“Konenki'' is a Japanese word corresponding to, but not identical to, “menopause”. It is regarded as the turn of life, a natural stage & part of growing old, not generally associated with symptoms.

It is a time when major transformation in the body occurs physically mentally and spiritually. Menopause is not a disease; supporting it and treating it with kindness and respect can make all the difference.

This transformation can use up a lot of energy and bring hidden anxieties or physical imbalances to the surface that were hidden for a long time. If a woman had an unhealthy lifestyle or poor diet choices without developing health issues before menopause, she will not be able to afford this during menopause. This is the time to devote to looking after yourself, the opportunity to put a woman's life into order on all levels!

How to make the best of menopause

Rather than using oestrogen to artificially counteract the symptoms of menopause I believe in the natural approach, by focusing on diet, exercise, supplements, and herbs.

Hormones are made from the food we eat. The body's ability to produce the right amount of hormones is linked with the quality of food we eat, our digestion, and condition of the liver. During menopause, a woman's ovaries reduce hormone production. That's why diet is so crucial. Stress and stimulants (alcohol, coffee, sugar, sweeteners, chocolate, and cigarettes can interfere with hormone production and can trigger menopausal symptoms. Freshly prepared foods like salads, vegetables, grains and legumes, and fresh fruits eaten in between meals are best. Follow a diet low in salt and fats and high in fibres. Eat high calcium foods to prevent osteoporosis, sardines, tuna, sesame seeds, rhubarb, and tofu. Drink at least 2 litres of water to help with dryness in the body, hot flushes, and waste elimination. Eat foods that are high in phytoestrogens like fennel, celery, parsley, soy products, whole grain, apples, and alfalfa.

Treat your body kindly, energy-boosting therapies such as yoga, shiatsu, reflexology, meditation and relaxation exercises, and brisk walking may be more suitable during this period.

Liver cleansing, colon and kidneys are great preventative actions for reducing symptoms. I recommend the book Liver Rescue by Anthony William.

Aromatherapy for Menopause

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I wrote my thesis when I was studying aromatherapy years ago about menopause. In conclusion, I found the aromatherapy treatment that was very effective with my case studies at the time. In my opinion, aromatherapy massage can be very nurturing. There is a range of essential oils that can be beneficial in treating menopause.

Roman Chamomile, bergamot, clary sage, jasmine, neroli, and ylang ylang are great for calming and balancing effects. Sweet fennel contains phytoestrogens; geranium is known to be a hormone regulator and balancer. Cypress is great for mental clarity, focus, support with nervous exhaustion and menstrual changes. An aromatherapy diffuser, which slowly releases essential oils into the air, is a good investment for poor sleepers. Ideally, run it for about 45 minutes before bedtime or as you’re going to sleep. Kat’s Relaxing Organic Body Night Oil can create a sense of inner calm and tranquillity/peacefulness.

I recommend Kat’s Rose Essential Water to help with hot flushes, it is a wonderful and fast way of cooling the body. Spray onto your face, neck, and wrists. Rose is a very feminine essential oil, it helps women to feel calm, nurtured, and desirable. It's lovely to use in the evenings or during anxious moments. Rose can help us come to terms with the loss of our fertility and younger years.

My skin advice

Just like in puberty, hormones fluctuate drastically and skin can become increasingly oily, blemish-prone, and hard to manage. I see these hormonal breakouts along the chin and jawline.

Some of my clients experience dryness in the skin, due to the slowing down of sebaceous glands. The skin loses its ability to hold onto water.

An increase in skin sensitivity, pigmentation, and an increase in facial hair growth can be experienced. Generally, everyone experiencing menopause will see collagen levels drop in their skin.

The focus is definitely to hydrate the skin adding lipids to your skincare. I recommend Kat’s Anti Ageing and Empowering Organic Face Oil (for dull skin needing a pick up), Kat’s Calming and Repairing Organic Face Oil ( for sensitive, rosacea skin), or Kat’s Balancing Organic Face Oil (for breakout-prone skin).

Avoid having hot showers or baths; this will dry out the skin further. Incorporate the super hydrator hyaluronic acid into your skincare regime morning and night with DP Hyla Active. To nourish and keep hydration in, apply a moisturizer on top DP Skin Veneer to help reinforce your skin’s barrier.

I recommend products that contain alpha-hydroxy acids, which can normalize the uppermost layer of the skin, allowing it to hold onto moisture much longer. When we get older our skin gets thinner, alpha-hydroxy acids thicken the skin over time. Nimue has a wide range of alpha-hydroxy acid products.

Vitamin A and C products are very effective to help with pigmentation and collagen production, I would recommend a moisturiser DP Vitamin Rich Repair or DP Retinal Active.

Herbs and supplements that could support you during this time

Herbs:

Hops, skullcap, passionflower, and valerian may be useful for anxiety irritability and insomnia.

St. John’s wort is effective for women experiencing depression, irritability, and fatigue.
Ginkgo biloba and Siberian ginseng are useful for forgetfulness.
Dong Quai is known for balancing hormones and relieving hot flushes.
Maca root helps with hot flushes and has an energising effect.
Black cohosh helps with hot flushes, sweating, insomnia, and anxiety.

Vitamins:

Essential fats are great for balancing hormones and mood, I recommend eating (flax, sesame, sunflower, pumpkin) daily. I recommend Skin Omegas+ or a vegan option Biocare Flaxseed Oil
Vitamin C helps your hormones to work and supports collagen formation, I recommend Skin Vit C
I recommend Biocare NT Intensive to support the nervous system and help reduce tiredness and fatigue.

Be sure to talk to your doctor before you try any new herb or supplement. Even all-natural foods and drinks like tea can cause allergic reactions or interact with certain medications. Some herbs and supplements can be harmful to people with certain health conditions.

Menopause is a time for reevaluating life and entering a new phase of maturity, wisdom, and success. Midlife does not need to be a midlife crisis; instead, it is the greatest opportunity to look after yourself!