07 Jul Treating Menopausal Hot Flashes with Acupuncture and Herbs
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine have enjoyed a rich, extensive history in treating an array of female health concerns.
Chinese medicine has successfully treated conditions ranging from PMS to postpartum care to dysmenorrhea and Menopause. Menopause is another aspect of female health that can be extremely challenging for women because hot flashes and night sweats can be extremely uncomfortable and become unbearable at times. Fortunately, acupuncture and herbs are an excellent option for menopausal women, as they offer safe, effective and noninvasive, treatments for these often debilitating symptoms.
In Chinese medicine, menopause is a time when many women become yin deficient, meaning that the cooling, moistening, and calming aspects of their physiology are weakened. This leads more irritability, excess heat, anxiety and insomnia. The main treatment for menopausal women involves nourishing the yin with acupuncture and herbs.
Acupuncture is considered to be a cooling therapy. The stainless steel needles used during treatments are said to disperse Qi. This means that they are unblocking energy that has become stuck or stagnant. When energy gets stuck for too long, it generates heat, which ends up burning up the yin and leading to yin deficiency. I have heard many menopausal women say that they felt cooler right after the needles were inserted. The needles are deflating the overheated and compressed areas thus reducing the heat and blockage. There are certain points that are also used that have a direct effect on nourishing yin, thereby rejuvenating the cooling aspects of one’s physiology.
In combination with acupuncture, Chinese herbs work synergistically to create a state of continuity in clearing heat and nourishing yin in between treatments. I highly recommend committing to this approach before using hormone therapy, as these natural options are free of side effects. Hormone therapy is quite controversial in terms of its long-term effects. While it has worked wonders for many women in the short-term, when I hear references to increased incidence of ovarian cancer, fibrocystic breasts, and emotional fluctuations, I cannot give it my full endorsement.
In my practice I utilize 5 Chinese herbal formulas on a regular basis that treat hot flashes and sweats. One of the most popular formulas I use helps in clearing heat and accompanying symptoms such as low back pain, scanty dark urine, and low energy. This formula is safe, gentle, and can work miracles if it matches well with the patient’s constitution. Another regular formula I prescribe treats what we can a yin deficiency, which manifests with symptoms of insomnia, irritability, anxiety and excess thirst. Another common formula is one that addresses hot flashes due to a liver depressive heat pattern, which would include symptoms such as irritability, high stress, red eyes, headaches, and indigestion. The last one I will discuss is one that treats those that have experienced long time feelings of being cold with recent onset of hot flashes, low libido, fatigue, and low back pain.
Night sweats and hot flashes tend to respond very well to acupuncture and herbs.
It is important to keep in mind that these symptoms often have an underlying emotional component that needs to be addressed as well before they will completely disappear. It is natural to feel heightened emotions as go thorough healing this condition with acupuncture and herbs. If you are interested in trying herbs for hot flashes and night sweats I highly recommend seeking the help of a qualified healthcare professional. When self diagnosing and medicating, you may not have the right combination for your unique circumstances and it is very helpful to have a professional guide you through this process.