Methods for alleviating symptoms associated with menopause using sensory regimen

• US 20040175438A1
• Filed: 03/03/2003
• Published: 09/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Original Assignee: Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies Incorporated (Johnson & Johnson)
• Inventors: Wiegand, Benjamin, Dean, Kathryn
• Application Number:
  US10/378,384
• Publication Number:
  US 20040175438A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 424/725
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 2201/10 with further special therapeutic means, e.g. electrotherapy, magneto therapy or radiation therapy, chromo therapy, infrared or ultraviolet therapy
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/00 Percussion or vibration massage, e.g. using supersonic vibration; Suction-vibration massage; Massage with moving diaphragms apparatus for passive exercising A61H1/00; generating or transmitting mechanical vibrations in general B06B
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 23/0236 using sonic waves, e.g. using loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: A61H 7/00 Devices for suction-kneading massage; Devices for massaging the skin by rubbing or brushing not otherwise provided for electro-medical massage devices applying electric current by contact A61N1/18
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 15/12 for climacteric disorders
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 5/24 of the sex hormones

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for alleviating on or more of the symptoms associated with menopause in a woman in the peri-menopause or menopause stage, said method comprising the step of administering a sensory regimen in an amount effective to downregulate the activity of the HPA axis of said woman; wherein said HPA axis comprises:

a) levels of adrenocortical hormone present as a function of time in said woman;

b) a total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone;

c) an integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone; and

d) an onset of sleep threshold; wherein said sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli, and combinations thereof.

Claims

1. A method for alleviating one or more of the symptoms associated with menopause in a woman in the peri-menopause or menopause stage, said method comprising the step of administering a sensory regimen in an amount effective to downregulate the activity of the HPA axis of said woman;

wherein said HPA axis comprises;

a) levels of adrenocortical hormone present as a function of time in said woman;

b) a total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone;

c) an integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone; and

d) an onset of sleep threshold;

wherein said sensory regimen is selected from the group consisting of auditory stimuli, visual stimuli, tactile stimuli, gustatory stimuli, olfactory stimuli, and combinations thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said sensory regimen further comprises the step of practicing relaxed breathing techniques.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen comprises olfactory stimuli provided by smelling an effective amount of a relaxing fragrance.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen comprises visual stimuli provided by soft lighting.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen comprises auditory stimuli provided by listening to relaxing music.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen is administered twice daily for at least one week and comprises olfactory stimuli provided by smelling a relaxing fragrance in combination with auditory stimuli provided by listening to relaxing music.

7. The method according to claim 9, wherein said sensory regimen further comprises the step of practicing relaxed breathing techniques.

8. The method according to claim 9, wherein the sensory regimen further includes visual stimuli comprising soft lighting.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein said symptoms are selected from hot flashes, night sweat, sleep difficulties, vaginal dryness, headaches, mood swings, stress, irritability and mild depression.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen is used in combination with hormone replacement therapy.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen is used in combination with the administration of vitamins, herbal supplements, natural extracts and mixtures thereof.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the natural extract is soy.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sensory regimen is used in combination with the administration of at least one thermoregulatory medicine.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the thermoregulatory medicine is selected from clonidine, methyldopa and mixtures thereof.

15. The method according to claim 1, wherein said adrenocortical hormone is cortisol.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein said down regulation of the activity of the HPA axis is obtained by a reduction in at least one of the following:

a. the average total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone in said woman;

b. the average total daily amount adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone in said woman;

c. the level of adrenocortical hormone in said woman four hours to eight hours after waking;

d. the level of adrenocortical hormone in said woman in the period of time preceding bedtime; and

e. the level of adrenocortical hormone in said woman below said onset of sleep threshold.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein said adrenocortical hormone is cortisol.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount is reduced by at least about 5% to about 50%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount is reduced by at least about 10% to about 40%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount is reduced by at least about 15% to about 30%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

21. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone is reduced by at least about 5% to about 70%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

22. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone is reduced by at least about 10% to about 60%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

23. The method of claim 16, wherein said average total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone is reduced by at least about 20% to about 50%, based on the total daily amount of adrenocortical hormone minus said integrative measure of morning peak adrenocortical hormone present in said woman at the start of said regimen.

24. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone 4 hours to 8 hours after waking is reduced by at least about 5% to about 70%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.

25. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone 4 hours to 8 hours after waking is reduced by at least about 10% to about 60%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.

26. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone 4 hours to 8 hours after waking is reduced by at least about 20% to about 50%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.

27. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone preceding bedtime is reduced by at least about 3% to about 50%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.

28. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone preceding bedtime is reduced by at least about 5% to about 30%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.

29. The method of claim 16, wherein said level of adrenocortical hormone preceding bedtime is reduced by at least about 5% to about 20%, based on the level of adrenocortical hormone present during that same time period in the woman at the start of the regimen.