April 7

Can Acupuncture Treat Menopause Symptoms?

We need not suffer the hot flashes, weight gain, mood swings, and hair/collagen loss. A holistic treatment that includes acupuncture can help in maintaining health, balance, and beauty.

What is menopause?

Menopause is a transitional stage of every woman's life. It is a process of aging, where a woman's body stops producing reproductive hormones. Characterized by the loss of monthly periods (consecutively for a year), it typically affects women between the ages of forty-five and fifty-five (across-the-world average is fifty-one). It may be caused directly by age and natural decrease of hormone production, hysterectomy, or be a by-product of chemotherapy. Premature menopause is possible in extreme cases. Typically, menopause is confirmed after a (consecutive) one-year period absence or the Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH)/ estrogen blood tests.

Symptoms of menopause

Signs of menopause include hot flashes, mood swings, night sweats, insomnia, fatigue, facial hair growth, hair loss, memory loss, accelerated aging, vaginal dryness, and decreased libido. Often, symptoms are exacerbated by heightened Cortisol (stress hormone) levels. Women going through menopause are often diagnosed with anxiety and depression symptoms. The average duration of menopausal symptoms is seven years.

Treatment

Since menopause is a part of the natural aging process, no cure exists. The goal of menopause treatment is to alleviate symptoms and reduce the signs of aging. Medicines prescribed include low-dose antidepressants, hormone therapy, and (in extreme cases) anti-convulsant for hot flashes. Doctors often advise exercise/yoga to help regulate the symptoms and aid in overall health. The optimal diet includes foods rich in calcium, fiber, and protein. It is best to avoid foods high in fat, sugar, spice, and sodium, as well as caffeine and alcohol.

Benefits of acupuncture treatment

According to WebMd, acupuncture (as part of a holistic treatment regimen) helps hot flashes, vaginal dryness, urinary symptoms, and mood swings. A consistent acupuncture regimen helps with symptom severity by increasing estrogen levels and reducing the luteinizing hormone. Acupuncture may be a viable alternative to traditional hormone replacement therapies. The Mayo Clinic recommends successive treatments of acupuncture for the relief of hot flashes. In 2015 A.G. Bezerra studied a spectrum of sleep disorders in menopausal-aged women and concluded a seventy-five percent improvement in symptoms with acupuncture therapy. Acupuncture helps in elevating endorphin levels and therefore elevating mood and reducing depression. Treatments reduce Cortisol levels and have shown a marked improvement in stress and anxiety reduction, leading to a healthy and balanced transition.

Have you never been to an acupuncture appointment?

Deanna Carell Acupuncture is welcoming new patients to our office. Our natural, acupuncture and facial microneedling treatments are tailored to your specific needs, and are used to create a healthy healing environment for your mind and body. For a consultation to meet with the acupuncturists please call our office or contact us through our online form


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