The menopause is a natural physiological event and marks a time of transition from one stage of life to another. Typical symptoms associated with the menopause include hot flushes, vaginal dryness, sleep disturbance and weight gain. These are all a response of the body to dropping levels of oestrogen and most women experience one or more symptoms as only 25% of women report having no negative menopausal symptoms at all.
The negative symptoms of menopause can be treated in a multitude of ways but while hormone treatments are popular, not every woman wants to take a prescription medication. Instead, some women will seek alternative ways to make this transition a smooth one. One such treatment is acupuncture, so if you are looking for a natural treatment without the usual HRT side-effects, then acupuncture might be worth considering.
It is thought that acupuncture can aid the body’s own adaptive changes to hormones and help relieve menopause symptoms. An acupuncturist will ask about menopause symptoms, diet, lifestyle and overall health. Then, a treatment plan is formulated – typically lasting from five to eight sessions. Acupuncture is based on the Chinese model of medicine and is quite different from Western medicine. Rather than approaching menopause as a disease that needs to be ‘fixed,’ acupuncture in China focuses on regulating the body and restoring balance. It’s worth noting that in China negative symptoms associated with the menopause are not common. As Chinese women approach menopause, they automatically turn to acupuncture to address the changes of this transition and hot flushes are unheard of!
By the Acupuncture team at Shine on the Green