The Story
Thinking symptoms like frozen shoulder and vaginal dryness are just a normal part of going through menopause and getting older, that they're programmed in for some woman and that there are no real options for stopping them is a mistake. That is an outdated way to go through menopause.
And I get it. Everyone tells you, it's just 50 year old shoulder because it's seen as so common it's been given that nickname.
And over half of women in their 50s and 60s are experiencing vaginal dryness.
It's really easy to just assume these are inevitable for many women, especially because 20 or 30 years ago when your mother was going through menopause, there weren't a lot of good options available for managing those symptoms.
The Problem:
Maybe what your mother did is the only way of managing menopause you're familiar with.
The Solution:
But does every woman who reaches her 50s and goes through menopause get frozen shoulder and vaginal dryness?
No. It is possible for our bodies to get older without these happening.
So what does your body need to keep symptoms like these at bay?
And what options do you have for getting it that your mother didn't have 20-30 years ago?
And this is more important than just not being dry or not being able to lift your arm all the way, because living with these symptoms and not doing anything for them for your shoulder - long term can mean long term pain & weakness
And vaginal dryness long term can lead to not only pain, but recurrent urinary tract infections
So what are these great new options for managing menopause in a way that helps keep symptoms at bay and helps you look and feel younger and stronger and more flexible and more juicy?
Where Does Dryness Come From
Well, when we look at the science frozen shoulder and vaginal dryness can both be caused by low hormone levels.
It's one of the number one risk factors. And in my style of herbalism we see this as low watery essence. It's like your estrogen and progesterone are this reservoir of watery energy that moisturizes your whole body from the inside out. And when hormone levels drop during menopause, that watery reservoir starts to dry up and it can't moisturize everything.
How Does It Affect Your Shoulder AND Your Vaginal Health?
Vaginal dryness is the vaginal area not being moisturized and lubricated and plumped and frozen shoulder is what we call dry tendons. It's the muscles and the tendons and the joints not being kept moist and flexible.
The Solution
So bringing that watery hormonal juicy goodness back up, build it back up in your body and moisturize lubricate and plump your shoulder and your vaginal tissues from the inside out.
That's what help can help these symptoms melt away and stay away.
So in plain english, how do you do this?
A great place to start is giving your body the building blocks for making these hormones and watery lubricants in your diet. (more details on these are in the video above)
My favorite way is with flax seeds just keep the seeds whole and grind them just before eating for best results.
Another really important food is healthy fats. Hormones are made of healthy fats. Healthy fats not only build hormones, they help stabilize blood sugar, we're talking avocados, coconut and MCT oil, olive oil, seeds, nuts, grass fed meats, oily fish, olives, all great sources of healthy fats.
A bonus superfood would be collagen because low collagen has been shown to also be a major contributing factor in vaginal dryness and with frozen shoulder. So consider a collagen supplement. There are so many good ones. But my favorites are the ones that have a grass fed source and are processed without harsh chemicals.
I love using the ones from Vital Proteins or Thorne brands.
Stress Eats Hormones for Breakfast
Another thing that's more important than you might realize is that stress eats hormones for breakfast. So if you're trying to build your hormones back up and you have a lot of stress. It's like trying to fill a bucket that has a big hole in the bottom.
So what are some easy, quick ways to stop that stress response in its tracks?
One key is to do something regularly. So set an alarm on your phone for twice a day or get an app that reminds you, and you can quickly and easily calm your nervous system, it can be just a couple of minutes twice a day.
Some of my favorite ways to do this are
Breathing
Deep breathing where you breathe out for longer than you breathe in.
So breathe in for four, breathe out for a count of eight.
Essential Oils
put some essential oils. I love lavender frankincense or geranium in some carrier oil or hand cream to dilute it a little bit and then rub them on your palms the soles of your feet or better yet massage them into your ears.
Ear Massage
CLICK HERE for my ear massage acupressure video, which is an amazing way to stop stressing its tracks in about 30 seconds.
So after diet and some simple stress management..
The stronger way to really see a change in symptoms fastest is with a hormone specific remedy customized to your body.
My favorite hormone-specific remedies are natural remedies.
So far I've had 100% success rate stopping recurrent UTIs caused by severe vaginal dryness and atrophy with customized natural remedies. Even when those UTIs have been going on for months or a year or more.
These natural remedies can work amazingly well.
More benefits than HRT...
And I love the natural remedy option because not only can they help plump and moisten tissues from the inside out.
They can help reduce inflammation, help balance blood sugar, and help keep UTIs at bay all at the same time.
All things specifically related to frozen shoulder or vaginal dryness that hormone replacement therapy alone wouldn't necessarily be able to do.
This is
So now that you know there are smart, safe, natural solutions - diet and customized natural remedies...
Do you want to keep thinking your menopause symptoms are inevitable?
Risking long term pain, illness, recurrent bounds of antibiotics or risk of a serious kidney infection.
Or would you rather find simple diet additions and the safe natural remedies that will give your body just what it needs to reverse or avoid those symptoms?
Because whether you
- Haven't started menopause yet
- are in the middle of menopause,
- or are already past menopause and just want to be sure to age well by supporting your hormones.
No matter what your symptoms are, I believe you deserve to go through every stage of menopause being in control and feeling great and I'm telling you it's possible
- Some women are experiencing hair loss.
- Some women are struggling with weight gain,
- some women are getting arthritic joint pain.
These can actually be reduced or stopped.
Save a seat in my next free masterclass, and I'll send you my smoothie recipe download right away.
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I'm dana lavoie. I have been helping women through menopause for over 20 years and I want you to know your options for handling menopause and slow healthy aging. Please share this with another woman, leave a comment or ask a question, and I'll see you next time. Thanks so much for joining me today.
Dana LaVoie ‧ Natural Menopause Expert and founder of Making Menopause Easy