Menopausal symptoms, estrogen/progesterone imbalances, estrogen dominance, sweats, cysts, fibroids, endometriosis, etc

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A little girl is born with all the immature eggs in her ovaries, which will later develop and be released during her lifetime. Although the number of these egg ‘follicles’ within the ovaries may exceed 400,000 at puberty, only around 400 will actually develop and be released during the woman’s lifetime.

Menopause occurs when a woman no longer ovulates and has menstrual periods. This was widely believed to be when her lifetime’s supply of eggs (ova) was used up during successive menstrual cycles. Scientists now believe that this may not be the case – that menopause, as well as puberty, may commence through hormone-driven events triggered by the brain.

The chief problems surrounding menopausal disorders usually involve dysfunctional estrogen to progesterone levels in the body. Initially, this will provoke hot sweats, flushes, etc., but may progress to fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, and ultimately, an estrogen-positive breast or gynaecological cancer.

Fibrocystic breast disease: A relatively common condition where cysts or solid lumps of fibrous and glandular tissue form in the breast. These are not in themselves cancerous. The condition may be caused by constipation and estrogen dominance

Endometriosis: A disorder where endometrial cells of the uterine lining are found growing outside the uterus where they respond to hormonal stimuli during menstruation, resulting in inflammation of the lower abdominal organs and pain. The condition is common in women between 25 to 44, and can lead to infertility. The condition is thought to be caused by estrogen dominance.

Menopausal symptoms

Hormone levels fluctuate towards the onset of menopause, and symptoms experienced may include hot sweats, flushing, headaches, mood swings, urinary tract infections, cold hands and feet and atrophic vaginitis. Interestingly, those cultures living in non-toxic environments hydrating properly and consuming high-fibre, non-processed diets rarely experience these symptoms. Most of the problems women endure are primarily due to fluctuating levels of estrogens and progesterone (usually too much estrogen, not enough progesterone) as the body prepares itself for the next phase of the woman’s life.

Sorting the problems

Stress plays a large part in generating hormonal imbalances. Your thoughts affect your biochemistry. If not corrected, this can lead to breast cancer. Candida, fibrocystic breast disease, endometriosis, thrush, fibromyalgia, certain allergies, osteoporosis, lupus, coronary spasm, Graves’ disease, thyroiditis and Sjirgren’s disease can all be implicated in estrogen dominance. Many occurrences of these distressing illnesses have been arrested with the introduction of proper hydration and salting, as well as a low-fat, high-fibre diet, certain supplements and regular, proper exercise. Yet the emphasis by the medical establishment is always on synthetic estrogens and progestins, serum tests conducted by physicians being interpreted by them as demonstrating a patient’s estrogen deficiency.

 Many doctors do have serious reservations with the accuracy of such tests, since a very low level of active hormones is actually picked up by these indicators (up to 9%). The practitioner will then prescribe estrogen as he sees the need to raise the levels shown by the indicators, unaware that these tests fail to detect up to 90% of active hormones in the patient’s body. In fact, hormone levels cannot be pre-determined by yardsticks, because of the many variables affecting hormone levels existing within the body of the female.

Further symptoms of estrogen dominance may include migraines, hay fever, skin rashes, urinary tract infection, varicose veins, ectopic pregnancy and high blood pressure – most themselves symptoms of chronic, unintentional dehydration. Threats from these problems have been averted by the regulation of natural progesterone in the body through the application of natural creams and lotions, along with dietary and lifestyle changes.

Natural progesterone

At the outbreak of World War 2, research into progesterone discovered the properties of diosgenin contained in the Mexican wild yam. It was found that this substance could convert easily and inexpensively into the identical progesterone molecule used by the body. Dr John Lee, among many doctors, prescribed this natural substance with tremendous benefit for years, even noting the average bone density of his patients increasing by 15% during the treatment. Lee unequivocally stated that natural progesterone could alleviate many of the symptoms associated with menopause and associated complications, even allowing the patient to decrease their levels of estrogens along with diet and lifestyle changes to complete the transition.

Dr Sherrill Sellman too gives her seal of approval in encouraging women to consider the natural alternatives to chemical treatments for menopause: “Supplementation with natural progesterone corrects the real problem – progesterone deficiency. It is not known to have any side-effects, nor have any toxic levels been found to date. Natural progesterone protects against fibrocystic breast disease, helps protect against and uterine cancer, maintains the lining of the uterus, hydrates and oxygenates the skin, reverses facial hair growth and thinning of the hair, acts as a natural diuretic, helps to eliminate depression and increases a sense of well-being, encourages fat burning and the use of stored energy. Even the two most prevalent menopausal symptoms, hot flashes and vaginal dryness, quickly disappear with applications of natural progesterone.”^[1][1]

And lastly, consider the following:

• Percentage of US women who will have a hysterectomy in their lifetimes: 50%
• Most common reason for hysterectomy – fibroids
• Second most common reason for hysterectomy in the US – endometriosis
• Number of women with fibroids or endometriosis who are relieved of pain and heavy bleeding within three months of adopting a low-fat, high-fibre organic diet – the vast majority
• Percentage of American physicians who recommend dietary changes for fibroids and endometriosis – < 1% ^[2][2]
• Most widely prescribed drug in the US in 1992 – Premarin (sic: made from pregnant mares’ urine - used as ‘estrogen replacement therapy’)
• Primary reasons prescribed – hot flushes, osteoporosis and heart disease
• Percentage of women who obtained complete relief from hot flushes by taking 200 mg of vitamin C and 200 mg of bioflavonoids 6 times a day - 67%
• Percentage of menopausal women who obtained relief from hot flushes by taking two herbal capsules three times a day for three months in a double-blind, placebo-controlled study - 100%
• Percentage of US physicians discussing natural approaches with their menopausal patients - 2% ^[3][3

The regimen below is designed to sort some of the more general problems in a hurry, so you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by getting busy. If you are suffering from a recognised menopausal complaint that is dealt with in my book, The ABC’s of Disease, then the regime attached to that section should be incorporated with the listings below, upon advice of a physician.

Many women who are constipated (less than three bowel movements a week) have a 5 times higher risk of fibrocystic breast disease (cyclic, bilateral multiple cysts in the breasts). Constipation should first and foremost be treated as a dehydration issue. It is estimated 20-40% of premenopausal women suffer from this complaint alone. Getting the bowels functioning again will of course be our most solemn duty:

• DIET: COMMENCE EATING AN ORGANIC WHOLEFOOD DIET, the vast majority of which should be eaten raw (see the new film Food Matters). If suffering from yeast/fungal/Candida infections, substitute the above regimen for THE ANTI-CANDIDA DIETARY REGIMEN listed in most of my books, plus appropriate supplementation
• HYDRATION: Commence drinking half your bodyweight (lbs) in ounces A DAY, i.e. a 120 lb female should drink 60 oz of water daily. For most adults, 2-3 litres of water will suffice
• DIET: Half a teaspoon (tsp) of unrefined sea salt or, best, Himalayan salt for every ten glasses of water
• DIET: Take particular care to avoid the foods discussed in Foods to avoid, both in the ANTI-CANDIDA DIETARY REGIMEN and THE FOOD FOR THOUGHT LIFESTYLE REGIMEN in my books. ESPECIALLY COFFEE!!!!
• TIP: Ensure that the diet is primarily vegetarian, with large intakes of dietary fibre. All foods and meats containing industrial estrogens (including soy) should be discontinued. The ingestion of birth control pills also should be halted. The diet should be dominant with fruits, vegetables, legumes, pulses, nuts, seeds and plenty of fresh, clean, unfluoridated water
• DETOXIFICATION: Commence a two-week magnesium oxide bowel flush
• RESTORE NUTRIENT BALANCE: COMMENCE A BASIC SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM, ensuring:
• A probiotic supplement to replace healthy gut flora
• Vitamin C complex (ascorbates plus bioflavonoids), half a teaspoon four times a day
• Flaxseed oil, 1 tbsp per day
• Vitamin B6, 50 mg, three times per day (regulate intake of this nutrient until regular dream recall is achieved)
• Vitamin E, 800 IU per day, until symptoms improve, then 400 IU (as per THE BASIC SUPPLEMENT PROGRAM)
• Natural progesterone cream, such as Endau (Neways), to be applied topically, as directed
• EXERCISE regularly, ensuring the heart-rate is raised through activities such as cycling, hill-climbing, stair-climbing, rowing, etc. Gyms are ideal for this. Walking is not exercise from a cardiovascular standpoint (heart-rate is not significantly raised). 40-60 minutes a day, four times a week minimum. DO NOT SHIRK THIS!!
• STRESS REDUCTION: Need I say more? Your thoughts affect your biochemistry. Prolonged periods of stress, whether personal or professional, will suppress immunity and affect hormonal output. The body is designed to do this as part of the normal fight or flight response. When stress occupies the majority of your life, serious problems result.

RESOURCES

The Essential Guide to Water and Salt by F Batmanghelidj MD and Phillip Day

Vitamin C plus bioflavonoids

Himalayan crystal salt

Reverse osmosis drinking water system