Suffering through Menopause? HRT isn't the only answer

"What is happening to my body?" is the question many women ask themselves in the midst of the many hormonal changes leading to menopause and many women suffering acutely wish there was a way out of going through "the change".  Although there is no way to avoid this natural transition in a woman's life, there are many things that can help ease the unpleasant symptoms and reinforce the positive benefits of becoming a post-menopausal woman.

Menopause is a transitional period marking the cessation of ovulation in a woman's body. This time of change may last a few months to several years. Symptoms vary from mild to severe, and are brought on as our bodies try to adapt to decreasing amounts of hormones. Symptoms include hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, memory loss, vaginal dryness, headaches, joint pain, and weight gain.  Medical treatment is usually through Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT).  While this may alleviate hot flashes and prevent osteoporosis, it will also increase the risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer, and have a number of significant side-effects, hence the confusion and debate surrounding this therapy.

 But HRT isn't the only solution. Menopause is an area in which Oriental Medicine shines. Acupuncture has the ability to detect energetic changes that occur in the body and quickly relieve symptoms such as hot flashes, foggy mind, and irritability. 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 longevity.  Thus, in the Chinese Medicine system, menopause is seen in a more positive light and in fact Asian women tend to suffer less from unpleasant symptoms comes the menopause.

Evidence that acupuncture has been used for women's health in China can be found in early medical literature dating back over 2,000 years and recent studies suggest that acupuncture is an effective treatment for hot flashes, anxiety, insomnia and many other symptoms associated with menopause. A 1989 study into the effectiveness of acupuncture for hot flushes showed that 85% of women reported an improvement, including 20% who experienced complete remission.  More recent research (University of Tromsø, 2009) showed that 10 acupuncture treatments over 12 weeks could reduce hot flashes and improve sleep.

Traditional Chinese Medicine does not recognize menopause as one single condition. Instead, it aims to treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, lifestyle/dietary recommendations and exercises to correct imbalances found in the body.

Although these suggestions work for many women, every woman is different and Chinese medicine treatments are tailored to the individual.  For more information or an appointment with Carole Duménil, call 693 939 188 or visit www.5element-acupuncture.com.