Dr. Ben Markham, DC, who is also a homeopathic physician and clinical nutritionist, sees lots of women who initially come to his chiropractic practice for low back pain. It's only in the course of taking their medical history that he learns about the other issues. Hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and other discomforting symptoms associated with menopause.

Until a decade ago, HRT (hormone replacement therapy) was routinely prescribed by medical doctors. A study released in 2002 by the Women's Health Initiative sharply called into question the wisdom of hormone replacement therapy. The study, involving 16,000 healthy women ages 50 to 79, revealed HRT actually posed more health risks than benefits for many women.

In addition to suggesting botanical and nutritional remedies, DCs often recommend that their patients consider seeing a medical or naturopathic physician who prescribes bioidentical hormones synthesized from plants. Many DCs find that working to strengthen the adrenal glands are also a good alternative to hormone replacement therapy.

"If the adrenals are doing their job, there are no menopause symptoms" says Henry West, a Pocatello, Idaho, chiropractor and naturopathic physician and a former president of the American Chiropractic Association. "Herbs, whole foods, relaxation techniques, exercise-all these can help promote adrenal health. Pesticides and herbicides are being found to disrupt endocrine functions. They get in the hormone receptors and accelerate or block the hormone action." Plastics are another danger. Chemicals in the plastic-phthalates and BPA-can migrate into food from plastic containers, particularly during microwaving. "These are xenoestrogens that act on women's estrogen receptors" Dr. Brady notes. Dr. Brady is an associate professor of clinical sciences, the vice provost of Health Sciences, and the director of the Human Nutrition Institute at the University of Bridgeport in Connecticut. "So the more someone lives a clean lifestyle, doesn't microwave plastic, eats whole, fresh, organic foods, and uses a veggie wash on non-organic produce, it will help greatly."

Stress causes an elevation in stress hormones such as cortisol. Dr. Brady says "Hormones are like a cascade. If you imbalance any one point, it affects every other point. When you are younger you can deal with stress, but as you get older you do not have the metabolic reserves to do so. Whether it is yoga or prayer or deep breathing, any kind of relaxation practice is going to be helpful."

Many patients report that getting spinal adjustments helps with menopausal symptoms. Be sure to give a complete medical history and note any recent changes when you see your chiropractor or other health practitioner!

Source of Article: ACA News November 2011.