|
Welcome to Fall... it's that chill in the air and the start of school that changes our focus from the sunny fun filled days of summer to thoughts of self-improvement and the creation of new routines. Here at Naturally Good Health, we are doing the same, with recent construction of a new treatment room and with the addition of new practitioners we are growing and improving as well. It's with great pleasure that we welcome Valerie Kowal, Acupuncturist and Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner. Valerie's practice focuses on the treatment of cancer, mental illness and chronic pain. For more information on Valerie please visit her website www.quantum-medicine.ca or to set up an appointment please call the clinic 403-289-0989.
Dealing with Menopause...Naturally
Menopause is a normal physiological transition in a woman’s life, but all the hormonal changes can feel anything but normal. Menopause is defined as the absence of menses for 12 consecutive months, and usually occurs around the age of 50. For many women, peri-menopausal symptoms can begin 5 to 10 years before. During this time, menstrual cycles can become shorter and/or irregular as ovulation stops. Symptoms of menopause and peri-menopause may include the following:
|
P Insomnia
|
P Palpitations
|
P Muscle/joint pain
|
|
P Mood changes
|
P Decreased libido
|
P Hot Flashes
|
|
P Fatigue
|
P Headaches
|
P Constipation/diarrhea
|
|
P Night sweats
|
P Vaginal dryness
|
P Weight gain
|
What is happening in my body?
Menopause results in a reduction in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA production by the ovaries. The adrenal glands, which are small endocrine organs that sit on top of the kidneys, take over some of the production of these hormones at menopause. The main function of the adrenal glands is to help the body operate with energy, enthusiasm and efficiency. They can become depleted by the following:
• Emotional stress: worry, anger, anxiety, guilt, fear, depression
• Environmental and physical stress: exposure to industrial/environmental toxins, allergies, overwork, surgery, lack of sleep, trauma/injury, chronic pain/illness, shift work
The Adrenal Glands take over
For many women, their adrenal glands are fatigued, even before they have to take on the job of producing extra hormones at menopause. While the adrenals work hard to try and produce enough hormones, they are also producing more cortisol. Cortisol has many important functions in the body, including the regulation of blood sugar. If cortisol levels are high, blood sugar tends to be elevated as well, and the body responds by slowing down its metabolism. The result can be weight gain, especially around the mid-section. Cortisol is also very important for regulation of the sleep/wake cycle. If it is elevated at night, this can make it difficult to sleep deeply and to stay asleep, another common complaint in menopause. So, the transition into menopause can be much more difficult if the adrenals are not strong.
What can you do?
The adrenal glands really like rhythm and routine, so keeping to a regular schedule will help to make them stronger. That means getting up and going to bed at consistent times, eating every 2 to 3 hours during the day to keep blood sugar levels constant, and managing stress with yoga, meditation or some other type of relaxation activity. In addition, there are many other dietary, nutritional, herbal, and homeopathic options that can help to rebalance the hormone levels. Your naturopathic doctor can help direct you and may also suggest salivary hormone testing or other in-office tests to help figure out which treatment options make the most sense for you.
|
NON-INVASIVE
BREAST SCREENING AVAILABLE FRIDAY, OCTOBER 24th 2008
We are pleased to host Medical Thermography International again this year. Medical Thermography offers a new approach to breast screening using digital infrared imaging. Through this type of screening, the physiology, and the metabolic activity of breast tissue can be analyzed. The imaging gives us an idea of how your breast tissue is functioning; and if it isn’t normal, it gives us a chance to work on correcting things before problems develop. Functional changes can be detected up to 8 years before disease is present. This screening is 90% accurate and can give you essential information for breast health and prevention. For more information visit www.medthermonline.com
This clinic is filling up fast! Only 15 spots remaining, so book your appointment soon!
The cost of the scan is $250 including taxes. Book your appointment today by phoning Medical Thermography directly at 1-866-242-5554.
Note: You do not need to be a patient of this clinic to have this testing done; please pass this info on to your mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and loved ones.
|
