Menopausal hot flushes can be really disruptive and unpleasant. Many women manage the symptoms of menopause with Hormonal Replacement Therapy but it’s not everyone that wants – or indeed can – use HRT. So for these people, what are the options? In my clinic, I see many women with unpleasant menopausal symptoms; the most frequent are hot flushes. Acupuncture is very good at diminishing these significantly, and in many cases getting rid of them completely. In Chinese Medicine menopausal hot flushes are an expression of Yin Deficiency which is related to the energetics of the Kidney. Much of the treatment is about tonifying the Kidney Yin and helping to cool the body.
But sufferers can help themselves too by paying attention to diet; avoiding energetically HOT foods and increasing the amount of energetically COOLING foods they eat can really help symptoms.
In Chinese Medicine we pay close attention to the energetic qualities of food and group them according to whether they are Hot, Warm, Neutral, Cool or Cold.
So, if you are suffering from menopausal hot flushes having for example, lamb curry with chilli, a glass of red wine and a desert containing cinnamon will mean a significant amount of energetic heat is added to your body. The effect? your hot flushes are likely to be more intense and frequent.
By contrast, if you had a meal containing mushrooms, celery, spinach, followed by some watermelon, you would find yourself feeling much cooler.
Alongside acupuncture, there is a lot that the right nutrition can offer to help manage the symptoms of hot flushes. In my clinic, patients always get detailed dietary advice to help them benefit even more from treatment.
So if you’re suffering with menopausal hot flushes, check out what acupuncture (and diet!) can do for you and try to avoid energetically hot foods.