Menopause Part 2: Treating Women’s Health Conditions with Chinese Medicine.
- timiliffacu
- 6 days ago
- 2 min read
As defined by the National Library of Medicine, menopause is a natural biological process that marks the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is officially diagnosed when a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period, typically occurring between the ages of 45 and 55. This transition is driven by a decline in ovarian function, leading to lower levels of estrogen and progesterone.
Common symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, sleep disturbances, irregular or excessive bleeding, vaginal pain or dryness, and changes in metabolism. While menopause is a universal experience, the way it manifests varies among individuals and cultures as do health approaches to address symptoms.
In Chinese medicine, menopause is seen as a natural and gradual transition between the function of various organs and body systems. As a woman’s reproductive organs gradually slow down function- other organs pick up responsibilities to keep her health in balance.
The smoother the transition goes, the fewer symptoms (mentioned above) she experiences. When the transition isn’t smooth (or comes on fast, or all-at-once) a woman can experience significant physical and emotional stress.
When these symptoms occur, practitioners of Chinese medicine use treatment and self-care protocols to relieve both the symptoms and build the health of the systems involved.
Note from our acupuncturist on the course of treatment:
Many women visit the acupuncture clinic with complaints of uncomfortable menopausal symptoms including, irregular periods, pain, cramps, or bloating and mood swings or sleep loss surrounding hormonal shifts.
When you enter the clinic, you list all your symptoms and health history and consult with the practitioner on what issues you need help with most.
We diagnose the imbalance from the framework of Chinese medicine and use an individualized plan that may include acupuncture, herbs, nutrition, and stress-reducing exercise such as tai chi with two goals: Get you immediate symptomatic relief and build health to support your body through a more gradual and comfortable transition.
Comments