Natural Menopause
Chinese medicine views menopause as a natural process in life, a transitional period marking the cessation of menstruation in a woman’s body. Menopause occurs naturally between the ages of 45-55, beginning with a noticeable change in your menstrual cycle. This time of change may last a few months to several years, a stage called perimenopause, with symptoms varying from mild to severe.
In order to have the best transition possible, it is important to be optimally healthy going in. This means understanding what is happening in your body, and supporting it so that you continue to produce adequate amounts of blood and hormones for optimal energy, and healthy skin, bone, and heart for the rest of your life.
Premature Menopause
Premature menopause is diagnosed when a woman goes through menopause in her 30s or early 40s. It is often secondary to nutritional deficiency, autoimmune diagnosis, or some form of chronic stress. This also includes excessive athletic conditioning. These conditions adversely affect hormone-related reproductive functions. Premature menopause occurs not only earlier but also faster than normal menopause, often necessitating supplemental treatment to maintain physical and emotional comfort during the transition.
Artificial Menopause
Artificial menopause occurs in about 25 % of women, which caused by surgical disruption of the blood supply to the ovaries, surgical removal of the ovaries, chemotherapy, radiation, or taking certain drugs. For these women, because there is no opportunity for gradual adjustment to the hormonal drop-off, symptoms may be debilitating and severe.
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbs
We treat the specific symptoms that are unique to each individual using a variety of techniques such as acupuncture, Chinese herbs, movement, bodywork, and lifestyle/dietary recommendations to restore imbalances found in the physical and emotional body.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are safe, natural, gentle, non-evasive and effective therapies to treat the symptoms that may arise during menopause. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs work with many menopausal symptoms, including:
• Hot flashes
• Insomnia
• Irritability
• Fatigue
• Memory loss
• Stress
• Vaginal dryness
• Foggy Mind
• Joint Pain
• Weight Gain