In the second of a series of articles on Integrative Medicine, Nutritionist Belinda Rennie looks at complementary approaches to women’s health issues.

Integrative medicine aims to blend complementary health approaches with western medicine giving the person the best chance of treating and preventing illness. What better way to deal with the complexities of women’s health issues but by using a variety of tools such as nutrition, homeopathy, acupuncture and herbs in conjunction with conventional medicine?

Women face enormous changes from puberty through child birth to menopause due to fluctuating hormone levels. The stresses of living, dietary factors, emotional and psychological factors can easily disrupt this sensitive hormonal balance leaving women prone to PMS, perimenopausal, menopausal symptoms and other health problems. Dealing with these issues using complementary therapies can help strengthen the body’s innate healing power.

PMS

There is a vast amount of evidence to support using nutritional, herbal and homeopathic approaches to alleviate PMS, endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome and cervical dysplasia. These include:

Dietary changes

Replacing refined carbohydrates (sugar, white bread) with wholegrains, increasing essential fatty acids such as flax oil, evening primrose oil and fish and following a wholefood diet of vegetables, fruits, raw nuts, seeds and pulses with quality protein sources. Dealing with food chemical allergies can also alleviate the symptoms of PMS and endometriosis.

Nutritional supplements

B complex vitamins especially B6, the antioxidant vitamins A, C and E plus the minerals zinc, magnesium, iron, calcium, copper and manganese all have documented uses in treating the above conditions. For example there is evidence that folic acid (15mg+ per day) can completely reverse cervical dysplasia.

Herbs

have been used for centuries – western, ayurvedic and traditional chinese herbs – for women’s health. Herbs such as astragalus, ginseng, dong quai, wild yam, black cohosh and chaste tree are just a few of the herbs that can help with menstrual cycle disturbance and hormone imbalance.

For more information got to painful periods.

Preconceptual care

With the decision to start a family comes the responsibility to create the “most fertile soil for germination”. Preconceptual nutrition and care is the best gift you can give your baby. Starting three to six months before you plan to have a baby both men and women can follow some basic recommendations:

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1. Follow a low stress diet of primarily wholegrains, fruits and vegetables, preferably organic and exclude food intolerances.
2. Stop smoking and reduce (or cut out entirely) alcohol.
3. Folic acid and vitamin B complex supplements can reduce the risk of congenital defects such as spina bifida and harelip.
4. Iron, zinc, vitamin E and selenium are helpful for improving fertility.

See your GP for full blood tests including rubella antibodies and to screen for sexually transmitted diseases before you become pregnant. Infertility can also respond to complimentary approaches using herbs, nutrition and bio-identical hormone therapy.

Menopause

Menopause is not a disease or deficiency state. It is a natural progression into a state of wise womanhood. The transition through the menopause can be smoother if the mind and body is balanced with good nutrition, exercise and relaxation. Complimentary health approaches can help deal with the symptoms of menopause such as hot flushes. Some recommendations include:

Dietary changes

a diet high in plant based chemicals called phytochemicals can have a weak estrogenic activity (or conversely block high levels of estrogen in relation to progesterone). Soy products made from the whole organic soy beans such as tofu and soy milk and soy beans can be beneficial if intolerances are excluded, flaxseeds, wholegrains like oats, spelt and rye, nuts and seeds and pulses are important along with brightly coloured fruits and vegetables.

Nutritional supplements

Vitamin E and essential fatty acids like evening primrose oil can help with hot flushes and vaginal dryness as well as the herbs listed above. Managing stress is critical during the menopause as the adrenal glands, responsible for 60-70% of the function of the ovaries after menopause, can become exhausted with over work and tiredness. Siberian ginseng, an adrenal adaptogen and other herbs such as St John’s wort, hops, motherwort, skullcap and passiflora can help deal with mood problems, depression, anxiety and poor concentration.

Bio-identical hormones

arederived from natural plant sources to produce molecules compounded by pharmacists that are physiologically identical to hormones made in the body. These include estrogens, progesterone, testosterone and DHEA. Synthetic hormones like HRT are chemically altered and are not identical in structure or activity to the naturally occurring hormones in the body.

Documented benefits of bio-identical hormone replacement therapy include:

1. Fewer side effects compared to traditional HRT
2. Protection against heart disease
3. Reduced risk of breast cancer
4. Improved lipid profile
5. Increasing bone density

In the face of increasing evidence about the negative side effects of HRT it is important to discuss with your doctor the best approach in dealing with any debilitating symptoms of the menopause based on a full medical history, examination and results of tests. Contraindications to HRT include obesity, diabetes, elevated oestrogen, history of breast of uterine cancer, delayed menopause, history of thrombosis and abnormal pap smear, mammogram or pelvic ultrasound.

Dealing with women’s health issues requires a holistic approach taking into account mind, body and spirit to maintain the delicate hormonal balance. Providing all women with advice that includes lifestyle changes, relaxation and stress management, exercise, dietary changes, supplementation with evidence-based herbs and nutrients alone or in combination with homeopathy, acupuncture and bio-identical hormone therapy complements the medical approach and offers the best solution for women’s health issues.

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