There has been a lot in the news lately regarding menopausal issues for women.  Even as I write this I find that a national newspaper is running a series of articles entitled The Ultimate Guide to Surviving the Change. Other life changes are discussed openly and some are even legislated for, but the menopause has until very recently been the last taboo. It seems that in our youth obsessed Western culture the menopause has been treated as something to hide, to be embarrassed about, as it is seen to represent a loss of fertility and attractiveness.  But for many women the cessation of her monthly period is a lifting of the burden of birth control.  In Chinese medicine the time beyond the cessation of menstruation is called Second spring, it represents a renewal of energy and opportunity, but it is up to each woman how she approaches it.

We can’t control getting older but we can control how we do it!

Menopausal Symptoms

According to a recent BBC news report it is possible that thousands of women are leaving the teaching profession because health issues relating to the menopause are making it impossible for them to continue.  It cannot be right that a natural change of life is causing so many women such serious problems.

Not all women suffer with menopausal symptoms, some sail through their late 40’s/early 50’s wondering what everyone else is going on about.  But a significant number of women do suffer and the typical symptoms are:

• hot flushes and night sweats

• loss of libido (sex drive)

• vaginal dryness and pain, itching or discomfort during sex

• palpitations (heartbeats that suddenly become more noticeable)

• headaches

• mood changes, such as depression, anxiety or tiredness

• sleeping problems, such as insomnia

• urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

Treatment Options

There are a number of options open to women suffering from “the change”; from advice such as wearing cool clothes and opening windows, changes to nutrition, HRT etc.  Rarely is Acupuncture mentioned as a possible help.  I have treated a number of women suffering from hot flushes and have been successful in reducing their frequency and intensity.  Women who previously were waking in the night and becoming embarrassed by excessive perspiration in the day are now able to function normally.  For some women mood swings can also be a difficult aspect of the menopause to cope with, again Acupuncture can help stabilise these.

Number of Treatments

The number of treatments required will vary, as you will see from the testimonials below.  As a general guide I would expect to take a few weeks to stabilise the body and then see the patient every 2 to 3 weeks, but some women can go much longer without further treatment.  Acupuncture is a holistic treatment, there are no specific points for menopause, and so each woman is treated as an individual.  Thus what works for one woman may not work for another.

So don’t suffer in silence.  Visit my website at www.jackiegrahamacupuncture.com, email me at info@jackiegrahamacupuncture.com or call me on 07733274745 for a consultation.

Scientific Research

Scientific research is being carried out regarding the effects of Acupuncture on hot flushes.  For a brief overview of the results of a rather heavy looking science report please visit:

http://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/Citation/2015/02000/Effects_of_acupuncture_on_menopause_related.18.aspx.