Menopause
Hot flashes at 2am. Mood swings that feel like they came out of nowhere. Periods that are no longer clockwork. Brain fog in the middle of a work meeting.
Whether you're just noticing the first shifts of perimenopause or you're fully through the change, acupuncture and integrative medicine has been shown to help smooth the transition.
Perimenopause can start up to 10 years before your last period, and the broad range of symptoms of irregular cycles, hot flashes, night sweats, insomnia, mood changes, low libido, joint aches, and brain fog can be genuinely disruptive. You won’t have to convince us that your symptoms could be peri/menopause, we can help you figure it out right from the beginning. Every woman's transition looks different and we work with you to adapt treatments to your specific needs.
We take a comprehensive approach utilizing acupuncture, herbal medicine, nutritional guidance, and lifestyle changes. We believe in working in coordination with your OB/GYN or primary care provider around labs, HRT (hormone replacement therapy), and any other treatments you're already using. This approach can reduce how much medication is needed or help manage the symptoms hormone replacement doesn't fully address.
Ways We Can Help
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Hot Flashes & Night Sweats
Vasomotor symptoms are the hallmark of menopause and often the most disruptive. Acupuncture has the strongest research support of any complementary therapy for reducing the frequency and severity of hot flashes.
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Insomnia
Whether it's night sweats waking you up or a racing mind at 3am, poor sleep compounds every other symptom from moodiness to aches and pains. Our goal is fewer sleep interruptions, a calmer mind and greater restfulness during sleep.
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Mood & Brain Fog
Shifting hormones affect neurotransmitters, not just your body. We address the anxiety, irritability, low mood, and concentration issues that often show up even before menstrual irregularities do.
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All the Rest
Irregular or heavy periods, vaginal dryness, low libido, new joint or muscle pain, even tinnitus. With the right combination of acupuncture, integrative medicine and help from your doctor, we can get you feeling back to yourself.
FAQ
How soon will I notice a difference in hot flashes or sleep?
Most women start noticing changes within the first 4-6 treatments, though the research trials that show the strongest results typically ran 8-12 weeks of weekly treatment.
I haven't had a period in months/years, can you still help?
Absolutely. Whether you're in early peri-menopause with an unpredictable cycle, or years post-menopause, the treatment approach adjusts to where you are. Those further along may take slightly longer to notice the effects.
Can I do acupuncture alongside HRT?
Yes! Many of our patients use both together successfully, and we're happy to coordinate with your prescribing provider. If we think hormone replacement therapy would be helpful, we are happy to refer you to a physician we trust who can help.
Research
Chiu HY, Pan CH, Shyu YK, Han BC, Tsai PS. Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause. 2015 Feb;22(2):234-44.
This meta-analysis confirms that acupuncture improves hot flash frequency and severity, menopause-related symptoms, and quality of life (in the vasomotor domain) in women experiencing natural menopause.
Avis NE, Coeytaux RR, Isom S, et al. Acupuncture in Menopause (AIM) study: a pragmatic, randomized controlled trial. Menopause. 2016;23(6):626-637.
The researchers found that acupuncture significantly reduced vasomotor symptoms … and improved several quality-of-life measures, such as hot flash interference, sleep quality, physical symptoms, memory symptoms, and anxiety. All these benefits persisted at least 6 months beyond the end of acupuncture treatment.
