How Holistic Doctors Approach Treating Menopause
Holistic Doctors Offer a Natural, Integrative Approach to Menopause
Ah, menopause – the time in a woman’s life when hot flashes make you feel like you’re sunbathing on the surface of the sun, mood swings leave you feeling like you’re on a never-ending roller coaster, and the dreaded night sweats turn your bed into a kiddie pool.
And let’s not forget the vaginal dryness, urinary incontinence, and decreased libido that can make intimacy feel like an Olympic sport you never wanted to compete in. But fortunately for menopausal women, there are natural, holistic approaches to managing menopause symptoms, that can make this transition not only bearable, but restore your quality of life!
Royal Oak integrative medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD offers evidence-based, scientifically proven, natural treatments that can be effective in reducing the symptoms of menopause. She takes a holistic approach treating menopause symptoms by taking into account the whole person, including the woman’s physical, emotional, and spiritual health. And rather than simply treating symptoms, she focuses on addressing the underlying imbalances that contribute to menopause symptoms.
Why Menopause Causes So Many Crazy Symptoms
Perimenopause and menopause are characterized by a gradual decline in the production of the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are produced by the ovaries. And since these two female hormones regulate or affect nearly every function of a woman’s body, this decline can lead to a variety of truly crazy physical and emotional symptoms.
Perimenopause typically begins in a woman’s 40s, although it can start earlier or later. During perimenopause, hormone levels can fluctuate widely, causing irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, insomnia, joint pain, brain fog, painful sex, and other frustrating symptoms. The average length of perimenopause is four years, although it can last anywhere from a few months to ten years.
As perimenopause progresses, the ovaries produce less and less estrogen, eventually leading to menopause, which is defined as the absence of menstrual periods for twelve consecutive months. The average age of menopause in the United States is 51, although it can occur anywhere from the late 30s to the early 60s.
The symptoms of menopause can last for several years afterwards, although they typically subside within a few years of a woman’s periods stopping. However, some women may experience symptoms for up to ten years or more. And some conditions caused by hormone decline – like painful intercourse or urinary incontinence – can last the rest of a woman’s life if not addressed and treated.
Natural, Holistic Menopause Treatments
Integrative medicine doctors like Dr. Hakim in Royal Oak take a holistic approach to treating menopause symptoms, which involves addressing the underlying imbalances that contribute to these many side effects. They recognize that menopause is a natural transition and view symptoms as a manifestation of the body’s attempts to adapt to changing hormone levels. Rather than simply treating symptoms, they focus on addressing the root causes of menopause side effects, which can include hormonal imbalances, nutrient deficiencies, stress, and other factors.
One approach that integrative and holistic doctors may use to address painful sex, hot flashes, hair loss, weight gain, sleep problems and other menopause symptoms is lifestyle modifications. This may involve dietary changes, regular exercise, and stress reduction techniques. These lifestyle changes can help to address the underlying imbalances that contribute to menopause symptoms, such as inflammation, insulin resistance, and cortisol dysregulation.
Another approach that integrative and holistic doctors may use is natural supplements. These may include herbal remedies that have been traditionally used to address menopause symptoms, as well as vitamin and mineral supplements to restore essential missing nutrients. Other natural therapies for menopause symptoms may include mindfulness-based therapies – such as meditation, massage, or yoga – which can help to promote relaxation, reduce stress levels, and help quell inflammation in the body.
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy for Menopause
Integrative medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD in Royal Oak may also recommend bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) to address the hormonal imbalances that contribute to menopause symptoms. BHRT involves the use of 100% natural, plant-derived hormones that are identical in structure to those produced naturally by the female body.
Traditional synthetic hormones prescribed by conventional doctors are not structurally identical to human hormones – and are typically one-size-fits all, with every patient receiving the same dose. Bioidentical hormones provide a more natural, physiological approach to hormone replacement therapy by exactly mimicking the body’s hormones – making them more effective with fewer side effects than lab created hormones.
Additionally, BHRT involves the use of hormones that are custom formulated for each patient’s unique needs. Rather than a one-size-fits-all pill, BHRT pellets are formulated for each woman based on the hormone deficiencies that Dr. Hakim identifies through thorough testing.
Before prescribing BHRT, Dr. Hakim will conduct a thorough evaluation to assess hormone levels and other bodily functions such as ‘gut health’ and nutrient deficiencies. She may use various testing methods, including saliva, blood, and urine tests, to evaluate hormone levels and identify any imbalances. Based on this evaluation, she may recommend BHRT as one part of a broader treatment plan that also includes the lifestyle modifications, nutritional support, and other natural therapies mentioned in this article.
Natural, Holistic Menopause Doctor | Royal Oak
Royal Oak integrative medicine doctor Nishath Hakim, MD takes a holistic approach to menopause, recognizing that symptoms can be caused by a variety of imbalances and can be exacerbated by other factors, such as stress, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and even environmental toxins.
She will take a comprehensive, personalized approach to treating your menopause symptoms, which may include the use of BHRT as part of a broader treatment plan that may also include lubricants, supplements, and lifestyle modifications, such as stress reduction and relaxation techniques, dietary changes, weight loss, gut health, and exercise programs.
If you are a woman in the Royal Oak area who is suffering from the up-ending symptoms of menopause – including hot flashes, night sweats, mood changes, vaginal dryness, painful sex, brain fog, joint pain, insomnia, or urinary incontinence – Dr. Hakim can help you get your life back. With lifestyle modifications, natural therapies, and medical interventions like BHRT when necessary, menopause doesn’t have to be a nightmare!
Schedule an appointment at Prosperity Health in Royal Oak today to work with Dr. Hakim who can develop a natural, personalized menopause treatment plan just for you – safely and effectively restoring your body to health, wellness, and happiness through menopause and beyond.
Holistic Menopause Doctor | Royal Oak: 248-997-4242
