Menopause
The menopause is a passage that all women will go through, some more easily than others, yet it is still a secret subject that many people find difficult to talk about.
Despite it’s taboo status, the symptoms experienced by women as they enter the peri-menopause are anything but discreet and can be emotional as well as physical.
The more commonly experienced symptoms are hot flushes, night sweats, erratic mood swings, brain fog, anxiety, irregular periods, vaginal dryness, lack of energy and libido. But there is a whole range of symptoms which are often ignored or explained as “maybe you’re just a bit stressed”.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the menopause is attributed to a decline in the function of the kidneys and in particular a Kidney Yin deficiency which gives rise to empty heat symptoms. The theory suggests that the fire that burns between the kidneys, the Ming Men Fire – which is stabilised by the cool Kidney Yin and the hot Kidney Yang – becomes unstable because the Yin is no-longer able to balance the Yang. It can be thought of a pilot light on a boiler going on the blink!
When the fire is unstable, it then unbalances the other organs of the body. In particular, the liver which controls the smooth flow of blood around the body. The emotions flow on the blood too, which is why these are felt in extreme measures. Anxiety is a disorder of the blood, along with sleep issues, headaches and brain fog.
So what can Acupuncture do to help the Menopause?
There are over 500 acupuncture points which can be chosen to tailor a treatment for the individual. Each point has both physical and emotional benefits, so it’s possible to work on many symptoms of the menopause in one treatment.
Usually a combination of points are chosen to alleviate the noticeable symptoms eg hot flushes in conjunction with points to help support the underlying causes. The aim is not to stop the menopause journey, but smooth out the erratic presentation of symptoms. Calm and reduce the symptoms and help to create a stable, balanced state of mind and body.
How effective is Acupuncture for the menopause?
A recent study at Wake Forest University found that acupuncture reduced hot flashes and night sweats by 47%, and for a smaller group, the benefit was almost double. Another study found that 80% of women receiving acupuncture for hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms felt that the sessions had helped them after six weeks of treatment.
Every patient presents different symptoms and each person responds slightly differently too. In my clinic, I find that after having a treatment once a week, for 2-3 weeks most extreme symptoms have reduced dramatically. In particular, headaches, anxiety, concentration, mood, hot flushes and night sweats are the symptoms most quickly resolved.
Can I have Acupuncture and HRT?
Absolutely. HRT is a wonderful option to support women through the menopause and can often alleviate most of the physical menopause symptoms. However, some women find that the acupuncture treatments help them greatly with their emotional symptoms.
The menopause is a complex process and often comes at a challenging time of life. Ageing, poorly parents, teenage children, stressful careers etc. Whilst acupuncture can’t take all of this away, it does induce a feeling of coping and motivation. Most importantly, you are prioritising your health and wellbeing at a time when it is critically important that you don’t break.
Acupuncture, Menopause and Breast Cancer treatment.
Many women are medically put into the menopause because of treatment for their breast cancer. There is no reason why you can’t come for acupuncture to help with menopausal symptoms whilst you are having cancer treatment. I will always go through a full medical consultation before any treatment, so that I fully understand your situation and how to adapt my treatment. For example, some women don’t want their arm/ hand needling as they’ve had lymph nodes removed from that arm. So I adjust the treatment so that we can still get a great result.
How to book an appointment
My clinic is based in Wilmslow, Cheshire and I am open for appointments Monday – Friday. You are very welcome to book straight into my diary via the online booking system. If you’d like to have a chat, please feel free to give me a call, send me an email or fill out the contact form on this website. I’m looking forward to seeing you soon.
