Holistic Treatment for Menopause: A Whole-Body Approach

Menopause is not just a hormonal milestone; it’s a whole-body transition. After going through the change myself, I know how uncomfortable it menopausal symptoms can be. It’s common to experience fluctuating moods, sudden fatigue, hot flashes, digestive changes, and even declining strength. It’s true that menopause affects nearly every system in your body. However, this season of life does not have to feel like an uphill battle. With a holistic treatment for menopause rooted in functional medicine, you can take back your health™! 

As a functional medicine physician, I’ve guided thousands of women just like you through menopause using a whole-body, root-cause approach. By understanding how menopause impacts your entire body, not just your estrogen levels, you can begin to support your body with targeted lifestyle shifts. In this article, you’ll learn how to easily transition into this next chapter of your life with non-hormonal therapies to help women move through menopause with ease.

Menopause as a Systemic Shift, Not Just a Hormonal One

Menopause marks the end of your reproductive years. It’s when your estrogen and progesterone levels decline. As simple as that sounds, the impact of menopause is much broader than your hormone levels declining. It is actually a cascade of effects changes that unfold across multiple body systems. Your thyroid, gut, and skeletal system can all be impacted by this midlife transition.

With your hormone levels fluctuating, this can lead to a disruption to your thyroid balance. When your thyroid is affected, this can impact your metabolism, energy levels, and even bone density. It can even accelerate bone loss and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease. (1) Since estrogen is a key protector of bone health, this hormonal decline can also contribute to lower bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis and bone fractures. (2) 

To compensate for lower ovarian hormone production, your adrenal glands work overtime. This leads to higher cortisol levels and increased stress. When this happens, it can manifest women run into various symptoms such as fatigue, anxiety, and sleep irregularities. Furthermore, hormonal shifts can alter your gut motility and disrupt your microbiome balance. This leads to a negative impact on your digestion and nutrient absorption.

Since menopause touches every system, it’s essential to support your whole body. A functional medicine and treatment approach focuses on root-cause solutions, empowering you to restore optimal health from the inside out. Continue reading to learn more about holistic treatment for menopause. 

Lifestyle Foundations That Support Menopausal Balance

Making simple lifestyle adjustments can help you navigate this transition with ease. Balancing your hormones can minimize the uncomfortable symptoms of menopause. I recommend focusing on four areas to make these subtle yet impactful changes. 

First, prioritize quality sleep. Aim to get 7-9 hours of sleep each night. Ideally, you want to get tired naturally. Having a regular sleep schedule, waking up early, going to bed early, and creating a bedtime routine are great ways to promote optimal sleep. Also, try eating foods rich in tryptophan, magnesium, and melatonin to support healthy sleep. 

Choosing low-impact, strength-focused movement to protect your bones and boost mood-supporting endorphins. Try activities such as yoga, walking, Pilates, or resistance training to help maintain muscle mass and support optimal bone density. 

Managing stress is also important. Your adrenal glands pick up some of the slack when ovarian hormone production slows. Chronic stress can overtax them, leading to fatigue, anxiety, and blood sugar instability. Meditation, deep breathing, journaling, or gentle stretching can lower cortisol and ease anxiety. (3) 

Lastly, it’s important to reduce your toxin burden by limiting your exposure to toxins found in plastics, pesticides, and personal care products. Endocrine disruptors such as BPAs, parabens, and phthalates can mimic or interfere with estrogen. Choose clean personal care products, drink from glass or stainless steel, and use an air filter at home to minimize exposure to these toxins.

These daily habits help stabilize hormone levels and create a foundation for deeper balance. You can take it a step further by supporting your nutritional needs to promote optimal hormone health.

Nutritional Support for Energy, Mood, and Hormone Health

During menopause, your gut is actually working harder to process hormonal metabolites. This calls for a shift in your nutrient needs. Nutrient deficiencies can worsen menopause symptoms such as fatigue, brain fog, and mood swings. It’s important to prioritize your nutrition and increase your intake of key nutrients and supplements. My physician-formulated supplements can help reduce common menopausal symptoms such as fatigue, mood swings, and hot flashes. Learn more about nutrient density with Dr. Sarah Ballantyne on this podcast episode. 

B-Complex Vitamins are vital for energy production, neurotransmitter synthesis, and stress resilience. Deficiencies can contribute to fatigue and mood imbalances. Magnesium supports relaxation, sleep quality, and muscle function. It also helps buffer the effects of stress and supports adrenal health. Vitamin D is crucial for immune health, mood regulation, and bone strength. Many women aging become deficient as they age, especially with less sun exposure .(4) Antioxidants combat cellular aging and support detoxification pathways, which are especially important as hormone metabolism shifts.

AMMD™’s Women’s Health Bundle is designed to replenish what menopause depletes. In this set, you’ll find all the essentials for supporting menopause.

• Adrenal Support maintains optimal adrenal function and helps to manage stress during this demanding transition.

• The Myers Way® Multivitamin replenishes nutrient stores and delivers a comprehensive blend of vitamins and minerals for optimal absorption.

• EstroProtect is designed to help you break down estrogen into protective estrogen metabolites rather than harmful disease-causing estrogen metabolites.

• OsteoDura™ promotes bone density, strength, and flexibility through increased Calcium and Vitamin D absorption. When paired with Liquid Vitamin D3/K2, it enhances bioavailability and directs calcium to the bones.

• NeuroCalm Mag supports optimal nervous system, brain health, sleep, and mood. 

While addressing nutrient deficiencies is important, so is encouraging regular detoxification. 

Supporting Detox and Estrogen Metabolism

Something that may be surprising to learn is the role detox pathways play in hormone balance. As estrogen declines, your body still needs to metabolize and clear excess hormones. If your liver or gut is not functioning optimally, this can lead to estrogen dominance, bloating, irritability, and irregular cycles during perimenopause. (6)

Your liver uses several pathways to process estrogen. It requires nutrients such as B vitamins, indole-3-carbinol, and calcium-D-glucarate to process efficiently. If you’re not eliminating waste regularly, your gut can actually reabsorb estrogen.

That’s why I formulated AMMD™’s EstroProtect. This targeted supplement supports healthy estrogen metabolism through a powerful blend of clinically researched nutrients. This formula is designed to help you break down estrogen by binding to excess hormones with ingredients such as alpha lipoic acid and milk thistle. It also promotes balanced progesterone levels with chaste tree. 

To further support detox, be sure to keep a healthy diet for women:

• Eat fiber-rich foods such as chia, flaxseed, and leafy greens

• Include cruciferous vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower

• Stay well-hydrated

• Keep your gut microbiome balanced with prebiotics and probiotics
  

How to Manage Menopause Without HRT

Your conventional medicine practitioner may be quick to suggest Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) as treatment. However, it’s important to know that HRT comes with an increased risk of breast cancer. (5) Many women, including myself, seek non-hormonal strategies to manage menopause menopausal symptoms. 

A holistic treatment for menopause includes: 

• Stabilizing Blood Sugar: Eating balanced, low-glycemic meals with protein, healthy fats, and fiber helps prevent energy crashes and mood swings.

• Supporting Adrenal Health: Consuming adaptogenic herbs such as ashwagandha, rhodiola, and cordyceps can reduce cortisol spikes and promote resilience.

• Herbal Remedies: Botanicals such as black cohosh, evening primrose oil, and dandelion root gently modulate estrogen and progesterone, supporting hormone balance without the use of synthetic hormones.

• Supplementation: Adrenal Support and EstroProtect work synergistically to nurture your hormonal ecosystem. With plant-based compounds and adaptogens, together they promote balance and ease the transition

Signs It Is Time for Personalized Help

While some women seem to breeze through menopause, this is not the case for me. You may need more support, too. Even with the right lifestyle adjustments and supplements, some of your symptoms may indicate a deeper imbalance.

Consider seeking professional help if you’re experiencing:

• Persistent anxiety or low mood

• Severe fatigue or interrupted sleep

• Heavy, irregular, or extended periods

• Signs of bone loss or fractures

• New or worsening digestive issues

A functional medicine approach uses advanced lab testing to assess your hormones, nutrient status, thyroid function, and gut health. From there, a customized protocol can be created to bring you back into balance.

If you’re unsure where to start, I invite you to take my free “Which Supplement Is Right For Me” quiz or explore other resources on AMMD™’s website.

Take Charge of Your Health With AMMD™’s Women’s Health Bundle

Menopause is not something to fear! After going through it myself, I can say this with confidence. It’s a natural phase of your life. With the right lifestyle adjustments and nutrient support, you can thrive through this transition. 

AMMD™’s Women’s Health Bundle is designed to provide that support every step of the way. EstroProtect promotes healthy estrogen metabolism while Adrenal Support balances cortisol. The Myers Way® Multivitamin replenishes key vitamins and minerals as your nutrient needs shift. OsteoDura™ and Vitamin D3/K2 Liquid work synergistically to aid calcium absorption and enhance bone support. Spectrum 5 Collagen provides vital peptides to nourish joints, skin, and connective tissue as your natural collagen production slows.

Perimenopause and menopause are natural parts of a woman’s life that come with many changes and challenges. Remember, you can take back your health™ with knowledge, support, and the right tools. Throughout this transition, you can feel vibrant and strong with a holistic treatment for menopause.