Acupuncture and menopause

Menopause is the transitional period where a woman will stop ovulating.  Many symptoms, ranging from moderate to severe can occur due to the decreasing levels of estrogen in the body.  This period of change can last anywhere from a few months, to many years, depending on the woman.  Due to the severity of symptoms that some women experience, the practice of acupuncture and menopause sufferers have started to come together.

Practitioners of acupuncture will assess a woman’s physical as well as mental symptoms that they are experiencing in order to create the best treatment plan for that particular case.  In order to better understand the philosophy of acupuncture, it is important to take a look at traditional Oriental medicine.  It is believed that the human body is made up of Qi (chee), which is a life energy that flows throughout the body.  The energy flows through channels and connects all of the organs together.

The theory that lies behind Chinese medicine is that an illness will cause an unbalance in this cycle.  Acupuncture is used to stimulate specific points which are located near the skin’s surface.

In regards to menopause, acupuncture works to ease the physical and emotional symptoms through points which are located in certain areas throughout your body.  For the actual treatment, there will be very tiny little needles inserted into the arms, legs, shoulders and toes.  There does not seem to be much discomfort from the needles themselves, as they are so small.  There can be an initial moment of minimal discomfort as the needle is inserted, but it does not last for long.  Many people relax and some may sleep during their treatments.

Many people wonder how acupuncture actually works.  The insertion of the needles stimulates the release of many healing properties in the body, like endorphins, as well as many other neurotransmitters.  It also works to stimulate the circulatory system, the nervous system, and other important body systems.

Some of the symptoms that have been reported to be relieved through acupuncture include hot flashes, difficulty sleeping, bleeding in the uterus, prolapsed uterus, inflammatory diseases, ovarian cysts, pain during intercourse, low libido and breast fibroids.  Each woman may have different results, but the majority of women do see a relief in at least some of their menopause symptoms.

The practice of acupuncture has been around for centuries, and the healing properties of it are well documented.  It is reasonable therefore to recognize the importance of considering acupuncture and menopause together as a treatment option.  The relief that it can provide for many women, without the use of drugs or supplements, is one of the reasons for its increasing popularity as a means of treating menopause symptoms.