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Menopause and Acupuncture

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Menopause and Acupuncture

As women age we in the West believe that most, if not all women, should experience menopausal symptoms as if it was a rite of passage.  This natural decrease in estrogen and progesterone usually begin between the ages of 40-60.  These hormones play a role in regulating temperature, metabolism, mood and bone formation.  While the ovaries’ activity decreases, estrogen and progesterone cycles become more erratic.  At Reproductive Wellness we do not believe that women need to experience these dramatic hormonal shifts with all the common symptoms normally associated with “the Shift”.  We incorporate acupuncture and natural medicine into our treatments to minimize these symptoms.

At Reproductive Wellness, we offer you treatment by our team of specialists.  Acupuncture for menopause has been used for over 2000 years for the treatment of all menopausal symptoms.  These symptoms can be a combination of the following:

  • Hot Flashes
  • Night Sweats
  • Headaches
  • Loss of Libido
  • Vaginal Dryness
  • Bloating
  • Digestive Issues
  • Weight Gain
  • Itchy Skin
  • Breast Pain
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Irritability
  • Joint Pain
  • Muscle Tension
  • Irregular Heartbeat
  • Memory Lapses
  • Mood Changes
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Dizziness
  • Fatigue
  • Panic Disorders
  • Difficulty Concentrating
  • Incontinence

Here are a couple of research studies that show the effectiveness of acupuncture for the treatment of Menopausal symptoms.

1 – Effects of acupuncture on hot flases in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women – a multicenter randomized clinical trial.     

Menopause. 2010 Mar;17(2):269-80. Kim KH, Kang KW, Kim DI, Kim HJ, Yoon HM, Lee JM, Jeong JC, Lee MS, Jung HJ, Choi SM

Women suffering with high volume and frequency of hot flashes were treated in one of two groups: a control group where symptoms were treated with usual care and a treatment group using acupuncture in conjunction with the usual care.  Unlike the control group, the treatment group had significant clinical improvement in hot flashes and menopause-related symptoms in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women.

2 – The Acupuncture on Hot Flushes Among Menopausal Women (acuflash) study, a randomized controlled trial.

Meopause. 2009 May-jun;16(3):484-93. Borud EK, Alraek T, White A, Fonnebo V, Eggen AE, Hammar M, Astrand LL, Theodorsson E, Grimsgaard S.

 One group of postmenopausal women experiencing daily hot flashes was given 10 acupuncture sessions and a control group used self-care alone.  The acupuncture group not only saw a greater decrease in frequency and intensity of hot flashes, but also improvements in sleep, vasomotor and somatic symptoms.

It is important to recognize that with acupuncture alone at Reproductive Wellness we can make significant changes in menopausal symptoms, however for most patients treatment does not stop here.  Our belief is that if we can simultaneously make dietary and lifestyle changes we are laying the foundation for long term changes that will allow patients to take control of their health and not be reliant on our treatments to stay well.  With the addition of our nutrition and lifestyle programs most of our patients are able to manage their health at home on their own.  This is true healthcare!

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