MenopauseFirst and foremost menopause is not a disease. It’s a natural progression in a woman’s life. Some fortunate women experience a smooth transition, while others suffer moderate to severe symptoms. But all is not lost; TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) is extremely effective in treating unwanted menopausal and perimenopausal symptoms. The Chinese only too well understand this decline of Kidney Yin and its associations and have treated women successfully for thousands of years through various TCM modalities such as herbs, acupuncture, diet and Qi Gong.
Yin-Yang is one of the most fundamental concepts of TCM theory. The Taoists who developed Chinese Medicine observed the forces of nature and saw the universe as a unified field constantly moving and changing while maintaining its oneness; an endless cycle of polar opposites such as day and night, dryness and moisture, heat and cold and activity and rest. Like everything in nature, our bodies are a combination of Yin and Yang; two opposing forces yet interdependent and inter-transforming, TCM describes every part of our bodies including our organs and fluids as predominantly Yin or Yang. Yang is regarded as brightness, hot, expansion, the sun, fire, activity, the masculine and energy. Yin is associated with shade, cold, contraction, the moon, water, inactivity, the feminine and matter. Kidney Yin and Kidney Yang are the foundation of the Yin and Yang of the whole body and govern birth, growth, development, reproduction and sexuality amongst other responsibilities. Estrogen is considered Yin and progesterone Yang. As women become menopausal their Yang (active, dry, hot element) energy increases due to estrogen decline, subsequently leading to a decline in Yin (passive, moist, cooling element). Over abundance of Yang (hot) leads to a decline of Yin (cold) thus affecting the body’s cooling system hence the dry symptoms associated with an irksome menopause such as dry skin, vaginal dryness, night sweats, malar flushes, anxiety and insomnia. |
Menopausal conditions treated successfully with acupuncture:
|
|
|
