Send This Site to a Friend
Menopausal Years - the Wise Woman Way
Susun Weed
Menopause, like puberty, is a period of transition and
metamorphosis. It consists of three stages: isolation, melt down,
and emergence. Each stage calls forth new energies and new
perceptions of ourselves. Each stage has different demands,
different tasks, and different needs.
Wise Woman ways, such as simple ceremony, compassionate
self-care, and daily use of dooryard plants, can benefit women
going through menopause tremendously. Please allow me to share
with you some of my favorite herbs for easing hot flashes,
sleeplessness, and other distresses of The Change. They're easy
to find; you may already know them as weeds! These plants, and
their cautions and contraindications, are described in detail in
my book NEW Menopausal Years, The Wise Woman Way. Please refer to
it before you decide whether or not to use any of these green
allies to aid you during your menopausal years.
Calcium intake during and after menopause must be high to
maintain health. But calcium in pills can't compare to calcium in
plants when it comes to maintaining healthy, flexible bones.
Bones are made of a dozen minerals besides calcium (potassium,
manganese, magnesium, silica, iron, zinc, selenium, boron,
phosphorus, sulphur, and chromium), all of which are found in
rich supply in the roots and leaves of edible weeds and herbs.
Eating weeds is my preferred way of preventing osteoporosis and
ensuring freedom from heart disease, depression, headaches, leg
cramps, and joint pain.
There are scores of calcium/mineral-rich plants to choose from,
such as the aromatic leaves of sage, peppermint, lemon balm,
bergamot, rosemary, and thyme; the cooked or fresh greens of
lamb's quarters, amaranth, dandelion, chicory, comfrey, stinging
nettle, chickweed, parsley, watercress, kale, collards, and
cabbage; the flowers of red clover; and the roots of yellow dock,
dandelion, chicory, and burdock.
For maximum extraction of mineral richness, I cook with these
herbs, drink them as infusions, and steep them in vinegar.
Seaweeds have incredibly generous amounts of calcium and minerals
too. I make it a practice to eat seaweeds such as kelp, dulse,
and nori daily, as condiments, and seaweed such as wakame,
hijiki, arame, and kombu once a week, cooked with carrots or in a
soup. I feed seaweed to my goats in the form of powdered kelp and
to my plants in the form of a liquid emulsion. That's why we all
have shiny hair, sleek skin, bright eyes, and lots of energy.
Hormones are a hot topic for menopausal women. To help myself
with hormonal surges and drops, I prefer to use tinctures of
plants rich in plant hormones (phytosterols) rather than
prescribed hormones (estrogen replacement or hormone
replacement), which actually elevate the risk of heart disease
and osteoporosis, contrary to advertising, and are linked to
increases in breast and uterine cancers. Women whose blood is
rich in plant hormones have the lowest rates of cancer in the
world. Plants rich in phytosterols include roots of dong quai,
ginseng, wild yam, black cohosh, black haw, dandelion; flowers of
hops, yarrow, red clover; leaves of stinging nettle, sage;
berries/seeds/hips of chaste tree/vitex, fenugreek, roses.
Favorite herbs for menopausal women include the following:
Oatstraw infusion (Avena sativa) strengthens the nerves, helps
reduce emotional distress, promotes sound sleep, keeps the bones
and heart strong, and strengthens libido. The tincture is a
stronger sedative but not nourishing to the bones and heart. Oats
for breakfast is an excellent way to "take" this herb, but avoid
pills and capsules. Oatstraw baths are exceptionally calming.
Instructions for making one are in my green book: Healing Wise.
Nettle infusion (Urtica dioica) strengthens the adrenals, eases
anxiety, increases energy, helps prevent night sweats, builds
blood, and protects bones and heart. Eating cooked nettle is
another excellent way to gather its benefits, as is nettle
vinegar. I avoid freeze-dried, encapsulated, or tinctured nettle,
believing all these forms ineffective and over-priced.
Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca) - tincture of the fresh flowering
tops - is a favorite with menopausal women, their daughters and
their mothers. A few drops (up to 25 at a time) will calm
emotions, relieve heart palpitations (and strengthen the heart),
reduce the severity of hot flashes, increase vaginal lubrication,
moderate and eliminate PMS and menstrual cramping. Motherwort
vinegar is a fantastic tonic, and tasty - thank goodness. The tea
is violently bitter and disliked by 99 out of 100 women,
including me - yuck!
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) - any part, in any form - is a
superb strengthener for the liver, the control center for hot
flashes. Dandelion improves digestion, especially of calcium,
helps relieve headaches, and sees to it that the liver provides
steady blood sugar supplies. Dandelion wine (from the blossoms)
is the most elegant way to take this remedy, but the cooked
leaves and vinegars (as well as the pickled parts) of the roots
and/or leaves are also excellent nourishing digestives. The
tincture, especially of the root, is considered the strongest
medicine, but doesn't contain bone-building nutrients, so is less
ideal than the other forms.
Here are some startling facts about menopause:
The Grandmother Hypothesis maintains that "menopause, like a big
brain and an upright posture, is one of the essential traits of
the human which allowed us to colonize the world."
Menopause is not a recent phenomenon, but an ancient women's
mystery, with special gifts for the woman who uses its energies
wisely.
Estrogen is not one hormone, but many, and our bodies continue to
make estrogens all of our lives. The adrenals, the fat tissues,
and perhaps the uterus make estrogens.
The levels of hormones in a woman's blood are never higher than
when she is in menopause.
Herbal hormone (phytosterols or phytoestrogens) are usable by the
body and, in contrast to prescribed hormones, protect against
breast cancer.
Legal Disclaimer: This content is not intended to replace
conventional medical treatment. Any suggestions made and all
herbs listed are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent
any disease, condition or symptom. Personal directions and use
should be provided by a clinical herbalist or other qualified
healthcare practitioner with a specific formula for you. All
material contained herein is provided for general information
purposes only and should not be considered medical advice or
consultation. Contact a reputable healthcare practitioner if you
are in need of medical care. Exercise self-empowerment by seeking
a second opinion.
Susun Weed
PO Box 64
Woodstock, NY 12498
Fax: 1-845-246-8081
Vibrant, passionate, and involved, Susun Weed has garnered an
international reputation for her groundbreaking lectures,
teachings, and writings on health and nutrition. She challenges
conventional medical approaches with humor, insight, and her vast
encyclopedic knowledge of herbal medicine. Unabashedly pro-woman,
her animated and enthusiastic lectures are engaging and often
profoundly provocative.
Susun is one of America's best-known authorities on herbal
medicine and natural approaches to women's health. Her four
best-selling books are recommended by expert herbalists and
well-known physicians and are used and cherished by millions of
women around the world. Learn more at
http://www.susunweed.com
Find More Related Info:
Also See:
Index of
Relationships & Marriage
Women's Health & Women's
Issues
Your Health and Wellness Center
