From the standpoint of Traditional Chinese Medicine, menopause, or “Second Spring” as it’s known, is a natural occurrence. Oestrogen levels and yin* naturally decline in this time of life, but the associated symptoms of hot flushes, insomnia, irritability and mood swings do not have to go hand in hand with the end of menstruation.
Often defined as a lack of menstruation for one to two years, there is no “typical” pattern to how menopause will occur. For some women the lack of menstruation is sudden, whereas others find that there cycles become unpredictable for many months or years.
Although women may go into menopause at any age -for most of us- as we approach our mid to late 40’s it’s worth planning ahead for this period. For many women, the symptoms of menopause actually happen during the peri-menopausal period 4 to 8 years before the actual time of menopause. During this time it’s critical that we look closely at our health and put forth a plan of action that often includes a shift of attitude and patterning. Healthy eating, exercise that we enjoy (and therefore will keep up), restorative health treatments such as acupuncture and massage, nourishing practices such as meditation, journaling, and self reflection; all play a vital role in ensuring our later years are rich and full.
A woman’s body is designed for the process of menopause. In some cases, If we’ve taken care of ourselves during the years leading up to menopause, both emotionally and physically, we may be lucky enough to have less pressing symptoms. With this in mind, the known and dreaded signs of menopause can be clearly read as a body looking for balance. It isn’t uncommon for a woman to be under pressure from juggling the daily demands of work and family for most of her life and find menopause hits with a bang, asking her to slow down and redefine this next chapter in her life.
Acupuncture
Through acupuncture and herbal treatments we nourish the deep well within, encouraging the body’s natural state of balance to be regained. In this way we aim to cultivate health as relevant to this time of life. Using lifestyle changes with relation to sleep patterns, slowing down when possible, meditation, relaxation, exercise, supplementation, and dietary changes we can make significant improvements in the quality of our life and enjoy a healthier relationship to our body.
Acupucnture is helpful in the reduction of:
- hot flashes
- insomnia
- mood swings
- anxiety
- vaginal dryness
Dear Lauren…(after our Acupuncture session) I’m feeling much better, flushes have decreased, mood starting to lift and I must say I love the herb drink!! I feel like my body has been looking for it!!
~ Acupuncture Patient
Yoga
Additionally, the practice of Yoga is one that naturally brings the body into a state of balance. Like Acupuncture, the body is given the space to return to a quieter, more naturally nourished state. Both practices allow the parasympathetic nervous system to take over from our more commonly relied on fight or flight stance to the world and our circumstances. In the naturally relaxed state cultivated through the practice of Yoga, our organ systems are nourished, our hormones rebalance and through the reduction of anxiety and strengthening of our nervous system many surprising side effects can occur such as the improvement of memory, increased libido, better quality sleep and greater wellbeing.