Put your Hot Flashes on Ice: Natural Solutions for Menopausal Symptoms

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Have you been disappointed by the quality of life that you’ve experienced since beginning menopause?  While this is a natural progression of women’s hormones, the symptoms are described by many of our patients as uncomfortable, intolerable, and seemingly unnatural.  Fortunately, Chinese medicine has numerous solutions that can bring comfort and calm to your life. This transition into menopause while natural, brings with it a number of new challenges that can affect a woman’s quality of life.  You might experience both emotional and physical symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, irritability, anxiety, depression, insomnia, tiredness, fatigue, and difficulty concentrating.  The time tested help of Chinese medicine may be the solution you’ve been seeking.

What’s All the Fuss About

Conventional medical research has proven that menopausal symptoms arise from a decrease in ovarian function leading to the decline in the production of hormones estrogen and progesterone.  As a result, Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is frequently prescribed to replace these hormones.  In essence, this therapy confuses the body into believing that the ovaries are still properly functioning.  This method of treatment has been effective in stopping many of the aforementioned symptoms. However, there has recently been controversy surrounding the use of HRT, with studies showing that its use may lead to an increased risk of breast and endometrial cancer. Because of conflicting studies for and against HRT, many women face uncertainty in choosing between either HRT while risking potential health hazards or using nothing which may lead to unwanted symptoms.

A Time Tested Safe Alternative

Chinese herbal medicine has been around for thousands of years and has been used effectively to treat the symptoms of menopause. The strength of Chinese medicine lies in the way in which it assimilates each individual’s signs and symptoms into clinical patterns that have a variety of solutions already worked out. Your care is always customized. By addressing the person as a whole, practitioners of Chinese medicine are able to put together landscaped pictures of each individual’s constitution.  Once we have the picture, we are able to treat the condition.  Thus not all women suffering from menopause are treated the same.  In fact we may have ten different patients with similar symptoms related to menopause, and yet when we step back and see the whole picture we notice their patterns to be completely different, and thus require different modes of treatment.

A Case of the Hot Flash Blues

When Mrs. R. came to see me, she looked weak, pale and in need of respite from hourly hot flashes, which she called her “personal summers”.  Her hot flashes would happen frequently and at the most inconvenient times, during meetings with her boss, while out with friends, anywhere.  The “personal summers” would come on fast and furious causing her fan herself in attempt to cool that heat rising from somewhere inside her chest up to her face.  But that wasn’t all.  At night she would have hourly hot flashes and night sweats.  Sometimes the sweating was so bad that she would need a change of clothing.  Every night it was the same thing, over and over: the heat, the sweats, the lack of sleep.  Eventually her discomfort became unbearable.  She was exhausted; she even felt her bones ache.  She couldn’t concentrate, and she often seemed to snap at her husband.  Willing to try anything, she began a course of Chinese herbal medicine that I recommended.  Within two days of taking the herbs, her symptoms disappeared.  Mrs. R. took the herbs for two months. After the second month, she was able to go off the herbs for two months until her hot flashes returned, at which time we resumed treatment.  Mrs. R. has told me that she feels like she has her life back.

An Herbal Recipe for Success

While not all women will respond as quickly as Mrs. R. most women should see changes within the first month of treatment. As the symptoms alleviate we will be able to slowly decrease your herbal dosage.  Once the symptoms are minimal to non-existent we can stop treatment and resume on an as needed basis.

Every year 1.3 million women in the United States enter menopause. Some women experience little to no changes in life, whereas others are affected from anywhere between 4-8 years.  Using Chinese medicine will give you the benefit of thousands of years of experience treating menopause to help you get your life back under control.

Ancient Wisdom at Work—Natural Acupuncture & Herbal Treatments for Endometriosis and Infertility

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Chinese medicine—especially the use of herbs—can effectively assist women suffering from endometriosis and infertility prepare for pregnancy.  Depending on the severity of the condition, Chinese medicine offers strong treatment measures alone or as an adjunct to Western medicine.

Endometriosis—The Right Tissue In The Wrong Place

Endometriosis generally occurs when uterine tissue migrates outside the uterus and attaches itself to organs in the abdominal cavity.   It is typically seen as pigmented or non-pigmented lesions, cysts, nodules or masses.  The lesions can be found on the colon, bladder, ovary, fallopian tubes, uterine ligaments or abdominal wall.  The lesions can be problematic in that they are stimulated by the same hormonal cues as the uterine lining.  This stimulation can lead to growth and microscopic bleeding of the lesions, which can result in scar tissue formation (adhesions), severe pain and inflammation.

The only way endometriosis can be confirmed is through laparoscopy.  Western medicine does have treatment for the symptoms; however a cure has been elusive.  If endometriosis is found, it will usually be removed surgically.  While surgery may be helpful at removing the some of the lesions or masses, it does little to stop the formation of new lesions or calm the body’s immune response to the endometriosis.

How does endometriosis affect fertility?

While the theories behind how endometriosis affects fertility are numerous and varied, it appears that it can affect fertility in a couple major ways: structurally, and immunologically.

Structurally, endometriosis can lead to scarring and adhesions in the pelvic cavity—which, if extensive, can distort the pelvic anatomy affecting the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes.  Distortions of the pelvic anatomy can affect implantation.  Endometriosis on the ovaries, if severe, can affect ovarian functioning and FSH levels.  Adhesions on the fallopian tubes can affect tubal mobility and access to the ovulated egg.  Mucus secretion build up on the fimbrial ends of the fallopian tubes can affect the guiding of the egg into the tube or block entry into the tubes altogether.

Immunologically, the body’s inflammatory response to endometriosis can lead to a toxic environment for conception and implantation.  In many cases the body will view the lesions as foreign tissue and produce antibodies against them.  The antibodies put the body in a reactive and combative state ready to destroy foreign invaders such as sperm and can lead to an inhospitable environment for a potential embryo.  If there is a significant inflammatory response to endometriosis, these immunologic factors can negatively impact sperm motility, egg maturation, fertilization, embryo survival and tubal function.

The benefits of Chinese medical treatment for endometriosis

Chinese herbal medicine can play an important role in helping women with endometriosis achieve pregnancy with its ability to treat the root and the symptoms aggravating the uterine environment.  There are many herbs to treat some of the symptoms associated with endometriosis, having effects such as:

  • decreasing prostaglandins (especially PGE2), which play a role in creating pain;

  • dissolving mucus accumulations and loosening of adhesions in the pelvic cavity;

  • encouraging flexibility and reducing mucus obstructions around the fallopian tubes;

  • settling the body’s immune response and calming the uterus.

Other helpful suggestions to help calm an overactive immune system include:

  • reducing consumption of dairy, wheat and animal products;
  • supplementing with omega-3 rich sources like flax seed or fish oil; and
  • adding super-antioxidants such as pycnogenol or OPC.

What is most important from a Chinese medical standpoint is to identify the root of the imbalance and treat that accordingly.  If the root is treated along with the symptoms, then the likelihood of achieving a nurturing uterine environment and healthy pregnancy increases dramatically.

Acupuncture’s Secret to Successfully Treating Infertility- Improving “Blood Flow”

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You may be sitting there asking yourself, “Should I try acupuncture? Will it really help improve my chances of having a baby?”

Quite simply the answer is a resounding YES!

The secret behind acupuncture’s success lies in its ability to get the blood flowing.  You see, what most people don’t understand is that proper circulation is key to optimum health and maximizing your fertility.

The Chinese have long believed that a way to slow down, and even reverse the aging process is through improving circulation.  A good example can be seen with people who exercise regularly.  They tend to age much more gracefully than those who live a sedentary lifestyle.

So how does blood flow affect infertility?

Firstly, improving blood flow will allow your reproductive organs to be bathed in proper supplies of oxygen, hormones and nutrients.  Oxygen is the life-blood of all cells.  When cells lack adequate supplies of oxygen, they begin to fail and die.

Secondly, getting the blood moving helps remove the waste products of metabolism, thereby reducing elevated levels of toxins that accumulate in our bodies.

Thirdly, increased circulation assists in improving energy, mood and immunity.

Specifically, when you improve blood flow to the ovaries, they will function better and yield higher quality and quantities of follicles.

More responsive ovaries will lead to enhanced estradiol (estrogen) production and decreased FSH levels.   Increased estradiol levels will also help with cervical mucus production and vaginal lubrication.

Improving uterine blood flow will help thicken the uterine lining, thereby promoting a plush environment for implantation.

So who will benefit from improved circulation?

If you fall into any of the following categories, you should seriously consider trying acupuncture:  advanced maternal age, elevated FSH, poor ovarian response, poor egg quality, low estradiol, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and multiple failed IVF or IUI cycles.

Promising Research

A 1995 study measured the effect of electro-acupuncture on blood flow to the reproductive organs.*  (Electro-acupuncture involves sending a gentle, low intensity electro-current to an inserted acupuncture needle by attaching electrodes to the needle.)  In the study, a small group of patients received electro-acupuncture treatments twice a week for 4 weeks.  After these treatments, the patients were found to have less resistance in the blood flow going to their reproductive organs.  Even 10 to 14 days after their last treatment, these individuals had still maintained their positive results.

While additional research is needed, this study supports the finding that acupuncture has a positive effect on improving blood flow to the reproductive organs.  In my practice, I frequently use electro-acupuncture to help stimulate the nerves that innervate the reproductive system.  I also often recommend other methods of increasing blood flow to my patients, such as herbal medicine, yoga, qi gong and abdominal massage.

If you found this post to be helpful and would like more information about my practice, please visit www.readingacupuncture.com for more information.

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* Stener-Victorin, E., et al., “Reduction of Blood Flow Impedance in the Uterine Arteries of Infertile Women with Electro-Acupuncture,” European Society for Human Reproduction and Embryology (received on June 27, 1995; accepted on March 2, 1996).

Preparing for Success: Alternative Fertility Treatments for Advanced Maternal Age

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The majority of my fertility patients are between the ages of 35 and 40 years old. I also see a number of women over 40. Acupuncture is effective for women trying to conceive in a number of ways, especially in:

• improving blood flow to the reproductive organs (which I will cover in my next blog); and
• correcting underlying imbalances that could be distracting the body from its reproductive activities.

Let me share an example of how Chinese medicine was able to help one particular patient.

My Favorite Success Story: Reducing Elevated FSH Levels

A few years ago, a 39 year-old woman came to see me after being diagnosed with primary ovarian insufficiency (formerly known as premature ovarian failure). She had an FSH level of 35 and was told by her reproductive endocrinologist that her only option for achieving pregnancy would be through donor egg.

When she first saw me, she asked if I could reduce her elevated FSH levels. My response was that I don’t specifically treat FSH levels. Rather, I focus on treating the imbalances that I see. The body takes care of the rest, which generally can lead to an FSH reduction. After doing an initial evaluation, I found three major issues that she was experiencing.

(1) She was only having 1 to 2 bowel movements per week and extreme bloating (to the point where she had no appetite).
(2) She had severely painful periods.
(3) She had tremendous anxiety. She was an accountant who was going through her ART testing during tax season—stress on top of stress.

I recommended that she do acupuncture and herbal treatments once a week for 3 months and then have her FSH levels rechecked. I also suggested a way for her to manage her anxiety. (She used meditation CDs with guided imagery specific to infertility.) After two weeks, she got her period and had almost no pain. Also within that time, her bowel movements increased to 1 to 2 times a day and her bloating resolved.

After 6 six weeks of treatment, she told me that she had taken 4 home pregnancy tests—all of which were positive! She came in to tell me the news and asked, “How is this possible?”

Making the Impossible Possible by Correcting Imbalances

Advanced maternal age patients need to allow some time for their bodies to prepare before entering their next in vitro fertilization (IVF) or intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycle. What is vital to understand is that, 90 to 100 days before ovulation occurs, follicles enter a major growth phase. This 3-month period is critically important because the environment that the egg is bathed in during this time will affect the quality of the egg at ovulation.

I recommend to my patients that they receive a minimum of 3 months of weekly acupuncture and herbal treatments and follow my comprehensive lifestyle recommendations. During this time, I focus on regulating imbalances that may be occurring elsewhere in the body, which is a different approach from western medicine. While underlying issues like anxiety or IBS might not be of primary concern to a reproductive endocrinologist, they are vitally important to me. Simply put, imbalances—which might be digestive, menstrual, emotional or dietary—need to be corrected to maximize a person’s fertile potential.
Of course, every patient responds differently, and I can’t guarantee success. What I offer is an alternative and complementary approach to addressing infertility that might just be the sort of change of pace that advanced maternal age patients need for success.  For more information on infertility treatments please check out the following link www.readingacupuncture.com/infertility.html