Menopause is defined as the permanent cessation of menstruation. It is when a woman has had no menstruation for 12 consecutive months. It is due to the primary dysfunction of the ovaries’ production of hormones, estrogen and progesterone.

This is a normal aging process for all women, occurring between 45 and 55 years old. Women going through this change experience many symptoms as the levels of estrogen and progesterone fluctuate and decline for some years before and after “menopause” actually hits – this period is called “perimenopause” and lasts for 2–8 years.

Symptoms of Menopause

The rise and fall of hormone levels can cause a variety of symptoms, including:

Hormonal change also brings on osteoporosis and high cholesterol, which could lead to a higher risk of fractures and cardiovascular disease (e.g. high blood pressure, heart attack).

Hormone Replacement Therapy: HRT & BHRT

Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with synthetic hormones is considered the standard treatment for menopause in Western medicine. It may alleviate symptoms, but also carries significant side effects, including an increased risk of breast, ovarian, and uterine cancer. It is well known that taking estrogen together with progesterone reduces this risk, though some risk remains.

Recently, bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT), with hormones derived from plants such as yams and soy, has become more popular and is considered a safer alternative to conventional HRT. However, recent news reports say BHRT, like HRT, still increases the risk of cancer. BHRT is commonly hand-mixed by pharmacists, and is therefore untested and unregulated by Health Canada — meaning women using BHRT can’t be sure of the hormone levels they’re absorbing.

How Traditional Chinese Medicine Treats Menopause

The main principle for treating perimenopause or menopause is to balance yin and yang. Depending on each woman’s individual state of essence, yin, and yang, and the nature of her imbalance, every woman presents with different menopausal symptoms — so TCM practitioners tailor a treatment strategy specific to each patient.

Acupuncture is effective in treating the palpitations, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, joint pain, fatigue, mood swings, and depression symptoms associated with menopause. Custom-made Chinese herbal decoctions are designed to supplement each person’s unique combination of essence, yin, and yang deficiencies to treat the root imbalances in the body.

Chinese medicine has a long history in treating gynecological disorders, including menopause, and offers a gentle and effective way to reduce menopausal symptoms. When prescribed by a qualified herbalist, Chinese herbal medicine is very safe and without adverse effects. Acupuncture performed by a licensed acupuncturist is both effective and safe.