Menopause is a natural, physiological cycle that takes place for women. Conventional medical treatments only address various symptoms and signs associated with menopause. Just treating symptoms and signs is only the tip of iceberg. Acupuncture and Chinese medicine understand that symptoms and signs are merely indicates that deep within the body an imbalance exists. This 3000 year-old healing art focuses upon correcting underlying imbalances, if left unchecked, will result in a variety of symptoms and signs normally associated with a Western diagnosis of menopause. 

Menopause signifies “a change” within a woman’s life. This change occurs because a woman’s body chemistry is shifting. Chinese medicine recognizes this chemistry change as a natural process that is taking place. Estrogen is similar to what acupuncturists call “Jing Qi”. “Jing Qi” is like a gift that is given to all of us at the time of conception by our parents. It is our battery that provides us with the basic energy to power all our life functions. When “Jing Qi” is in abundant supply, our ability to adapt to disease, illness and stress is optimal. As we age, “Jing Qi” energy is slowly drained from our battery. Some people drain it faster than others, and as we approach the ages between 35 and 60, “Jing Qi” naturally begins to decline. When “Jing Qi” declines, the organ systems within our body become unbalanced, and this leads to the various symptoms and signs, such as grey hair, loss of libido, weakness of knees, urinary difficulty, poor memory, backache and fatigue.  

The concept if Yin is like the cooling system of the body. When his cooling system declines, heat symptoms will arise, leading to night sweats, restlessness, hot flushes, mood swings, heart palpitations and insomnia. Another scenario is instead of “Yin” deficiency, “Yang” energy declines. “Yang” represents that warming and metabolizing functions of the body. When “Yang” is unbalanced, symptoms may include water retention, cold hands and feet, weight gain, edema, indigestion, hypertension, or raised cholesterol levels. Left untreated, a decline and imbalance of “Jing”, “Yin” and “Yang” will lead to the symptoms and signs that are normally associated with a western diagnosis of menopause.

An acupuncturist will conduct a through evaluation and a complete health history. The symptoms, signs, and other information that is gathered are pieces of a diagnostic puzzle. This puzzle allows a practitioner to develop a unique treatment plan that will address each patient’s particular imbalances. When treating menopausal symptoms, an acupuncturist must first determine where the energy has changed, and what Organ Systems have become unbalanced. Once this is known, various natural therapies such as acupuncture, herbs, meditation, Qi gong, and diet, can be used to correct the imbalances.

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