Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms

Acupuncture is based on Chinese medicine and is quite different from Western medicine. Rather than approaching menopause as a disease that needs to be 'fixed,' acupuncture focuses on regulating the body and restoring its balance.  By doing so, menopausal symptoms can gradually ease.

Acupuncture is based on the idea that there are patterns of energy flow, known as Qi that exist throughout  the body and are considered vital for life and good health.

Menopause can be treated in many ways but whilst hormone treatments are popular, not every woman wants to take prescription medication.  Some women will look to alternative treatments such as acupuncture.  Acupuncture can help many different health issues, including menopause: a natural treatment that has a low propensity for side-effects.

Different techniques are used to stimulate acupuncture points at the skin and facilitate the overall healing of the body with very fine, metal needles.  These are manipulated manually or by electrical stimulation.

For women who are experiencing the menopausal transition, acupuncture can provide relief from symptoms. It can aid the body's own adaptive changes to hormones and help relieve symptoms through the use of needles at special points along the body. Typically, an acupuncturist will speak at length about a woman’s specific symptoms, diet, lifestyle and overall health.  A treatment plan would be formulated – lasting from five to eight sessions.

Women can find an improved sense of well-being after an acupuncture treatment, feel quite sleepy and find acupuncture helps to ease their insomnia which may have been experienced as a symptom. Other women find their hot flushes are improved, they experience less sleep disturbance and their mood changes improve.  Most women will find the treatment relaxing.

When sourcing a professional acupuncturist ensure that the acupuncturist is licensed and certified.

To find a reputable practitioner go to the Acupuncturist Society website.

Information written by the talkhealth medical panel

Last Reviewed: 1 November 2010
Next Review Date: 1 November 2012