Managing Perimenopause, Naturally (part 1)

If you're a woman in your late thirties or forties, you could be experiencing symptoms of perimenopause. 

Let's talk about menopause and perimenopause for a sec, because I think they're often misunderstood.

Think of menopause as the sweet spot - it begins 12 months after your last period, and most hormone-related symptoms dissipate at this point. The average age of menopause is 51, which is why perimenopause symptoms can kick off in your late thirties and forties.

Perimenopause, on the other hand, is the time where oestrogen and progesterone are madly fluctuating. Eventually oestrogen declines and you hit menopause.

The thing is, during perimenopause, oestrogen can go twice as high than it went in your menstruating years, and then crash down. This can continue for months or years, which is what causes the rollercoaster of typical perimenopause symptoms, such as hot flushes, irritability and unexplained weight gain:

Fluctuating oestrogen:

Symptoms of high oestrogen: breast pain, heavy period, clotted period, irritability and fluid retention

Symptoms of dropping oestrogen: anxiety, heart palpitations, depression, hot flushes and night sweats.

Treatment Options:

Western medicine often uses medication and treatment options such as HRT, oral contraceptive pill and an IUD, as well as antidepressant or anti-anxiety medications, which can come with side effects.

My two favourite natural solutions:

1. Homeopathy can be a powerful, untapped avenue when it comes to naturally managing perimenopause symptoms. My top three homeopathic medicines for perimenopause are Sepia, Lachesis and Pulsatilla. More about these perimenopausal remedies here.

2. Magnesium. I love a highly bioavailable magnesium supplement (usually about 300mg of magnesium, taken 30 minutes before bed), as magnesium is a key hormone balancing mineral that can improve insulin sensitivity, reduce sugar cravings, regulate the HPA axis and promote sleep. It’s called ‘nature’s tranquilliser’ for good reason ✌️

Homeopathy and naturopathy can be used as a stand-alone modality, or alongside a natural or integrative approach.

This is not medical advice. This is personal observations and reflections from supporting hundreds of women over twelve years. For personalised information, speak to your health practitioner or book a 1:1 consultation with me.