Menopause Metamorphosis

Smoothing the Transition

Q: Yes please include me on your email newslist. I was also wanting to ask about how much vitex I should begin taking, I am 45 and have a full 7 day of menses like clockwork since age of 12, I am however starting to feel the "crazy" effect of my system and know that I need a balance, I am now taking one 400mg a day, the bottle says 4 per day but I have a very sensitive system and do not want to over do. Any advise would be great. Your site is wonderful and glad that I found it...Waiting here in Oregon..Thanks C.

 

A: Hello C., thank you for writing. We are so glad you are enjoying the websites! You have been added to the Weed Wanderings ezine mailing list.

I hear you about the changes happening in what has been regular for 33 years now. I can imagine this is a bit unsettling, and you want the regularity. It is likely as you transition from bleeding to not you will have to go through some disruption in dependability. Even so, I hear some have found Vitex berries to be quite a friend during this time. Not so much balancing but nourishing your endocrine system, so you are best able to create what you most need, possibly making the transition flow a bit smoother. Susun Weed in New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way does warn, however, that "Chasteberry [Vitex] seemed helpful at first to me, but increased the severity of my 'meltdown' phase menopausal symptoms."

The primary way I have heard Vitex taken is as a tincture of the berries (fresh or dried). Susun (in the same book) recommends a dropperful of tincture be taken in water 3-4 times a day every day; waiting possibly 2-3 months before seeing change. Use for years is also often just fine. I have also, much less often, heard of a tea of the freshly powdered berries drunk, or freshly powdered berries sprinkled over food Of the latter, Susun recommends 20mg a day, far less than what your bottle is suggesting. I prefer to stay with what I can understand more, and this is tinctures. It is also far more economical than pills, especially if you make them yourself. If you would like assistance with this I would be glad to help; it is quite easy!

If I can answer any more questions, or elaborate better, let me know :)

Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com

Dizzy...

Q: Dear Ms. Weed,

Thank you for creating a wonderful and resourceful website. It is rich in content. I am writing to ask you a question. I am a 44 year old female in perfect health. I am currently going through bad peri-menopause symptoms. I am having hot flashes, cold flashes, light menstrual cycles, and the horrible dizziness. Do you know of anything to help alleviate the dizziness? I am drinking soy milk, buy as much organic food as I can, get plenty of sleep, no drugs or alcohol. Any assistance you could give will be greatly appreciated.

Very Sincerely, T.

 

A: Hello T., thank you for writing. Susun has a section in her book New Menopausal Years the Wise Woman Way about overheated conditions. In this she describes "dizziness, dry eyes, burning mouth, formication." She relates these to an overworked liver. She also writes, "Note that dizziness may also be from hyperventilation..., dehydration, fatigue, reduced blood flow to the brain, or inner ear debris... Regular exercise especially yoga and tai chi can prevent and relieve these problems." What will relieve the dizziness really depends on the cause specific to you. If it is hyperventilation, this can be from anxiety, stress. If an overworked liver, of course anything that nourishes your liver will help, as well as considering why it may be overworked at an energetic level, like tightness in the gut due to issues of personal worth. For dizziness she says the smell of Lavender oil may relieve it. For light headedness, she suggests nourishing the liver with 10-20 drops of Dandelion root tincture taken 1-3 times a day. If possible from hyper-ventilation, breathing into your cupped hands when feeling dizzy may help.

It sounds like you take wonderful care of yourself!! Just know this is a change and takes a lot of your reserves. So sometimes even extra special nourishing is needed, with activities, foods, and emotional care.

Please let us know if we can help further!

Blessings,
Karen Joy
[email protected]
www.wisewomanweb.com

 

Q: Dear Karen,

Thank you so much for the information.  After thinking about it I concluded (and I hope I am right!) that I may be consistently dehydrated from the hot/warm flashes and constantly raised body temperature that I seem to employ.  I drink plenty of water but perhaps that doesn't do the trick.

Can you define what inner ear debris is?  I am not familiar with this term and am very interested to learn more, as I have ringing in my left ear and I never had that before until this peri-menopause thing started.   I do have an 80% hearing loss in my left ear as well, but I didn't think it was related to the peri-menopause.  What do you think?  I will see about getting some of that Dandelion root tincture for my liver.

Again, thank you very very much for your reply.

Very Sincerely, T.

 

A: Hello T., your thought about hydration makes sense.  I hope this works for you.  Tinnitus is mentioned often in relation to menopause.  You can view a few of our past threads on the topic at our online forum:

http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=2818 http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=7372 http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=2196 http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=61

Susun also mentions Violet flower oil placed in the ears for tinnitus in her book Healing Wise.  Inner ear debris I understand as anything in the mid or inner ear causing the tinnitus.  Some too have mentioned it is from inflammation in the eustachian tube - http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=4136 and http://www.susunweed.com/weedforum/viewtopic.php?t=2543.

lots of love,
Karen Joy