Homeopathic Treatment

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Homeopathic Treatment for Menopause
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• Written by Dr. Gabrielle Traub
• In the celebration of
• World Homeopathic
• Awareness Week

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Menopause

• Menopause is the permanent cessation of
  menstruation due to a decrease in production of
  estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries
• It normally occurs during the late 40s and early
  50s, however can occur earlier for example after
  a hysterectomy

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Peri-menopause

• The onset of noticeable signs of Menopause
• Symptoms include
• Irregular periods
• Hot flushes
• Night sweats
• Vaginal dryness

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Post-Menopause

• The 12 months after your last menstrual period

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Symptoms include

• Hot flushes, night sweats
• Vaginal dryness vaginal infections
• Mood swings, depression, anxiety, emotional
  liability, confusion
• Confusion, forgetfulness
• Sleep disturbances
• Fatigue
• Decreased libido
• Palpitation
• Hair loss
• Skin changes
• Headaches and backache
• Incontinence
• Increased risk of osteoporosis and heart disease
• Weight gain

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Homeopathic study

• In a prospective study 82 of patients reported
  improvement of menopausal symptoms after
  homeopathic treatment.
• Women referred to homeopathy were those who
  either could not take hormone replacement therapy
  (HRT), for whom HRT was unsuccessful, who did
  not want HRT or who had to come off HRT.

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• Main symptoms noted were
• hot flushes and sweats,
• tiredness,
• anxiety,
• sleeping difficulties,
• mood swings
• headaches.
• Mean length of homeopathic treatment was 5
  months.
• Relton, C. NHS. Homeopathy Menopause Service.
  Outcome study. In press.

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How homeopathy is different to regular medical
treatment/herbs?

• HOLISTIC- each person is an individual
• NO SIDE EFFECTS-side effects of drugs
• Often heals other ailments besides the ones being
  treated
• Herbs every one get the same herb and a crude
  dose
• Wonderful, effective alternative to HRT

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• Homeopathy addresses the issue, rather than just
  symptoms.
• Powerful, gentle, effective, safe, natural
• FDA approved\gentle enough even for newborns and
  the elderly
• Very effective in replacing HRT
• You dont need to suffer with mood swings and hot
  flushes
• You can choose a very safe, effective way to
  address these issues without worrying about side
  effects

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Hormone Replacement Therapy Weighing the Pros
and Cons

• Whether or not to undergo hormone replacement
  therapy (HRT) is a difficult decision for many
  women
• The medical community itself is divided on the
  issue.
•  

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Benefits of HRT

• Prevents Osteoporosis
• Prevents heart disease
• Relief of Menopausal symptoms

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Major risks of HRT

• Estrogen therapy, unopposed by progestin,
  increases a postmenopausal woman's chances of
  developing uterine cancer from an average of 1 in
  1,000 to as much as 1 in 100. The longer period
  of time the estrogen is taken the greater the
  risk. This statistic is reduced if progestin is
  given
• Increases risk of Breast Cancer (by 25 and worse
  in women if there is current cancer or a family
  history),
• Increases incidence of gallstones, especially
  oral HRT
• Liver disease
• Pancreatic disease
• blood clots
• Stroke
• Heart attack

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Relative risks 

• Hypertension, 
• Benign breast disease, 
• Benign uterine disease,
• Endometriosis, 
• Pancreatitis, 
• Epilepsy, 

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Other side-effects of HRT, include

• Vaginal bleeding/spotting
• Breast pain
• Nausea
• Cramping
• Headaches
• Fluid retention
• Vaginal discharge
• Depression
• Irritability
• Weight gain
• Bloating
• Estrogen may also have adverse effects on some
  patients with seizure disorders and migraine
  headaches.
• In rare cases, it can also interfere with liver
  function, raise blood pressure, or promote the
  growth of benign uterine fibroids.

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HRT should definitely be avoided if you

• Are pregnant
• Have a family history of or have had uterine,
  ovarian, or breast cancer
• Have large fibroids, or benign uterine tumors
• Have venous thrombosis, or blood clotting
  problems
• Have gallbladder or liver disease

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What does the research show?

• In July 1992, Shocking news was released from a
  major clinical trial of more than 16,000 women.
  Just five 'years into the trial, which was
  originally planned to run for eight-and-a-half
  years, the women were told to stop taking hormone
  medication, after tests revealed that the six
  million American women currently taking the drugs
  might be at risk.
• To the surprise and disappointment of researchers
  and women all over the world, new data show that
  the commonly prescribed combination drug
  containing estrogen and progestin may cause more
  harm than good.

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• Researchers were stunned to find the therapy did
  not decrease the risk of coronary heart disease,
  as was anticipated. In fact, women in the
  treatment group saw their risk of heart attack
  increased by 29 percent. Hormone replacement
  therapy also increased a woman's risk of invasive
  breast cancer by 26 percent strokes by 41
  percent and blood clots by 100 percent.
• The results of the trial (the Women's Health
  Initiative - WHI) were published in the July 17
  issue of the Journal of the American Medical
  Association.
• Reference material
• MSNBC News, Washington Post, Seattle Times,
  Women's Health Alert, published by Public
  Citizen's Health Research Group,
  www.worstpills.org, www.Public Citizens Health
  Research Group.com

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• Although natural hormone replacement is many
  times safer and can be more effective than
  synthetic HRT, natural bioidentical hormone
  preparations are still synthesized from natural
  substances.
• The body knows the difference between a wild yam
  and something synthesized from a wild yam.
• The Homeopathic approach uses remedies made up of
  substances intended to support the body
  self-healing abilities.
• Minute amounts of these healing substances cannot
  act to replace the body's hormones but instead
  serve as catalysts (agents) that, in effect,
  kick-start the body's own appropriate production
  of hormones.

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What exactly is Homeopathy?
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• While 60 of homeopathic medicines do originally
  come from plants, they act very differently to
  herbal medicines.
• Only a small amount of the original substance is
  used, thus homeopathic medicine has NO side
  effects and can even be safely used during
  pregnancy, when under the supervision of a
  homeopathic practitioner.

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• Homeopathic medicines are derived from plants,
  minerals, animals, viruses, etc
• There are over 6000 different homeopathic
  medicines and new medicines being discovered and
  proved all the time.
• The process of potentization makes homeopathic
  medicines more powerful, reducing the need for
  daily doses.

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• However, unlike allopathic medicine, where drugs
  are continuously removed off the market and
  replaced by new ones once there side effects have
  been discovered, homeopaths are still using the
  same tried and tested homeopathic medicines we
  used 200 years ago, however are adding to our
  continuously growing materia medica, allowing us
  a greater scope of practice.

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Homeopathy is actually over 200 years
old.Homeopathy originated in Germany

• In 1796 a German doctor, Samuel Hahnemann,
  discovered a different approach to the cure of
  the sick, which he called homeopathy (from the
  Greek words meaning similar suffering).

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Women who use
Homeopathy
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A drug-free treatment for the symptoms of
Menopause
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• The most effective way to treating menopause, is
  with constitutional treatment.
• Your homeopath will select a remedy especially
  chosen for you, as an individual, based on the
  totality of your symptoms as well as your
  physical, mental and emotional state.
• This remedy strengthen the immune system to
  restore a healthy balance and sense of
  well-being.

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Case of Sepia

• A 40 year old successful business women came to
  see me for low libido
• She was going through menopause and experiencing
  the following symptoms
• Hot flushes
• Vaginal dryness
• Completely lost all interest in sex
• Aversion to her husband
• She was becoming increasingly irritable and
  indifferent to her family and felt guilty for it
  and was very tearful
• She had weakness in the muscles of her pelvic
  wall (Kegel exercises do not help)
• On taking her case, it came out that she had had
  2 horrible pregnancies in the past-hated being
  pregnant and had suffered from post-partum
  depression
• She was much better for exercise and craves
  pickles

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• On analysis of the case with repertorization, I
  chose the remedy, Sepia

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Sepia

• Wonderful remedy for women with hormonal
  imbalances
• Commonly used to treat menstrual problems,
  ailment of pregnancy (and post-partum) and
  symptoms of Menopause
• Patients needing Sepia often complain of
• Hot flushes
• Irregular menstrual flow or flooding
• Lack of libido
• Irritability, indifference to loved ones
• vaginal dryness that causes pain during sex,
• yeast infections.
• chills,
• tearfulness,
• hair loss
• They feel better from eating, sleeping, exercise,
  hot compresses, they sometimes tell me that they
  feel better in stormy weather.
• They crave sour foods, pickles and lemons

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Follow up

• After one month there is no change.
• After 2 months of treatment she is less irritable
  and the intensity of her hot flushes is less
• After 3 months her vaginal dryness had improved
  and she was becoming far more loving towards her
  husband. She is losing her temper less with her
  children
• After 5 months of treatment, she feels like a
  different person. Her transition into Menopause
  has been smooth and her symptoms have been
  alleviated. Her husband called me up to say
  Thank you for giving me back my beautiful wife

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A case of Lachesis

• A 40 year old peri-menopausal women came to see
  me for hot flushes
• Her symptoms are always much worse before her
  periods and they improve as soon as the flow
  comes on
• She also suffers from left-sided headaches that
  come on before her periods and are ameliorated
  when the flow begins
• She is loquacious, has intense feelings of
  jealousy and is convinced that her husband is
  cheating on her
• She cannot bear tight or constrictive clothing

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Follow-up

• Initially her symptoms got intensely worse for 3
  days she had intense hot flushes, she was more
  jealous and weepy
• 2 weeks later she started to feel better
• 6 weeks later her hot flushes were considerably
  less
• 4 months later her menstrual pain and bloating
  are gone. This is the first time in her life that
  she is not experiencing PMS. Her hot flushes are
  so mild that they no longer bother her
• 9 months later she is still feeling good and she
  feels much more secure in her marriage, she no
  longer has intense jealousy and is getting along
  better with her sister too (I later found out
  that she has a younger, very pretty sister whom
  she hated ever since she was born as she took
  away the attention)

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Individualistic treatment, the Gem in Homeopathy

• While you may relate to features in one or both
  cases it is important to realize that Homeopathy
  is extremely individualistic, and that there are
  many homeopathic remedies to treat Menopause
• The remedy that will be best suited for you is
  the one that not only matches your specific
  symptoms, but also matches you as a person.
• The best way to find the right remedy for you is
  by having your case taken by a professional who
  is trained and experienced in Homeopathy

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Homeopathy-a natural solution for
MenopauseSafely, Gently, Naturally, Effectively
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A healthy Lifestyle makes a difference

• Stress management and exercise can help reduce
  symptoms

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• Weight bearing exercise and a calcium-rich diet
  prevents against osteoporosis

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• Wear cotton clothing for night sweats
• Vaginal lubricants reduce vaginal dryness and
  alleviates pain during intercourse

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Diet

• Sugar, spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol may
  aggravate hot flushes
• Soy products contain Phytoestrogens, similar in
  structure to estrogen and can reduce symptoms,
  however avoid in if you have soy allergies or a
  history of breast cancer

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Incontinence

• Kegel exercises strengthen the muscles of the
  pelvic floor and help with urinary incontinence.

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A new beginning

• Many women today find that the years after
  menopause offer new recognition and fresh
  beginnings.
• To have a positive attitude towards menopause as
  a natural, essential and healthy phase of
  womanhood is important.

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• Questions???

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• The information in this lecture is for
  educational purposes only and is not intended to
  replace the advice of your doctor or health care
  practitioner.  This lecture is not intended to
  diagnose any condition.  Speak to your doctor or
  healthcare practitioner before discontinuing any
  medication that has been prescribed for you.
  Inform your health care provider before taking
  any of the remedies or supplements recommended in
  this lecture.

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Recommended reading

• Andrews, Lynn Women at the Edge of Two Worlds
  Brady, Maureen Midlife Meditations for Women
  Cameron,Judy The Artist's Way Canfield,
  Jack, et al. Chicken Soup for the Woman's Soul
  Cobb, Janice Understanding Menopause Cutler,
  Winnifred Menopause A Guide for Women and the
  Men Who Love Them Fisher, Rosemary Recipes and
  Research on Osteoporosis, Heart Disease, Cancer
  
• Greenwood, Sadja Menopause, Naturally
  Lark, Susan, M.D. The Estrogen Decision Lee,
  John R. What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About
  Menopause McCain, Marian Van Eyk
  Transformation Through Menopause Myss,
  Caroline Anatomy of the Spirit Nachtigall,
  Lila, M.D. and Hellman, Joan Estrogen
  Northrup, Christine, M.D. Women's Bodies,
  Women's Wisdom Painter, Charlotte Gifts of Age
  Porcino, Jane Growing Older, Growing Better

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RECOMMENDED READING ON HOMEOPATHY

• For self-prescribing (treating acutes)
• Everybodys guide to Homeopathic Medicines by
  Cummings and Ullman
• Homeopathy A pictorial Guide Self help for
  common ailments by Vivienne Rawsley Judith
  Scott Little London Partners, ISBN 1-872407-005
• The Homeopathic Emergency Guide by Thomas Kruzel
• Homeopathic Self-Care The quick and easy guide
  by Ullman and Reichenberg-Ullman
• For understanding homeopathy
• The Science of Homeopathy by George Vithoulkas
• Impossible cure by Amy Lansky
• Portraits of Homeopathy By Catherine Coultier
• A Patient's guide to Homeopathy by Dana Ulman
• You can obtain most homeopathic books from
• Minimum Price Books
• Tel [phone]
• Website www.minimum.com (It is often cheaper to
  order online)

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• For more information about
• World Homeopathic Awareness Week,
• visit
• www.whomeopathy.org

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Bibliography

• Boericke, W Pocket Manual of Homeopathic Materia
  Medica and Repertory, B. Jain Publishers, New
  Delhi, 1929.
• Vermuelen, F Concordant Materia Medica