, Ageless Beauty: Dr. Christine Horner’s 30-Day Program to Extraordinary Health, Beauty, and Longevity is written from the culmination of more than twenty years of research and personal experiences, and her lifelong passion and commitment to health and beauty. It blends the ancient wisdom from Ayurveda with the latest evidence-based, non-pharmaceutical and non-surgical approaches to help you dramatically improve your health, beauty, and longevity. Dr. Horner says, “No matter what you were dealt in the genetic lottery—and no matter what your age or current physical condition—you can enjoy a long life of radiant health and ageless beauty. And it can be simple, fun, and adventurous.” You can order Radiant Health, Ageless Beauty at www.drchristinehorner.com and on Amazon.
Dr. Horner has extensive educational material on wellness, natural medicine and breast cancer prevention and treatment on her website. You can also schedule individual consultations with Dr. Horner on her website.
Previous Staying Healthy Today Interviews with Dr. Christine Horner
February 12, 2012 - Breast Cancer Prevention and Reversal – Is It Possible and What You Can Do? - An Interview with Christine Horner, MD
Contents
Laying Down the Scalpel for the Secrets to Radiant Health
The Theories of How and Why We Age
Collecting the Gems—A Metaphor
CHAPTER 1: Ayurveda: Rediscovering an Ancient System of Health and Longevity
CHAPTER 2: All You Need Is Love: The Extraordinary Power of Love and Relationships
CHAPTER 3: Stress Busting: Subduing Stress with Grace
CHAPTER 4: Foods for Health: Nourishing Your Body for Extraordinary Beauty and Longevity
CHAPTER 5: Filling the Gaps: Key Nutritional Supplements for Healthy Aging
CHAPTER 6: Medicinal Movement: An Elixir for Life
CHAPTER 7: Ambrosias of the Night: The Healing Tonic of Sleep
CHAPTER 8: Detoxification: Removing the Blocks to Your Healing Intelligence
CHAPTER 9: Leaning Into Longevity: Why Keeping Your Weight Ideal Is So Important
CHAPTER 10: Good Vibrations: The Electrical Body and Energy Medicine
CHAPTER 11: Spiritual Healing: Surrendering to and Receiving the Infinite Power
CHAPTER 12: Youthful Glowing Skin: The Reward of Inner Radiant Health and Outer Care
CHAPTER 13: Putting It All Together: Dr. Horner’s 30-Day Program for Radiant Health and Ageless Beauty
Appendices
1. Natural Help for Menopausal Symptoms
2. Natural Help for Healthy Bones
3. Natural Help for a Healthy Heart
4. Natural Help for Diabetes
5. Natural Help for Healthy Breasts
Be and Stay Well,
Kirk
You can call me for "brief" medical questions 8-9 a.m. PST Monday thru Friday 916-489-4400 KwikerMedical.com StayingHealthyToday.com