Treating Menopause Naturally with Acupuncture

Menopause can be defined as the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. A woman is said to have reached menopause after it has been 12 months since she had her last period. Once a woman enters menopause, her ovaries make very low levels of the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone.

The process of menopause does not occur overnight. It is a gradual process. Women undergoing natural menopause can experience different symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, insomnia, libido loss, anxiety, and irregular periods. The more fortunate woman experiences few unpleasant symptoms!

Acupuncture and Menopause

Though menopause is a natural part of life, it can be uncomfortable. Acupuncture can help relieve menopausal symptoms in a safe and natural manner.

A Danish study found that acupuncture can be successfully used to alleviate menopause symptoms. In the study, outcomes for 70 menopausal women who underwent either five weeks of Western medical acupuncture or no acupuncture were studied.

Women in the acupuncture group received treatment from their family doctors in nine different practices. These doctors were trained acupuncturists and had been performing acupuncture for an average of 14 years. Every weekly session lasted for 15 minutes.

Women who received acupuncture treatment reported a significant reduction in menopause symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems. Acupuncture recipients also reported having less frequent night sweats and skin and hair problems.

Eighty percent of women in the acupuncture group said they felt acupuncture helped them. Women in the non-acupuncture group did not report any significant improvement in their symptoms.

Supplements for Menopause

Some dietary supplements that can help regulate hormone fluctuations, reduce hot flashes and other menopause symptoms and improve mood are vitamin D3, Adrenal support, evening primrose oil, and fish oil or EFA’s (for vegetarians). Licensed acupuncturists may also prescribe any number of helpful herbal formulas to mitigate the undesirable menopausal symptoms.

Nutrition

A healthy diet may help delay the onset of menopause. Here are some healthy eating guidelines for menopause:

• Steer clear of processed foods, especially high-sodium foods and foods laden with processed carbs. Processed foods can contribute to bloating, weight gain, bloating, and water retention. Many health experts link hormonal imbalances during menopause to processed foods
• Include organic foods in your diet
• Include foods rich in healthy fats and protein in your diet
• Drink at least 80-100 ounces of water everyday
• Cut down your alcohol and caffeine intake
• Reduce the intake of acidic foods and other foods that can cause hot flashes
• Steer clear of sugar-filled foods

Your search for a reputable acupuncture clinic in Walnut Creek ends at Monarch Acupuncture & Wellness. Whether you have been struggling with a health issue for quite some time or have recently started experiencing the symptoms of a debilitating illness or the symptoms of a natural process like menopause, our acupuncturists will create a customized treatment plan. To make an appointment, visit our website.