What's next in hormonal wellness?
We recently attended the Global Wellness Summit, which is arguably the leading event in understanding and learning about the wellness trends that are set to take the world of wellbeing by storm over the next 12 months.
Top of the agenda this year, was hormones - the increased focus on women's hormonal health, the push for more holistic solutions for everything from PMS to menopause, and the overriding need for evidence to show the benefits of non-pharmaceutical options.
Here we round up the top wellness trends for 2023.
Acupuncture recognised for ameliorating symptoms of menopause
Acupuncture and acupressure have long been used in wellbeing treatments for the wide reaching benefits of stimulating acupoints across the body. Following research, including our own, which draws a line between acupoints and menopausal symptoms, both practices are set to get the recognition they deserve when it comes to ameliorating symptoms of menopause.
In our own treatments and product recommendations, we wanted to use acupressure to address the unwanted consequences of hormonal change because it has broad spectrum efficacy. This makes it highly adaptable as well as effective. It's also less invasive than acupuncture. What we have achieved is game changing - treating causes instead of symptoms, we looked at symptom groups and matched them with points that would be useful. For example, if you're struggling with sleep there's a kidney point on the ankle that we will work on. The ultimate focus is on how you feel.
For anxiety
Kansa Wand & Acupressure Plaster Set
£55
Phytoestrogens overtake HRT as the therapy of choice
Not everyone going through menopause wants to take synthetic hormones, but since the 1960s, HRT has really been the only option offered to women when it comes to handling menopausal consequences. Phytoestrogens (plant hormones) have long been talked about as an option and had a moment in the early noughties, but there's been little evidence to prove their efficacy. Naturally occurring compounds that are structurally similar to endogenous human hormones, they can be taken as supplements, food additives or skincare and their popularity has rebounded. Furthermore, there is evidence to show their benefits, in particular that they are "effective in reducing the intensity of hot flushes". [1]
Like HRT in a jar
Comforting Night Moisturising Mousse
£30.00
Quality menopause research increases
Evidence is the key to helping women find the right solution for their menopause experience, but quality research has been lacking when it comes to holistic options. That's now changing. With growing demand for more information, better information and more options, data is growing - not least with the launch of The Menopause Million project.
Improve skin tone and texture
Menopause Collagen Face Cream
£30.00
Improving wellbeing standards for women's health
Women's health has taken a back seat when it comes to getting the attention it needs and deserves, especially when it comes to hormonal care. However, as the conversation around menopause at home, at work, and in the healthcare system continues to swell, we're seeing the rise in a need for improved standards. It's not simply a case of calling yourself an expert because you've had menopause, but setting standards around guided conversations. As a result, the role of menopausal wellness coach or mentor is becoming a regulated profession, with the number of accrediting bodies monitoring qualifications, expected to increase alongside improving education standards.
Brighten, tighten and hydrate the skin
Menopause Collagen Eyes Gel
£20.00
Menopausal women get comfortable in their own skin
While the aesthetics industry might be seeing a general rise in interest post-pandemic, there is a notable decline in the use of invasive aesthetics by women in their fifties as they become more comfortable with the visible signs of ageing. The conversation around getting older is shifting from a degrading one where we pretend ageing isn't happening or shouldn't happen, to communications about empowerment, acceptance and celebration. As a result, spa and beauty treatments move towards wellness, feel-good-factor and holistic support.
Gentle and nourishing menopause hair care
Menopause Hair Loss Shampoo
£20.00
Normalising ageing in wellbeing marketing
The world has been long-criticised for using teenagers to advertise adult women's clothing and thus making them feel as though they should look prepubescent. However, while that might have lessened since the heyday or heroin chic fashion, ageing has still been heavily photo edited, even in the world of menopausal wellness. There is increasingly a move towards changing that, with the use of real, mid-life models in ad campaigns as the marketing is rejected for being ineffective - hurrah!
References:
[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23270754/
