Acupuncture for Menopause
A holistic approach to managing menopausal symptoms
Natural treatment for menopause
Menopause is a natural process that defines the end of a woman’s reproductive years.
The NHS states: “menopause usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, but it can happen earlier. The hormonal changes begin at perimenopause, 8-10 years before the ovaries stop producing oestrogen.
Menopause can happen naturally, or for reasons such as surgery to remove the ovaries (oophorectomy) or the uterus (hysterectomy), cancer treatments like chemotherapy, or a genetic reason. Sometimes the reason is unknown.” Source NHS.
Some women will experience few, or no symptoms and others will experience a wide range of debilitating symptoms. Symptoms include insomnia, night sweats, joint pain, irritability, and hot flushes. All of which can dramatically affect the quality of life.
Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) helps a lot of women manage menopause symptoms
Some women are unable to take HRT for medical reasons, or some choose not to take HRT and follow a route of natural treatment for menopause.
Acupuncture offers a holistic approach to menopause care, either as a stand-alone therapy or as an integrated therapy alongside HRT.
Acupuncture for hot flushes
A small study in 2019, published in The British Medical Journal Open suggests acupuncture may be worth considering. The study concluded “Acupuncture for menopausal symptoms is a realistic option for women who cannot or do not wish to use HT. “
The Danish study found that 5 consecutive weeks of acupuncture in women with menopausal symptoms reduced hot flushes, night/day sweats, menopause related sleep disturbances and emotional symptoms.
The study concluded: A standardised acupuncture treatment gives women suffering from moderate-to-severe menopausal symptoms a clinically relevant reduction in hot flushes, day/night sweats, emotional symptoms, physical symptoms and menopause related sleep symptoms. “
This research is not conclusive, and more studies are needed. The lack of a proper acupuncture placebo has major implications for conducting and interpreting acupuncture studies.
Traditional Chinese Medicine & Menopause
Acupuncture is part of a whole system of medicine known as Traditional Chinese Medicine.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is referred to as the 'Second Spring'. It represents a natural life transition, the renewal of energy and opportunities and a shift from fertility and reproduction, to conserving and nourishing the self.
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is rooted in the theory of yin and yang, the idea that all things are composed of two opposite forces. When those forces are in balance, says TCM, the body is healthy. The menopause is a time where yin naturally becomes depleted.
According to TCM, menopause is a time when a woman’s body experiences a decrease in vital energy or “Qi” and an imbalance of yin and yang. This imbalance can lead to a variety of symptoms, including hot flushes and insomnia. This may also be influenced by poor diet, lifestyle and high stress levels.
The Chinese diagnostic system evaluates a person’s overall health rather than just treating symptoms. The practitioner will then develop a unique treatment plan for each patient.
Acupuncture, is a medical treatment that involves the insertion of thin hair like needles into specific points on the body. It is believed to stimulate the flow of Qi and balance the body’s energy. According to the Nei jing, an ancient Chinese medical text, when a woman ages, the body’s yin energy starts to deplete.
The exact pattern and degree of imbalance is unique to everyone. The traditional acupuncturist will take a detailed consultation and also look at your diet, lifestyle and emotional health.
The skill of the acupuncturist lies in identifying the root of the problem and selecting the most effective treatment. The choice of acupuncture points is unique to each patient’s needs. Traditional Acupuncture is a medical treatment that is not the same as "dry needling" that is practised for pain and muscular/skeletal conditions. A registered traditional acupuncturist will have completed training at degree level for a number of years.
Overall, while more research is needed, acupuncture promotes relaxation and overall wellness. Acupuncture is ideally used as part of a comprehensive, multi – disciplinary treatment plan that includes lifestyle changes, exercise, mindfulness and counselling. Acupuncture can be used safely alongside conventional drug treatment to minimise side effects.
How does Acupuncture work?
In western medical terms, Acupuncture is believed to stimulate the nervous system and release neurochemical messenger molecules. The resulting biochemical changes influence the body’s homeostatic mechanisms, promoting physical and emotional wellbeing.
Acupuncture is shown in research to regulate levels of neurotransmitters (or their modulators) and hormones such as serotonin, noradrenaline, dopamine, GABA and ACTH hence altering the mood’s chemistry promoting relaxation helping to lower feelings of anxiety and tension in the body. (Lee 2009, Samuels 2008: Zhou 2008; Yuan2007)
Stimulation of certain acupuncture points has been shown to affect areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to pain and stress, as well as promoting relaxation and deactivating the ‘analytical’ brain, which is responsible for insomnia and anxiety (Hui 2010)
Acupuncture may help to regulate the autonomic nervous system, reducing the body’s “fight or flight” response.
By reducing stress and promoting relaxation, acupuncture may help to improve sleep quality.
How to choose your Acupuncturist
Acupuncture, as a medical treatment is an extremely safe and low risk treatment for a wide range of health conditions when performed by a qualified and registered professional.
The British Acupuncture Council (BAcC) is the UK’s leading self-regulatory body providing the highest in standards of traditional acupuncture and medical acupuncture in the UK.
All members belong to an accredited register, regulated and approved by the Professional Standards Authority for Health & Social Care (PSA). The PSA protects the public by overseeing the regulation and registration of healthcare professionals - including statutorily regulated professions, such as the Nursing and Midwifery Council, and Accredited Registers like the BAcC. This offers a quality mark for high standards of training, safe practice and professional conduct.
All members are degree level trained and adhere to strict codes of practice and professional conduct.
Colette Assor is a BAcC registered Acupuncture practitioner with 25 years clinical experience. Colette holds a postgraduate advanced diploma in TCM and Menopause, is a Fellow of The British Acupuncture Council.( BAcC) and member of The British Medical Acupuncture Society.
Further reading on Acupuncture as a natural treatment for Menopause.
- British Acupuncture Council: About Acupuncture
- NHS: Acupuncture
- Balance Menopause: Acupuncture and Menopause
- British Medical Journal Open: Efficiency of Acupuncture for Menopausal symptoms.
- Evidence Based Acupuncture: Acupuncture treatment for Menopause symptoms.
- The BBC: Can Acupuncture help Menopause?
- Professional Standards Authority for Health and Social Care: our work with accredited registers.