Menopause, Hot Flash

Menopause is the permanent cessation of menses and marks the end of the reproductive years. Although menopause is an event common to all women, each woman’s menopausal experience is unique. Acupuncture and herbal medicine alleviate the symptoms of menopause by nourishing the essence within the body.

At Irvine Acupuncture we use acupuncture and herbs to address hot flashes, irritability, night sweats and other menopausal symptoms. The principle of acupuncture is to strengthen and harmonize the individual’s body, physically and emotionally. Acupuncture treatment regulates unstable hormone levels during menopause.

While Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) may alleviate hot flashes and prevent osteoporosis, they will also increase the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer, and have a number of significant side-effects. But HRT isn’t the only solution. Acupuncture can be very effective for treating menopausal symptoms.

Since the early seventies, studies have suggested that acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are effective treatments for hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia, vaginal dryness and many other symptoms associated with menopause.

• From 1997 to 1999, one of the first studies in the United States to explore the effectiveness of acupuncture in alleviating hot flashes, insomnia and nervousness, conducted by Dr. Susan Cohen, D.S.N., APRN, associate professor of the University of Pittsburgh, it was found that during the course of acupuncture treatments, hot flashes decreased by 35% and insomnia decreased by 50%. A follow-up study revealed hot flashes significantly decreased in those receiving acupuncture, compared to those receiving routine care.
• 2002 pilot study in England found that acupuncture reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes in women being treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer.

Links:

WebMD Video Clip on Acupuncture & Menopause

WebMD on Acupuncture & Hot Flashes