In combination, acupuncture and Chinese medicine can effectively treat hot flushes, night sweats, promote mental stability, and strengthen the body.
Dang Gui (Radix Angelicae sinensis), a commonly used Chinese herb, was most frequently cited. This herb has traditionally been used to treat dysmenorrhoea, irregular menstruation and as a supportive herb for menopausal complaints (Geller 2006; Luo 1986).
Chinese medicine presents an alternative to Western vitamins and supplements, with acupuncture considered one of the most popular minimally invasive methods for rebalancing the body and managing menopause at its core.
Yin Deficiency: Nourish is one of the most commonly used and the most effective formulas for menopause. It has marked effectiveness to treat the cause (estrogen deficiency) and the symptoms of menopause (hot flashes, perspiration, insomnia, emotional instability, etc).
When it's not possible for you to take hormone therapy, your doctor may recommend medications to help relieve hot flashes. These medications include antidepressants, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI), a blood pressure medicine called clonidine, and the seizure drug, gabapentin.
There's nothing you can do to avoid hot flashes around menopause. But you can stay away from triggers that may make them more frequent or more severe. Common ones include: Stress.
Keishi-bukuryo-gan, a traditional formula made up of four herbs and a mushroom, is widely used in Japan for treatment of perimenopausal hot flashes. It is available there only by prescription, but you can buy a variant of it in the United States over the counter as H25.
Enrich Yin: Chinese herbs such as Rehmannia (Herb #1), Anemarrhena (Herb #2) and Asparagus Root (Herb #3) are known for their lubricating, moisturizing and cooling properties. They are effective in treating night sweats caused by yin deficiency.
B vitamins are essential for energy and mood—“two things a lot of menopausal women struggle with,” says Dr. Petrucci. She suggests a B complex supplement, which often includes vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate.
In contrast, Asian women tend to have similar age at menopause to Caucasian women,58,82 although Thai women have been reported to have a lower median age at menopause, at age 49.5 years, despite their high parity,83 and Filipino Malay women have been reported to have an earlier average age at natural menopause at 47 to ...
The types of herbs used to manage menopausal symptoms include: black cohosh, dong quai, evening primrose, hops, Korean ginseng, linseed (flaxseed), red clover, St John's wort and wild yam.
Cooling foods: If you're suffering from hot flashes, so-called “cooling foods,” including apples, bananas, spinach, broccoli, eggs and green tea may help you cool down, according to Chinese medicine. A bonus: all of these foods are rich in nutrients and disease-fighting chemicals.
Ginger may help improve menopausal symptoms like hot flushes, improve digestion, and reduce nausea, it acts as an anti-inflammatory to ease pain and cramping, its cardioprotective, neuroprotective, bone protective, and immune regulating.
Black Cohosh. The herb has been used to treat hot flashes and other menopausal symptoms for many years without permanent effects on estrogen receptors (20, 21). Terpene glycosides are the active compounds found in the plant roots.
For Menopause, the Vitamin E family is a proven remedy for hot flashes and night sweats. Naturally-occurring Vitamin E includes mixed natural tocopherols and tocotrienols, which work together to ease hot flashes, night heats, sleep disruption, bladder urgency and leaking, and other menopausal symptoms.
Zhi bai di huang wan/temper fire: This is probably the most popular Chinese herbal formula for hot flashes. It is considered a kidney yin tonic that clears fire from the kidneys. Other symptoms would be low back pain, scanty dark urine, and low energy.
Balanced Hormones
Dong Quai is used in TCM to help balance women's hormone levels by moderating the body's production of estrogen. It may help ease menstrual and menopausal symptoms, including cramps, migraines, mood swings, night sweats, and hot flashes.
Exercising regularly can release the happy hormones called 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.
While women typically experience menopause in the 40s or 50s, a large number of women can experience hot flashes not only during menopause but well into their 60s, 70s, and even 80s.
Magnesium appears to be a safe and inexpensive therapy for those with bothersome hot flashes. The greater than 50% reduction in symptoms suggests that oral magnesium is likely more effective than placebo and meets pre-established criteria of sufficient success to test in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial.
Nuts and Seeds, including almonds, flaxseeds, peanuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds. Soy and soy products, such as soybeans, tofu, miso soup, miso paste. Vegetables, particularly broccoli, Brussels sprouts, kale, onions, spinach, sprouts.