Supporting Menopause with Acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine
Blog post by Dr Megan Mankow, Acupuncturist and Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Life is all about change, throughout our external life and within our bodies. As you enter perimenopause or menopause there can be many hormonal shifts that result in symptoms you’ve never experienced before such as vaginal dryness, mood swings, hot flashes or temperature fluctuations. Menopause can be a beautiful time to reflect on and honour all the wisdom of your body and life experiences. But sometimes the above symptoms make it difficult to feel that empowerment.
In Chinese Medicine, these symptoms usually indicate a yin deficiency which in simple terms means not enough fluid and nourishment to the “water” or “Kidney” element. With acupuncture and herbal medicine, we increase blood flow and fluid to the uterus to help decrease hot flashes and vaginal dryness. This in turn helps with the smooth flow of emotions so that it is not so easy to feel stuck in bouts of irritability or frustration.
Some things you can do on your own that will help support your body and alleviate symptoms are:
Incorporating foods that support the water element and yin such as: Organic soy milk, seaweeds, fish, sunflower seeds, black sesame seeds, asparagus, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, blackberry, blueberry, and beans (Kidney, mung, string etc).
Avoiding or moderating spicy foods and alcohol
Enjoy or schedule rest/quiet time: It is important to allow your body time to rest and enjoy some peaceful moments. This looks a little bit different for everyone. Do you enjoy meditating? Going for a light walk or some restorative/yin yoga? Relaxing in your garden or in nature? For some people, this might be taking time to colour or just sit and be mindful for a few minutes a day. Whatever it is that makes you feel rested and nourished.
Staying hydrated: Drink plenty of fluids, especially water
The body is incredible at healing and restoring itself back to a regulated state but outside influences such as diet, emotions, and lifestyle can throw it off balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture can help stabilize hormones and re-establish the natural flow of energy and fluid so your body can nourish itself and alleviate these symptoms. If you would like support transitioning into and through menopause you can work with Dr Megan Mankow and click here to book an appointment.
