One of the most common menopause symptoms is a low sex drive, along with the hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. The good news is that there are a number of safe, natural menopause relief solutions available to help!

During perimenopause and menopause it is quite normal to feel a decreased appetite for sex. This is because the body naturally is putting survival ahead of pleasure. Fortunately, it is usually a simple matter to restore your libido.

Why does your libido decrease?

Usually the reason is due to a hormonal imbalance. A lifetime of dieting can be the cause, especially low fat diets. This is because the body requires the fat to produce the necessary hormones.

Another common reason is stress. When the body is under stress, which it usually is, the adrenal glands work overtime to keep you in an alert state. Gradually this disrupts the hormonal balance, with the resulting symptoms of menopause.

During menopause the hormones begin to change and very often the balance between the testosterone, estrogen and progesterone changes. Once again, the common menopause symptoms appear.

How can you increase your libido?

The first step in finding a natural menopause solution is to get an evaluation of your hormones by taking the free, online assessment offered by the Women To Women Clinic. It is very informative, and the results are kept confidential. Plus, it is free!

A well known expert, Michael Webb, has written a very, very good ebook that can do wonders for your love life. He has been featured on Oprah, Redbook, Men’s Health, Cosmopolitan, and just about any other publication you can think of. I can’t believe how much you get for your money! Wish I would have had this a long, long time ago! You can find out more here.

Some important steps you should take are

• Eat a diet rich in fresh, organic fruits and vegetables

• Drink plenty of water

• Make sure you get adequate vigorous exercise

• Make every effort to get enough sleep and rest

• Take time for yourself, you need to recharge and be centered

• Use high quality vitamin/mineral supplements

Communicate with your partner

Often women are reluctant to speak up about things such as vaginal dryness or discomfort. They are so used to caring for others that they just put up with it. Yet, by merely mentioning that you feel pain during intercourse and want to find a natural menopause relief solution, you can often find new satisfaction.

There are numerous water based lubricants available that can make a dramatic difference. Drinking lots of water will also have the effect of lubricating the vaginal area.

Your partner certainly wants you to be comfortable and satisfied, it is in his best interest as well! There is no need to suffer from a low sex drive during menopause.

What you should do

• Take the free online assessment
• Take steps to improve your overall health, as mentioned above
• Use high quality vitamin/mineral supplements
• Communicate with your partner
• Use lubricants and drink plenty of water
• Take time for yourself so you are happy!

For some reason I thought that parenting kind of stopped when the children got older. That was until mine got older and I discovered an interesting fact: they needed me more than ever!

When my oldest went to college I thought she would more or less be on her own. Turned out, much to my delight, that she wanted more to do with us than when she was in high school. She called home several times a week, asked for advice, asked for favors, needed this and that, and generally was a lot more friendly as well.

After a few months she told me: “Dad, I can’t believe I put you through all of that!” She was quite an adventurous girl in high school, to put it mildly! Now we were more like friends and our relationship was better than ever.

Funny, at one point they think your opinion is borderline worthless, and within a few months you are wise and helpful. After this initial experience, it helped with the next ones who were quickly coming of age to know that I was on the right track. I don’t know about you, but parenting can sure make you doubt yourself and erode your confidence.

I’ve learned to follow principles, not emotion. Do things because it is the right thing to do, not because it is convenient or will temporarily make somebody feel good. I heard a man say the other day that there are no absolutes. I totally disagree. Lying is lying, stealing is stealing, kindness is kindness, honesty is honesty and so on. Once you start down the slippery slope of selective values, you are always changing and making it up as you go along.

Children need absolutes, it gives them security and boundaries. If your standards are constantly floating about in the water of situational ethics, they probably will drown in confusion.

What do you think?

Now that I have been the father of 8 official teenagers, I feel I have seen and heard a little bit of everything. Sometimes I figure teens are just temporarily insane, but then again, they are also wonderful people.

Anyway, I personally don’t get too excited about parenting books. Sometimes I think they are written by people who don’t even have children! Have you noticed that those are the people that know the most? It is one thing to write about knowledge, but quite another to make numerous trips to the emergency room, pick them up late at night, call their friends parents to check up, and get up early to take another one to a school event.

Recently I came across some very good, useful, solid help for parents with out of control teens. Whether you have one who talks back, takes drugs, runs away, fails to try in school, doesn’t even want to go to school, is disrespectful, is irresponsible, won’t help out at home, is cruel to his siblings, or any other teenage problem, you will find some help here.

It is a program put together by Mark Hutton M.A. It includes online support, several ebooks, a powerpoint presentation, videos the cover everything from ADHD to Wilderness Programs, a newsletter, a parent forum, and even access to Mark! The program also comes with a 100% money back guarantee, so you have nothing to lose, but a lot to gain.

Really, I don’t know why human nature is so reluctant to ask for help, but it is. We just keep going around and around, suffering the same humiliation time and again. Why not give it a try? Just imagine how nice your teen can be at times. Now imagine your teen that way all the time! Ahh… peace and a good relationship again!

Find out more about this remarkable program now, and save yourself a lot of sleepless nights, not to mention the headaches! You owe it to yourself to get some peace and respect.

I don’t remember where this is written in the Bible, but maybe one of the minor prophets. Anyway, the way I see it, if you keep on doing what is right, regardless of how it appears, eventually, good things happen.

It isn’t always so easy to just continue “being good” in the face of contradictions, opposition, or rejection. I always heard that children will retain the values instilled in them when they are small, and later, when they are grown up, they will return to these same values. It is true. I’m actually in awe of how true it is.

Considering how topsy turvy everything is today, and how values shift and turn like leaves in the breeze, it is amazing how  true this principle has proven to be. I don’t know about other people, but I see it in my 5 oldest to a surprising degree.

The hard part is when they seem to reject you and need to find their own way. It’s like fishing; you set the hook and let them run until they tire, then you reel in the fish. Never lose hope in their goodness. Hang on by faith that what you have given them will grow and produce fruit one day.

What about the plowman and the reaper? Imagine your children (or yourself!) reaping the consequences of poor decisions. You might have damaged relationships, debt, addictions, poor health due to neglect, or any such thing. The reaper doesn’t really care who you are, he is just the reaper and he takes away anything of value so it can be destroyed.

Yet, now the change has come, the plowing and planting of new seeds begins. These are the values you gave your children when they were small. Seeds can lie dormant for centuries and still grow! The ground gets turned over, making a lot of chaos and disruptions, but new habits, decisions and choices can be made and be allowed to grow. This change can be a very stressful time, because it is so tenuous. It could go either way.
One day, you notice that the good overtakes the bad and it is as if the tide has changed. Finally, peace and sanity is restored! Keep planting, keep talking, keep in contact, love without expecting anything in return, be good in the face of rejection: it will all return one day-in abundance. I am truly amazed at how true this is unfolding  personally. Thank God.

On this father’s day I was struck by how much my children have learned to live by my ideals. As they were growing up I made a conscious efforts to instill in them a love for children, a sense of adventure, a love of nature, and unraveling riddles of any sort. During our many conversations today, I could see how influenced by this they all have been.

My oldest wouldn’t hang up until I gave her a thoughtful nugget to contemplate. It was exactly as if she were a little girl and I was putting her to bed-she always insisted that I “tell her something.” It had to be a sort of analogy from nature with a proverb intertwined. She was so happy when I came up with a useful example about how June apples are perfect, even though they are not fully grown. We too can be happy just to be, even if we are not as we wish we were or will become.

My next oldest told me how he was living the life I would have lived if I hadn’t had so many children! He has a lot of free time and is able to pursue his passion, BMX bike riding. He actually makes a good living doing it! Plus he donates a lot of time and effort to helping inner-city kids with a foundation he helped start.

Another one took us all on a little trip to see his latest landscaping project, he was so proud of it. He had done a great job and the owners were very happy to see him. He reminded me of how I allowed him to build all kinds of stuff in our yard as a boy. One day I came home and there was a huge half-pipe built in the front yard! He had forts, fireplaces, ramps and all kinds of building projects on our property. He can now pursue his childhood dreams and get paid for it!

Give them your time, your energy, keep up with them and know who they are! So many children do not have an adult they can confide in, it is so sad. Set an example so they can taste what life can be like. They soak up everything!

During the break at last Saturday’s performance, I told the guitarist that “When I grow up, I wanna play like you!”

His response was funny; he asked the question above and said: “The savings bond eventually matures and makes money!”

The best way to avoid holiday stress is to remember you father! While most dads don’t get too riled when their special day is overlooked or almost overlooked, it is very refreshing when those you love do remember!

Take the time to call, do something special, even a small deed of kindness is greatly appreciated, even if your father doesn’t say much. When he is at work or struggling, he will certainly be inspired by the mere recollection of your thoughtfulness.

What is it about Father’s Day that makes it a bit of a non-holiday? Mother’s Day must be 45 times bigger, complete with bed in breakfast, or breakfast out, cards, phone calls and everything else. But poor Father’s day is a bit of a halfling. I think dads are just there, like tress or air.

One day, after my oldest son was on his own, he sent me an email with maybe 20 items he was grateful for that I had done. He went on and on about paying for groceries, heating the house, paying for insurance, giving him rides, etc. I’d never gotten anything quite like that before, nor have I since.

So, remember you dad and all the sacrifices he made for you. Tell him you think of him and love him. Maybe your relationship is damaged or strained, but at least from your end you should show kindness. In the end, it is all about relationships, not things or accomplishments.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if there were a natural way to find menopause relief? No doubt, there are many herbal remedies, supplements and medicines that can and do help women suffering from insomnia, hot flashes, depression and night sweats. Yet there is also a rather new twist on an ancient practice that has helped over 100,000 women!

This relatively new adaptation of the ancient Chinese practice of acupuncture is called The Emotional Freedom Technique, or EFT. It was developed by Gary Craig in the 1990′s while he was working with Dr. Roger Callahan, a cognitive psychologist.

What is EFT?

EFT was somewhat accidentally discovered when Dr. Callahan was helping a patient with a phobia of water. By drawing on his background is energy psychology and physical energy flow, the doctor was able to cure the man of his severe phobia.

Gary Craig has taken the concept a huge step further by developing the practice of EFT. He has successfully treated over 100,000 people, all with zero side effects and virtually no complaints. It is safe, very easy to use, and quite inexpensive.

How does EFT work?

Eastern medicine has long recognized the connection between a persons emotional health and their physical health. Your biography becomes your biology is another way of saying this. Your stress levels are directly related to your physical well- being.

Western medicine has been slow to accept this, along with many other facets of Eastern medicine. However, this is gradually changing and now many insurance companies cover alternative treatments such as acupuncture.

EFT uses the same pressure points as acupuncture, but instead of needles, you use your fingertips. Specific points on the body are lightly tapped with your own fingertips, and at the same time you speak a positive, reaffirming statement.

At first it all seems a bit weird, but because it is so effective, this is quickly gotten over. Very often, people discover many buried sources of emotional pain and are able to find real relief. It can be a little like a geyser of emotional upheaval, bringing healing in it’s path.

How to find an EFT practitioner

A therapist or psychologist will know about EFT and can possibly recommend a good one. The EFT website also contains a listing of practitioners. Make sure you interview the practitioner and you feel comfortable with him/her. EFT can be very personal and you need to have a good relationship that is open and trusting.

The best way to begin is by taking the free hormone assessment offered by the Women To Women Clinic. It only takes a few minutes and is completely confidential. From there you can access more information. You can take the assessment here.Personal Profile

Can EFT help with menopause symptoms?

Many of the symptoms of menopause have strong emotional ties. Perimenopause and menopause are times of emotional reassessment and EFT is a very fitting therapy to help in the process. The stress from personal baggage can be alleviated, which will greatly help with the hormonal balance. This in turn will bring significant menopause relief.

EFT is a safe, natural, scientific yet traditional method of healing that can be a great way to get some help. Additionally, it is easy to apply and can be done anywhere at anytime!

How to start

Begin by taking the free online hormone assessment sponsored by the Women To Women Clinic. They are simply the best! You can take the Personal Profile here.

It may seem hard to believe, but many medical doctors prescribe anti-depressants for menopause relief! This is a classic case of not having a holistic approach to healing, for sure.

During menopause, many of the symptoms can be severe and quite disrupting, such as depression, anxiety, nervous tension, hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings. In some respects, there may be some similarity between mental illness and these symptoms, but the underlying cause is very different.

One reason that doctors prescribe anti-depressants for menopause symptoms is because the doctor is trained to prescribe medications, not search for a holistic connection between hormones and the symptoms.

It is much easier just to give out the medication and get the quick, dramatic results of improved feelings and mood. This might help temporarily, but the root cause is still the same. Treating symptoms apart from the cause is never going to essentially help the woman.

What about side effects?

This is a very important issue because these powerful anti-depressants, such as Effexor, Prozac, and Praxil, all can produce some significant side effects. Some of the known side effects are headaches, vomiting, nervousness, and sexual dysfunction. Often the side effects can be worse than the symptom being treated!

Effexor has some very disturbing side effects as well, such as increased blood pressure, adverse lung reactions and even heart failure! Another common effect is the reduction of REM sleep. When you do not receive enough deep sleep, the consequences can be dire and introduce a whole new set of symptoms.

There must be a better way

Surely there must be a better way to treat the symptoms of menopause than with anti-depressants. Maybe it made sense in the 1950′s, when public awareness was rather low and medical doctors were regarded with god-like status. But that was then, and this is now!

It reminds me of the old magazines, such as The Saturday Evening Post, where models dressed up in white smocks to look like doctors. They pushed cigarettes as a tonic! I forgot about those ads until an elderly co-worker brought in some old magazines and sure enough, there was the doctor smoking a Chesterfield cigarette and promoting it as a tonic!

Fortunately there are numerous natural ways to get safe menopause relief. It is not at all necessary to take anti-depressants to help with your depression, anxiety or hot flashes.

Here are a few of the well documented natural methods

• Flax seed

• Red clover

• Maca

• Fresh fruits and vegetables

• High quality vitamins and minerals as a supplement

• Soy products

• Vigorous exercise

• Chamomile tea

By doing a little research you can learn how to manage your own menopause symptoms. By working with your health care provider (as long as he/she is using a holistic approach), you can develop and simple and effective plan to make your life much more even and fun again!

The best way to begin researching this is by taking the hormone assessment sponsored by the Women To Women clinic. It is very informative and free! You can take it here.