According to research stated in the journal Menopause, acupuncture was found to reduce the severity of hot flashes. 

Acupuncture, one of the oldest healing practices in the world is now increasingly being used by many women facing menopause to help them bring their body back into balance. It has also become the focal point of treating several pains, hormonal imbalances and even restoring balance after suffering from ailments.

By inserting fine needles into a variety of acupoints or pressure points on the skin, acupuncture triggers the body’s natural healing abilities by stimulating these points.

As you enter the permanent ending of your period your ovaries produce less estrogen bringing about change in the hormones in your body that may cause hot flashes and night sweats. According to research stated in the journal Menopause, acupuncture was found to reduce the severity of hot flashes. The findings showed that acupuncture was able to lessen the severity and frequency of them.

How Does Acupuncture Work?

According to Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there are two types of energy present in our body- yin and yang. Also called qi, the energy keeps everything in balance while flowing along the body’s meridians where around 2,000 acupuncture points lie. Our body becomes unhealthy or unbalanced if these energy points become blocked. Acupuncture is believed to restore a healthy flow of energy by stimulating these meridians or acupoints.

How Does Acupuncture Help During Menopause?

Acupuncture cannot slow the onset of menopause but can address certain symptoms connected to it:

• Limit the severity and occurrence of hot flashes
• Combat the side effects of a slowing metabolism
• Combined with nutrition, it can help manage obesity
• Lead to an increased libido and a healthier hormone balance

Also, there’s a strong connection between depression and menopause. Loss of estrogen hormone relates to a loss of serotonin, a natural mood booster hormone. Having less serotonin puts some women at a greater risk for mental health conditions.

If besides hot flashes or night flashes you are also experiencing mental health side effects of menopause such as anxiety or severe mood swings, acupuncture may help you get relief from these symptoms.