Menopause

by Phyllis Light

Menopause is the time when a woman decides what she is going to do with the rest of her life. It is a time of evaluation, synthesis, re-evaluation and commitment. And most importantly, it is a time of letting go of regrets. The time when a woman finds the truth within herself and the truth around her. A time of metamorphosis.

The monthly menstrual cycle prepares a woman for this truth-finding. Each month estrogen and progesterone rise and fall and the lining of the uterus is shed if there is no conception. Each month a woman searches for truth in her life, the authentic part of her being, and each month she sheds what no longer serves a purpose. This monthly letting go prepares her physically, emotionally and spiritually for the next phase of life.

Menopause is a time of reviewing memories and letting go of regrets that “things could have been different.” The job that didn't work out, the guilt of a secret love affair, and children leaving home are the sort of memories that surface during menopause.

Bittersweet memories of the perfect wedding, the right relationship, the fantastic sexual experience, and the experience of childbirth are all examples of the wonderful memories that can surface. Memory visiting is a normal process of menopause, but many women feel that something must be wrong with them to be living in the past.

Oftentimes, crying is the outlet for the emotional turmoil that results from this revisiting. This too is normal. Visit the memories, shed the tears and release. It only becomes a problem when there is no letting go. Forgive yourself and forgive others.

Remember, you did the best you could with what you knew at the time. No one makes the same decisions at 50 that they made at 25 and we should not view our past experiences in that light. We are who we are now because of where we have been.

There are some herbs that can be very helpful in balancing the psycho-spiritual and physical aspects of menopause and aid in health building.

Blessed Thistle (Cnicus benedictus), also known as Holy Thistle, aids digestion and strengthens the stomach, gallbladder and liver. It opens the kidney meridian and aids the liver in metabolizing hormones, natural or artificial, internally made or ingested. This can help bring hormonal balance during menopause. The liver is the organ that often suffers during stressful times as it is called upon to work harder. Thistle works well with Fo-Ti to help lift depression and melancholy.

Fo-Ti (Polygonum multiflorum) or Ho shou wu can help lift melancholy. Melancholy is an emotional state, a tinge of sadness that can filter around the edges of upset. Melancholy often accompanies life's crises and drains our energy. Fo-Ti restores energy levels to lift us out of melancholy. In China, Fo-Ti is considered one of the most important longevity herbs. It can increase vigor, restore energy, nourish the pancreas, and balance blood sugar.