Hormone Imbalance and the Menstrual Cycle
Posted by in Health Women on July 13, 2011
Why Hormone Imbalance?
Monthly periods start at puberty and continue until menopause – which is between the ages of 45 and 55. The monthly cycle often comes with various uncomfortable symptoms. Many women take these for granted; most of these can be relieved – using natural methods. It is a woman’s right to have normal, pain free, regular periods.
Why, Exactly, Is There Hormonal Imbalance?
This can happen for a variety of reasons, and when it does it often brings with it various health symptoms.
Reasons for the imbalance can include: genetic factors, long term stress, poor diet or not enough exercise; following childbirth or abortion, or following illness – both of which may have been debilitating.
Yes – Herbs Do Often Work
Many women have not considered using herbs – because they are not sure they work. The truth is, they often do work; not every herbs will work 100% of the time and you will need to find what works for you. But try a few tried and tested herbs or combinations of herbs and you have a great chance of finding something safe which helps you. Combine this with lifestyle improvements and you have even more chance of success.
SYMPTOMS OF HORMONAL IMBALANCE
Hormonal symptoms connected to the monthly cycle:
* Heavy periods
* Light periods, or absence of periods
* Irregular periods
* Difficulty conceiving
* Painful periods
* Breast tenderness
* Abdominal swelling or ‘bloating’
* Fatigue – especially at period time or just after
* Vaginal discharge
* Disturbance of sleep pattern
* Depression
* Moodiness
* Irritability, edginess
* Cystitis Read the rest of this entry »
Menstrual Health and Pelvic Floor Exercises
Posted by in Health Women on July 13, 2011
The evidences of practicing Pelvic floor exercises to abate the menstrual ailments have no direct literature support. So, I tried to pursue this as a research within the professional ambit of Physiotherapists, with a title “To explore the cryptic benefits of pelvic floor exercises in relation to menstruation”. Although literature exactly related to this research were scarce or found none, two predominant hypothesis were set on the basis of anatomical vicinity of the Pelvic floor muscles and the female reproductive system and they were
[1] PFE could draw attention of the neuro-vascular structures to render sufficient blood and hormonal supply to the female reproductive organs to orchestrate healthy menstrual events
[2] PFE could control the extent of endometrial necrosis.
Instructions to the participants:
Special instructions were given to the participants to carry out the exercises in a pulsatile fashion / day, in respect to the pulsatile GnRH secretion from the hypothalamus, to signal the neuro-vascular structures
about the requirements of nutrients to the reproductive organs. The participants were instructed to contract Pelvic floor muscles for not less than 50 – 100 times / day.
Benefits obtained by the participants:
The beneficial properties of PFE were found to be several like reduction in menstrual pain [including lower abdominal pain, back pain, leg and calf pain], decrease in the extent and days of bleeding, regulation of menstrual cycles, disappearance of pre-menstrual tension, reduced gastro-intestinal disturbances during menstruation, decreased mastalgia, improved confidence to confront the menstruation and ability to prevent menstrual leakage during the activities that raises Intra-abdominal pressure like coughing, sneezing, laughing and others. Read the rest of this entry »