Hailey came to me distraught from a lack of sleep and constant hot flushes due to menopause. Her doctor’s only recommendation was HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) but Hailey wanted to see if I had any natural recommendations she could explore first.

I am asked this question a lot, so I am going to share with you what I relayed to Hailey so you can explore different avenues (under the guidance of your doctor).

The hormones that particularly come to mind are the oestrogens (there is more than one) and progesterone. During menopause it is these hormones that are out of balance and need to be harmonized.

Pamper Yourself – You Are Worth It!

I love nothing more than pampering myself, but so often we neglect to look after ourselves.

A ritual of candles surrounding a bathtub with scented lavender oil added to the bath water, perhaps some quiet music, and I am in heaven. And this is a great way to treat yourself kindly even if you’re not in your menopause years.

Dress in Layers

By anticipating what may occur, you can prevent its escalation.

I can remember one evening, in a cozy pub, I was in the corner beside the fireplace drinking my favourite whiskey. All of a sudden, I started to feel warm. I was about 45 at the time and hot flushes were not yet on my radar.

I remained seated and slowly got warmer and warmer. Unfortunately, I was dressed in a polo neck jumper, no top underneath it. Hence, the top could not be removed.

Within minutes, I was in a ball of sweat. I had to wipe my face numerous times before excusing myself and making my way out of the pub into the freezing night air. (I was in Ireland at the time and out for Christmas drinks). Never have I appreciated such a cold evening.

Here’s what I took away from that experience:

• Ever since this incident I have dressed in layers.
• No more tops with high necks, open V’s for me from now on!
• Going out, I wear a light top and jacket. The jacket is always removed the minute I feel a slight twinge of heat.
• No more sitting by the fire, unless I have a clear escape route.
• I do indulge in my whiskey but add more water to the glass with each tipple.
• Zips have become my saviour. A quick unzip can get you out of any heated encounter without being too obvious.
• Layers have been incorporated into the bedroom also. Light cotton nightclothes and layers of blankets as opposed to one heavy one during the winter and light cotton sheets and blankets for the summer.

Avoid Dehydration

We hear it every day yet many of us do not drink enough water.

Keeping the body hydrated is of particular concern as you get older. The menopause stage is no exception. Even if all you took from this article and increased your water intake to two litres a day, you will see a noticeable difference in the mirror after a week.

Water intake is often confused with fluids found in tea, coffee, and alcohol. The problem with these beverages is that they act like diuretics therefore increasing the amount of fluids you need in a day to keep you hydrated.

Being adequately hydrated keeps the wrinkles at bay and is cheaper than the supplements recommended for hydrating the skin.

Practice Yoga and Meditation

If the idea of getting down on the floor to do anything reminds you of those old “Help, I’ve fallen and I can’t get up” commercials, you may think yoga is not for you.

The truth is that gentle yoga can benefit anyone, regardless of age, inflexibility or even disability. Here is a great article that shares some of the amazing benefits of yoga.

Stress plays a big part in how your body handles the fluctuations in oestrogen and progesterone. By assisting the body in any way you can to cope with the stress it’s is experiencing, you will assist in decreasing your symptoms.

What is your best kept secret when it comes to keeping stress at bay? Which of these strategies helped you the most during menopause? What do you recommend to those women who are still going through that stage? I would love to hear your comments below.

Editor’s note: This article is not intended to provide medical advice. Please consult with your doctor to get specific medical advice for your situation.