When this scenario started repeating itself in my life, I had just turned forty and was running a cat on a national campaign. My stress level was very high at the time, so I automatically assumed that I was waking up because I had so much on my mind. But one morning when I woke up, I suddenly realized that I had slept all night. Why had I been able to sleep that night but not others? I wondered.

I began to monitor my sleep pattern, and as I did, I noticed that for half the month I would sleep all night, while the other half, I would lie awake tossing and turning. Some nights were much worse than others. Another thing I noticed was that I seemed to become grumpy more easily and that sometimes my tone was harsh.

This pattern continued month after month and coincided with my menstrual cycle. Yet I had always thought menopause was for woman in their fifties-not their forties! I have since learned that many younger women have to deal with the symptoms of early menopause-hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings-as well as with the risk of osteoporosis and heart disease if they happen to be taking hormone replacement therapy (HTR).

Due to the history of breast cancer in my family, I had been told that it wasn't safe for me to take hormones, so I began to seek natural alternatives in the hope of improving my mood and getting a full night's sleep on a regular basis. I tried adding soy, flaxseed, and evening primrose oil to my diet. I also tried to boost my intake of vitamin supplements, but I found myself forgetting them. I think I may have managed to take all of them for three days before my busy mind forgot about them. I tried to exercise, too, but because my schedule was already so full, I wasn't very successful at setting aside an extra thirty minutes three times a week As simple as it sounded, I never really got started.

Since I love to bathe and soak in my Dead Sea salts, I thought, Okay. While I'm soaking in my bath, I'll do some arm and leg lifts, some tummy tucks. And that's what I did-once! After that I just rested and enjoyed the soak. After a long day, the soak freshened my spirit and made me feel good all over, but it didn't do anything for my night sweats. I knew I needed something-but what?

That's when I began looking into aromatherapy. After extensive research and many soaks in which I tested essential oils by adding them to my salts, I finally had a blend of herbs and oils that didn't smell like medicine and yet prevented hot flashes and allowed me to get a good night's sleep. What was this combination? You guessed it! Restoration-Castle Baths' female line.

Once I had experienced how wonderfully well Restoration worked in the bath, I decided I needed something for mid-day. Many days I'd be working away and suddenly feel a hot flash coming on. I would start to peel off layers of clothing, but the problem was that the heat was coming from the inside, not the outside. So I created a spray and lotion that contained the Restoration aromatherapy blend to help alleviate hot flashes, as well as PMS and mood swings.

Getting relief from the symptoms of menopause can be as simple as 1-2-3!

1. Two days before your period is supposed to arrive, take an hour-long soak in bathwater infused with Restoration. Continue these soaks throughout your menstrual cycle.

2. Rub some Restoration lotion on your neck and chest before you go to bed. If your breasts hurt, rub some on them, too. If you wake up during the night, apply the lotion again.

3. Place a glass of water next to your bed and if you wake up, drink the water. This might just help you more than anything!

Menopause also sucks the moisture out of your skin, aging it and leaving you feeling dry. So in addition to drinking lots of water, give our Fountain of Youth or Nurture Bar a try.

I'm amazed at how healthy a bath can be. It not only cleanses your body and freshens your mood, but it also heals. By adding a few of nature's gifts to a bath, I've found that my body can handle life pretty well without chemicals and man-made medicines. Below is short list of some of vitamins and herbs that can help you deal with menopause naturally. These are the ones my research convinced me were the best ones to use-but be sure to check with your doctor before you use them!

• Soy, as a number of recent studies have shown, can help reduce hot flashes, night sweats, and other menopausal symptoms.
• Flaxseed can not only help minimize symptoms like hot flashes, but also help prevent heavy bleeding and help ease breast tenderness, cramping, and other PMS discomforts.
• Evening Primrose Oil is a good bet to help prevent bloating, water retention, breast tenderness, cramps, and vaginal dryness.
• Black Cohosh is a popular herb for mitigating hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms such as cramps, heavy periods, and other menstrual irregularities.
• Vitamin E and Citrus Bioflavonoids are reportedly hot flash busters.
• B-Vitamins help keep your energy level up, are considered stress fighters, and can help you deal with the emotional mood swings that crop up during premature menopause.
• St. Johns Wort may help you if you find that yourself more easily depressed than usual. • Kava Kava is another herb that appears to be of great help in fighting depression and reducing the symptoms of anxiety.
• Valerian may help you if you're suffering from insomnia, and since it's also known as an anxiety reliever, it may help alleviate mood swings and tension as well.