Tag: Menopause
Powerful Chinese Medicinal Herbs That Can Treat The Symptoms of Menopause
Managing the confusing and complex array of symptoms of menopause can become easier with Chinese herbal medicine, a type of traditional Chinese medicine treatment that is based on the premise that everything moves or changes. The circulation of vital energy (Chi) animates and invigorates the organs and the rest of the body. This circulation depends on maintaining equilibrium between the complementary yet opposing forces of Yin and Yang. The development of disease may imply an imbalance between Yin and Yang and/or that the flow of Chi has been disrupted.
In traditional Chinese medicine, the human body has twelve main meridian channels that are responsible for the health of the body. Because it stores Jing (Kidney energy), the Kidney meridian–organ system is extremely important in the treatment of menopausal symptoms. The Jing is where Yin and Yang originate and they regulate the movement of Qi through all the other organ-meridian systems.
The importance of the Kidney organ-meridian system in women with menopause is due to its governance of the adrenal glands, ovaries, skeletal structure, brain, teeth, kidneys, inner ear, urethra, fluids, hormones, and other substances produced by the kidneys, adrenals and ovaries, as well as the physiological functions of growth fluid, reproduction, and balance during all ages.
Menopause – Its Signs and Symptoms
Menopause usually starts by the age of 45. This is the time when few primordial follicles stay in the ovaries to produce egg (mature ovum). As a result, there is not enough production of progesterone and estrogen to bring about a normal monthly cycle.
When menopause starts, the first sign may be a change in a previously regular menstrual cycle, either in a missed period duration or volume; onset of hot flushing, excessive perspiration and sweaty palms or clamminess; moods changes including depression and anxiety; the exacerbation or occurrence of pre-menstrual symptoms (headaches , breast pain, and fluid retention); changes in the skin (dryness and lessened elasticity particularly of the vagina resulting in dyspareunia or pain during intercourse); cramps and numbness especially at night; changes in body shape, loss of sexual desire, and joint pains.
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Treatment of Menopausal Symptoms
The focus of Traditional Chinese management of menopause is in balancing yin and yang and restoring Jing to regulate the functions of various tissues and organs that the Kidney organ-meridian system governs. According to Western medicine, this approach aims to
? Relieve mood swings, mild anxiety, insomnia, and irritability
? Treat profuse sweating and hot flushes and regulate hormonal function
? Resolve vaginal and skin dryness
? Boost genital sensitivity and sexual vitality
? Enhance bone integrity
The Chinese Herbs Used in Alleviating the Symptoms of Menopause
Kudzu (Pueraria lobata) – This herb is infused with isoflavonoids and phytoestrogens which have specific health benefits during menopause. In postmenopausal women, Kudzu prevents or slows down bone loss and relieves hot flushes. Its extract has estrogenic effects on vaginal tissue to address dyspareunia and vaginal dryness and to bring back vaginal membrane or epithelial integrity.
Anemarrhena asphodeloides – This herb contains steroidal saponins that improve hormone function. It can also be used as a tonic for the Kidney Yin that possesses nourishing (tonic), moistening (mucogenic), and cooling (refrigerant) qualities that can help reduce profuse sweating and hot flushes, lubricate vaginal dryness, and reinforce the adrenal glands to replace ovaries as the producer of hormones in the body after the cessation of menstruation.
Morinda officinalis and Epimedium sagittatum – They are used to tonify Kidney Yang. When used together, these two herbs reinforce Yang, provide warmth to the Kidney organ-meridian, and strengthen Yang. Both herbs have hormone regulating activity that assists in restoring sexual vitality, psychological motivation, and physical drive. Both Morinda officinalis and Epimedium sagittatum are urogenital tonics and aphrodisiacs that besides helping dispel sexual disinterest also resolve urinary incontinence and bladder weakness. Being an adaptogen, Morinda gives the body the ability to boost its resistance to stress. Epimedium is deemed biphasic which means that while it tonifies Kidney Yin, it also fortifies Yang preventing it from rising and causing flushing and heat in the upper body.
Angelica polymorpha – In Chinese medicine, this is a very popular herb, and is used for so many female health issues. Because it invigorates and nourishes Hsue (Chinese word for ‘blood’), angelica polymorpha is also considered a ‘female ginseng.’ It also harmonizes Chi which is helpful in the treatment of low vitality, fatigue, recuperation from childbirth, pelvic pain, and dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation). Studies have shown that Dong Quai is best used when combined with other herbs. It is an ideal remedy for people suffering from Yin deficiency, a condition that usually develops in menopause (frequency and intensity of hot flushes).
Dr. Nelya de Brun, AP, DAOM
Classical Oriental Medicine, LLC
3459 Woolbright Rd
Boynton Beach, FL 33436
(561) 932-3905
http://www.acu-wellness.com/
The Adverse Consequences of Menopause Can Be Addressed with Menopause
Herbal medicine and acupuncture these days have been credited to help a lot of menopausal women overcome their hormones imbalance. Apart from menopause, several other factors have been associated with hormonal imbalance. They may include fertility difficulties, premenstrual syndrome, and heavy, irregular, and painful periods. Those imbalances can be due to a number of factors. Some contributory factors include a poor diet, emotional stress, insufficient rest, exposure to cold or heat and other harsh elements, and lack of physical exercise.
Acupuncture Treatment in Jacksonville to Restore Balance to Hormones in Menopause
According to TCM or Traditional Chinese medicine, the human body possesses an important life force known as Qi or Chi. Qi flows through our bodies via pathways that are similar to the way blood flows through the veins; one difference is that these pathways cannot be seen but are nevertheless central to our well-being. When a blockage develops in these pathways (known as meridians), it results in illnesses, including menopausal hormonal imbalance. This type of imbalance can generate severe discomfort in sufferers. Acupuncture has turned out to be a treatment of choice for many these days. It aids in muscle, connective tissue, and nerve stimulation which then leads to effective and better blood circulation to all parts of the body.
Benefits of Acupuncture
Besides being a natural form of Chinese medicine, acupuncture is also a great reliever of pain and used widely to resolve several other health issues. Despite the fact that the treatment utilizes needles, the method is actually painless and helps women overcome the uncomfortable symptoms associated with menopause including hot flashes, night sweats, and mood swings. Acupuncture is so safe that it does not have side effects unlike other menopause remedies.
It is also effective in treating other obstetric and gynecological conditions such as PMS difficulties, fertility problems, and painful, irregular and heavy periods. As a primary treatment or used in conjunction with other allopathic or holistic therapies, acupuncture has the ability to rectify all those conditions. This mode of healing can be more enhanced when a good diet, and certain lifestyle changes such as a proper exercise regime is incorporated into the course of treatment.
Acupuncture meridian systems in association with the female hormonal system connect the uterus with the heart, brain, and kidneys to help restore balance and health. The treatment also affects the person’s emotions, thought patterns, and overall hormonal function. It stimulates the circulation and manufacture of hormones inside the body, and also initiates the production of endorphins that’s related largely to hormones affecting mood during a woman’s different life cycles like pregnancy and menopause. In treating hormonal imbalance, acupuncture is often combined with Chinese herbal therapy to boost the outcomes of the treatment.
Addressing Other Medical Conditions
We now know that acupuncture is very much used to bring back balance to the hormones. What some others don’t know is that acupuncture can also be used chronic back pain. It is used to relieve pain brought about by spinal stenosis (pain in the back and neck) without resorting to surgery. For fertility-challenged couples, acupuncture also has shown to work extremely well. It does so by boosting blood circulation in the uterus and ovaries. However, for structural issues like blocked fallopian tubes, acupuncture may not help. A lot of women tend to gain weight during menopause; acupuncture balances hormones and consequent weight loss via more efficient metabolism during menopause.
Acupuncture for Menopause
This article talks about the case of a 52-year-old female who reported of insomnia and night sweats. She had problems going to sleep as during every bed time she felt very hot, and when she managed to fall asleep she would all of a sudden wake up all soaked in sweat. This woman also experienced hot flashes during the daytime for which she would also sweat profusely. At times, she would also have some dizzy spells.
The monthly period of this woman had been decreasing during the past few years. They occur for only once in every three or four months and when they come, the periods were unpredictable. These periods either exhibited more discharge than normal or were scanty. She noticed that she was becoming more and more irritable, particularly during the onset of her periods as well in connection with the occurrence of her hot flashes.
She also talked about her headaches starting, particularly on the top of her head. There was also a bitter taste in her mouth that accompanied those headaches. The woman likewise stated that she upped her fiber content which helped facilitate her bowel movement that were starting to become slower that possibly would result in constipation.
Her tongue showed a white thin coat tip with a reddish color. She manifested a pulse that was weaker on the left side particularly on the side of the kidney’s position, and was rapid and wiry on the right.
Diagnosis: Liver and Kidney deficiency and some signs of Rising Liver Yang that may be due to the deficiency of the Liver Yin. The deficiency in Kidney Yin deficiency was evident in the lessening of her periods, as well as the hot flashes, constipation, and night sweats. The deficiency of Liver Yin manifested in her erratic periods, dizziness and irritability. The ascendancy of Liver Yang showed in relation to the headaches she was beginning to experience as well as the bitter taste in her mouth.
Treatment Recommendation: Tonify the Liver Blood and Kidney Yin; certain points to regulate the Liver and remove some Heat in order to inhibit the Liver Yang, but only secondary in importance to Tonifying.
Acupuncture Points: RN 4, SP 6, LR 3, BL 18, LI 4, BL 20, KD 6, BL 23, KD 3, LR 8,
Herbal Remedies: Zhi Mu, Six Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia (Liu Wei Di Huang Wan), reinforced with Di Gu Pi.
Treatment for a month showed the woman feeling a lot better. Her dizziness, insomnia and night sweats had all been treated although she still experienced the occasional hot flash. No longer was she experiencing headaches, and she had a much better mood as well.