Acupuncture can help relieve the discomfort of menopause

Using acupuncture needles at pressure points in the body can stimulate the central nervous system, causing it to release pain-relieving chemicals, such endorphins. These can help alleviate the pain associated with menopause.   In conjunction with acupuncture, exercising regularly can also release endorphins, which helps relieve menopause symptoms, making irritability and mood swings easier to cope with. Even going for short daily walks or doing some yoga stretches can help keep your body functioning well.

Traditional Chinese acupuncture treatment can be effective in treating menopause symptoms, according to the study of 327 menopausal Australian women who were given acupuncture treatment.  These women subsequently reported a 40 percent improvement in the severity and frequency of their hot flushes at the end of eight weeks of treatment.  The benefits were still felt six months after treatment.

Patients with menopause can suffer from extreme hot flushes up to 15 times or even more every day. The flushes can focus around head and neck and is really visible. It can occur suddenly and have rivers of sweat running down face. Patients can benefit from the acupuncture treatment and reduce the discomfort due to menopause, such as improved sleeping, less hot flush and night sweats, less bloating, more relaxed, and can manage things more.

In another study reported by the BBC, menopause participants were split into two groups – one received acupuncture for six weeks while the other received no treatment.  Each participant then completed a questionnaire to self-evaluate their symptoms at three and six weeks.  By the end of six weeks, women in the acupuncture group recorded moderate improvements in all symptoms compared with the group that received no acupuncture treatment.  Importantly, 80% of the women in the acupuncture group said they felt the sessions helped them. 

Other studies have also shown that acupuncture is effective for chronic pain, including low back pain, neck pain, and osteoarthritis, tension-type headache, chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, period pain and hay fever. 

To sum up, acupuncture is reasonably effective in alleviating the pain and discomfort of menopause as it releases pain-relieving endorphins.  Acupuncture reduces the incidence of hot flushes and night sweats, reduces aches and pain, moderates mood swings and anxiety, helps cure insomnia, reduces fatigue and helps stimulate the release of neurochemicals that can counter the effects of vaginal dryness, leading to less painful sex.  Acupuncture can be considered as part of an overall strategy including traditional medications and regular exercise to alleviate the debilitating effects of menopause.