Menopause Relief in Calgary: How Acupuncture Can Help

Acupuncture has gained attention in Calgary as a complementary therapy for relief of menopause symptoms. These symptoms can include hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings, and sleep problems. Acupuncture is rooted in traditional Chinese medicine. It involves placing fine needles into specific points on the body. This practice aims to restore balance and promote natural healing. In Calgary, many women are turning to acupuncture to help regulate hormonal activity and ease menopause-related symptoms, such as hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. While more scientific research is needed to fully understand how it works, many people report noticeable relief when incorporating acupuncture into their menopause care plan.

What is Menopause?

Menopause is a natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It typically occurs between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being around 51. A woman has officially reached menopause when she has not had a period for 12 continuous months.

The transition to menopause is often gradual and can span several years, a period known as perimenopause. During this time, hormone levels change unpredictably, leading to irregular menstrual cycles and many other symptoms.

Once a woman reaches menopause there is a significant decline in the production of estrogen and progesterone by the ovaries. These hormone changes can lead to a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological symptoms.

Menopausal Changes

We are taught that estrogen is just a reproductive hormone. In fact, Estrogen receptors can be found in almost every tissue of the body. With receptors for this hormone all over the body it’s no wonder the list of menopausal symptoms is huge. These symptoms can be divided into groups for easier understanding.

Menopause Relief in Calgary

If you’re in Calgary and seeking menopause relief, consider exploring the benefits of acupuncture. Acupuncture is a unique medical system with its own diagnostic and treatment systems. It is more than just needles. Visit me at  Westwinds Massage & Wellness, located in NE Calgary.  Together we can explore how menopause is affecting your life and create a treatment plan tailored just for you.

Acupuncture for Menopause Relief

Many women seek natural relief for menopause symptoms. Acupuncture is a holistic approach that can be especially beneficial for women seeking menopause relief.  One of the benefits of acupuncture is its focus on the whole person. It addresses the root of the issue and is concerned with regaining health, not just symptom management. 

Practitioners will place fine needles at specific points on the body. The needles stimulate local release of chemicals as well as nerve impulses that travel to the brain. These impulses affect the release of neurotransmitters and hormones throughout the body. Common hormone channels include:

Your practitioner will ask a ton of questions and examine your tongue and pulse. This is to help them determine the root issues. Everyone is different, so your treatment will relate to you and your specific experience.  To support acupuncture treatment for relief of menopause symptoms, practitioners may suggest lifestyle adjustments. They might also recommend dietary modifications and herbal formulas.

Research Supporting Acupuncture for Menopause

Research indicates that acupuncture can offer relief for menopause-related symptoms, particularly hot flashes and overall quality of life. However, the evidence is mixed, and results can vary based on study design and comparison groups.

Literature Reviews

An analysis of 33 studies including 3,092 women found that acupuncture had a significant positive effect on memory and anxiety that lasted for 6 months after treatment stopped. (2)

A separate analysis of 12 randomized controlled trials involving 869 participants found that acupuncture significantly reduced the frequency and severity of hot flashes. It also improved menopause-related symptoms and quality of life, particularly in the vasomotor domain. These effects were observed to persist for up to three months after treatment. (1)

Randomized Trials

A multi-centre trial involving 70 women with severe menopause symptoms found that just one treatment per week for five weeks decreased the incidences of hot flushes, day & night sweats, general sweating and menopause specific sleep problems. (3).

Another large-scale study involving perimenopausal and postmenopausal women showed that acupuncture, when added to usual care, led to a significant reduction in hot flash scores and improvements in menopause-related symptoms, including psychological, somatic, and urogenital domains, as measured by the Menopause Rating Scale. (4)

Conclusion

These various findings show that acupuncture holds promise as an effective therapy for menopause relief with minimal side effects. Visit us for more information on how we can help you manage your menopause symptoms and feel like yourself again.

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References

1. Chiu HY, Pan CH, Shyu YK, Han BC, Tsai PS. Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause. 2015 Feb;22(2):234-44. doi: 10.1097/GME.0000000000000260. PMID: 25003620.
2. Mehrnoush V, Darsareh F, Roozbeh N, Ziraeie A. Efficacy of the Complementary and Alternative Therapies for the Management of Psychological Symptoms of Menopause: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials. J Menopausal Med. 2021 Dec;27(3):115-131. doi: 10.6118/jmm.21022. PMID: 34989185; PMCID: PMC8738851.
3. Lund KS, Siersma V, Brodersen J, Waldorff FB. Efficacy of a standardised acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms: a pragmatic randomised study in primary care (the ACOM study). BMJ Open. 2019 Feb 19;9(1):e023637. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023637. PMID: 30782712; PMCID: PMC6501989.
4. Kim KH, Kang KW, Kim DI, Kim HJ, Yoon HM, Lee JM, Jeong JC, Lee MS, Jung HJ, Choi SM. Effects of acupuncture on hot flashes in perimenopausal and postmenopausal women–a multicenter randomized clinical trial. Menopause. 2010 Mar;17(2):269-80. doi: 10.1097/gme.0b013e3181bfac3b. PMID: 19907348.
   
5. Baccetti S, Da Frè M, Becorpi A, Faedda M, Guerrera A, Monechi MV, Munizzi RM, Parazzini F. Acupuncture and traditional Chinese medicine for hot flushes in menopause: a randomized trial. J Altern Complement Med. 2014 Jul;20(7):550-7. doi: 10.1089/acm.2012.0499. Epub 2014 May 14. PMID: 24827469.
6. Chien TJ, Hsu CH, Liu CY, Fang CJ. Effect of acupuncture on hot flush and menopause symptoms in breast cancer- A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2017 Aug 22;12(8):e0180918. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0180918. PMID: 28829776; PMCID: PMC5568723.
7. Lee E, Anselmo M, Tahsin CT, Vanden Noven M, Stokes W, Carter JR, Keller-Ross ML. Vasomotor symptoms of menopause, autonomic dysfunction, and cardiovascular disease. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2022 Dec 1;323(6):H1270-H1280. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00477.2022. Epub 2022 Nov 11. PMID: 36367692; PMCID: PMC9744645.
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