Menopause symptoms: Common but avoidable

Every woman experiences her own unique set of menopausal symptoms, which can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, heart palpitations, vaginal and urinary changes, and decreased memory and concentration. Most experts agree these symptoms are caused by low or fluctuating estrogen levels, which throw everything off kilter. But that doesn’t mean a difficult menopause is unavoidable.

Between 75-85% of American women going through “the change of life” report experiencing menopausal hot flashes. Yet only about 10% of Japanese women do. Why the discrepancy? It’s all in the diet. Japanese women eat several servings of soy a day, which naturally contain anti-hot-flash substances called isoflavones. American women don’t.

Natural Hot Flash Remedies and Menopause Treatments from nutraOrigin

MenoBalance Supplement
Isoflavones help you get control of hot flashes – but they also provide relief for a whole range of symptoms. How? These phyto-nutrients have the remarkable ability to imitate the biological activities of female hormones. That means that even if your own natural levels of estrogen are plummeting, isoflavones can trick your body into thinking it has enough.

Soy is well-known for its natural content of isoflavones, but most of the research studying isoflavones for menopause relief has been performed on red clover. nutraOrigin formulated MenoBalance with a high-potency blend of isoflavones from red clover and kudzu. The formula additionally protects cardiovascular health, with patented Actifolate folic acid and resveratrol; supports bone integrity, due to the synergistic activity of isoflavones and vitamin D; and provides protection to hormone-sensitive tissues, with rosemary and turmeric.

Black Cohosh Essentials Supplement
Scientists have conducted numerous studies demonstrating the efficacy of black cohosh for relieving the discomforts of menopause, with minimal or no side effects. In fact, one double-blind, placebo-controlled trial found the herb was 47% more effective than conjugated estrogen at beating menopause hot flashes! Cohosh has also been shown to help alleviate headaches, heart palpitations, and nervousness and irritability associated with menopause. The evidence is so strong that the German Commission E (similar to our FDA) has approved black cohosh as a treatment for menopause.

nutraOrigin’s Black Cohosh Essentials features 80 mg of standardized black cohosh – four times the amount seen in weaker extracts – for maximum effect. It also includes lemon balm and motherwort, which help reduce stress and anxiety.

Nutra Multi Iron-Free Multivitamin
Studies show older women are more likely to be deficient in key vitamins like B1, B2, B5, folic acid and D than younger women. That’s why a multivitamin like nutraOrigin’s Nutra Multi Iron-Free is so important. It delivers all the necessary vitamins and minerals needed to create a foundation of health – including 500 mg of calcium – but leaves out the iron, since too much can be harmful to menopausal women.

The experts at nutraOrigin recommend taking all three formulas together for maximum synergistic effect.

Androgenetic alopecia, AGA, also known as common pattern hair loss affects approximately 20 million American women. AGA in women is triggered by similar processes to those causing pattern hair loss in men. In both genders, the onset of AGA may occur in early adulthood, though females tend to present signs and symptoms somewhat later than males.

Recent studies suggest that women with some markers of insulin resistance are at significantly increased risk of female AGA. Moreover, a paternal history of hair loss may be a strong predictor of female AGA.

Female pattern hair loss has also been linked with both hyperandrogenism and hirsutism. Most recently, female pattern hairloss has also been linked with polycystic ovarian syndrome, PCOS, though epidemiological documentation of this association is, as yet, not statistically compelling. Nevertheless, the association between PCOS and insulin resistance is well documented.

What actually triggers pattern hair loss in women?

From a susceptibility standpoint, the inheritance pattern in female pattern hairloss is polygenic, and the onset and incidence of the disorder closely parallels that observed in males. The disorder begins in susceptible hair follicles, where dihydrotestosterone, DHT, binds androgen receptor forming a molecular trigger that sets the process of hair loss in motion.

The 5 alpha dihydrotestosterone hormone-receptor complex translocates to the cell nucleus of susceptible hair follicles, initiating a gene activation program that starts the gradual transformation of large terminal follicles to miniaturized follicles. This process occurs within a genetically pre-determined anatomical region, or pattern of the scalp. The hair outside of this pattern remains unaffected. This is why the disorder is called pattern hair loss.

Strikingly, both females and males diagnosed with pattern hair loss have higher levels of 5-Alpha-Reductase, 5AR, in frontal hair follicles compared to occipital, back of the scalp behind the ears,. Other predisposing factors such as differential cytochrome P450 levels in susceptible versus non-susceptible hair follicles are less well clearly worked out, but may have contributory relevance as well.

The diagnosis of AGA in women is supported by a pattern of increased thinning over the frontal/parietal scalp with greater density over the occipital scalp, a retention of the juvenile hairline, and the presence of miniaturized hairs in the effected zone of loss. Most women with AGA have normal menses and pregnancies. Extensive hormonal testing is usually not indicated unless signs & symptoms of androgen excess are present such as hirsutism, severe unresponsive cystic acne, virilization, or galactorrhea.

In most cases, the differential diagnosis of AGA is made based on the patient’s history and clinical presentation. Typical differentials include alopecia areata, trichotillomania, and less commonly hair loss associated with disorders such as lupus erythematosis, scabies and other skin manifesting disease processes. Scalp biopsy and lab assay may be useful in elucidating a non-pattern hair loss etiology but, in such cases, should generally only follow an initial clinical evaluation by a qualified treating physician.

Treatment Options

From a treatment perspective, the mono-therapeutic interventions against female pattern hair loss include topical minoxidil, oral spironalactone, oral flutamide and other drugs. Surgical hair restoration can sometimes be an option, however care must be excercised as, in certain persons, the pattern of loss may sometimes extend across much of the entire scalp, rendering hair transplantation less than clinically effective. Recently, botanically derived substances, such as HairGenesis, have also come under investigation as agents potentially useful against the disorder.

Treatment Choices for Recurrent Bacterial Vaginosis
There are many different options when it comes to treating recurrent bacterial vaginosis. The most common treatment options include antibiotic treatment and different types of home remedies such as live yogurt, garlic, cider vinegar or tea tree oil. Some of these treatments are able to provide temporary relief from the embarrassing odor, the itchiness, the burning sensation and the abnormal discharge, however most treatments fail to address the root causes of this condition. The best treatment methods primarily focus on re-balancing the harmful and beneficial bacteria to its normal level to maintain the natural PH balance.

Because of the remaining imbalance with most treatments, recurrent bacterial vaginosis can cause discomfort for a woman as often as once per month. Others may experience the embarrassing symptoms 3 to 6 times a year.

There are 4 reasons why Bacterial Vaginosis keeps recurring:

1. Bacterial Vaginosis previously resolved by itself. – BV can sometimes resolve by itself without any treatment. However there are certain factors associated with BV that can cause repeated outbreaks.
2. Antibiotic treatment. – Whenever there is an infection in our body that’s caused by harmful bacteria, doctors traditionally prescribe antibiotics. Antibiotics – that can be taken internally or applied topically – destroy the harmful bacteria as well as the beneficial bacteria indiscriminately. This method of treatment rapidly masks the symptoms, but without eliminating the root causes. The beneficial bacteria’s rate of re-growth is slower than the harmful bacteria’s. So when the bacteria start to repopulate again, the PH level and the bacterial flora remain out of balance.
3. Natural remedies used with limited success. There are many different natural remedies and self-help strategies that have become popular with women for a good reason. Natural ingredients are very easy to get hold of, safe to use and have proven to be extremely effective providing in many cases instant relief from recurrent bacterial vaginosis. These methods focus on dealing with the root causes of BV and cost a lot less, than visiting your doctor. However you need to apply the right combination the right way, depending on your individual needs to achieve rapid and permanent results. To be sure of a safe and effective natural home treatment, use a legitimate source of information.
4. Hormonal changes in the body. – Current medical research suggests that hormonal changes during pregnancy, before or during menopause, using hormonal birth control, hormone changes during the menstrual cycle can upset the natural bacterial and PH levels of the vaginal flora. This can be easily and quickly resolved by using the right combination of natural ingredients.

You are certainly not alone in searching for a remedy for recurrent bacterial vaginosis! It is estimated that 64% of women will suffer from this condition at some time in their lives during their reproductive years. If you are suffering from Bacterial Vaginosis, do not leave it untreated. Not only the symptoms are irritating and very unflattering, but it can lead to other health complications too. It can also have a detrimental emotional impact on you that crushes your self-esteem.

I was once in your shoes and believe me, I know how you feel.
But while many of us will try an array of formulas to get rid of the condition, we fail to realize how much time goes by and the suffering continues on. Dealing with the itching, the discharge and the fishy-like odor can be extremely irritating and upsetting. Covering up the odor, running to the restroom, seeking a cure takes a lot of time and continuous effort.

My goal is to help other women obtain fast and permanent relief targeting the root cause of BV and not only masking the symptoms temporaril