While every woman knows that menopause is happening in
her body thanks to the hormonal changes, there are alternative ways to approach
this transition.
Form East Medicine practitioners point of view, menopause
is a natural process that alters the balance of Yin and Yang. After menopause
many women discover (and may be disturbed by) the more yang (energetic,
aggressive) side of themselves. Showing a reversed trend, as men grow older,
they tend to discover their yin (passive, yielding) side.
Yes, many people don't realize how powerful Oriental
Medicine treatments can be for women's health conditions. In fact,
gynecological problems have been treated with acupuncture for over 2000 years,
and for 5000 years with herbal medicine. Oriental Medicine holds that mind and
body are one, and considers the whole woman and her experience of life in
diagnosis. These life experiences (especially when out of balance and not dealt
with properly) can manifest as disease in the body, and especially as
gynecological problems in women.
According to Chinese Medical theory, menopause occurs
when a woman's body begins to preserve blood and energy in order to sustain her
vitality and allow for the maximum available nourishment for her body,
especially her kidneys. The kidney is the organ Chinese Medicine sees as the
root of life and longevity. Therefore, the body, in its wisdom, reserves the
flow of a channel in the center of the body which sends blood and energy down
to the uterus. Instead, blood and essence from the kidneys are conserved and
cycled through the body to nourish the woman's spirit and extend her longevity.
Thus, in the Chinese Medicine, menopause is seen as true change in life from
mother to enlightened and wise being.
Acupuncture and Menopause Treatment
Multiple studies confirmed that acupuncture and Chinese
herbal medicine have the ability to detect energetic changes that occur in the
body and quickly and effectively relieve symptoms such as hot flashes, foggy
mind, and irritability.
Evidence that Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine have been
used for women's health can be found in early medical literature dating back to
3 AD. Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize menopause as one
particular syndrome. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are
unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture,
Chinese herbs, bodywork, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and energetic
exercises to restore imbalances found in the body. Therefore, if 10 women are
treated with Oriental medicine for hot flashes, each of these 10 women will
receive a unique, customized treatment with different acupuncture points,
different herbs and different lifestyle and diet recommendations.
How Acupuncture Works
The mental and emotional symptoms that you are
experiencing will help create a clear picture on which your practitioners can
create a treatment plan specifically for you. The basic foundation for Oriental
medicine is that there is a life energy flowing through the body which is
termed Qi (pronounced chee).
This energy flows through the body on channels known as
meridians that connect all of our major organs. According to Chinese medical
theory, illness arises when the cyclical flow of Qi in the meridians becomes
unbalanced. Acupuncture is the stimulation of specific points located near or
on the surface of the skin which have the ability to alter various biochemical
and physiological conditions in order to achieve the desired effect.
According to the National Center for Complementary and
Alternative Medicine, research shows that acupuncture releases pain-killing
biochemical’s in the body —endorphins—that stimulate the central nervous
system, and help regulate a person's blood pressure, blood flow, and brain
chemical release.
Acupuncture is based on two major theories: yin/yang theory and five element theory.
The yin/yang theory is based on balance. Individuals
become sick when there is an imbalance between yin and yang within the body.
Yin is the less active, darker, cold, and quiet component while yang is the
more active, lighter, hot, and aggressive component. As long as these two
opposites support and control each other, the individual stays healthy. Many
problems arise when one component overpowers the other, resulting in various
symptomatic manifestations.
The second theory of five elements is based on nature. Similar to the yin/ yang theory, the five element theory is based on the balance of the organs within the body. The body is treated as a whole, and therefore many organs are affected by the conditions of other parts of the body.
Overall, the acupuncture treatment treats both the
underlying cause and symptoms by:
·
Increases endorphin levels
·
Increases natural estrogen production
·
Increases tranquility
·
Increases flow of the body’s bio electric circuitry.
The Acupuncture Treatment
Acupuncture points to treat the emotional and physical
effects of menopause are located all over the body. During the acupuncture
treatment, tiny needles will be placed along your legs, arms, shoulders, and
perhaps even your little toe!
There seems to be little sensitivity to the insertion of
acupuncture needles. They are so thin that several acupuncture needles can go
into the middle of a hypodermic needle. Occasionally, there is a brief moment
of discomfort as the needle penetrates the skin, but once the needles are in
place, most people relax and even fall asleep for the duration of the
treatment.
The length, number and frequency of treatments will vary.
Typical treatments last from five to 30 minutes, with the patient being treated
one or two times a week. Some symptoms are relieved after the first treatment,
while more severe or chronic ailments often require multiple treatments.
Studies on Acupuncture and Menopause
Since the early seventies, studies around the globe 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. Recent studies show extremely positive results:
·
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.
·
A 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. While these results are promising and
the United Nations World Health Organization has approved acupuncture as a
treatment for symptoms associated with menopause, further clinical trials with
larger samples are currently underway.
·
In a randomized, 2003, 2-group clinical study at
University of Pittsburgh, acupuncture was used for the relief of menopausal hot
flushes, sleep disturbances, and mood changes. The experimental acupuncture
treatment consisted of specific acupuncture body points related to menopausal
symptoms. The comparison acupuncture treatment consisted of a treatment
designated as a general tonic specifically designed to benefit the flow of Ch'i
(energy). Results from the experimental acupuncture treatment group showed a decrease
in mean monthly hot flush severity for site-specific acupuncture. Sleep
disturbances in the experimental acupuncture treatment group declined over the
study. Mood changes in both the experimental acupuncture treatment group and
the comparison acupuncture treatment group showed a significant difference
between the baseline and the third month of the study. Thus, acupuncture using
menopausal-specific sites showed promise for nonhormonal relief of hot flushes
and sleep disturbances.
·
In 2010, Turkish researchers randomly assigned
53 women with menopausal symptoms whose periods had stopped for at least a year
to receive either real acupuncture or "sham" acupuncture using
blunted needles that are designed to appear as though they penetrate the skin
without actually doing so. After 10 sessions with a licensed practitioner who
had at least six years of experience, women treated with acupuncture reported
significantly fewer hot flashes and mood swings. Additional sessions appeared
to offer additional benefits, particularly against hot flashes.
·
The findings of a study published in the March
edition of the journal Acupuncture in Medicine, 2011, conducted by
Portland's School of Nursing's Cheryl Wright and Mikel Aickin, concluded that
women suffering from hot flashes and other common menopause conditions showed
significant decrease in symptoms with acupuncture treatments. In just ten
weeks, the group of women receiving the acupuncture showed considerably lower
occurrences of hot flashes and mood swings than the women who received fake
acupuncture, where the needles did not fully penetrate the skin. The
researchers also concluded that the relief in symptoms among the women
receiving acupuncture did not occur as a result of any change in their hormone
levels, suggesting the acupuncture had an effect directly on the symptoms
themselves.
Acupuncture Points for Menopause
While many different acupuncture points are used, depending on your specific symptoms and the state of your overall health, here are some acupuncture points that are commonly used to treat menopause:
Du 20 - Located on the top of the head, midway between the ears. This point helps clear the spirit and rebalances the yin and yang elements of the body.
Urinary Bladder 23 (UB 23) - A lower back point that is level to the second lumbar vertebra. This point invigorates the kidney system and nourishes kidney essence. It is often used to strengthen the lumbar region and the knees.
Kidney 3 (Ki 3) – In the depression between the inside ankle bone and the Achilles tendon, level with the tip of the ankle bone. Kidney 3 invigorates and strengthens the kidney system and regulates the uterus.
Kidney 7 (Ki 7) – Located approximately 2 fingers breadth above Kidney 3. It is used to treat hot flashes and night sweats.
Spleen 6 (Sp 6) - Located about 4 fingers breadth above the tip of the inside ankle bone in a depression. This is one of the most influential points for women’s health. It strengthens the spleen, resolves damp, promotes the smooth flow of Qi, strengthens the kidneys, nourishes blood and yin, benefits urination, regulates uterus and menstruation, moves and cools blood, relieves pain and calms the mind.
While many different acupuncture points are used, depending on your specific symptoms and the state of your overall health, here are some acupuncture points that are commonly used to treat menopause:
Du 20 - Located on the top of the head, midway between the ears. This point helps clear the spirit and rebalances the yin and yang elements of the body.
Urinary Bladder 23 (UB 23) - A lower back point that is level to the second lumbar vertebra. This point invigorates the kidney system and nourishes kidney essence. It is often used to strengthen the lumbar region and the knees.
Kidney 3 (Ki 3) – In the depression between the inside ankle bone and the Achilles tendon, level with the tip of the ankle bone. Kidney 3 invigorates and strengthens the kidney system and regulates the uterus.
Kidney 7 (Ki 7) – Located approximately 2 fingers breadth above Kidney 3. It is used to treat hot flashes and night sweats.
Spleen 6 (Sp 6) - Located about 4 fingers breadth above the tip of the inside ankle bone in a depression. This is one of the most influential points for women’s health. It strengthens the spleen, resolves damp, promotes the smooth flow of Qi, strengthens the kidneys, nourishes blood and yin, benefits urination, regulates uterus and menstruation, moves and cools blood, relieves pain and calms the mind.
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