Constipation is not unfrequently attendant upon, and the cause of, many symptoms of the meno-pause.
General Treatment.—First: Convince yourself that there is no actual need of any indisposition connected with the “change of life.” Forget all the traditions and teachings upon this subject, and learn that nature creates no pathological conditions, and that if you live according to her laws you can by no possible means experience suffering.
You have no use for these ailments. If you are possessed of any stubbornness in your nature, bring it into requisition at this time. Plant your foot down with emphasis, and say, with one of old, “Get thee behind me, Satan.”
It is thoroughly proven that mind can control even malignant diseases, and a woman that has lived until she is forty-five should know enough, and be strong enough in her mental organization to say to these symptoms, “I will not be your slave, you cannot dominate my life and chain my energies.” Do not wait for some doctor to cure you with bread-pills or placebo powders.
The physical should be subjective to the mental, and can be if one learns the law. The world is only beginning to know how much can be accomplished for physical health by the controlling power of the mind.
The charge must be laid to physicians that women have made such a mountain of the meno-pause, and they must undo their work by teaching that this is only a natural change, and removing it from the category of diseases.
Before and during this period observe all conditions of hygiene. Perfect health and vigor is more frequently attainable than women are apt to believe. The maintaining of a hygienic life by proper dress, diet, etc., will go far toward causing the “change of life” as a deranged condition to be unknown.
Sleep in rooms so thoroughly ventilated that the air will be as pure and sweet as the out-door atmosphere. If women would increase the capacity of their lungs and breathe air abundantly charged with oxygen, four-fifths of their ailments would be prevented. But who has the wisdom to convince them of this?
The dress and exercise that increase ability to breathe with the diaphragm and abdominal muscles do more to prevent and cure diseases of women, if not all diseases, than all other possible preventives or medicines. When a mother thinks her rosy nine-year-old daughter is deformed, and she must begin to put her in stays to change her horrid figure to one that is trim and neat, what can we hope for the daughter when she takes the responsibility of her own garments? If I could do the greatest thing to stay degeneracy and disease of the human race it would be to convince women that lung power more than anything else contributes to health, longevity and power of endurance. To attain this a radical change must be made in clothing.
A sponge bath ([page 112]), upon arising in the morning, taken quickly, three or four times a week, is valuable during change of life. Accompany it by friction from the hand, a Turkish towel or flesh brush. Follow it by a draught of cold or hot water, the latter if there is dyspepsia.