In 1950, the typical role of the female in affluent countries (USA, Australia, UK and parts of Europe), included keeping a house clean, attended to the children, cooking meals for the family and attending to the male of the house. Very rarely did ladies, leave a relationship, or even consider separation or divorce. People married young, they married for life, and as it turns out, the female side of this equation wasn’t 100% happy but it wasn’t far off.

In the 1960s, we witnessed a renaissance. Females decided to harness their collaborative powers and took a stance for what they believed they were entitled to as half of the human species race. Women around the world, burnt bras, voted and started to assume a greater presence in the work force.

In the 1970s women wanted to extend their careers from the typical “qualify by default because you are female extended home roles of teaching and nursing”, to qualify for professional and other career paths. Women completed grade 12. Ladies had their children after Uni. Ladies started to defer children until their careers were in full swing. And now, some are deciding not to have kids at all, for fear it will interrupt their careers! This was the true start of the corporate female.

In the 1980s, ladies became empowered through many avenues. Television shows depicted woman as worthy as men in the work place and movies such as Tootsie, Top Gun and Private Benjamin showed ladies that they could do anything a man could. Infact, the implied message was, that if a man could do something, then so could a lady and she could seem sexier too – a brain and a desirable body!

By 1990, women were common to see in the work place, many earning an income and not being the stay-at home mum. The second income was enjoyed by many couples. As children of the 1950’s couple (who was happy with one home, one car, children and religion), couples now demanded more materialistic items such as 2 cars, a nice or new home, new clothes, dinners and holidays abroad.

The new millennium has seen an even greater division of the traditional roles, that had served the human species well for the previous 2000 years + .

Today, in 2010, females now want all the trimmings that corporate life has to offer. Including promotions and CEO positions (ladies are hungry for top positions). They want recognition, authority and big pay cheques.

However, in this evolutionary rise of the female species, other things have gone astray.

Women are unhappy and have greater health issues.

Hormone changes are occurring in fertile females, demonstrating high androgens (testosterone) which result in an inability to fall pregnant. Women are have acne at 40, are aggressive and are growing excess facial hair.

The stereotypical subordinate, house-wife of the 50’s has been replaced with a hairy, angry monster called modern woman. She is not happy, nor is her sexual opposite – the mere male. Somewhere in the last 50 years, the pendulum has swung too far and ladies need to relax, reassess and determine what they want. Yes, ladies you can do everything a man can do – but does that make them happy?

Sam Beau Patrick is dedicated to assisting individuals, groups and companies to be the healthiest and happiest they can be. She specializes in hormone management (stress, sleep and female hormones in particular) and tries to achieve your health and happiness goals through natural and safe methods. For more information about Sam and her services visit www.byebyebridget.com

Bushwalking in a Aussie thing to do. It provides a sense of wellbeing. Getting out of your daily routine and back into nature is great in so many ways.

When you suffer from period pain, and your hormones are out of whack, it can be very therapeutic to get back into nature- mother nature.

Here are 3 positive things that bushwalking will do for your health

1. Have you ever been to the beach and you feel ‘so much better’ afterwards? Walking where there is running water- a creek, stream or rain, creates negative ions. John Grey, who wrote Men Are From Mars and Women are from Venus, talks about how negative ions give us a feeling of vitality when we get into nature. And even more negative ions are created in running water.

2. Exercising helps to release endorphins. Endorphins are feel good brain chemicals that transmit enjoyment, contentment and euphoria. Estrogen levels rule the release of endorphins, so if your estrogen is low, then you may not be getting your usual release of endorphins. This is common in women who aren’t ovulating and menopausal women. If you don’t get a release of endorphins, you can feel teary and emotional.  To overcome feeling teary and emotional, seeing a naturopath to help raise estrogen levels to a safe level is important, but  you can start right now in helping your body raise endorphin levels by bushwalking or doing your favorite exercise.

3. Exercise- walking, climbing over rocks, jumping through puddles all provides exercise. Exercise helps to improve the tone of your muscle, burn up unwanted calories and gives you a sense of wellbeing.

If you do go bushwalking, there are a few things that you need to do before you go. Preparation is the key to safe bushwalking. Check with the local information centre that the track is safe and right for your level of fitness and ask then for an estimate of how long the walk will take. Make sure you have enough daylight hours to walk in. If you are unsure about your level of fitness, see your local trainer at the gym. Make sure you stick to the walking track. Don’t deviate from it. Carry enough water (plus a bit extra), some food- good energy food like a banana or some nuts and seeds is important. Make sure you have the correct walking shoes are you are dressed for the weather. Keep a mobile phone on you- even if it does go out of range, you may find somewhere that picks up reception in an emergency. Take a small first aid kit with you. And lastly, make sure you have Ambulance cover/ health insurance.

These safety precautions that need to be taken, far outweigh the benefits that walking in Mother Nature can do your your health, hormones and wellbeing.

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The Period Pain Guru & Naturopath Andrea Hepner has been helping women who experience period pain and related symptoms for many years. She is also a specialist in hormonal imbalance and fertility issues. To contact Andrea Hepner for treatment call 1300 21 44 25 or go to www.periodpain.com.au/