There are many issues we face when hitting the menopause stage. We know the drill: hot flashes, mood swings, loss of libido, just to name a few. But one also has to consider that as our hormones change and decrease, there is the possibility of acne.

As I grow older, I like to look for more natural treatments for everything. Natural and holistic treatments are better than attacking our bodies with chemicals which can often be harsh and cause further problems down the line.

So I set about looking for a natural acne treatment. Luckily, I found several.

Of course the first order of business is prevention. Yes, my darlings, as always, watching what we eat is the best defense. Isn’t that always the way? Stay away from processed foods. Fresh is always better. Limit fat and carbohydrates. That’s not to say do away with them completely; just be sensible about it. Eat foods high in beta carotene. And yes, water, water, water. 8-8 oz classes a day is the recommendation.

Exercise! Exercising not only helps to keep hormone levels consistent in the body from day to day, but working up a sweat pushes oil and dirt from the pores.

Wash your face twice a day with a mild soap. Dove is supposed to be one of the best, but I’ve heard a few women complain that it dries their skin. This process is a trial and error one. Try a soap for a couple of weeks and if you see no improvement in skin quality, move on to another.

Here’s a few natural ways to cleanse your face (once you have acne)

Wash your face with chick pea paste (mix one teaspoon of chick-pea flour with a little water). Dry with a clean towel.

Apply a paste made by mixing a teaspoon of almond powder with a cup of goat’s milk. Let this paste dry on your face for a few minutes before washing it off.

Apply a single drop of tea tree oil directly to the blemish after cleansing. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic. It is gentle to the skin and speeds the healing of blemishes.

Vitamins and Suppliments:

30 – 50 mg Zinc supplement daily – Zinc may help contribute to reducing the inflammation and heals the damaged skin.

Chromium supplements – Chromium helps boosts the body’s ability to break down glucose.

Vitamin E – an antioxidant (200 to 400 IU a day)

Vitamin B-6 50 mg per day. This vitamin aids in the metabolism of hormones

If you have itchy acne, try taking Kali bromatum 6X three times daily until you notice an improvement.

If you have pus filled pimples, take a 6X dose of Antimonium tartaricum, 3 times daily until you see an improvement.

Diet and a Herbal Tea

Acne is believed to be from Pitta dosha aggravation. So, the treatment includes a diet that includes plenty of bland foods such as oatmeal, apple sauce, basmati rice and eliminating fried foods, spicy foods and citrus fruits.

Drink a tea made by combining 0.5 teaspoons of cumin, coriander and fennel in a tea ball and steeping it in hot water for 10 minutes. Strain and drink the tea after breakfast, lunch and dinner.

*some treatments and advice from holisticonline.com

Now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back in the saddle again. Sometimes, that’s tough to do after a month of frenetic shopping, cleaning, spending, wrapping, cooking, baking, and socializing. Many people at this time of year go through some sadness, because after the climax of the holidays, everything seems to fall flat.

For instance, your living room looked so pretty, with the lights, the tree, the menorah, the glittery presents and the fragrance of pine and cinnamon wafting about. Now, with all the decorations packed away, presents distributed, lights out, it looks like a desolate wasteland. No to mention  you’re just about pooped out with everything that’s been going on in the last month or so. Read the rest of this entry »

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Have you ever fantasized about having a super-power? You know, like Spiderman, Superman or the Green Lantern? I know I have. It’s only now that I’ve gone through menopause that I realize the power I have and how it could translate into becoming a super-heroine. Let me give you some examples.

Lava Lana: This incarnation is born of none other than the ubiquitous hot flashes. First of all, the garb would have to be like that of Wonder Woman for coolness (actual temperature coolness,) but able to tuck in tummy rolls and disguise cellulite. Lava Lana would be able to shoot flames from her fingertips and burn wrongdoers with one glance from her fiery eyes.

The Swinger: Not what you’re thinking. The Swinger would have the ability to take a mood swing, fashion a shining Rope of Power, and bind wrongdoers securely against further infractions, such as breathing too loud, sleeping too long or failing to put the dishes away from the dishwasher. Read the rest of this entry »

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With the wide variety of symptoms a woman might experience when she’s reaching that none elusive age of menopause, it’s not difficult to believe that interpersonal relationships may suffer.

If a relationship with a significant other isn’t as strong as it could be, perimenopause and menopause will surely exasperate it. Besides the obvious symptom of loss of libido, other symptoms such as irritability, increased feelings of undesirability, lack of sleep, and weight gain can all affect how we deal with others. Read the rest of this entry »

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Menopause might seem to you to be a frightening and annoying event. I’m not going to lie to you – it can be a rough transition. In most circumstances, you’re dealing with major body changes in addition to holding down a job and administering to a changing family. The kids may be starting to fly the coop – something you’ve been waiting for and dreading since their birth. How do you cope with all the changes and mood shifts? How do you get a grip on the Handle of Menopause? Read the rest of this entry »

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From the Health Information Center at the Cleveland Clinic, here are some basic guidelines to keep you healthy during menopause. Read the rest of this entry »

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Whether you’ve experienced menopause as a result of the march of years, or surgically as a result of physical problems, it’s an adjustment on many levels, not the least of which is the sexual level. This article assumes you had sex before menopause, and further assumes you liked it. Chances are if you did not like sex before menopause, you might think you won’t like it after, either, but then again,  you might change your mind. Read the rest of this entry »

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I have suffered from premature/chemically-induced menopause since about the age of 15. Having Crohn’s Disease, I spent twenty years taking the synthetic hormonal steroid Prednisone.

Prednisone is produced naturally in the body’s adrenal gland under the name of Cortisone. It is closely related to Cortisol (known synthetically as hydrocortisone,) also produced in the adrenal gland. Cortisone is mostly inactive in the body until it is converted to Cortisol, the “stress hormone” that is released within the body when we feel stressed (and subsequently, adds those stubborn fat deposits around the waist.) Read the rest of this entry »

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Black Cohosh as been around for centuries and was widely used by North American Native Americans. It was used for malaise, gynecological problems, kidney problems, sore throats and joint pain. In the 1800’s not only was it used as a diuretic, but also to bring on menstruation. Read the rest of this entry »

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Eight years ago it became necessary for me to undergo a TAH-BSO. (In layman’s terms, that means they took the crib and left the playpen.) Immediate menopause – ten or fifteen years before I would have experienced it in the normal course of things. My doctor recommended HRT (hormone replacement therapy) and I started the medication before I even left the hospital. Never suffered from any of the horror stories of menopause, such as night sweats, hot flashes, mood swings (other than the “normal” swings all people go through) or growing hair in strange places. Lucky me, right? Read the rest of this entry »