Acupuncture for perimenopause and menopause
Spend any time on social media—or around the women in your life—and you’ll learn pretty quickly that perimenopause and menopause are hot topics right now, and for very good reason. These aren’t new things, but the way women talk about their health and experience has changed a lot over the past decade. So it’s on our radar—and we aren’t shy about sharing.
But when it comes to Traditional Chinese Medicine, women’s health has always been a core focus of the practice. Which is why right now is the perfect time to look to acupuncture’s long history treating things like hot flashes, hormonal fluctuations, insomnia, and a host of other menopause and perimenopause symptoms.
Acupuncture’s history with women’s health
We aren’t just talking about decades—we’re talking about centuries. As far back as 2,000 years ago, classic Chinese medical texts document using acupuncture and herbs to address women’s health.
Treatments for reproductive health stretch back just as far, focusing on the balance between women’s Qi, blood and organs. And more recently, TCM and modern medicine have often complemented each other to treat things like Polyendocrine Metabolic Ovarian Syndrome (formerly known as PCOS), endometriosis, and pregnancy-related nausea, pain and even labor preparation.
Acupuncture for menopause and perimenopause
First, let’s talk about what each of those phases in women’s health mean.
Perimenopause typically begins in a woman’s 40s and lasts an average of 4-10 years. It’s a natural transition into menopause and is often accompanied by hot flashes, insomnia, irregular periods and mood swings. These symptoms are triggered by unpredictable hormone levels. Think of perimenopause as the long, unpredictable lead-up to the moment of menopause, which is more of a single point in time when hormones settle at a permanently low level.
Menopause happens when menstrual periods stop for a full year. This usually occurs between ages 45 and 55, when the ovaries stop making key reproductive hormones like estrogen. At this time, women experience a permanent drop in estrogen and a spike in cortisol.
Acupuncture addresses both perimenopause and menopause by targeting the adrenal gland, helping alleviate the symptoms listed above, and much more. It calms the nervous system and balances hormone pathways, allowing your body to more easily transition through perimenopause into menopause and beyond.
How often should you get acupuncture for women’s health?
Every patient is different. Some women see meaningful benefits from monthly treatments, while others need weekly or every-other-week appointments. Your treatment plan is specific to you, your symptoms and your goals.
How do I know if it’s time to talk about perimenopause or menopause?
Many women tell me they just don’t feel like themselves, and sometimes that’s all you need to start the conversation. Keep an eye out for these symptoms that you may be in perimenopause or entering menopause. While experiencing one or two of these may not be an indication of perimenopause/menopause, it’s especially important to keep an eye on groups of these symptoms together.
Mood changes
Irritability
Insomnia
Fatigue
Difficulty concentrating
Brain fog
New anxiety or depression
Panic attacks
Decreased libido
Night sweats
Hot flashes
Irregular periods
Breast tenderness
Headaches
Weight gain
Bloating
Digestive problems
Joint pain
Muscle tension
Decreased muscle mass
Dizziness
Changes in taste
Burning mouth sensation
Heart palpitations
Body odor changes
Hair loss
Brittle nails
Itchy skin
Tinnitus
Bleeding gums
Tingling arms or legs
Vaginal dryness
Urinary urgency/frequency
A little relief at home
We know life gets busy. In between appointments, small changes can make a big difference in how you experience perimenopause and menopause symptoms.
Build regular movement into your day
Focus on a nutritious diet—check out our blogs on summer, fall, winter and spring foods
Limit alcohol intake, which can worsen night sweats, anxiety, insomnia and weight gain
Practice meditation and deep breathing exercises to reduce stress
Give them a try, then give us a call so we can help you find balance as your body moves into this important phase in women’s health.