Menopause indicates the complete cessation of menstrual periods for at least 6 months. Peri-menopause indicates the phase in which a woman is transitioning from a reproductive to a non reproductive stage. This time period is one of declining ovarian function, and typically spans 2-5 years.
Menopause is not a disease, but a normal physiological transition. In fact some women experience no “symptoms” during this time except of course that their periods become less frequent and eventually cease all together. However some women experience great discomfort during this transition, and even beyond.
From a TCM perspective in its most simple form menopausal symptoms are the result of a deficiency of kidney yin, kidney yang or a combination of kidney yin and yang.
Kidney yin is fluid that nourishes, moisturizes and cools the body and it’s tissues. Kidney yang is the opposite it is energy that activates, invigorates and warms the body and its tissues.
Yin and Yang depend on and balance one another. When one gets low the other is not balanced and this can cause a variety of symptoms in the body. Symptoms such as, hot flashes, and night sweats, vaginal dryness, anxiety and difficulty sleeping are all related to a deficiency of yin. When the yin is deficient there is not enough cooling and calming fluid to balance and anchor the warming and moving yang energy. In the case of hot flashes for example, the lack of yin (your bodies coolant) causes a relative excess of yang (your bodies warmer), resulting in body heat.
Kidney yang deficiency can also result in the above symptoms, because the yin depends on the yang for its production. When there is also a kidney yang deficiency the patient might feel cold (except for during the hot flash of course!), have low energy, or low libido.
At Valley Holistic Healing a health history and exam are done to uncover the specific imbalances or deficiencies that are causing your symptoms. Acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and diet therapy are used to address the underlying issue, and relieve the symptoms.
Menopausal symptoms commonly treated include:
- Hot flashes
- Night sweats
- Vaginal Dryness
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- and more to inquire about your specific situation free phone consultations are available
