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Menopause can be a physical, psychological and emotionally challenging time for many women. They will spend half of their adult lives in menopause, according to statistics which show the average life expectancy of women at 79.5 years nowadays.

By 2050 women will probably live to be at least 95 years old. A new generation of health-conscious women today is looking forward to a new phase of life with physical, spiritual and personal growth.

Most women think of menopause as the point when they cease to menstruate. They do not link irritability, anxiety, memory lapses, or mood swings to hormonal imbalance caused by this process of biological change. About 75% of all women experience some temporary symptoms of hot flashes, night sweats, weight gain, increase in level of cholesterol, decreased libido which may last for years; long term ones may include vaginal dryness and urinary problems. To know more about menopause, you can visit http://www.1menopause.com

Fortunately, these unpleasant complaints or symptoms can be prevented, reduced and relieved by making some changes to daily lifestyles with the right diet, nutrition supplements, regular exercise and adopting some complementary therapies such as yoga, tai chi, spa therapy or holistic aromatherapy, which all help to achieve a healthy, balanced lifestyle with natural medicine. They also offer a safer alternative compared to Hormone Replacement Therapy. They also to reduce the risk of future age-related diseases such as cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, osteoporosis and diabetes.

For a list of detailed menopause symptoms please visit http://www.1menopause.com

Aromatherapy, which has been well used for over 2000 years, is the practice of using distilled essences obtained from the leaf, stem, flower, fruit peel, bark or root of a tree. As the aromatic molecules from essential oils disperse in the air, they:

• carry pleasant fragrances to your nose
• come in contact with the olfactory receptor cells in the nasal cavity
• transmit the information to the olfactory bulb which is a structure just above the nose.
• cause a response in the limbic system of the brain which works in conjunction with the pituitary gland and the hypothalamus region to regulate the hormonal activities.
• trigger the production of hormones that govern appetite, body temperature, insulin production, overall metabolism, stress levels, sex drive and conscious thought and reactions.

Essential Oils can have a positive effect on all these functions through the sense of smell which happens to be the most complex and sensitive of all the five senses. The sense of smell is over 10,000 times more sensitive than your sense of taste and researchers have shown how aroma causes a brain reaction by activating the hypothalamus gland, the pituitary gland and the bodys hormones as well as stimulating the emotion and memory.

Aromatherapy is particularly effective for stress, anxiety and psychosomatic induced problems, muscular and rheumatic pains, digestive disorders and womens problems such as PMS, menopausal problems and postnatal depression. It is a natural and non-invasive therapy designed to help a person enhance the body's natural ability to balance, regulate, heal and maintain oneself.

Essential Oils are very concentrated and their properties potent as they contain molecules small enough to enter your skin; except for essential oils of lavender and tea tree, the oils need to be diluted with a carrier oil, usually with a vegetable oil such as sweet almond or jojoba, to avoid skin irritation. The oils can be used in a vaporizer, sprays, bath, hot or cold compress, perfume or for topical body application or massage. Some recommended essential oils for menopausal women:

• Bergamot uplifts mood and reduces anxiety and depression.
• Clary Sage eases hot flashes and night sweats and PMS.
• Roman Chamomile has calming effect, ease tension, anxiety and headaches.
• Frankincense helps psychosomatic problems and anxiety.
• Geranium is a hormone balancer and reduces stress.
• Jasmine is euphoric and eases tension and anxiety.
• Juniper Berry regulates period and relieves water retention.
• Lavender is sedative and aids sleep.
• Rose is a womb tonic and provides relief from pre menopause to post menopause.
• Sandalwood stimulates the development of sex hormones and promotes vaginal secretions.
• Ylang Ylang is aphrodisiac and relaxes the nervous system.

Copyright 2005

Elena Leong is a certified aromatherapist by International Federation of Aromatherapy (IFA) and the founder of http://www.1menopause.com - a website on menopause information and its associated symptoms and problems which can be prevented or reduced by some natural Chinese herbal supplement, complementary therapy and other natural treatment options to ease and enjoy the menopause transition.

Most young people under the age of 20 tend to have higher metabolic rates and be more flexible and energetic than older individuals. However, they too need to practice age appropriate exercise in order to avoid becoming obese, stay fit and trim and build up their stamina and strength.

Today, many young people don't get enough exercise mainly because of the electronic alternatives that occupy much of their time. The growing or formative years are very important because they lay the foundations for what later become healthy or poor habits so it is essential to stress the importance of a good diet and exercise among children while they are growing up itself.

It is understandable that sometimes children can get easily bored with a set exercise routine designed for adults. However, it is not necessary for them to be involved in organized group sports only. Most youngsters equally enjoy a jog with an adult, or a game of tennis, swimming, golf, martial arts, bicycling, gymnastics among other interesting sports.

Adults should not give hypocritical or inconsistent advice to children as they are quite sensitive to it. Therefore, grown ups should be prepared to practice what they preach and exercise along with their children. By doing so they can not only ensure that their children are exercising in a safe and proper manner but it also helps them to spend quality time with their children and participate in activities that will benefit them both.

It is very important for both adults and children to warm up before trying out a vigorous work out as if its too painful initially the individual is less likely to continue. A few minutes of static and dynamic stretching really helps to avoid injury. Therefore, one should start with a simple routine and gradually build up ones strength over time.

Exercise routines should be tailored keeping in mind the child's age group.

For children between the ages of 4 to 7 it is important for them to focus on building basic developing skills such as coordination and balance. It is during these formative years that a child's eye hand coordination and motor skills are still fluid. Skipping, Hopscotch and other simple activities help guide the development of these skills and these are activities that children naturally have a fondness for.

For children around the ages of 8 or so, vigorous exercise is advised as it helps keep their metabolism active and prevents food from turning into fat. Here again adults need to guide children towards inculcating good exercise habits and avoid injury. However, weight training for pre teens is generally unnecessary and risky.

On the other hand gymnastics is ideal for children in this age group. It helps strengthen the basic motor skills learned earlier while developing balance and keeps the endocrine system healthy and active.

For teens the possibilities in exercise are endless as they possess the basic bone and muscle structure that enables them to participate in high performance activities. But here too care should be taken to ensure that they get the proper guidance that will help prevent injuries.

Most teens should be given an outlet to express their endless energy. Therefore, they should be encouraged towards achieving positive goals such as those of fitness, endurance and high scores.

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