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. Woman going through this change many symptoms as the levels 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.How does Chinese medicine enhance male fertility?

The rise and fall of hormone levels cause various symptoms such as irregular menstruation, hot flashes, night sweats, palpitations, headaches, dizziness, insomnia, joint pain, fatigue, mood swings, depression, low libido, vaginal dryness etc. Hormonal change brings on osteoporosis and high cholesterol that could lead to high risk of fractures and cardiovascular diseases (e.g. high blood pressure, heart attack).

Conventional hormone replacement therapy (HRT) with synthetic hormones is considered the standard treatment for menopause in Western medicine. It may alleviate symptoms, but will also have many significant side effects with the increased risk of breast, ovarian and uterine cancer – although it is well known that taking estrogen with progesterone reduces the risk, but there is still risk.

Recently, bio identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) with hormones derived from plants such as yams and soy is becoming more popular, and is considered as safe alternatives to conventional HRT. However, recent news reports say BHRT, like HRT, still increases risks of cancers. BHRT are commonly hand mixed by pharmacists, therefore they are untested and unregulated by Health Canada. This means that the women on BHRT can’t be sure of the levels of hormones absorbed.

The main principle for treating perimenopause or menopause is to balance yin and yang. Depending on each woman’s individual state of essence, yin, yang and their relative imbalance, everyone will present with different menopausal symptoms that TCM practitioners will tailor-make a treatment strategy specific to each woman.

Acupuncture is effective in treatment of 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 ha 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 licensed acupuncturist is both effective and safe.