Menopause Fatigue: Announcing Methods to Control and Reduce It
The main parts of the body's stress response system include:
* the part of the brain called the hypothalamus (part of the brain)
* the pituitary gland known as the the master gland
* the adrenal gland (sits on top of the kidneys)
These parts of the stress response system are collectively called the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis). They act in concert to protect the body when it's exposed to stressful experiences.
These three units release a particular chemical that signals and carries a message that guides the response of the next piece in the system. The end player in the system is the adrenal gland whose chemical messenger activates many parts of the body. As we age, the adrenal chemical, DHEA and its sulfate form DHEAS, are manufactured more slowly, leading to a condition called "adrenopause."
Many health problems associated with aging arise because of the decreased output of hormones produced by the axis components. These steroidal hormones help the body to balance its functions:
* musculoskeletal stability
* cardiovascular function
* stability of the musculoskeletal system
The primary hormones, DHEA and DHEAS, are converted to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone. With the ever-decreasing output with aging, we lose some of our functional capacity. Nutritional supplements of DHEA have been available for many years and are used for fighting fatigue and as anti-aging supplements. Here are some of the conditions suggested to be helped by using DHEA supplements:
* type II diabetes
* cancer of the breast
* complications for heart disease
* bone loss
* adrenal gland depletion
* reduced function of the adrenal gland
* heart failure
* kidney problems
Drugs and medications may deplete DHEA. This is why drugs act as a stressor and reduce our ability to cope. For aging women whose resistance has been reduced and whose body is losing its ability to function at full throttle, menopause fatigue is often the result.
DHEA supplements were made a prescription product in 1985 but were reintroduced as a nutritional supplement with the passing of the Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act in 1994. Studies on the effectiveness of DHEA on many parameters of health are conflicted.
DHEA is made naturally in the body, but DHEA supplements can be made in the laboratory from a chemical substance called diosgenin, found in soybeans and in the herb, wild yam. Wild yam creams applied to the skin are used for menstrual problems. But the body cannot convert wild yam to DHEA and this step must be done in the lab.
An aging body loses its functionality in many different areas. A decline in DHEA production is a small part of the overall decline in whole-body physiological function. Rather than supplementation with one or two products, a more comprehensive program of health improvement should be followed. Some people take a ton of supplements but this approach is misguided.
In the alternative arena to modern medicine, supplementation with various nutrients and compounds has become the popular path to take, Yet, there are many other approaches that are effective at restoring and maintaining normal function for many years to come. Identifying and eliminating some of the causes of declining function is an effective approach.
Rather than supplements to supply under-manufactured products by the body, a more effective approach would be to help the body get rid of compounds that actually poison its functions. A detoxification program is a good idea as environmental pollutants represent a serious health hazard. They poison systems that make substances such as DHEA. There are effective detox methods and many, such as foot baths and colonics, that are ineffective.
Little known is the homeopathic approach to detox using remedies that are proven to help the body get rid of toxic compounds. This approach is not widely known, in fact, it's hardly known at all. There is a small army of people working in these areas way under the radar.
Cleansing and rebuilding the body would help support healthy menopause and help reduce the fatigue that so often accompanies this life transition.
