Worst Menopause Symptoms May Start in Brain

Study challenges old notion that menopause starts in the ovaries.
Some of the most unpleasant symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes and night sweats, have long been believed to originate in the ovaries.

But new research challenges that assumption, and instead suggests that menopausal symptoms, at least in part, may begin in the brain.

That's because the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland stop reacting normally to estrogen in some women, suggesting they may have developed a reduced sensitivity to estrogen, researchers at the New Jersey Medical School report in the Dec. 22/29 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

"This is an important new concept: Menopause doesn't just originate in the ovary, but also in the brain," said Laura Goldsmith, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at the New Jersey Medical School of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey.

These findings may lead the way to further research that will ultimately help doctors predict the type of menopausal transition a woman might have, and help to design non-estrogen medications that could help reduce symptoms that women experience as they enter this phase of life, said Dr. Gerson Weiss, chairman of obstetrics and gynecology and women's health at the New Jersey Medical School.

Menopause refers to the time when menstruation stops. A woman is not considered menopausal until she has not had a period for 12 consecutive months, according to the North American Menopausal Society. The time before menopause, which is often rife with symptoms due to hormonal fluctuations, is called perimenopause. During perimenopause, common symptoms include hot flashes, trouble sleeping, vaginal dryness, mood swings and irregular periods.

This study stemmed from research done for the Study of Women's Health Across the Nation (SWAN), which was funded by the National Institutes of Health, that examined women's' health as they approached menopause.

The SWAN study included more than 3,300 women between the ages of 42 and 52 at the start of the study. A subset group of 840 women provided daily urine samples, which were tested for hormone levels. The samples were collected daily for one full menstrual cycle or 50 days, whichever came first.

From that group, the researchers learned that 160 did not ovulate. After further analyzing the hormone levels from the non-ovulating women, the researchers discovered that these women fell into three distinct groups.

The first group had an increase in their levels of estrogen, and then had an appropriate surge of luteinizing hormone (LH) that should have triggered ovulation, but didn't. According to Weiss, this lack of response indicated a problem originating in the ovary.

In the second group, estrogen levels peaked, but there was no correlating surge in LH, which Weiss said should be triggered by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland responding to higher estrogen levels.

The third group had similar estrogen levels early in their cycles, but didn't have an increase in estrogen later as the first and second groups did. LH levels didn't surge, but were higher for most of the cycle than they were in the other groups.

According to Weiss, this is "clear evidence that the brain is not responding to hormones," suggesting the second and third groups showed different kinds of decreased sensitivity to estrogen in the brain.

The women in the third group were also the ones most likely to report symptoms, such as hot flashes and night sweats.

Goldsmith said the researchers hope to continue studying these women. She said they'd especially like to learn how the timing of menopause correlates with their findings. For example, the researchers would like to see if the women in the third group were, perhaps, further along in the menopausal process.

"It appears that what's going on in menopause isn't only ovarian," said Dr. Steven Goldstein, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at New York University School of Medicine. "We thought the pituitary responded to lower levels of estrogen, but there may be a lack of sensitivity to estrogen in the hypothalamus and pituitary."

What's important for women to know, said Goldsmith, is that there are "real biochemical changes occurring during menopause." Researchers are beginning to understand how those changes start to occur, which is the first step in trying to come up with more effective treatments.

SOURCES: Gerson Weiss, M.D., professor and chairman, obstetrics and gynecology and women's health; Laura Goldsmith, Ph.D., professor, obstetrics and gynecology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark; Steven Goldstein, M.D., professor , obstetrics and gynecology, and obstetrician/gynecologist, New York University School of Medicine and Medical Center, New York City; Dec. 22/29, 2004, Journal of the American Medical Association

More information about Menozac for menopause treatment

Plant and natural supplements for menopause symptoms

One of best plant and natural supplement for menopause symptoms are Menozac.
Their ingredients such as Vitamin E (as d-alpha-tocopherol acetate), Soy (Glycine max) (seed), Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa) (root), Damaiana (Turnerna diffusa) (leaf) ease the way through the turmoil of menopause.

How those ingredients works and benefits you can check on their site.

Some of menopause symptoms:
Mood swings (often mistaken for bi-polar or mental illness).
It's really not that bad and can be controlled.

Hot flashes & night sweats (one time you are stoking hot, the next you are chilled to the bone.)

Changes in skin (dark patches on the face of some women caused by hormones) pimples, more moles, skin tags on the body. Moles and skin tags are more in the heridity factor so if the women in your family don't have them you probably won't.

Breast swelling, water retention, weight gain (in some women), thinning hair (in some women), thinning of the vaginal tissue and other parts of the body, thinning skin (can bruise easier), depression (in some women), feelings of discontentment, insomnia (in some women) and some others thing.

Menozac is natural formula with several herbal extracts. Their plants have long story for helping relief menopausal symptoms and supporting the balance of body's hormonal.
See more detail how they work in their site

Croton Oil

Croton Oil Fights Prostate Cancer


PISCATAWAY, N.J.
An active ingredient found in the oil of the Southeast Asian croton plant--12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, commonly known as TPA; may inhibit the growth of new prostate cancer cells, according to researchers at Rutgers University.

We demonstrated TPA could simultaneously stop the growth of new prostate cancer cells, kill existing cancer cells and ultimately shrink prostate tumors, said Allan Conney, Ph.D., one of the study's authors. The researchers also tested the effect of TPA in combination with all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a vitamin A derivative that has been shown to effectively treat leukemia.

Mice with induced prostate tumors received a daily dose of TPA, ATRA or a combination of the two for 46 days. After 21 days of treatment, tumor regression became apparent in 62 percent of mice treated with TPA, compared to 31 percent of mice treated with ATRA. All mice receiving the combination treatment showed signs of tumor regression. Researchers also found TPA and the combination treatment continued to inhibit tumor growth for the duration of the study, compared to ATRA inhibiting tumor growth only for the first 28 days of treatment.

Our studies are an important early step in a long process, and we are planning additional testing in humans, Conney said. Further research with these compounds and others could provide hope for the half million new cases of prostate cancer each year.

The study is published in the March issue of Cancer Research (64, 5:1811-20, 2004) ( cancerres.aacrjournals.org)

Hypothyroidism causes early menopause

Menopause can be a difficult time for many women.
Reductions in circulating estrogen hormone levels result in a number of physical and physiological changes, which in turn may lead to mental and emotional stress.
While short-term hormone replacement therapy helps many women, most symptoms of menopause can be relieved with the use of thyroid curing medicine that is thyromine.

Thyromine works very well for people who have 'hypothyroidism’ a key cause of early start of menopause.
All the ingredients of thyromine (For example L-Tyrosine, Guglipid, Adrenal Powder from Bovine, Piper Longum Extract and Ginger extract) work to stimulate the metabolism, bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol help regulate body's stress levels, increase the production of thyroid hormones and stimulate the immune system.

Weight gain during menopause can be distressing.
Shifting to a low fat, high-fiber diet and controlling overall dietary intake can help control weight gain. Diets rich in phytoestrogens, or plant estrogens, may offer additional relief. But the linseed product like thyromine is also a good source of phytoestrogens.

Thyroid treatment system i.e. Thyromine, works by stimulating the body to produce normal levels of thyroxine, because the supplements are all natural this may be done without side effects such headaches and insomnia.
The body is also provided with necessary nutrients that help it to function properly. Thyroid treatment supplements may also help to restore deficient iodine levels, as adequate amounts are vital to a healthy thyroid gland.

Many women suffer from irritability, mood swings, and depression during the onset of menopause. While some of this may be attributable to the stress of undergoing a major life change, any such symptoms should be carefully evaluated by a physician and appropriately managed. Depending on the severity of symptoms, thyromine dosages can be prescribed.

With a healthy diet and exercise, menopausal women can improve distressing symptoms such as weight gain and mood swings through the thyroid treatment. Many women experience a noticeable improvement in their overall physical condition within a few weeks of thyromine intake. Everyone tends to experience slightly different results due to individual body chemistry and composition.