A Functional Medicine Approach to Menopause and Perimenopause

A Functional Medicine Approach to Menopause and Perimenopause

Are you experiencing the change? Hotflashes, mood swings, night sweats, weight gain, and loss of libido are the most common symptoms to plague women in menopause and perimenopause. But we now know that there are a myriad of symptoms that can occur from brain fog to palpitations and anxiety. Due to some faulty research over 20 years ago, women have, for the most part, been left to endure these things without any help. Thankfully, modern medicine is coming around to the idea of Hormone Replacement Therapy and its many benefits.

There is now tons of solid medical research that shows the positive effects of HRT as well as its safety. Of course, it’s the best choice for the typical vasomotor symptoms such as hot flashes, but did you know that there are estrogen receptors in tissues all throughout the body? We are still learning how these receptors and the loss of estrogen in mid life affect women’s health long term but it’s safe to say that estrogen plays a bigger role than previously thought. Estrogen has been shown to protect mitochondria, plays a role in liver detox pathways, promotes bone mass, and even maintains the hippocampus in the brain which is involved in memory and motivation. 

Progesterone is another important hormone that declines as women age. It is mainly known to be protective to uterine tissue and is therefore always prescribed along with estrogen. However, progesterone also has GABA-ergic effects which makes it calming and promotes sleep and mood regulation. Testosterone, another hormone that typically drops during menopause, results in loss of muscle mass and strength, fatigue, and low libido. While traditional medicine does not prescribe testosterone for women, in Functional Medicine we understand its importance and use compounding pharmacies to support women in this area. Elemental Wellness believes that, when prescribed correctly, HRT is a useful tool for wellbeing and longevity. 

However, HRT is not the ONLY way to support women through this time. In fact, there are many things in terms of diet and lifestyle that I would argue are even more important. Additionally, not every woman is a good candidate for HRT and because of this, she benefits the most from a Functional Medicine approach. A holistic plan should be made for everyone that is as unique as the woman. We need to explore things like: 

• medical history

• complete list of symptoms

• gut health

• blood sugars

• genetics

• lab work (both basic and specialized)

• diet

• exercise routines

• sleep

• detoxification pathways and bowel habits

• stress levels and management techniques

• spiritual practices and belief

• mindset 
  
  

The best and most effective plans take all of these areas into account. Elemental Wellness provides tons of support, education, and direction in order to empower women to take control of their life and make the changes that have a real impact.