The Benefits of Acupuncture for treating Menopausal Symptoms
Acupuncture Menopause
Symptoms like hot flushes, night sweats, pains, insomnia, mood swings, anxiety/depression and vaginal dryness are common for women going through menopause. These symptoms are due to a dramatic change in our hormones when we reach our 40s and 50s. Acupuncture Menopause can last seven to ten years or perhaps even longer. It is very stressful and it can affect our relationship, family and work.
Acupuncture Menopause can offer natural remedies for these symptoms and assist you to get your normal life back again. Acupuncture, as a part of Traditional Chinese Medicine, has been used therapeutically for thousands of years. This evidence-based ancient medicinal treatment is recognised by the rest of the world today. Studies have proven the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of menopausal symptoms.
What are the symptoms of Acupuncture menopause that acupuncture can treat?
Hot flushes and night sweats
Hot flushes are the most common symptom of menopause. A comprehensive article published in The National Research Centre in Norway, after critically reviewed sixteen studies, concluded that acupuncture relieves hot flushes. An randomised trial stated that patients having acupuncture significantly decreased experiencing hot flushes and the results lasted even after two weeks of treatment whereas the hormone therapy group has great increases in hot flushes after two weeks. The acupuncture menopause group experienced no side effects and more importantly have reported to have improved energy and quality life.
Anxiety and stress
Palpitations, non-stop-worrying and stress are symptoms of anxiety issues. Studies have shown that acupuncture reduces generalised anxiety, depressive anxiety and also preoperative anxiety. A scientific research confirmed that acupuncture reduces anxiety and also improves memory. More details click here.
Headaches and migraines
Almost 500 adults who were suffering from migraines were chosen in a study to be treated with either traditional Chinese acupuncture menopause or a sham treatment (where acupuncture needles were not inserted in acupoints). Both groups reported relieving effects after treatments. However, lasting effects were seen only in group who received traditional acupuncture. Three months after treatment, people who received traditional Chinese acupuncture continued to report a reduction in terms of migraine days, frequency, and intensity. People who received the sham treatment did not. Another study of nearly 800 people showed that 11 acupuncture treatments over six weeks were at least as effective as the blood pressure drug called beta-blockers (often used for prevention of migraine) — taken daily for six months.
Lower back pain, hip pain, knee pain
Many women and men experience aggravated arthritic pain in their menopause. The reason is because our muscle, joints and ligaments are not as flexible and strong as they used to be. After years of repetitive work, heavy lifting (as a parent/grandparent), the pain is getting worse when people reach menopause. However, acupuncture offers a significant benefit in the treatment of arthritic symptoms especially in pain management.
For women and men who are going through sleepless nights with lots of sweat, acupuncture can help. Research has revealed positive results that acupuncture stimulates certain hormones such as melatonin to be released and also increases the total sleep time.
Appetite and Weight Gain
I feel your pain and guilt after you eat more when you are feeling blue. The desire to eat more may be a result of a drop in your estrogen levels. There might be a link between hormone drops and weight gain. You may found that you need to work harder in the gym to lose that a little bit extra when you reach menopause. The drop in estrogen can also impact your body’s levels of leptin- a hormone that helps to regulate food intake. A study evaluated that acupuncture can suppress abnormal increase of body weight and reduce climacteric syndrome which is associated with an increase in body weight.
Are you currently taking hormone replace therapy drugs? Or considering one? I would suggest you to google the side effects of the drug you are taking or considering to take. Be well informed about everything before you take it!
For women’s health especially during menopause, a study compared the effects of acupuncture and estrogen in regards the frequency of hot flushes suggest that electroacupuncture may significantly reduce the frequency of hot flushes. Although estrogen therapy may be more effective and quicker than acupuncture menopause in reducing hot flushes, acupuncture has limited side effects as compared with hormone therapy.
Annoyed by endless hot flushes, sweat, insomnia and other menopausal symptoms? Willing to get your quality life back again?
