Night sweats, hot flashes, insomnia, mood changes, fatigue. For women suffering from menopause and peri/post menopausal conditions, these symptoms are hard core and unrelenting.
As the female body ages, the ovaries produce less hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, leading to a cascade of physiological changes.
The ancient Chinese believed women followed a natural cycle every 7 years. Through growth, development and reproduction, every 7 years there was a rather profound change. And 7X7=49!!! Bingo! Menopause is a natural cycle of life. Yet for those suffering from it, it feels anything but “natural”.
In Chinese Medicine we talk about “yin and yang”. Yin and yang are metaphors that 
compare things. Good examples are fire and water. Fire is “yang” in nature compared to water which is “yin”. Normally, fire and water are balanced in the human body (homeostasis). But, when one aspect is excessive or deficient, balance is off.
So in menopause, we often see hot hot and more hot! And, in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) diagnosis, we actually have a pattern of disharmony called “Yin deficiency with empty heat”. In other words, not enough water to balance the fire. But, it’s not quite that simple. Sometimes we see patterns that are more complex. For example, you may have hot flashes one minute and feel freezing the next! This is a very common complaint I see in clinic.
A combination of acupuncture, herbs and dietary therapy can greatly reduce the symptoms of menopause. I have had patients express to me the profound improvement in the quality of their lives after they discovered acupuncture and Chinese medicine.
One very famous herbal formula Liu wei di huang wan (Rehmannia 6) can be very effective in helping women suffering from menopause. And, some research has suggested that this formula helps balance the endocrine system.
The beauty of Chinese herbal medicine is that when prescribed by someone with the appropriate training, each formula can be modified to treat each individuals unique pattern. Therefore treating the whole person, not just the symptoms.
If you would like more info on the treatment of monopause with acupuncture and TCM, please feel free to contact me.
In good Health!
Michael Egan, L.Ac., Dipl.O.M., Performance Acupuncture, LLC
