Clinical Focus
Peri/Menopause
Clinical Focus
Eastern thought provides a poetic outlook on menopause, explained as a time of positive transformation, new found passions, and sharing wisdom, a natural transition where the body moves from a phase of abundance (reproductive years) to a phase of decline (aging). The transition into menopause can bring about a variety of physical and emotional challenges. Symptoms such as hot flashes, mood swings, sleep disturbances, and weight changes can affect the quality of daily life, relationships, and a woman feeling comfortable within her body. Acupuncture is a strong tool for easing and managing symptoms and strongly benefits other treatment methods such as customized and prescribed herbal formulas or hormone replacement therapy (HRT), depending on the route a woman chooses to take.
Signs and Symptoms Associated with Perimenopause / Menopause
- Hot flashes and night sweats
- Mood swings and irritability
- Sleep disturbances and insomnia
- Weight gain and metabolic changes
- Vaginal dryness and low libido
- Fatigue and low energy
- Anxiety and depression
- Difficulty concentrating and brain fog
- Accelerated signs of aging + lackluster appearance
- Joint pain and Stiffness
- Muscle and Bone Weakness
Causes
During menopause, your body undergoes natural changes due to a drop in hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone. Here’s a simple breakdown of what’s happening:
- Decline in Estrogen: Estrogen plays a key role in regulating the menstrual cycle and supporting various body functions. As estrogen levels drop, it can cause hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. This hormone is also linked to bone health, so its decrease can lead to weaker bones over time.
- Progesterone Decrease: Progesterone is responsible for balancing estrogen and helping prepare the body for pregnancy. As its levels drop, you may experience irregular periods, sleep problems, and anxiety.
- Irregular Periods: The fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone causes your menstrual cycle to become irregular, which is one of the first signs of perimenopause (the transition phase before menopause).
- Thinning Skin and Dryness: Estrogen helps maintain skin elasticity and moisture. As levels drop, you may notice drier skin, hair thinning, and a decrease in collagen, leading to fine lines or wrinkles.
- Changes in Mood and Energy: Hormonal shifts can impact your mood, causing irritability, anxiety, or even depression. The drop in hormones can also lead to fatigue, affecting your energy levels throughout the day.
In short, menopause is caused by a gradual decrease in the hormones estrogen and progesterone, leading to a variety of physical and emotional symptoms. Understanding these changes can help you manage the transition more effectively.
Benefits of Acupuncture for Perimenopause and Menopause
Acupuncture provides a drug-free, natural approach to managing menopausal symptoms and promoting overall health. Some of the benefits include:
- Relief from Hot Flashes: Reduces the frequency and/or severity of hot flashes by regulating the temperature, nourishing blood, consolidating the pores, and regulating hormones.
- Improved Sleep: Supports better sleep and deeper sleep quality by easing restlessness, reducing hot flashes and regulating bodily temperature, and promoting relaxation.
- Emotional Support: Stabilizes mood swings, anxiety, and irritability, offering calmness and emotional balance.
- Weight Management: Assists in managing weight changes by addressing metabolic weaknesses and digestive functions.
- Pain Relief: Offers relief from joint pain or discomfort by improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
Acupuncture is a holistic treatment designed to address both physical and emotional aspects of menopause, promoting a smoother transition through this natural life stage.
info + faq
Frequently Asked Questions
Acupuncture helps alleviate night sweats by stimulating specific points on the body to restore balance and improve the body’s natural temperature regulation mechanisms, often paired with cupping therapy to further enhance the treatment.
Yes, acupuncture helps stabilize mood swings, anxiety, and irritability by calming the nervous system and promoting emotional and hormonal balance.
Yes, acupuncture can generally be received while you're on hormone replacement therapy (HRT). There are no significant contraindications between the two treatments. However, it's always a good idea to inform your acupuncturist about your HRT regimen so they can tailor the treatment to your specific needs. Some people use acupuncture to manage symptoms related to menopause, such as hot flashes or mood swings, which could complement HRT.
The number of sessions depends on symptom severity. Most women begin with weekly sessions, often feeling the effects after one session, including a reduction in sweating, a better sleep, and a calmer mood. Continuing treatment on a consistent basis allows the effects to last longer. Herbal formulas or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) work on a deeper level for further results.
