As you go into perimenopause and menopause you don’t have to settle for increased anxiety, dull moods, depression, a foggy brain, a flabby belly, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, low libido, weight gain and the bone loss that so “common” and “accepted” with getting older.
There are natural, effective and easy-to-implement solutions to balance your hormones at any age!
My perimenopausal symptoms hit with a vengeance in my late 30s. The stress that I was experiencing at work, together with all the hormone changes and what I call my “perfect storm” of gluten issues, heavy metals, low GABA, low serotonin, low zinc, adrenal issues, vegetarian diet, candida, pyroluria and leaky gut, all worked together to cause my anxiety and panic attacks.
I didn’t settle and as soon as I used GABA and tryptophan the anxiety and panic attacks stopped and I could take a step back and work on all the other underlying issues, without all the overwhelm.
I share my story in my interview on the Perimenopause Summit with summit host Dr. Michelle Sands, and go into great detail about how to use the amino acids in the most effective way to ease anxiety, worry, fear, negative self-talk, ruminations and overwhelm.
I also share a study about tryptophan easing PMS symptoms in just 3 cycles, as well as some of my other tips for PMS symptom relief (think liver support).
I also talk about a topic that no-one is addressing and yet there is such a simple solution for this excruciatingly painful condition called proctalgia fugax. You may not have heard this term but if you have you know it! In the medical literature it is described as “a condition that leads to rectal spasms and sharp fleeting pain in the lower rectum or anus.” Sublingual GABA works miracles in a few minutes).
My interview – Amino Acid Therapy for Anxiety
- Problems with commonly prescribed anti-anxiety meds
- How food affects mood
- Right and wrong way to use amino acid therapy
Unfortunately, hormone and women’s health issues are incredibly misdiagnosed and misunderstood, leaving many women feeling hopeless, broken and stuck.
Dr. Michelle gets all this because she was also there, in her 20s with irregular and absent periods, mood swings, joint pain, infertility, low libido, digestive issues and insomnia. She was told her ovaries had failed and to manage her symptoms for the rest of her life with birth control pills, antidepressants and other medications. So, she found a better way — a natural way to help her body heal itself — and she’s here to teach you how to do the very same, no matter whether you’re in your 20s or decades older!
The pyroluria perimenopause connection
There are little known connections between pyroluria (a social anxiety condition) and perimenopause.
The nutrients, zinc, vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil, eliminate the social anxiety symptoms and have a direct tie in to perimenopause because these same nutrients:
- are needed to make neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin
- are also are needed to make our sex hormones (and help so much with PMS and perimenopausal hormone imbalance)
In my interview with Dr. Michelle I also share how I discovered I had pyroluria before I even knew what pyroluria was. I was in perimenopause and had terrible PMS. I read Ann Louise Gittleman’s wonderful book Before the Change: Taking Charge of Your Perimenopause (my Amazon link), and she recommended zinc, vitamin B6, and evening primrose oil for PMS symptoms. Once I started taking these nutrients I had fewer hormonal issues and they helped so much with my social anxiety.
A few years later when I was working with clients with pyroluria and I looked at the pyroluria questionnaire I thought: “that looks like me, maybe I’ve got this too!” I did the urine test and I discovered that I have pyroluria.
In my interview I talk about :
- the pyroluria-introvert connection and why I believe there is a nutritional aspect to introversion and it’s not purely a personality trait
- the pyroluria-Lyme connection and how Klinghardt feels that Lyme Disease cannot be treated until the underlying pyroluria is addressed
Be sure to also tune in to Ann Louise Gittleman’s interview. Her discussion about zinc and copper is a perfect complement to my interview.
Ann Louise Gittleman, PhD, CNS: Is Perimenopause a Mineral Imbalance?
- Do you have toxic levels of this mineral (copper)?
- Best way to test mineral imbalance
- Overcoming nutrient and mineral imbalance
Adrenal health is so important during perimenopause
Adrenal health is so important during perimenopause. This is covered in this interview – Adrenals are a Perimenopausal Gal’s Bestie with Marcelle Pick MSN, OB-GYN, NP. She covers the following:
- Role of the adrenal glands in hormone balance
- Causes and consequences of adrenal burnout
- Caring for your adrenals.
And shares these gems:
- Prior to menopause about 15% of our sex hormones are produced by our adrenals and after menopause it’s 30% – this is why adrenal health is so important!
- When you are stressed the adrenals will make cortisol at the expense of estrogen and progesterone
She also talks about how we handle stress impact the adrenals and why it’s so important to work on lifestyle changes. One great example she shares is this: “are we a perfectionist and do we expect too much of ourselves?”
I’d like to add to this and say that the first step is recognizing that you are a perfectionist and reminding you that perfectionism is a classic sign of low serotonin. That way you can consider using the amino acids tryptophan or 5-HTP to say goodbye to perfectionism and ease some of your stress.
I talk all about low serotonin in my interview but want to help you make this connection as you listen to Dr. Marcelle’s and my interviews.
Dr. Marcelle also discusses what to eat, some of her favorite adaptogenic herbs for the adrenals, exercise advice (and why to do less when you are healing your adrenals) and the effects of childhood trauma.
Do let us know if any of this resonates with you and feel free to post questions in the comments below.
Dr. Scott, I think that you are fabulous and will truly help me in my journey to conquer my hormonal imbalances (I experience hot flashes and now have chronic insomnia, difficulties getting to sleep and staying asleep). I ordered your supplements GABA Calm Lozengers and L-Tryptophan 100 mg chewables based on doing your questionnaire, these are the two that seem applicable to me … I constantly have thoughts ruminate in my head, and now have become quite anxious about sleep and am very tense. Question 1, can I take 5 of the 100 mg (for the 500 mg) chewables for a trial (it says does is 3 on bottle) ?? Question 2, in 2017, I had a lumpectomy for Stage 1, estrogen dominant breast cancer (no chemo or radiation) .. I am cancer free, but is there anything in these that I should avoid ? Thanks for any guidance you can give
This sounds like me. I have been really struggling for 5 year’s now. I was diagnosed with ME late last year but all the symptoms in your atricle are exactly what I’m experiencing (plus many more). Where can I find your questionnaire please and what/who would be the best health professional to see for help ?? Many thanks
Emma
Here is the amino acid questionnaire https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
Hello Trudy,
Please help as I am really struggling with being postmenopausal and having low moods for over a year and very disruptive sleeping patterns or not being able to sleep. I am taking 5htp but not sure how much and when it can be taken, as having been varying the dosage and can I take up to 800mg and when best to take these? I have also taken L-theanine of 350-700 mg a day. What else would you recommend to help my postmenopausal symptoms of the above with amino acids and other supplements?
Thank you
Elizabeth
I can’t gave specific advice on the blog but a starting dose for 5-HTP is 50mg so 800mg is really really high.
If you are new to other anxiety nutrition solutions like gluten/sugar/caffeine removal, blood sugar control, gut health, pyroluria etc) my book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place to start. Much of this helps with low mood, cravings and insomnia too. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
Hi Trudy,
I was doing much better with GABA and B6+Zinc for my anxiety and insomnia. I also take magnesium, vit D, melatonin, L- Theanine with inositol prescribed by my holistic Doctor.
But as soon as I hit menopause, my insomnia became unbearable! :'( I have tried Tryptophan, progesterone cream, cortisol manager (which used to work great), lavender pills, essential oils, healthy eating, meditation… you name it.
No matter what I take, OTC or prescription pills I’m just getting some hours of sleep. When I get up to go potty and get back to bed I just cant fall back asleep.
My Copper serum levels are a bit high at 1.55 and my Zinc is normal 1.55. Currently working on getting my copper down.
Am I missing something? Any suggestions?
Sonia
This blog may be helpful … it’s on serotonin/tryptophan but similar logic may apply – Tryptophan doesn’t work, then it does and then it doesn’t: could it be hormonal shifts, dietary factors and/or parasites? https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/tryptophan-doesnt-work-then-it-does-and-then-it-doesnt-could-it-be-hormonal-shifts-dietary-factors-and-or-parasites/
I do prefer Seriphos to Cortisol Manager
I am curious if muscle fasciculations could be a symptom of perimenopause? I have searched online and found a few women who have experienced this. I feel them mostly in my legs but also in other parts of my body. It all started after I had my first (and only dose) of the Pfizer vaccine (almost 2 weeks after it I got it). I was laying down for bed and all of a sudden my thighs started shaking like crazy. It took over an hour for them to calm down. This continued to happen over the next week but it calmed down. Ever since then (16 months later) I am left with muscle fasciculations that have not subsided. I also have flashes of light in the corner of my eyes at times throughout the day (retinal specialists say eyes are healthy).
I talked to my doctor and he said the vaccine and Covid could cause neurological issues and there is a hormonal component involved as well. He kept talking about a TH1 to TH2 shift? I don’t understand this very well.
I also have crawling, tingling sensations in my legs and from what I understand from Dr. Gittleman’s book, this is a perimenopausal symptom as well. I am currently awaiting my results from my tissue mineral analysis to
help me with some answers but I didn’t know if you had any experience with what could have caused all this to happen and what I can try to help alleviate the symptoms. I know this a hormonal imbalance as my sleep has severely disrupted, as well.
I was diagnosed with fibro in late twenties but can remember having symptoms as a child
My dad had awful temper ocd extra
Always managed with serotonin tablets and progesterone but since hitting peri it’s become a lot worst
I did oats test that showed Candida no good bacteria , trouble digesting protein, sugar intolerance , no neurotransmitters no gytheterion , no B 6
Under methylation
I had thyroid cancer so that and peri have ramped it all up last thing was flu jab
I know get two weeks where all is fine then a week usually starts with over doing it anxiety or gut issues
My addictions are also worst
High oestrogen low progesterone
Does this all sound like Pyrrole disorder ?
Was working with practioner who put me on supplement with copper in so gave up on that one
It’s a minefield
Bridgit
I use the pyroluria questionnaire and the amino acid questionnaire and start with pyrrole supplements and GABA and tryptophan if there are many symptoms
https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/amino-acids-mood-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
and https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/pyroluria-questionnaire-from-the-antianxiety-food-solution/
Next we’d address candida, protein digestion, gut health and focus on diet.
My book “The Antianxiety Food Solution” is a great place for the foundations (you don’t mention what dietary changes have been made) and has a chapter on the amino acids with dosing/timing information and a chapter on pyroluria. More here https://www.everywomanover29.com/blog/the-antianxiety-food-solution-by-trudy-scott/
My online GABA Quickstart group program is helpful when you have questions related to GABA and need guidance (and moral support/encouragement). More here about the program and purchase info https://www.anxietynutritioninstitute.com/gabaquickstart/
Hi Trudy,
Ive just hit 50 with no period for almost 2 months(boy thats a strange feeling!) and have had a few night sweats/daytime hot flushes start (not a nice feeling either!). I have been seriously considering body identical HRT as Ive been supplementing naturally for 10 years but nothing has ever really hit the mark for my ongoing fatigue/anxiety/low mood/PMT/brain fog/overwhelm/low motivation/poor focus/chronic stress/adrenal symptoms (although they reckon my hashimotos thyroid markers are better). Im so disillusioned with endless supplementing with little real result, when potentially I have been experiencing a hormonal imbalance since at least my mid 30s. Im concerned about long term bone health due to family history and heart health and those persistent symptoms have really amplified the last few months in addition to a ‘scrambled brain’ kind of thing where my thoughts go into a mushed up anxious frozen overwhelm (and i dont sleep) which is really not helpful as i am facing some big life decisions and i need a calm clear functioning brain to make good decisions!
How does HRT fit in with natural supplementing?
I used to get high cortisol results but lately they have been really low along with low sex hormone levels and i keep getting told i must address my stress. Have just had testing that indicates pyroluria which Ive just started on zinc and B6 and B12 (but not evening primrose?) in the last week plus my practitioner has agreed for me to start a 5htp trial because i relate strongly to so many of the symptoms on that list (and am on GABA too I havent got that dose right yet).
My diet is ok/good but probably could do with more variety in the veggie department and more protein.
I do have your book -trying to get my brain to settle and focus to finish reading it is always the challenge!
Julie
There is often a role for BHRT in conjunction with diet, amino acids, pyroluria protocol etc
Hi Trudy
Ive just noticed that the links to the interviews mentioned in this article are broken/no longer available.
Thanks
Julie
Julie
Thanks – I removed the links as this summit and the interviews are no longer available. Be sure to read my book and other blog posts related to these topics