Menopause
Why is menopause treated like a disease when in fact it’s a cycle that naturally occurs with women?
Menopause is a natural, physiological cycle that takes place for women. Most medical treatments today address the various symptoms and signs associated with menopause. Just treating these symptoms and signs is only the tip of the iceberg.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine understand that these symptoms and signs are merely indications that deep within a woman’s body an imbalance exists. This 3,000 year-old healing art focuses upon the underlying imbalances that have occurred over the years. These imbalances, left unchecked, can result in the various symptoms and signs that reflect the Western diagnosis of menopause.
Acupuncture and a woman’s natural process.
Menopause signifies “a change” within a women’s life. This change occurs because a woman’s body chemistry is shifting. Chinese medicine recognizes this chemistry change as a natural or unnatural process that takes place.
Estrogen is similar to what acupuncturists call Jing. Jing is a gift given to all of us at the time of conception by our parents. It is our battery that provides us with the basic energy to power all our life functions. When Jing is plentiful, our ability to adapt to disease, illness and change is optimal.
With age, we slowly drain Jing energy from our battery. Some people do it faster than others. But, as we approach the ages between 35-60, Jing naturally begins to decline. When Jing declines our body becomes unbalanced and various symptoms and signs will occur; graying hair, loss of libido, backache, and fatigue.
Another cause for menopause is the slowing of the flow of Yin. The concept of Yin is like the cooling system of the body. When this cooling system declines, heat symptoms will arise, leading to hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, heart palpitations, and insomnia.
Sometimes instead of Yin slowing, Yang energy declines. Yang represents the warming and metabolizing functions of the body. When Yang is unbalanced symptoms may include water retention, weight gain, edema, indigestion, hypertension or raised cholesterol levels. Left untreated, a decline and imbalance of Jing, Yin or Yang can lead to the symptoms and signs associated with menopause.
What can acupuncturists do?
When a practitioner of Chinese medicine treats menopausal symptoms, they first determine where the energy has changed, and what organ systems have become unbalanced. Once this is known, various natural therapies, such as acupuncture, herbs, meditation, Qi Gong, and diet, can be used to correct the imbalance.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can offer a safe, natural, drug-free and effective way to address menopause. By supporting the healing energies of Jing, Yin and yang, the body has the building blocks needed in order to nourish, heal and regain balance.