Menopause is the end the menstrual cycle for a woman. Most women stop menstruating between the ages of 48 and 52, but premenopausal symptoms can begin in the early forties, notes Dr. Maoshing Ni, a licensed acupuncturist. Many women need relief from premenopausal symptoms and Chinese medicine offers some answers, one of which is acupuncture.
Mood
Mood swings, moodiness, depression, anger and irritability are common symptoms of premenopause. Kath Bartlett, LAc, Acupuncturist and Herbalist at the Ashville Center for Chinese Medicine notes that in traditional Chinese medicine the "Qi," or life force is not circulating properly when premenopause is associated with so many undesirable side effects. Acupuncture, notes Bartlett, along with herbs can help to induce the proper circulation of the Qi and reduce or even eliminate symptoms. If these measures are paired with diet and lifestyle changes, as is often recommended, further symptom reduction is expected.
Stress
Stress contributes to the symptoms of premenopause. According to Bartlett, traditional Chinese medicine says that constrained emotions can impede the flow of the Qi and contribute to the mood issues noted above. The tension and tightness that accompany stress are also said to impede the Qi. And constrained Qi can contribute to the other physical symptoms of premenopause.
Traditional Chinese medicine has identified acupuncture points all over the body to treat and address the emotional and physical symptoms of menopause, notes Natural Health Web. During a typical acupuncture treatment needles will be placed along the legs, arms, shoulders and even feet and toes, generally for anywhere from five to thirty minutes. Treatments are usually conducted for a period of time which vary from individual to individual and are usually done once or twice a week.
Insomnia
Many women experience insomnia during premenopause and menopause. This is exacerbated by other symptoms that include hot flashes and night sweats, which can make getting to sleep and staying asleep even more challenging. In traditional Chinese medicine, notes Bartlett, these-and all other symptoms-are due to the Qi not moving freely in the body, and acupuncture is used to restore the circulation of the Qi. Research by Dr. Susan Cohen, D.S.N., APRN, associated professor at the University of Pittsburgh, found that hot flashes decreased by 35 percent and insomnia decreased by 50 percent, during the course of acupuncture treatment, notes Triangle Acupuncture Clinic.
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