How does acupuncture and oriental medicine treat menopause syndromes?

How does acupuncture and oriental medicine treat menopause syndromes?
Juan Li OMD( China ). MS. L.Ac
Chinese Acupuncture Center

Menopause syndrome is a series of signs and symptoms for a woman adjusting to declining ovarian function as a normal part of aging, or as the result of the surgical removal of both ovaries. The average age for the onset of menopause is 51. Symptoms of menopause is primarily due to estrogen deficiency and the autonomic nervous system, resulting in responses that may be severe and last a few months or several years (mostly 1~3 years). Surgical menopause due to bilateral oophorectomy is common and can cause more severe symptoms due to the sudden and rapid drop in sex hormone levels.

Menopause syndrome includes cessation of menstruation, hot flushes, sweating, vaginal dryness; osteoporosis and elevated FSH and LH serum levels. Menstrual cycles generally become irregular with occasional menorrhagia. The flow usually diminishes due to decreased estrogen secretion. Finally cycles become longer with missed periods or irregular spotting. Hot flashes (feelings of intense heat over the trunk and face along with flushing and sweating of the skin) occur in 80% of women due to a decrease in ovarian hormones. With decreased estrogen, thinning of the vaginal mucosa and decreased vaginal lubrication may result in dyspareunia.

Because each body reacts differently to the same changes, some women are asymptomatic during this decrease in ovarian hormones while others suffer with severe symptoms. Is it possible to change your body's reaction? With the help of acupuncture and herbal medicine it is possible to go through menopause with little or no symptoms.

Because of the increased risk breast cancer with estrogen therapyÛparticularly for women with a family history of this disease-- ...