Menopause and Hair Loss
Two Words That Shouldn’t Be Used Together In a Sentence
As if menopause isn’t bad enough…mood swings, hot flashes and night sweats, joint pain, vaginal dryness, loss of libido…and now-coming to your menopause experience soon-hair loss.
Menopause creeps up on women between the age of 40-55 and starts as a result of the ovaries no longer producing estrogen.  It’s a tough time ladies; as well as the emotional feeling of ‘loss’ at no longer being able to produce young, there’s the very physical attributes. Most of them can be hidden away, but how do you disguise hair loss? Fortunately, alternative health practitioners believe there are ways to slow and prevent hair loss as you go through this difficult transition.
Manage your stress ladies-yes, I know, a daunting task. But according to ‘Inner Cleansing Cures’ written by the editors of FC & A Medical Publishing, stress plays a large role in hair loss, and can lead to poor diet, which is another leading contributor to hair loss problems. If you’re like me, you reach for all kinds of junk food when under duress.  So how do you keep your stress to a minimum and stay away from the Ho Ho’s?
According to Dr. James F. Balch, author of ‘Prescription for Nutritional Healing’, there are many natural ways to manage stress. Regular exercise is an excellent stress release, and promotes overall health. Don’t worry that you have to morph into Jillian Michaels and start working out like a maniac. Light exercise is fine, its consistency that counts. (You’ll obviously want to consult your physician before beginning any workout program.)
What about meditation? It has a bad rap-people assume you need to leap into the lotus position and start chanting. Meditation is more about being still and quieting the mind. Dr. Balch recommends meditating for 10-20 minutes a day.  If you’re not sure what you’re doing, meditation guides are available on CD online and at health food stores.
The power of herbal-don’t sniff at herbal remedies. Some herbs are regaled for their ability to aid in menopausal hair loss. In ‘Herbal Medicine’, Dr. Dian Dincin recommends a hair rinse made from sage tea to promote hair growth. Interesting…I may have to try this. In addition, Dr. Balch touts Horsetail as an excellent herbal supplement for stronger, healthier hair. You may want to consult with a physician before using Horsetail however; its safety has not yet been determined by the FDA.
Diet-yes, we’re back to that. Resisting regular Ho-Ho consumption should be a priority to anyone, but especially so as we age. And making changes to your diet could help with preventing menopausal hair loss.  Diets rich in protein can be most beneficial says womenlivingnaturally.com. Poultry and fish are high in protein, and are healthier than pork and beef, which are high in saturated fat.  4-6 ounces of protein-rich foods are recommended at each meal.
Taking flaxseed or evening primrose, high in essential fatty acids, and can also help negate hair loss. And there are many EFA (essential fatty acid) products out there.
One thing you always need to remember is you’re menopausal. Your body is going through a multitude of transformations, and needs to be treated with care and respect. Consult your physician before making any changes to your lifestyle, and realize…this too will pass. Let’s just try to keep a firm grip on our hair while moving into stage 2 of womanhood, shall we!