How Can Acupuncture Help During Menopause?
Hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes, and weight gain.
Sounds like a party….um, maybe not.
The above are the most common symptoms of menopause and can interfere with many aspects of day-to-day life, including relationships, work, and emotional wellness.
Previously, hormonal therapy treatments were considered the only and/or best option for people looking to manage symptoms of menopause.
In the last several years there has been new research that have shows acupuncture as an effective treatment for the most common (and pretty bothersome) symptoms of menopause including:
drastically reducing hot flashes
improving sleep, and
stabilizing mood
How it works:
Just like other studies have shown the benefits of acupuncture for regulating hormones in the treatment of a variety of other gynaecological issues including fertility-related concerns and pregnancy, these recent studies on acupuncture for menopause have shown that acupuncture needles placed at specific points on the body trigger a nervous response that can help the body adapt to the hormonal changes of menopause by regulating the nervous system and thus balancing the hormones.
Studies supporting acupuncture for the management of menopause are fairly recent but the use of acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine in the treatment of gynaecological issues including menopause reaches back to the 10th century and show a detailed understanding of these issues and their treatments.
This also includes dietary and lifestyle recommendations to support the body holistically through this natural transition.
Acupuncture for the treatment of symptoms of menopause is a gentle, supportive, individualized and guided way to manage hormonal changes, which can also provide an overall benefit to health and stress reduction.
Research links:
This blog post was written by wellbe’s licensed Acupuncturist Heather Rule. Click here to learn more about acupuncture and to book your first session.