I´m quite sure my wife is now going through the menopause and wondered if there is any advice you could me (her husband for 30 years). She gets depressed and has nights sweats which is very unusual for her. I can feel her depression so would like to help now before it goes to far.

It's very sensible of you to get information at this stage - you can avert many of the downsides of the menopause with relatively little effort if you know what you are doing; and most women feel a great deal better for having some support and encouragement.

Sweats and depression are both caused by falling oestrogen levels. You can support oestrogen levels with a gentle, plant oestrogen such as soya isoflavones. This also contains magnesium, which is useful for countering anxiety and stressful feelings. Magnesium is found in healthy foods such as green vegetables, dried fruit, nuts and wholegrains, so this is a good time to overhaul your diet together and cut down on caffeine and sugary or salty foods, which reduce your magnesium levels.

To counter the night sweats quickly, use an extract of sage. The tincture format works fastest. Take 15 drops in a little water or juice at tea time and then 30 drops before bed. You don't need to eat anything with it.

Your wife may also find that avoiding eating a heavy meal late at night reduces the severity of the flushes, so maybe consider eating your main meal at lunch time and having a lighter evening meal, finishing it at least 3 hours before bed time. Ensure that she is drinking plenty of water to rehydrate herself. Dehydration can cause feelings of anxiety, which then makes flushes worse.