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Articles About Aromatherapy |
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Aromatherapy and MenopauseBy
Judith Fitzsimmons, Certified Aromatherapist Dare we say it? Who can we speak to about the first time our period is late and we are driving our youngest child to college and this mixed joyous fear trembles through us, “Dear Lord, let this be menopause,” we silently plead. And can we stick our tongues out at the person who says, “A positive mental attitude was the only thing I needed during menopause.” Are we not supposed to talk about our more analytical gaze in the mirror, the excessive pampering of our aging facial skin, or the tilting of our neck upward to ward off the sags? And of course not one of us is sweating like a stuffed pig over a pit both night and day. Well I, on the cusp of this transition, am going to talk about it. I am going to laugh about it. I am going to cry about it. I am going to read books about the physical aspects of it and try natural solutions to minimize the effects. Yes, I will try to keep a positive attitude, but I will not, I promise, gloss over menopause with a few clichés. Just the FactsNow that I have torn off the socially acceptable wrapper that covers the topic of menopause, let’s look at what’s inside. Menopause is a natural part of aging that begins for some women as early as mid- to late-thirties and for blessed others as late as 58 years old. Now, here’s the two-sided coin - do you want to discontinue your monthly bleeding frenzy and all of the hormonal, emotional, and physical activities associated with that at an early age or do you hang on to the known for as long as possible? I don’t think anyone ever says, “Yeah, I started going through menopause at just the right time for me.” But whether you want to go through menopause or not, whether you want to determine the age at which it commences or not, the bottom line is that it is going to happen when it happens. So what does happen? In one sentence, you experience a gradual reduction of the production of estrogen and progesterone, which are the female hormones that play a key role in shaping the female body. It is amazing to me that what is stated medically in one sentence causes such a tremendous impact on our lives, but it does. One of the most talked about aspects of menopause is the hot flash. Hot flashes happen when blood vessels dilate and constrict; blood flow increases, your body temperature rises, and your heart pumps faster. End result - you sweat. What Can We Do?Hundreds of books have been written about menopause and you will find one or several that are very beneficial to you - so get out there and read. Secondly, talk, talk, and talk some more. While everyone’s individual experience with menopause is going to be different, you can learn from the successes and failures that other’s had made along this journey. For everyone, whether you are experiencing menopause or not, the following lifestyle is recommended: Live the right balance between work and play, exercise and relaxation, laughing and crying, praying and touching. For those experiencing menopause, keep a positive attitude, avoid spicy foods and alcohol, drink peppermint tea for its cooling properties; increase calcium-rich foods in your diet, start taking evening primrose, and be sure to incorporate aromatherapy in your daily life. Essential Oils that HelpFor hot flashes, you can use Geranium,
Grapefruit, Lavender, Lemon, Lime, Melissa, To help cool off, gargle or spritz your body with Peppermint. To realign with your feminity, use Patchouli and Ylang Ylang. You can make body sprays (12 – 22 drops per cup of water), use the essential oils in your bath (8 – 18 drops), make cool compresses (2 – 5 drops), massage your body (17 – 28 drops per 2 ounces or lotion or 2 tablespoons of oil), or keep essential oils ready to put a drop on a tissue and inhale. For additional recipes, or to learn more details
about essential oils and aromatherapy, contact Judith Fitzsimmons. As
the owner of Aromatherapy Solutions, a home-based essential oil
business, she is available to make presentations to interested groups.
Judith is also the author of Seasons
of Aromatherapy (known as Aromatherapy
through the Seasons in paperback). This book is a wonderful recipe
book for people entering the world of aromatherapy and for seasoned
users looking for more therapeutic recipes. Contact Judith via her web
site at www.aromatherapysolutions.com,
email jfitzsimmons1@comcast.net,
write to her at
Content
Copyright 2005 by Judith Fitzsimmons. All rights reserved. YOU ARE HERE: Page Last |
