Naturopathic, Integrative, and Functional Medicine: Holistic Health for Menopausal Women Explained

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While your family physician, internist, or gynecologist may have been the best source of advice and information throughout your life, menopause is like nothing you’ve ever experienced. Menopause impacts everything from your brain to your ovaries. Its effect has women seeking many options, including naturopathic, integrative, and Traditional Chinese Medicine. Take charge of your health with a thorough understanding of the holistic health benefits and potential risks associated with approaches that may be overlooked in the recommendations that may emerge from a typical Western medicine visit.

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    Holistic health during menopause

    While hormone therapy (HT) is often among the treatment recommendations for bothersome menopause symptoms like hot flashes, it’s not the only option.
     
    Yet, some women feel hormones are all their doctor discusses or considers.
     
    In fact, the inspiration for pausitive health came from a friend whose OB-GYN grew angry when she would not take hormones.
     
    This friend knew menopause was a natural stage in a woman’s life, not a disease needing curing. She was managing her symptoms well and had no interest in HT. Unfortunately, this is not an uncommon scenario.
     
    Even if you’ve been with your healthcare professional for a long time, and their advice has been helpful and supportive, menopause can be different.
     
    Many clinicians are not adequately trained in the care of menopause, leaving women with experiences like the one above.
     
    A holistic and integrative approach provides benefits for menopausal women. It’s viewed as a life event, and not a disease
     
    It’s so much more than a gynecological affair. It can be a whole-body experience, with symptoms and changes that impact both mind and body, as well as increased risks for conditions like cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and dementia.
     
    While you often hear complementary and alternative medicine or CAM as one phrase, different doctors and medical professionals offer each type of holistic health care. In more recent years, the language around CAM has evolved to phrases like integrative medicine modalities.
     
    Seek out a trained professional who has your best interests in mind.
    naturopathic integrative finctional medicine

    Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM)

    About half of Americans have tried some type of integrative medicine, according to the Pew Research Center. These include herbal remedies, acupuncture, chiropractic care, and energy treatments.
     
    One-fifth of Americans have used these alternatives instead of “conventional” medicine. As a true alternative, rather than as a complementary approach to Western medicine.
     
    While many people use the terms complementary and alternative interchangeably, complementary and alternative medicine have distinct approaches.
     
    According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health,
     
    • Complementary medicine uses different approaches with traditional, Western medicine.
    • Alternative medicine uses different approaches in place of “conventional” medicine.

    What is integrative medicine?

    For a holistic and coordinated approach, consider an integrative practitioner.
     
    The NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health describes integrative health as:

    bringing “conventional and complementary approaches together in a coordinated way.

    Integrative health also emphasizes multimodal interventions, which are two or more interventions such as conventional health care approaches (like medication, physical rehabilitation, psychotherapy), and complementary health approaches (like acupuncture, yoga, and probiotics) in various combinations, with an emphasis on treating the whole person rather than, for example, one organ system.

    Integrative health aims for well-coordinated care among different providers and institutions by bringing conventional and complementary approaches together to care for the whole person.”

    Because menopause can be experienced as an emotionally, physically, and mentally challenging stage of life, the integrative approach, which focuses on the whole person rather than your ovaries, might be especially well-suited to address the symptoms you’re experiencing.
     
    Many well-known clinics and health systems offer integrative medicine, like the Cleveland Clinic and Johns Hopkins.
     

    How integrative medicine works

    Even though you may seek treatment from several specialty providers, the care should be well-coordinated, with various modalities acting in harmony.
     
    Integrative modalities include:
     
    Of course, you should also consider the fundamentals of a healthy lifestyle – healthy eating, physical activity, managing stress, getting enough high-quality sleep, and supportive relationships.
     
    Many of these integrative modalities, including the effectiveness of each, are detailed in the ultimate guide to non-hormonal treatment options.
     
    Find an integrative health practitioner:
     

    Functional medicine

    Functional medicine is another possible route for menopausal women. This type of medicine gets to the root of how and why an illness occurs for each patient.
     
    According to the Institute of Functional Medicine, functional medicine is a model which follows
    “an individualized, patient-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together to address the underlying causes of disease and promote optimal wellness. It requires a detailed understanding of each patient’s genetic, biochemical, and lifestyle factors and leverages that data to direct personalized treatment plans that lead to improved patient outcomes.”
    Doctors provide individualized care, using science to guide patient care. It’s a collaborative approach where doctors and patients work together to get to the root cause of the disease.
     

    Holistic treatment: Focuses on causes rather than symptoms

     

    Functional medicine also takes a holistic approach to treatment. The doctor will ask questions about your personal medical history and lifestyle factors to determine if there are other triggers for these symptoms.

    Lifestyle changes can make a significant difference in your menopause journey. Focus on the basics – nutrition, physical activity, sleep, stress management, and supportive human connection.
     
    Find a provider from the Institute for Functional Medicine.
     

    Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)

    Acupuncture, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, and herbs are approaches used in TCM, which focus on balancing the “Qi” or energy in the body with physical and psychological techniques.
     
    These approaches may also be called Eastern medicine.
     
    These therapies can offer benefits to a woman during the menopause journey.
     
    If you’re interested in acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, Oriental medicine, or Asian bodywork therapy, consult a provider certified by the National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.
     

    What is a naturopathic physician?

    Naturopathic medicine also focuses on holistic well-being and the body’s inherent ability to heal. Naturopathic physicians evaluate factors contributing to a person’s feelings, including mental, emotional, physical, genetic, environmental, and social factors.
     
    Herbs are commonly associated with naturopathic medicine, but there’s also a focus on other areas, such as nutrition and overall lifestyle.
     
    If you use herbs to treat menopause symptoms, understand that the potency and guidelines vary across the globe. Understand the risks with each herb and its effectiveness, just as you should with medications. And also be aware and check with a pharmacist regarding potential interactions with medications you may be taking in order to avoid an adverse event.
     
    Search for a naturopathic doctor near you.
     

    Take charge of your health

    Every woman’s journey through menopause is unique. Even though hormones are a frequent recommendation, they are not suitable for everyone. And there are many other potential options and a variety of types of healthcare practitioners who can help.
     
    Focus on what’s best for you and your body based on facts and care received from well-trained medical professionals.
     
    Start today to take charge of your health.

    Complementary, Alternative, or Integrative Health: What’s In a Name? | National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health

    Find a Provider | Academy of Integrative Health & Medicine (AIHM)

    Find a Practitioner | Maryland University of Integrative Health 

    What is Functional Medicine? | The Institute for Functional Medicine®

    Find a Practitioner | The Institute for Functional Medicine®

    NCCAOM® Find a Practitioner Directory |  National Certification Commission for Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine (NCCAOM)

    What Is Naturopathic Medicine? | WebMD

    Find an ND | American Association of Naturopathic Physicians

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