I am on the verge of menopause and would like to explore alternatives to hormone replacement therapy. What do you suggest as a healthy/holistic approach to menopause?

According to ayurveda, three biological principles or doshas govern our mind and body. Vata is the wind principle of change; Pitta is the fire principle of metabolism; and Kapha is the earth principle of protection. Excessive accumulation of any principle leads to symptoms that disturb optimal health.

During their reproductive years, women generally have fewer problems with Pitta, because they release accumulated heat with their monthly menstrual flow. With the onset of menopause, women lose the opportunity to release excess Pitta, resulting first in hot flashes, and then in tissue dryness and bone loss.

Interventions that soothe, cool, and nurture are helpful in easing your transition. Favor foods that are sweet (complex carbohydrates, nuts, organic dairy), bitter (green and yellow vegetables), and astringent (beans, lentils, green tea, pomegranates). A daily massage with a cooling oil such as coconut or olive can help balance your physiology. A regular meditation practice and breathing exercises have been shown to reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flashes. Find complete instructions for a daily self-massage here.

A variety of herbs and nutritional supplements have been promoted to help with hot flashes, although few have demonstrated efficacy when examined scientifically. Soy products and black cohosh have been shown to modestly reduce hot flashes.

I encourage you to use this time to center and balance your body and mind, and you will transition gracefully into the next phase of your life. Then you can channel your creative energies into personal fulfillment, vitality, and spiritual awakening.

With love,
David