Menopause Hot Flashes
Treatment of Menopause with Acupuncture:
Many studies, including a recent one in Michigan by Henry Ford Hospital have found that Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are effective and safe for treatment of menopausal symptoms. They can be used together with western medicine or as an alternative therapy.
Traditional Chinese Medicine:
Women in China have known for centuries that Kidney Yin function decreases with age. They start taking Yin boosting herbs in their 40's and are surprised by the discomfort that American women suffer as they are able to prevent these issues from occurring.
What to Expect:
If you are in your late 30's or 40's, we recommend acupuncture at 4-5 times per year and often an herbal formula to balance hormones, build blood and smooth liver qi stagnation and stress. Our natural herbal formula Women's Harmony is recommended for 2-3 menstrual cycles to bring hormones back into balance.
Hot Flashes:
First, we use acupuncture and herbal formula combinations to eliminate the hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings which are Kidney Yin Deficiency issues in Chinese Medicine. For example, one herb of the more than 20 that are used in Kidney Yin Deficiency formulas is Zhi Mu. This herb clears deficiency heat, stops sweating and quenches thirst.
Our natural herbal formula "Menopause -Heat Clearer" is recommended for 2-3 menstrual cycles.
After clearing deficiency heat......
Balancing Hormones (Weight Gain and Memory):
We then add in the formula Hem-X to balance hormones and nourish the blood and yin which decline with age. We also add in additional herbs to boost the Kidney Yang function to decrease weight gain and increase memory.
Chinese Herbs:
There are often as many as 14 herb in a menopausal herbal formula. As an example, one herb often used in the Kidney Yang Deficiency aspect is He Shou Wu. Several published clinical trials have shown He Shou Wu promotes learning and memory, lowers total cholesterol and increases hair growth.
Treatment Protocol:
The treatment protocol for hot flashes and night sweats associated with menopause is 1-2 treatments per week for 4 weeks concurrent with a Chinese herbal formula. This is usually followed by 1 treatment per week for 4 weeks concurrent with Chinese herbs depending on the patient's response. Many women at this point simply need to slowly decrease dosage on their herbal formula combined with an occasional acupuncture treatment.
Press:
Medscape: "Effects of Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine on Hot Flushes":
HuffingtonPost: "Managing Menopause Symptoms With Alternative Medicines":