I'm Amy Wellard with the
Wildwood Lifestyle Center
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in Georgia and with me today
is Dr. Cherie Lou Fernandez
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Welcome Dr.
Cherie Lou. Thank you
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Our topic today is
being a vibrant woman
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during those golden
years... the menopause.
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Now this can actually be
one of the most beautiful
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times in your life.
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It doesn't have to
be a stressful, long,
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protracted period where we just
can't wait to get through it.
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Dr. Cherie Lou, today
is going to share with us
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how we can make that one of the
most special times in our lives,
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the menopause season.
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Dr. Cherie Lou, you are actually
originally from the Philippines
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Yes, I am a Filipino,
a... -blooded Filipino.
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And that is what we
call a developing country,
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and you have made
a very interesting
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observation that
you shared with me...
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That in the developing countries
what we call the menopause
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in the West, is not
nearly as prevalent;
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the symptoms are not as
prevalent as they are with us.
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Could you tell us why is that.
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Oh, there is a big difference
in the lifestyles here
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in the United
States, and the lifestyle
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where I grew up and where I
used to live in the Philippines.
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And, there is also a way of
looking at things, you know...
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For example, there is a tribe
down south in the Philippines
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that women are just wanting
to go into menopause! Really?
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It's the opposite;
here, we'd rather stay
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plush and pretty
and yes - young FOREVER,
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but this tribe
it is interesting.
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They want to get
into menopause FAST!
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And they couldn't
care less whether they have
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no more menses, but the thing is
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they want to be in menopause
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because they become
the MATRIARCHS. Really?
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So to say they are
now sitting at the gates!
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They are the ones who...
they have passed through life...
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They have learned enough
and so now they are the ones
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who call the shots!
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They are the ones
who give the orders.
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Wouldn't I want
that? Oh yeah - I would!
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So it's a nice way of looking
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forward to
getting into menopause.
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They would
rather have menopause.
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It's a beautiful way
of looking at our maturity
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instead of
seeing it as a negative
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which we so
typically do in the West.
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Now, what are some of the
symptoms that we do experience
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that's causing us to look
upon it in a negative way?
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Oh menopause is
really not a disease - yeah?
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We go into menses, we
have menses, we give birth,
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and when our ovaries
finish all their stock of eggs,
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we don't menstruate anymore
and we go into menopause.
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It's just part of the
female phases of life, you know?
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It's not a disease; however,
when you come to that area
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when your hormones
start to wax and wane;
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your ovaries start to
slowly lose the number of eggs
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that it is supposed to be giving
out for every menstrual cycle.
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Then we start to have problems;
that is the perimenopause.
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That's the hard time
and perimenopause usually
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starts about 1 to 3
years before menopause;
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however, the problem with this
menopause and waxing and waning
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of hormones could go as long
as 7 years... unfortunately.
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That's the longest - 7 years,
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but it could be
earlier than 7 years.
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And some women
actually enter perimenopause
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in their mid 30s
even. Yes they do
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And can that be reversed
by lifestyle changes so that
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they can enter perimenopause
in their 40s instead?
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It depends on the cause
because there are some women,
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really, who unfortunately
because of their lifestyle
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have unknowingly suffered
their ovaries to lose the eggs.
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The eggs just die - the eggs
that they would have ovulated
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they die earlier
than they should have.
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Too bad and that
would cause an early onset.
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It's premature
menopause or you call it -
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"premature ovarian
failure" that happens.
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And there are other ways,
for example, surgical menopause
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can bring the onset earlier.
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Yes, can bring
the onset earlier.
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That would be from removal...
of the uterus and/or both.
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Uterus and ovaries.
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Okay, so this 8-year-period
or shorter, called perimenopause
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what exactly is
it that's causing it?
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You know, as I said, the
ovaries towards the end of the
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reproductive cycle
start to lose the eggs.
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I mean, the eggs are consumed!
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You give it every month,
every month, every month...
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you will have no more stock!
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You'd say - I don't
have any more stock left.
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I can't sell you anymore eggs.
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I have consumed my stock.
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So then your
ovaries will just decline,
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and your menses going far apart,
your ovulations going far apart.
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It's because you because you
don't have enough eggs anymore.
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Okay, so what you're saying is
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there's nothing
we can do about it.
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The eggs are naturally going
to come to their natural end
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so there's nothing we can
do, this is a normal process.
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So, we're talking
about the phase prior to
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menopause
technically which is when
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the menses has
completely ceased... Yes
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and that phase is
called "perimenopause" Yes
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And so, what kind of symptoms
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can we typically
expect during this phase?
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First again, we
should know the physiology of
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what happens behind everything.
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Estrogen again is in
every cell of our body,
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and if it's in your
brain and this estrogen effect
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in your brain is
starting to wane,
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your brain is
going to have problems...
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like you become
forgetful, you become irritable,
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you have a lot of
headache, you cannot sleep,
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and if it were affecting
your cardiovascular system,
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your heart, your blood vessels,
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your blood pressure
will start to go up.
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You'll have palpitations,
you'll have night sweats...
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And if it were your skin,
your skin will start to wrinkle;
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you'd start to
have spots on your...
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You know, I didn't
have so many spots before
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but now they're coming out.
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I just promise that I'm
going to AGE GRACEFULLY! YES!
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These things are coming out
but I ACCEPT them, you know?
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And so practically every
system in your body is going to
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start to slowly... I
don't want to say "deteriorate"
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because it's a very strong word,
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but they start to
come down a little bit;
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they are not working
as well as they used to.
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So that's the perimenopause
- headaches, night sweats,
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hot flashes, irritability,
depression, wrinkling,
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some back pain, joint
pain - Oh - you can name a lot!
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And this will continue
for possibly even 8 years. Yes
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Even if you're
menopaused already,
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because menopause, technically
means "one year - no menses"
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So if you have every 6
months, you're not menopaused;
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you are still in
the perimenopause.
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When you've hit one
year of NO menopause...
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CONGRATULATIONS! Welcome to
the club, you've menopaused!
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Now I can sit with
the elders in the gate.
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Yes you could!
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Okay, so... Actually you know,
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on a word on that...
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When we enter menopause,
it's the ripening years of life.
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It's the years when we've got
children, maybe grandchildren.
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It's the years when we
can counsel our children;
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we can counsel people
because life experiences have
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given us a breath of
character and of knowledge
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and wisdom - hopefully...
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And so it's a time we can really
look forward to and enjoy,
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and really put the
symptoms on a backburner,
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and treat them as best we can
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with the natural
remedies, of course...
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And for
perimenopause, one of the herbs
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that I've actually
used is Vitex chasteberry
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that you've been
recommending for many of the
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female
conditions on the program.
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Is there any other herb
that you would recommend
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that would be exclusive to
the perimenopausal period...
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Well, you
could... proven, you know,
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what they use is wild yam.
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Wild yam has
been, in the laboratory,
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been made into the
estrogen that you use for
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hormonal replacement therapy.
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Or you can use the
wild yam done naturally,
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you know, not
drug, not synthetic...
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you can use it.
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You know, it helps
with your estrogen.
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You could also use dong quai
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because it helps
balance your hormones.
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Even if your
uterus is not working,
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your ovaries are not working,
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your pituitary and your
hypothalamus - all these organs
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that work together to
give you your normal hormones,
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still the dong quai helps
you go together at an even pace
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until you menopause.
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So Vitex, yes - is very good.
00:10:01.94\00:10:03.99
Don quai is very good.
00:10:04.02\00:10:05.39
Wild yams very good and all the
00:10:05.42\00:10:08.12
other natural remedies...
but these are the herbs.
00:10:08.15\00:10:10.99
These are all
very readily available
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so they're easy for us
to obtain in a natural form.
00:10:12.97\00:10:15.93
Oh yes, red clover besides.
00:10:15.96\00:10:17.33
Red clover, yes high
in estrogen... Wonderful!
00:10:17.36\00:10:21.02
So, just thinking
about the perimenopause phase
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as it comes more into menopause,
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you say that's the cessation
of menses for a whole year...
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Are we going to be experiencing
other perhaps long-term symptoms
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For example, osteoporosis
is becoming more prevalent.
00:10:34.89\00:10:37.54
Yes, unfortunately,
even if you would say
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this is your golden years,
because we are on this earth,
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and there is the result of sin,
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we will deteriorate because this
hormone is not present anymore.
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That's why many would
rather take the hormones
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because they want to
keep their vitality still.
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You mean the
hormone replacement therapy?
00:10:58.82\00:11:00.34
Hormonal replacement therapy...
00:11:00.37\00:11:02.32
Because hormonal replacement
therapy has been proven
00:11:02.35\00:11:04.97
really to help with...
00:11:05.00\00:11:07.55
First - your bones being strong
until you really grow older.
00:11:07.58\00:11:12.82
Because when you have
estrogen not being there,
00:11:12.85\00:11:17.09
not the first thing that happens
but first discussed is...
00:11:17.12\00:11:20.47
our bones start to
become brittle because we don't
00:11:20.50\00:11:24.01
have estrogen that helps
bring calcium into the bone
00:11:24.04\00:11:27.61
and so your bones'
calcium is not replaced.
00:11:27.64\00:11:31.08
So as you do your
calcium metabolism in your body
00:11:31.11\00:11:35.01
calcium is
taken out of the bone,
00:11:35.04\00:11:36.88
but you're
supposed to replace it...
00:11:36.91\00:11:38.67
But since estrogen
is not there anymore,
00:11:38.70\00:11:41.11
this replacement of calcium
by estrogen is not there anymore
00:11:41.14\00:11:46.69
...So your bone will really
start to become osteoporotic
00:11:46.72\00:11:51.00
as time goes on.
00:11:51.03\00:11:53.24
So really, we want to be
replacing the loss of the
00:11:53.27\00:11:57.08
natural estrogens with
using herbal agents. Yes
00:11:57.11\00:11:59.66
...Like red clover can
help minimize as well as
00:11:59.69\00:12:02.27
weightbearing exercise,
vitamin D supplements and so on.
00:12:02.30\00:12:06.08
Now cardiovascular incidents
also increase after menopause.
00:12:06.11\00:12:09.73
Actually the female risk
for heart attacks can actually
00:12:09.76\00:12:14.11
be the same as men,
is that right? Even MORE!
00:12:14.14\00:12:15.99
Even more? Even
more, because the
00:12:16.02\00:12:17.39
withdrawal of
the female hormone...
00:12:17.42\00:12:22.25
it's like suddenly you
become prone to more problems.
00:12:22.28\00:12:26.64
It's like when you
throw a baby in the water,
00:12:26.67\00:12:29.54
and you're not there...
00:12:29.57\00:12:30.94
Of course the baby can't
swim, you know the story,
00:12:30.97\00:12:32.76
but let's say a child.
00:12:32.79\00:12:34.19
So when the baby...
nothing, no support anymore,
00:12:34.22\00:12:37.69
it's going to struggle.
00:12:37.72\00:12:39.09
So then when you do that,
your cardiovascular system
00:12:39.12\00:12:41.99
is going to struggle and
you get MORE risk of developing
00:12:42.02\00:12:46.24
cardiovascular diseases.
00:12:46.27\00:12:47.64
No more protection of
estrogen on your cholesterol,
00:12:47.67\00:12:51.67
on your lipids, on
your bad cholesterol.
00:12:51.70\00:12:54.63
No more protection of estrogen.
00:12:54.66\00:12:56.77
Your cardiovascular
system is pliant with estrogen,
00:12:56.80\00:13:00.76
but when estrogen is gone,
00:13:00.79\00:13:02.16
it becomes
stiff, relatively stiff
00:13:02.19\00:13:05.17
so that you are more prone to...
00:13:05.20\00:13:07.33
When you have osteoporosis
you're more prone to
00:13:07.36\00:13:10.00
obstruction or
hypertension, you know.
00:13:10.03\00:13:14.48
Are there studies out
there that indicate that
00:13:14.51\00:13:17.24
ladies on a complete plant-based
diet with NO animal products
00:13:17.27\00:13:20.80
and obviously no cholesterol...
they can actually minimize their
00:13:20.83\00:13:24.70
risk of these
cardiovascular events.
00:13:25.30\00:13:27.58
Yes, it true because of
all the - let's say first...
00:13:27.61\00:13:31.57
When you're eating a
plant-based diet and you know
00:13:31.60\00:13:34.57
what you're eating,
you're really doing a
00:13:34.60\00:13:36.30
balanced diet, thinking what
you are eating is really healthy
00:13:36.33\00:13:41.86
So that means you
don't have a lot of fat,
00:13:41.89\00:13:44.14
you don't have a lot of salt,
00:13:44.17\00:13:45.59
you don't have a lot of sugar...
00:13:45.62\00:13:47.12
You're healthy -
you're eating healthy.
00:13:47.15\00:13:49.09
You have more fiber
so that your cholesterol
00:13:49.12\00:13:52.84
is kept in control
because whatever fat you eat
00:13:52.87\00:13:56.55
...what is not
absorbed, it goes down.
00:13:56.58\00:13:59.89
And your vegetables are
full of vitamins and minerals
00:13:59.92\00:14:03.32
for your body's working -
all your metabolic processes.
00:14:03.35\00:14:10.98
You have enough firewood
to help the fire of your body
00:14:11.01\00:14:16.87
keep going...
00:14:16.90\00:14:18.27
And all these are
there in a complete diet.
00:14:18.30\00:14:22.32
You become vegetarian - be wise!
00:14:22.35\00:14:25.07
That's why a lot don't
want to become vegetarians,
00:14:25.10\00:14:27.68
and look at vegetarians
because they don't really know -
00:14:27.71\00:14:30.26
You just stop without
learning how to do it.
00:14:30.29\00:14:33.15
Okay, so do it
properly, do it gradually,
00:14:33.18\00:14:35.62
do it so that your
taste buds can adjust,
00:14:35.65\00:14:37.57
so you can enjoy it.
00:14:37.60\00:14:39.05
That's really good
news for menopausal
00:14:39.08\00:14:40.93
and postmenopausal ladies.
00:14:40.96\00:14:42.43
We don't need to succumb
to the conventional diseases
00:14:42.46\00:14:45.54
of the Egyptians after
we go through menopause.
00:14:45.57\00:14:48.05
Now, something else is
the urinary incontinence...
00:14:48.08\00:14:50.82
This is rather sensitive subject
that can beset some of us
00:14:50.85\00:14:53.90
as we get older,
especially those who
00:14:53.93\00:14:55.89
have had children.
00:14:55.92\00:14:57.29
What can be done about that
00:14:57.32\00:14:58.69
as well as the
vaginal dryness and so on...
00:14:58.72\00:15:01.98
First, let's do the
urinary incontinence...
00:15:02.01\00:15:05.32
You cough and it goes
- You laugh and it goes -
00:15:05.35\00:15:09.70
It's funny but it's
not funny - it's serious!
00:15:09.73\00:15:13.10
But you see, you
can do exercises...
00:15:13.13\00:15:17.74
what you do is you
exercise the pelvic floor,
00:15:17.77\00:15:22.06
the muscles of
your pelvic floor.
00:15:22.09\00:15:24.35
When you go into
menopause, they sag like this...
00:15:24.38\00:15:28.27
and/or if you've given
birth, it is stretched,
00:15:28.30\00:15:31.18
and so it's easily prone to sag.
00:15:31.21\00:15:33.60
So then it's sagging like this
and you don't exercise it...
00:15:33.63\00:15:36.60
you think you exercise
your muscles of your body;
00:15:36.63\00:15:38.91
you also have to exercise the
muscles of your pelvic floor!
00:15:38.94\00:15:43.12
...Special exercises - you
call them "Kegel exercises"
00:15:43.15\00:15:48.04
Do you want me to
explain Kegel exercises?
00:15:48.07\00:15:50.40
I think that would
be beneficial Okay!
00:15:50.43\00:15:52.07
Well... It is a very prevalent
problem. It is important!
00:15:52.10\00:15:54.27
Okay, the muscle of
your pelvic floor...
00:15:54.30\00:15:56.78
Just imagine you're
going to the bathroom,
00:15:56.81\00:15:59.15
and you're peeing... okay?
00:15:59.18\00:16:01.81
You make a conscious effort
to release your urine, right?
00:16:01.84\00:16:05.48
It's... Can you
imagine with me ladies?
00:16:05.51\00:16:09.51
You're going to the
bathroom and you're doing it...
00:16:09.54\00:16:12.65
and then the Kegel exercise
is CUT YOUR URINE LIKE THIS!
00:16:12.68\00:16:16.56
Can you feel your muscles...
okay that's contracting
00:16:16.59\00:16:20.81
your pelvic floor and
then maybe it is exhausting
00:16:20.84\00:16:25.13
Amy, believe me
because I've been doing it
00:16:25.16\00:16:27.23
and until you're really used
to doing it, it's exhausting!
00:16:27.26\00:16:30.88
It's like walking up a hill too.
00:16:30.91\00:16:32.91
You would huff and puff as well!
00:16:32.94\00:16:34.80
And you see, so you do
it slowly and gradually...
00:16:34.83\00:16:37.77
You would hold it like this
00:16:37.80\00:16:39.53
and count
1-2-3-4-5 and then release,
00:16:39.56\00:16:42.60
then 1-2-3-4-5
for about 5- 10 times
00:16:42.63\00:16:46.47
every time you think about it.
00:16:46.50\00:16:48.36
For a week, you hold it
for 5, and then next week
00:16:48.39\00:16:52.21
you say 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
and then release;
00:16:52.24\00:16:55.81
1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10
about 5-10 times.
00:16:55.84\00:16:59.30
Next week, you
make it 15 and then 30,
00:16:59.33\00:17:01.85
and then until
before you know it,
00:17:01.88\00:17:03.60
you're just taut like this!
00:17:03.63\00:17:06.13
But when you're taut like this,
you're pushing your bladder up
00:17:06.16\00:17:12.73
...you fixing the
bladder, urethral angle,
00:17:12.76\00:17:15.62
and you won't have incontinence,
00:17:15.65\00:17:17.61
besides your muscles
are closing your urethra.
00:17:17.64\00:17:20.66
So then that would be
helpful for your incontinence.
00:17:20.69\00:17:24.43
Okay wonderful, and
that's something you can do
00:17:24.46\00:17:26.37
while you're
standing in the checkout
00:17:26.40\00:17:27.77
at the supermarket...
No one needs to know!
00:17:27.80\00:17:29.96
What helps me is to associate
it with something else,
00:17:29.99\00:17:33.59
so every time I'm
standing in the line,
00:17:33.62\00:17:34.99
at the store,
just remember to do it.
00:17:35.02\00:17:37.20
So if you program yourself,
00:17:37.23\00:17:38.60
it becomes easier
to make it a habit.
00:17:38.63\00:17:40.19
Especially for women who have
had traumatic vaginal deliveries
00:17:40.22\00:17:45.52
Ladies that have been torn. Yes
00:17:45.55\00:17:48.12
Big babies,
heads coming through...
00:17:48.15\00:17:50.29
They have to make
effort on Kegel exercises.
00:17:50.32\00:17:54.71
Thank you, I need
that reminder myself.
00:17:54.74\00:17:57.27
Now I want to move on to
the very sensitive issue of
00:17:57.30\00:18:00.52
vaginal dryness...
00:18:00.55\00:18:01.92
Now because this is pertaining
to the man as well, of course,
00:18:01.95\00:18:04.77
sometimes intercourse
can become very painful,
00:18:04.80\00:18:07.79
and it's natural that the vagina
gets drier as we get older
00:18:07.82\00:18:12.19
because of the
changes in the estrogen...
00:18:12.22\00:18:14.50
I do believe you have a
very good solution for us.
00:18:14.53\00:18:17.14
Oh yes... and I have proven
this with several other women.
00:18:17.17\00:18:22.69
I had a lady come
to me some 3 years ago
00:18:22.72\00:18:29.03
when we were out on a health
emphasis weekend down South,
00:18:29.06\00:18:32.72
and she came to me because her
00:18:32.75\00:18:35.00
husband prompted
her to come to me,
00:18:35.03\00:18:37.68
and she said my husband
told me that if I don't do
00:18:37.71\00:18:40.83
ANYTHING about this
problem of hers - she said,
00:18:40.86\00:18:44.75
he would leave her!
00:18:44.78\00:18:47.65
He had the
audacity to tell her...
00:18:47.68\00:18:49.62
if you don't fix your problem,
I'm going to leave her...
00:18:49.65\00:18:52.77
And she was crying
when she told me...
00:18:52.80\00:18:54.57
And I told her - "I'm
giving you my email...
00:18:54.60\00:18:57.03
Just email me as
soon as you have a chance,
00:18:57.06\00:19:01.58
and I will study this thing,
00:19:01.61\00:19:04.39
and I will come
back to you on email. "
00:19:04.42\00:19:06.49
So I studied and
I found a remedy!
00:19:06.52\00:19:12.45
We would LOVE to
hear this remedy!
00:19:12.48\00:19:14.93
I'm just going to give you a
00:19:14.96\00:19:16.33
second at home to
get a pen and paper...
00:19:16.36\00:19:18.03
I hope you've got it ready.
00:19:18.06\00:19:19.43
And Dr. Cherie Lou is going
to give us this very simple
00:19:19.46\00:19:22.34
home remedy for you to
deal with this intimate issue
00:19:22.37\00:19:25.86
that can be SO
important in your relationship.
00:19:25.89\00:19:29.08
So Dr. Cherie Lou... What is it?
00:19:29.11\00:19:30.52
It is an oil mixture...
it's sort of an oil-lotion
00:19:30.55\00:19:36.58
composed of vitamin E
00:19:36.61\00:19:38.66
If you can get the
capsules of 1,000 IU,
00:19:38.69\00:19:42.41
or if you can't get
1,000, then you can get 500,
00:19:42.44\00:19:45.04
and then you get 2 capsules,
00:19:45.07\00:19:46.86
but as long as it's
1,000 international units
00:19:46.89\00:19:50.12
You poke your capsule
and make the oil come out...
00:19:50.15\00:19:54.15
into a little container and then
00:19:54.18\00:19:56.04
you have 2 drops of
geranium essential oil.
00:19:56.07\00:20:00.14
Geranium essential oil
and an ounce of almond oil.
00:20:00.17\00:20:07.13
Almond oil, geranium
essential oil, vitamin E
00:20:07.16\00:20:12.24
You mix them in
this little container,
00:20:12.27\00:20:14.54
so it's an oil mixture
and you apply it to the vulva,
00:20:14.57\00:20:18.66
and the lining of your
vagina, especially over the area
00:20:18.69\00:20:22.40
where it's sore most of the
time when you have intercourse.
00:20:22.43\00:20:27.54
You do it every day
for 2 weeks the least,
00:20:27.57\00:20:31.86
and it's going to help because
she called me after 2 weeks
00:20:31.89\00:20:35.59
...The husband again
had prompted her to say,
00:20:35.62\00:20:38.60
"Please call her and
say how THANKFUL I AM
00:20:38.63\00:20:41.59
for what we have learned"
00:20:41.62\00:20:44.13
What a
blessing! And it does work
00:20:44.16\00:20:46.41
because it worked with
other women as well. Wonderful!
00:20:46.44\00:20:49.65
So, we've talked a lot
about the physical symptoms.
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.77
Now let's get on
to the emotional...
00:20:51.80\00:20:53.60
Some women become
extremely sensitive
00:20:53.63\00:20:56.37
to their husband's
comments or even we may become
00:20:56.40\00:20:59.53
negligent in taking care
of ourselves or of the home
00:20:59.56\00:21:02.49
or the children;
00:21:02.52\00:21:04.05
we don't want responsibilities;
00:21:04.08\00:21:05.45
we've become
introverted and unsociable...
00:21:05.48\00:21:08.02
Depression and
insomnia is very common as well.
00:21:08.05\00:21:10.94
Let's talk a
little bit about these
00:21:10.97\00:21:12.34
emotional manifestations...
What can we do?
00:21:12.37\00:21:15.51
It's almost like PMS -
"premenstrual syndrome"
00:21:15.54\00:21:18.80
The hormonal
changes affect the brain,
00:21:18.83\00:21:21.32
the serotonin and the
beta endorphins as well.
00:21:21.35\00:21:25.29
And so, if it becomes so
bad, I think professional help
00:21:25.32\00:21:29.62
has to be sought
because you don't want to
00:21:29.65\00:21:32.88
see your wife end up
in a mental institution...
00:21:32.91\00:21:35.96
Because sometimes menopause
00:21:35.99\00:21:37.49
can PUSH your
wife OVER the brink,
00:21:37.52\00:21:39.98
and I've seen a lot of this.
00:21:40.01\00:21:41.95
They have already a problematic
marriage with the husband
00:21:41.98\00:21:45.90
around the
perimenopause and on top of it
00:21:45.93\00:21:48.36
you add this thing and the
husband not being there for her
00:21:48.39\00:21:52.29
And so, if depression is
too bad, it's really bad,
00:21:52.32\00:21:56.28
I think that you
should seek counsel.
00:21:56.31\00:22:00.23
And just a word for the ladies
that perhaps are not married,
00:22:00.26\00:22:03.27
or they're going through
menopause on their own...
00:22:03.30\00:22:05.32
It can be very helpful to
have female friends to share
00:22:05.35\00:22:10.25
what you're going through with
because actually talking to a
00:22:10.28\00:22:13.29
woman can produce a hormone
called "oxytocin"... right?
00:22:13.32\00:22:16.86
We need each other!
00:22:16.89\00:22:18.26
We need each other and
actually some studies show that
00:22:18.29\00:22:20.04
women that are happily married
but don't have girlfriends
00:22:20.07\00:22:23.30
don't live as long as the women
that don't have a happy marriage
00:22:23.33\00:22:26.69
but have girlfriends!
00:22:26.72\00:22:28.15
So girlfriends
are THAT necessary.
00:22:28.18\00:22:29.68
They are very necessary
and I think the oxytocin levels
00:22:29.71\00:22:32.25
makes us feel good and
it's part of the reason...
00:22:32.28\00:22:34.53
And, of course, serotonin
which is a happy hormone,
00:22:34.56\00:22:37.00
that's secreted
when we feel supported,
00:22:37.03\00:22:38.90
and that we have
empathetic friend.
00:22:38.93\00:22:41.23
So if somebody is not severely
affected, like you say...
00:22:41.26\00:22:44.86
"menopause is not a disease"
00:22:44.89\00:22:46.41
and they're not
having severe symptoms,
00:22:46.44\00:22:49.90
what would you suggest just to
00:22:49.93\00:22:51.71
keep things really
in par and in balance
00:22:51.74\00:22:54.58
in terms of diet?
00:22:54.61\00:22:58.46
Again, a very, very
balanced diet would help anybody
00:22:58.49\00:23:04.93
in any phase of
life... even more so -
00:23:04.96\00:23:09.19
a woman in menopause should
take her body more seriously
00:23:09.22\00:23:15.21
You take care of a body
that's brimming and bubbling
00:23:15.24\00:23:21.63
with health during
the reproductive years.
00:23:21.66\00:23:24.47
Why don't you take care of
one that's struggling - you know
00:23:24.50\00:23:29.66
More so - yes, and
a husband being there
00:23:29.69\00:23:33.50
supportive because she,
again, can only be as usual
00:23:33.53\00:23:38.34
as he is supportive of her.
00:23:38.37\00:23:40.70
So really, it is important
that you have close support
00:23:40.73\00:23:45.84
from friends and family...
and husband especially.
00:23:45.87\00:23:49.90
Now, we talked earlier about
the herbs that are indicated
00:23:49.93\00:23:53.39
for the
perimenopause phase to help us
00:23:53.42\00:23:56.31
during the wax and waning,
00:23:56.34\00:23:57.79
but once
menstruation has really stopped,
00:23:57.82\00:24:01.19
and we're in
menopause proper, if you like,
00:24:01.22\00:24:04.83
is there any point in
continuing with the herbs
00:24:04.86\00:24:06.91
that we had been using before?
00:24:06.94\00:24:08.31
Actually, in Wildwood, we talk
about women taking these herbs
00:24:08.34\00:24:15.77
during the waxing and waning...
00:24:15.80\00:24:18.59
to be able to help with
the perimenopause problem.
00:24:18.62\00:24:23.23
However, when you have finally
settled and your hormones
00:24:23.26\00:24:26.92
have come down both
evenly and you have now
00:24:26.95\00:24:31.03
come down to a
balance that is relatively low
00:24:31.06\00:24:33.65
but still already balanced...
00:24:33.68\00:24:35.43
No more of this storm season,
it's already down and balanced.
00:24:35.46\00:24:39.65
You may NOT already need
the hormones for support.
00:24:39.68\00:24:45.13
That's what we do at Wildwood.
00:24:45.16\00:24:47.53
You don't take Vitex forever.
00:24:47.56\00:24:50.77
It's only around the time when
you really are in perimenopause.
00:24:50.80\00:24:54.86
But of course, exercise,
REGULAR exercise is the key...
00:24:54.89\00:24:59.36
Your musculoskeletal
system should be...
00:24:59.39\00:25:01.61
you know - you can
still walk up the mountain,
00:25:01.64\00:25:05.39
you can still swim 12 laps -
00:25:05.42\00:25:08.68
you know - all
these relaxing things,
00:25:08.71\00:25:11.53
eating the right
food, NO alcohol.
00:25:11.56\00:25:15.55
No caffeine, no
tea, no spicy food,
00:25:15.58\00:25:21.92
no high caloric food.
00:25:21.95\00:25:23.78
Healthy! Healthy living!
00:25:23.81\00:25:27.36
Temperate.
Absolutely - absolutely!
00:25:27.39\00:25:30.24
I'm just thinking
about the hot flashes
00:25:30.27\00:25:31.94
because that's such
a debilitating symptom.
00:25:31.97\00:25:34.40
If we can just go back to
that because SO many of us
00:25:34.43\00:25:36.85
in the night, we'll
wake up with hot sweats.
00:25:36.88\00:25:40.71
When we're at work, at
very inconvenient moments,
00:25:40.74\00:25:42.91
we can suddenly find
ourselves hot and drenched.
00:25:42.94\00:25:45.97
Is there anything we can do
immediately when that happens?
00:25:46.00\00:25:49.87
Go to the refrigerator!
00:25:49.90\00:25:56.19
It will pass. It will pass.
00:25:56.22\00:26:00.66
So really, it's not something
we need to be afraid of
00:26:00.69\00:26:03.02
or have a very
fearful attitude about.
00:26:03.05\00:26:04.93
We can just.. just let it go
00:26:04.96\00:26:06.40
and in a few
seconds, it will be over.
00:26:06.43\00:26:07.80
Oh, you take deep breaths!
00:26:07.83\00:26:09.45
Take 6 deep breaths in a minute.
00:26:09.48\00:26:12.74
It helps control the hot flash.
00:26:12.77\00:26:16.04
Apparently you're giving
more oxygen and blood supply
00:26:16.07\00:26:19.76
to your brain so
that your nervous system,
00:26:19.79\00:26:22.81
and your heart will work to par.
00:26:22.84\00:26:27.17
Because it starts in
the face and it comes down
00:26:27.20\00:26:29.39
to your body and you
feel really hot, you know
00:26:29.42\00:26:32.29
When it even
starts, then you start...
00:26:32.32\00:26:35.50
hold your breath and slowly
6 times, it helps control.
00:26:35.53\00:26:43.99
I actually heard
of some other measure.
00:26:44.02\00:26:46.15
I don't know if you are
familiar with the "Chillow"
00:26:46.18\00:26:47.66
It's a pillow that's cold
and you lie on it at night...
00:26:47.69\00:26:50.89
And so when the
heat comes from the head,
00:26:50.92\00:26:53.03
it usually starts
there that the Chillow pillow
00:26:53.06\00:26:55.09
comes into action
and can calm you down.
00:26:55.12\00:26:57.60
I just kick off the blanket.
00:26:57.63\00:26:59.41
Kick it off - of course!
00:26:59.44\00:27:02.27
Well thank you so
much, Dr. Cherie Lou
00:27:02.30\00:27:04.12
I'd like you to leave a
word with our viewers today
00:27:04.15\00:27:07.11
about the
emotional aspect of menopause
00:27:07.14\00:27:09.68
and the spiritual component.
00:27:09.71\00:27:11.23
What encouragement can
you leave with us to be
00:27:11.26\00:27:13.95
vibrant and happy as
we go through these years?
00:27:13.98\00:27:17.08
Oh... aging always
is a normal process.
00:27:17.11\00:27:21.11
We don't have to worry
about the future because
00:27:21.14\00:27:24.04
our lives are in God's hand.
00:27:24.07\00:27:27.85
He knows the
future of each one of us.
00:27:27.88\00:27:30.32
He knows what's good for us.
00:27:30.35\00:27:32.35
He KNOWS everything.
00:27:32.38\00:27:36.10
No hair can drop from
our head without His knowing.
00:27:36.13\00:27:40.14
That's beautiful. Thank you
00:27:40.17\00:27:41.59
And I was also reading
today in Proverbs 31...
00:27:41.62\00:27:44.67
the famous godly
virtuous woman chapter...
00:27:44.70\00:27:47.39
Who can find a virtuous woman?
00:27:47.42\00:27:48.84
And there's actually a text
there for people going through
00:27:48.87\00:27:50.91
menopause... I like to
share that with our viewers.
00:27:50.94\00:27:53.09
If you turn to Proverbs 31:25
00:27:53.12\00:27:55.89
It talks about
the virtuous woman...
00:27:55.92\00:27:58.13
"Strength and honor are
her clothing and she shall
00:27:58.16\00:28:00.57
rejoice in time to come. "
00:28:00.60\00:28:02.49
That's us during
our menopausal years.
00:28:02.52\00:28:04.68