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Menopause occurs in women, usually between the ages of 45 and 55, causing symptoms such as anxiety, mood swings, brain fog, hot flashes, and irregular periods. Hormone Replacement Therapy is a common treatment modality, which restores the natural balance of hormones in the body. Some women opt for non-pharmacological, drug-free treatments, such as acupuncture, as an alternative approach to managing menopausal symptoms. Implementing a combination of these treatments is also a common approach women choose to maintain the foundation of their health and natural rhythms.
What is acupuncture?
A common treatment modality in the complementary and integrative health field, acupuncture targets specific energy centers and access points along the meridians to alleviate issues such as stress, chronic pain and inflammation, poor sleep quality, and hormonal imbalances. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate several major organ systems, including the Immune, digestive, circulatory, endocrine, and nervous systems, promoting overall well-being and symptom relief.
Acupuncture is a traditional East Asian Medicine practice that balances the body’s flow of energy or life force, known as "qi" or "chi," which flows through pathways in the body, much like the nervous and circulatory systems. Originating from China and parts of East Asia such as Korea, acupuncture has continually evolved over thousands of years to prevent, diagnose, and correct disease.
Acupuncture is most commonly used to relieve chronic long-term pain, including lower back pain, arthritis, headaches, migraines, and sports injuries. In 2016, the emergence of new research revealed acupuncture combats menopausal weight gain and supports the immune system in fighting prevalent post-menopause health concerns, such as cancer.
How does acupuncture work?
Acupuncture has been proven to regulate menstrual cycles, address irregular or painful periods, premenstrual syndrome (PMS), and manage conditions like Endometriosis and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Its ability to support hormonal balance makes it an effective treatment to relieve symptoms of menopause,
Every woman experiences menopause differently, and the degree of success resulting from acupuncture treatments can vary from person to person. Some individuals find that acupuncture can effectively alleviate various menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood swings, and insomnia. However, others benefit from the treatment's ability to induce relaxation, lower stress, and improve overall mental well-being.
"I often wonder why more people do not try acupuncture and see for themselves how much better they can feel on a regular basis. Many of my patients who start coming for treatment to manage their menopausal symptoms tell me they wish they would have used this treatment earlier for all the things in their lives. " Haley Parker, Director of Clinical Operations
Acupuncture may not guarantee relief from symptoms after one session, as practitioners prioritize balancing the rhythms of the body and promoting healing from the inside out. Acupuncture is safe to use alongside Hormone replacement therapy. However, it is always recommended that patients request referrals from their healthcare provider.
What research is there?
The US National Institutes of Health conducted a scientific study in 2016 examining the effects of acupuncture on hot flushes. This study involved 209 perimenopausal and postmenopausal women ages 45 to 60 who had on average at least four hot flashes or night sweats per day.
During the eight-week trial, run by Nancy Avis, PhD, 47% of the group receiving acupuncture saw nearly a 50% reduction in hot flushes, with just under 12% reporting an 85% reduction. Dr Avis explained: “Women bothered by hot flashes and night sweats may want to give acupuncture a try as a relatively low-cost, low-risk treatment. Women will know pretty quickly if acupuncture will work for them. Women who had a reduction in their hot flushes saw a benefit beginning after about three to four weeks of weekly treatments.”
Echoing these results, a Danish study conducted by the University of Southern Denmark and Copenhagen in 2019 investigated the sustained effects of a brief and standardized acupuncture approach on menopause symptoms. The results showed that acupuncture intervention significantly decreased hot flashes, day and night sweats, general sweating, menopausal-specific sleeping problems, emotional symptoms, physical symptoms, and skin and hair symptoms. The decrease in hot flashes, emotional symptoms, and skin and hair symptoms was apparent 3 weeks into the study. Four participants reported mild potential adverse effects, but no severe adverse effects were reported during the trial.
Overall, the standardized and brief acupuncture treatment significantly reduced moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms over the six-week intervention period. A total of 80% of women in the acupuncture groups reported success following the treatment sessions.
To conclude, acupuncture is a safe and effective drug-free way to help relieve a variety of menopause symptoms for women. Everyone’s experience with menopause is unique but doesn’t have to be negative. However, improvements are expected to accumulate over time and have a noticeable impact after six to eight acupuncture sessions. Supported by an abundance of scientific literature, acupuncture offers a promising and holistic modality to manage menopausal symptoms and support a healthy lifestyle at all stages and transitions in life.
"With locations in three states (Tysons, Virginia; Ridgefield, New Jersey; Duluth, Georgia) patients can choose their nearest VUIM Clinic to experience the benefits of Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms and their overall health and wellbeing." - John Yoo, CEO of Virginia University of Integrative Medicine and VUIM Clinic
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