Since the Women’s Health Initiative Study, and Million Women Study raised concerns about the safety of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) during menopause both women and their doctors have been left looking for alternatives.

The Women’s Health Initiative Study on effects of HRT was stopped in March 2004 because of increased risk of strokes (Anderson et al, 2004). The Million Women Study reported increased risk of breast cancer (Beral, 2003) and endometrial cancer (Beral et al, 2005). Popularity of HRT has decreased leaving women uncertain of their options.

Menopause can be a very positive time when women experience new confidence and freedom, developing a strong sense of ease with themselves. However the physical symptoms can sometimes be difficult to deal with. Mood changes may develop with an increase in stress hormones resulting in further disruption of female hormones, increased hot flushes, and sleep problems. So it is a time to really focus on positive health measures and preventative medicine.

A recent American study suggests that acupuncture moxibustion reduces both thefrequency and severity of menopausal hot flashes, and improves Menopausal-Specific Quality of Life Scale scores (Park, et al, 2009). Menopause may also be brought on abruptly as a result of surgery or chemotherapy. Acupuncture has demonstrated long term relief from hot flushes in cancer patients (Filshie, 2005; Nedstrand, 2005).

Using acupuncture, nutrition, homeopathy, and herbs, both menopausal symptoms, concomitant disease, stress management, and mood changes can be addressed. Acupuncture has been shown to reduce hot flushes and sleep disturbance (Cohen, 2003), and is a safe, natural alternative to HRT (Wyon, 2004).

Diagnosis is established from clinical history, western pathology testing, and traditional Chinese medicine models, so that a precise prescription of acupuncture, food and supplements can be arrived at. Together acupuncture and nutrition offer a powerful solution to hormonal symptoms. The practice focuses on integrated medicine combining the subtleties of TCM with the latest clinical trial information.

References
Anderson, G.L., et al, (2004), Effects of conjugated equine estrogen in postmenopausal women with hysterectomy: the Women’s Health Initiative randomised controlled trial, JAMA Apr14;291(14):1701-12

Beral, V., 2003, Breast cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study, Lancet Oct 4;362 (9390)

Beral, V., Bull, D., Reeves, G., (2005), Endometrial cancer and hormone replacement therapy in the Million Women Study, Lancet Apr30-May6;365(9470):1517-8

Cohen, S.M., Rousseau, M.E, Carey, B.L., (2003), Can acupuncture ease the symptoms of menopause? Holist Nurs Pract Nov-Dec;17(6):295-9

Filshie, J., Bolton, T., Browne, D., Ashley, S. (2005), Acupuncture and self acupuncture for long-term treatment of vasomotor symptoms in cancer patients, Acupunct Med Dec:23(4):171-80

Nedstrand, E., Wijma, K., Wyon, Y., Hammar, M., (2005), Vasomotor symptoms decrease in women with breast cancer randomised to treatment with applied relaxation or electro-acupuncture: a preliminary study, Climacteric Sep;8(3):243-50

Park, J.E., Lee, M.S., Jung, S., Kim, A., Kang, K., Choi, J.,Park, J. Choi, S.M., (2009), Moxibustion for treating menopausal hot flashes: a randomized clinical trial. Menopause, Mar 13

Wyon, Y., Wijma, K., Nedstrand, E., Hammar, M., (2004), A comparison of acupuncture and oral estradiol treatment of vasomotor symptoms in postmenopausal women, Climacteric Jun;7(2):153-64