Misery to a woman in perimenopause or menopause in general can be punctuated by sleepless nights, ripping off the covers, sweating, and then freezing or just staring into the dark waiting for sleep to magically come for sometimes hours, followed by exhaustion, irritability and feeling emotionally oversensitive—throw in a couple of hot flashes, too. Memory and word-finding becomes challenging and libido may decrease, as well. Weight issues start to surface and the pounds pack on, especially around the middle. Body inflammation, joint aches and stiffness are another common complaint. Not every woman goes through these extremes, but others have it worse, creating a true state of crisis.

Fortunately, with the assistance of whole body hormonal balancing, women can optimize their health on all levels and recapture a sense of feeling recognizable to oneself, something that can be lost in menopause. It is a journey, but one with great reward. Hormonal balance
is built on a solid bedrock of healthy diet, adequate exercise and rest and a lack of toxic burden. Getting to a place of balance and obtaining relief from symptoms, with the implementation of a few hormonal allies, such as essential fatty acids, herbs and bioidentical
hormones, can come surprisingly quickly.

When it comes to menopausal management, the strategies constitute a long continuum of options, ranging from low-tech, low-intervention (i.e., stress reduction, optimal diet, increasing flax oil and ground flax) to high-tech, highintervention (i.e., injectable hormones, hormone patches, hysterectomy). Entry onto that continuum depends on a woman’s overall health, how symptomatic she was during her menstrual years, her genetics, her current diet and lifestyle and just how symptomatic she is now.

Many patients desire the least invasive approach to get the optimum results. Often, the middle of that continuum is best, and concentrated
herbal extracts and/or customized biidentical hormones are used to balance estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Every program has to be customized to each woman’s individual needs. Bioidentical hormones, which are plant-based and custom-made
according to the doctor’s prescription, may come in the form of a topical cream, sublingual (under the tongue) drops or lozenges, capsules or vaginal suppositories. If thyroid or adrenals need support, they can be addressed, as well. The journey from menopausal misery to
optimal balance, where temperatures are regulated, sleep is restored, libido returns and, the brain is working properly is a welcome place to thrive. Every woman needs her own unique program to find a happy equilibrium, and balance is a beautiful thing.

Judy Gianni , NMD, owner of NatureMedica Naturopathic Clinic and Detox Spa, is a naturopathic physician who has been helping woman and men achieve hormonal balance in Tucson for 17 years. For more information or to make an appointment, cala 520-887-4287 or visit NatureMedica.net.