Women, Hormones, & the Stages of Life

                                      Hello from RI during our last 12 days of summer!

This is my first post in 2013. My dad was ill and passed away soon after my last post in 2012; I was too uninspired and sad to write.This past July I did a talk on Hormones and the Stages of a Woman's Life. I thought I'd start blogging again with highlights from that talk.     Thanks for reading and for the questions that keep coming in...I will start posting answers again (and to those who have enjoyed the e-mails instead, they'll continue, as well). 

Hormones and the Stages of a Woman’s Life

Imbalances: Hormones help regulate everything from energy flow to inflammation to women’s monthly cycles. When hormones are out of balance the effects are felt differently by each woman--bio-individuality is the reason. 

Signs of the Times

·    Teens have begun cycles earlier (some at 8 or 9 yrs. old); pre-menstrual syndrome is common in today’s world.

Child-bearing years can include PMS, infertility, fibroids, endometriosis, headaches, depression,  & low libido.

Other signs of hormone imbalance are irritability for no reason, frequent water retention, spotting between cycles or absence of menstruation, and painful or difficult menses.

Major causes of imbalances are stress, adrenal exhaustion (produce most hormones), severe dieting or exercise, deficiencies in nutrients (especially protein, calcium, B-complex, EFAs: essential fatty acids), environmental pollutants and hormones, birth control, and HRT (hormone replacement therapy). 

      Fertility/Pregnancy:

·    Herbal support for normal, healthy child-bearing years: many varied fresh fruits and veggies in the diet, whole-food supplements (especially rich in folic acid and chlorophyll), and essential fatty acids (EFAs).

·    Massage therapy is essential in helping with infertility—stress management is important. Avoid caffeine.

Hot Flashes & Menopause:
Hot flashes are caused by the hypothalamus (regulates sleep cycles, appetite & body temp, and produces hormones in the pituitary gland) over-reacting & producing hormones, attempting to stimulate estrogen production.

Menopausal symptoms can be heavy bleeding (unlike/worse than normal periods), spotty bleeding, leg cramps, migraines, fibroids, low libido, hot flashes, mood swings, crying for no reason, vaginal dryness, hair loss or thinning, and night sweats.

*Hot flashes can last 2-4 years after menopause has ended.

·         

      Herbal Support:  Supplements are made for particular needs and will vary to include many of these herbs: Dong Quai, Black or Blue Cohosh, Licorice Root, Wild Yam, Chaste Tree/Vitex, and Ginseng

*Black Cohosh: research has shown 8 weeks later, estrogen levels are equal to Rx medications' results.

*Licorice Root: stimulates the adrenal system.

·    Vitamins/Minerals/EFAs: Supplements may contain any number of these beneficial components to aid your needs: Vitamin E, Omega 3 or mixed EFAs, folic acid/B-Complex, and Valerian Root/Kava Kava.

·    Foods: Super foods, such as those high in chlorophyll (wheat grass, barley grass, spirulina, etc.) are wonderful system-wide health builders that will increase stamina and have a long list of other benefits. 
      Add these foods to your diet (high protein & mineral content): Sea veggies (kelp, dulse, wakame, etc.), soy foods, papaya, seeds, nuts, miso, and green or white teas.

*Sea veggies help remove toxins from the body by binding to chemical wastes and then eliminating them through the proper channels.

*1 cup soy = 1 Premarin tablet

*To moderate bleeding: drinking red raspberry or green tea may help. Exercise is something that will either help you to lessen the bleeding or increase it—this is your bio-individuality…you have to try it first to find out.

NOTE: Many people have sought relief from every malady known to man through acupuncture and/or acupressure. Also, massage therapy (including foot, hand, and ear reflexology) has miracle-like results!

God provided every tree, grass, berry, nut, seed, flower, root, bark, stem, leaf, and fungus (did I miss any?) to help nourish and cure us of our ills whilst providing nutritive sustenance. He also gave us trigger points for effective body work—all to help us cope in this changing, beautiful, yet difficult world.

Q & A (Parenting)

This week's question is from P. M. in Massachusetts...

Hi Sunday,

Should I let my daughter stay overnight at her friend's house? I'm not asking for permission, but I am not sure I should say no. She is new to the school and just made friends, a sleepover is planned and I don't know the family or any of the other kids. I am afraid my daughter will be left out of other things if I say no. She has had sleepovers with friends at our old house, but I knew all the moms.
P.M.
Mass.


Hi P.,
Tricky indeed. You give no indication of her age, but most girls start sleepovers around age 10 and by age 15 are less likely to have issues in getting permission; I'll assume she is within those ages. Also, you stated she's had sleepovers at your home, but was it reciprocal with the known parents? 

If your caution has served you well, perhaps it isn't that you are as concerned with knowing who the parents are, but rather, knowing them well enough to allow your child to be in their care. Allowing sleepovers in your own home has given your daughter the feeling of being part of the group without your fears for her safety becoming an issue. 

I suggest getting to know the parents much better and finding out how they plan to entertain the girls for the evening. Ask the important questions: Will a parent be awake most of the night? The girls will be awake until the sun is up...or is that only in my experiences...  
Are there brothers in the home? If so, where will they be (sleeping)? Will they be allowed to go outside at all during the sleepover? Will anyone else be allowed into the home besides the invited girls? Who are the other girls (and their parents)? Will the parents have any visitors that night? Who else lives in the home (an aunt, uncle, grandparent, exchange student)? Is it a smoking house? Do the parents drink alcohol (will they drink while the girls are there)? What is the condition of the home (safe, clean)?

The key phrase here is "Get to know the parents much better!" before agreeing to any sleepovers. It doesn't matter if it is going on next door and you can see into their living room and if every girl in your daughter's class will be there. That doesn't matter. 

What matters is that her life and well being are paramount to you. You have to feel certain about the situation you put her in...millions of mothers have been in your place of question; most had nothing to worry about, what of the ones that did? This is the stuff that keeps you up at night. 

My mum always told me, "When in doubt say NO!" I sometimes round the bend in my thinking process tormenting myself with endless possibilities, outcomes that sound like the Forensic Files, and panic attacks. Then that wee voice in my head (no, not a crazy one) reminds me to mind my mother's wisdom. 

This made for unhappy moments in the Kazas home; my daughter could be angry with me, that didn't matter. What mattered was that she was with me, whilst being angry. 

In another post I'll explain ways I was able to keep sane during my daughter's teen years while still able to provide the freedom she so desired.

P.M. don't worry about hurting anyone's feelings over your parenting decisions; another caring parent understands such things and children get over disappointments when spoken to with care and respect. I also found it helpful to use diversion tactics--make a fun evening that competes with or overshadows what she'll be missing. It is more "work" for you this way, but you will forge a trusting and loving relationship greater than you can imagine from where you now stand.