ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR MENOPAUSE

Menopause is a time of natural change in a woman’s body. Hormones are shifting because of lower estrogen and progesterone produced by the body at that time. For many women, these hormonal shifts mean hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and mood changes. There are many medications and hormone replacement therapies on the market but more and more women choose to treat the symptoms naturally. Diet, exercise and sleep are extremely important but acupuncture is another treatment that is becoming better known as a remedy.

Several studies have concluded that traditional acupuncture curbs the severity of hot flashes as well as other symptoms associated with menopause.
Researchers at Stanford University of Medicine studied the effect of acupuncture on postmenopausal women. The study showed that the severity of the hot flashes was significantly decreased in the women who received acupuncture as compared to a group of women getting placebo. At the University of Pittsburgh, acupuncture was studied in women with menopausal hot flashes, sleep disturbances and mood changes. One group of women was treated with specific acupuncture body points related to their menopausal symptoms. The other group received general acupuncture aimed to improve their overall well-being. In the group where acupuncture was targeting specific menopausal symptoms, the women showed a decrease in hot flushes and an improvement in sleep disturbances. Both groups showed improved in mood changes.

A study conducted in Sweden, followed 21 women who were all experiencing menopausal hot flushes. After acupuncture treatments, the women reported significant reduction of the symptoms that lasted up to three months and longer.

Another study was conducted in Turkey, by the Ankara Training and Research Hospital and measured the symptoms of 53 postmenopausal women using a 5-point scale before and after treatment. 27 women received acupuncture twice a week for 10 weeks while the rest of the women thought they were getting acupuncture treatment but the needles actually didn’t penetrate their skin. What’s interesting is that women who received acupuncture treatment showed significant drop in their hot flashes.

Reduce Menopausal Symptoms with Acupuncture

Acupuncture can be a stand-alone treatment option or it can be used alongside with other medical treatments like herbs and other traditional techniques.

Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicinal treatments can stimulate specific organs like the ovaries, uterus, thyroid gland, parathyroid glands, pituitary gland and the adrenal gland. This helps achieve hormonal balance thus reducing symptoms like hot flashes.

Other menopausal symptoms like heavy periods, migraines, headache, backache and more can be significantly relieved with acupuncture. Even excessive menstrual bleeding for perimenopausal women can be alleviated through acupuncture. Acupuncture also helps with pain and headaches during menstruation, as well as treat other conditions like stress, insomnia, poor memory and concentration by mobilizing your Qi (chi) and balancing your nervous system.

Researches say that the reason acupuncture works for hot flashes is that the treatment boosts the production of endorphins and that stabilizes body temperature.

If you are experiencing any of the above menopause symptoms, you can take control by scheduling an acupuncture treatment today. Acupuncture can improve your overall well-being, improve your vitality as it teaches your body to balance itself naturally.