Ease Menopause Symptoms with Aromatherapy
Menopause can be a physical, psychological and
emotionally challenging time for many women. They will spend
half of their adult lives in menopause, according to statistics
which show the average life expectancy of women at 79.5 years
nowadays.
By 2050 women will probably live to be at least 95 years old. A
new generation of health-conscious women today is looking
forward to a new phase of life with physical, spiritual and
personal growth.
Most women think of menopause as the point when they cease to
menstruate. They do not link irritability, anxiety, memory
lapses, or mood swings to hormonal imbalance caused by this
process of biological change. About 75% of all women experience
some temporary symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, weight
gain, increase in level of cholesterol, decreased libido which
may last for years; long term ones may include vaginal dryness
and urinary problems. To know more about menopause, you can
visit http://www.1menopause.com
Fortunately, these unpleasant complaints or symptoms can be
prevented, reduced and relieved by making some changes to daily
lifestyles with the right diet, nutrition supplements, regular
exercise and adopting some complementary therapies such as yoga,
tai chi, spa therapy or holistic aromatherapy, which all help to
achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle with natural medicine.
They also offer a safer alternative compared to Hormone
Replacement Therapy. They also help to reduce the risk of future
age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast
cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes. For a list of detailed
menopause symptoms please visit http://www.1menopause.com
Aromatherapy, which has been well used for over 2000
years, is the practice of using distilled essences obtained from
the leaf, stem, flower, fruit peel, bark or root of a tree. As
the aromatic molecules from essential oils disperse in the air
they:
#carry pleasant fragrances to your nose
#come in contact with the olfactory receptor cells in the nasal
cavity
#transmit the information to the olfactory bulb which is a
structure just above the nose.
#cause a response in the limbic system of the brain which works
in conjunction with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus
region to regulate the hormonal activities
#trigger the production of hormones that govern appetite, body
temperature, insulin production, overall metabolism, stress
levels, sex drive and conscious thought and reactions.
Essential Oils can have a positive effect on all these
functions through the sense of smell which happens to be the
most complex and sensitive of all the five senses. The sense of
smell is over 10,000 times more sensitive than your sense of
taste and researchers have shown how aroma causes a brain
reaction by activating the hypothalamus gland, the pituitary
gland and the body's hormones as well as stimulating the emotion
and memory.
Aromatherapy is particularly effective for stress,
anxiety and psychosomatic induced problems, muscular and
rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and women's problems such
as PMS, menopausal problems and postnatal depression. It is a
natural and non-invasive therapy designed to help a person
enhance the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal
and maintain itself.
Essential Oils are very concentrated and their properties
potent as they contain molecules small enough to enter your
skin; except for oils of lavender and tea tree, essential oils
need to be diluted in a carrier oil, usually a vegetable oil
such as sweet almond or jojoba, to avoid irritation before
applying on the skin. Essential oils can be used in a vaporizer,
sprays, bath, hot or cold compress, perfume or for topical body
application or massage.
Some recommended essential oils to help menopausal women are:
# Bergamot uplifts mood and reduces anxiety and depression.
# Clary Sage eases hot flashes and night sweats and PMS.
# Chamomile has calming effect, ease tension, anxiety and
headaches.
# Frankincense helps psychosomatic problems and anxiety.
# Geranium is a hormone balancer and reduces stress.
# Jasmine is euphoric and eases tension and anxiety.
# Juniper regulates period and relieves water retention.
# Lavender is sedative and aids sleep.
# Rose is a womb tonic and provides relief from pre menopause
to post menopause.
# Sandalwood stimulates the development of sex hormones and
promotes vaginal secretions.
# Ylang Ylang is aphrodisiac and relaxes the nervous system.
Copyright 2005