Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help menopause symptoms in a safe, effective and chemical-free approach.
Menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and lactation are unique to women. Menopause signifies a woman has completed her child-bearing years; her body undergoes a series of transformations in preparing for another life stage. During this transitional period, temporary internal disturbances occur from time to time, and the woman may be particularly vulnerable to various disharmonies.
Due to declining and fluctuating hormonal levels, the body will under go a series of changes. When the body cannot adjust itself smoothly, signs like menstrual irregularities, hot flushes, insomnia, mood swings, vaginal and bladder problems will come and go during the period. This gradual transition process varies greatly among women; some may go through it easily while others may find their lives seriously disrupted. Western women may have hot flushes and night sweats as major complaints while Chinese women tend to have bone and joint pain, poor memory and fatigue.
Chinese Medicine According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), the kidney system is responsible for reproductive and menstrual functions . Around 2,000 years ago, TCM proponents realized that menopause belongs to a natural process of bodily development. The Bible of Chinese medicine, theHuang Di Nei Jing (The Yellow Emperor’s Medicine Classic): “The kidney forms the foundation for the body’s reproduction and development. As we age, essence stored in the kidney is depleted and when no more Tian-Gui is produced, the meridians in the pelvic region become empty and collapse, and thus women will lose the ability to menstruate and give birth.”
Furthermore, the kidney system is viewed as the root of life’s activities and its weakness can easily lead to disturbances in supporting and promoting the other organ systems, resulting in the imbalance of yin and yang elements in the body. That is why, apart from changes in menstrual pattern, a wide range of symptoms are seen during menopause, depending on what organs are affected and the extent of external stimulation.
the photo below illustrates the two side of deficiency in one woman’s menopausal stage. It is worth to mention that yin and yang deficiency can happen at the same time or at a different stage of menopause. Your Chinese Medicine practitioner will carefully examine your condition and prescribe the acupuncture treatment and Chinese herbal medicine to maintain the dynamic balance of YIN and YANG.
The menopause transition is not just a simple biological event, but a long and ongoing process involving almost every part of the body. The symptoms are lingering and complex that encompass emotional and intellectual as well as physical aspects. TCM practitioners employ a comprehensive analysis on the whole presenting pattern. Furthermore, TCM physicians take into account other factors like heredity, general health, nutrition, medications, exercise, life events, and attitude when deciding on diagnosis and treatment.
