Hot flashes, fatigue, forgetfulness, mood swings, weight gain — sound familiar? Me too — there’s hope right here in Erie.

Pharmacy Innovations’ Fred Brundige, RPh, and Deborah Lehotsky, RPh, will be speaking at a Jan. 31 seminar about women’s  struggles with thyroid problems, adrenal fatigue, menopause, low testosterone and other hormonal disorders.

The seminar will be held Thursday, Jan. 31, from 7 –8:30 pm at the Ambassador Center’s Crystal Ballroom. The cost is $10 per person. For more information and to RSVP, click here.

Pam Parker is the editor of Lake Erie LifeStyle, Her Times and House to Home at the Erie Times-News in Erie, Pa. She is the mom of three, stepmom to three and step-grandmom to one.

Blame it on the full moon, time change or allergies — it’s headache season. I have one and kids get them too. Funky cures I read about in First for Women magazine suggest going barefoot and lying down in the grass outside — a recommendation from Laura Koniver. M.D., of Charleston, S.C. She is even on Pinterest!

Another one from Vincent M. Pedre III, M.D., of New York City, suggests rubbing peppermint oil on acupressure points.

A final one from Kenneth J. Sebastianelli, M.D., of Taylor, Pa., employs visualization — deep breathing — inhaling in the good, and exhaling out the bad.

I often use caffeine with a mix of aspirin, but that’s not for kids. And allergies usually need more than nature can handle (but I have had success with saline nasal sprays!). A lot of natural cures are out there and some are worth a try. The three listed here aren’t going to hurt you, although I can’t lie down in the grass, because it would make me sneeze and itch. Bottom line: don’t mess around self-diagnosing and self-medicating with anything that you you are unfamiliar with. If you already have allergies, you need to talk to a professional first. Some herbs, oils and natural cures can be in the same family of allergens that trigger reactions.

If you or your child have severe pain or recurring headaches, it can be a sign of other problems. Docs are the professionals. Get professional advice and cures.