Natural Menopause Relief
With TCM & Acupuncture
The years leading up to menopause can cause significant changes in the female body. Menopause is a natural biological process that affects individuals differently. Menopause symptoms can cause secondary symptoms that affect sleep patterns, energy levels, and overall physical and emotional well-being.
I.
What Creates Menopause?
Menopause occurs due to a decline in ovarian function — affecting the production of eggs and the hormones that regulate menstruation. This decline causes the cessation of menstruation and the onset of menopause. Menopause typically occurs between the ages of 45–55, but it can begin earlier in some individuals.
Symptoms associated with menopause are varied and can include difficulty concentrating, muscle and joint pain, changes in skin texture and appearance, urinary disruptions, mood changes, decreased libido, fatigue — and the most prominent being hot flashes and night sweats that most individuals experience.
II.
How TCM Addresses Menopause
Like the Western medicine approach, Traditional Chinese Medicine also aims to regulate the body’s internal thermostat. TCM takes a holistic approach to menopause symptoms — using a combination of acupuncture, herbal formulas, and dietary/lifestyle recommendations to create a personalised treatment plan based on the individual’s needs and underlying issues found through TCM diagnosis.
TCM acupuncture utilises specific point combinations to encourage the body to trigger the release of specific chemicals and hormones — by stimulating the nervous system to communicate with the spinal cord and brain. This biochemical change stimulates the body’s natural healing and regulating abilities to correct imbalances in temperature, hormone levels, and physical and emotional well-being. Research has suggested that of the many symptoms menopause can present with, hot flashes and night sweats appear to respond quite quickly to acupuncture.
III.
Alongside Hormone Therapy
One of the common approaches Western medicine takes is hormone therapy — and though effective, it may come with negative side effects such as breast and ovarian disorders, or individuals may have contraindications. There has been increased awareness among both healthcare providers and patients regarding the potential adverse effects of hormone therapy, leading to efforts to find alternatives.
TCM offers a natural and safe alternative, often combining acupuncture with TCM herbal formulas as an adjunct to increase the efficacy of acupuncture treatments. Herbal formulas are comprised of a balancing blend of ingredients found in nature. They often have little to no side effects (aside from individual allergies), and TCM takes advantage of the therapeutic properties these plant materials offer to create formulas that address both symptoms and their underlying root causes. There is no one particular herbal formula to address symptoms of menopause — each is unique. After a consultation, your TCM practitioner can prescribe an appropriate formula.
IV.
A Gradual, Whole-Body Approach
The combination of TCM acupuncture, herbal formulas, and the addition of TCM dietary suggestions assists the body during this transition. Rather than the abrupt and drastic decline in hormones that the body is forced into during menopause, TCM takes a natural and whole-body approach to assist the body with a balanced and gradual change in hormone levels. However, regulating the body’s internal thermostat does not work exactly like the thermostat on the wall — patience and consistency are necessary to experience change.
TCM therapies can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment — Western medicine, naturopathy, chiropractic, homeopathy, massage therapy, and so forth. Studies have concluded that the combination is more effective than those interventions alone. One study concluded that individuals who had acupuncture treatment experienced a significantly reduced occurrence of hot flashes and sweating — along with improvement in sleep disorders, irritability, joint pain, and depression.
An integrated system that includes acupuncture with other therapeutic techniques can offer greater benefit than any single technique alone.
Sources
- Johnson, A., Roberts, L., & Elkins, G. (2019). Complementary and Alternative Medicine for Menopause. Journal of Evidence-Based Integrative Medicine. DOI: 10.1177/2515690X19829380
- Lund, K. S., Siersma, V., Brodersen, J., et al. (2019). Efficacy of a standardized acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms: the ACOM study. BMJ Open, 9: e023637. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023637
- Lian-Wei, X., Man, J., Roland, S., et al. (2012). Efficacy and Side Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicine for Menopausal Symptoms: A Critical Review. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Article 568106. DOI: 10.1155/2012/568106
- Kim, K. H., Kang, K. W., Kim, D. I., et al. (2010). Effects of acupuncture on hot flashes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women — a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Menopause, 17(2), 269–280.
- Sonia, B., Monica, D. F., Angelamaria, B., et al. (2015). Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine for Hot Flashes in Menopause: A Randomized Trial. The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine.
- Volker, S. (2007). Traditional Chinese medicine — What are we investigating? The case of menopause. Complementary Therapies in Medicine.
Begin Your Care
If menopausal symptoms are affecting your sleep, mood, or quality of life, Dr. Wanda Duong-Wills can design a TCM treatment plan that meets you where you are.