Menopause and Chinese Medicine  

 For more information about Menopause please go to - Menopause Health Info.org

Menopause Diagnosis

Menopause occurs approximatley at 49 years young when the period stops. Around this time symptoms and signs start to appear such as:

irregular periods, dizziness, blurred vision, tinnitus, hot flashes, red complexion coming and going in waves, emotional (anger, irritated, sadness, anxiety, ...), edema, low back and knee weakness / pain, digestive problems, cold limbs, and urinary disorders.

These symptoms will not come all at once. Some women may only get a few while others encounter many. This may last for a series of months or even last many years. In Canada the average age when women begin menopause is 52years young. 

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment for Menopause

1. Kidney Yin Deficiency  -

occasional periods, periods are scanty and cease completely. Vaginal dryness and itchiness (ph is not regulated properly anymore). other signs and symptoms could be dizziness, ringing in the ears, insomnia, night sweats, afternoon heat feelings, back and knee pain or weakness, hot flashes with sweating, whole body itchiness.

Tongue - red with peeled scanty coat             Pulse - thin rapid

Principle of Treatment: - nourish Kidney Yin

Acupuncture: BL 23 and KI 3, SP 6, Ren 3, HT 7, Si Shen Cong - irritable- PC 7

Herbal Medicine Formula: Zou Gui Wan (essence) or Liu Wei Di Huang Wan + Huang Bai, Zhi Mu = Zhi Bai Di Huang Wan + E Jiao, Gui Ban, Bie Jia, He Shou Wu, Nu Zhen Zi

Kidney Yang Deficiency -

Heavy periods, irregular uterine bleeding, then gradually finish menses completely.  Other signs and symptoms could be soft stools, frequency of urine, incontinence, low back or knee weakness or pain,  Edema of lower limbs and/or face, cold feet, low libido, tendency for weight gain

Tongue - pale                     Pulse -  deep thin 

Principle of Treatment: - warm Kidney Yang - strengthen Spleen

Acupuncture: BL 23, Ren 4, Du 4, with Moxa, BL 15, SP 6 - poor digestion- BL 20, ST 36 - insomnia- HT 7

Herbal Medicine Formula: You Gui Wan + Li Zhong Wan

***Usually Kidney Yin and Yang deficiencies are Combined ****

many women going through this change of life will experience both kidney yin and yang deficiency.  It is inportant to distinguish between the Yin and Yang symptoms and see which pattern predominates other the other.  The following is one example of a formula which treats both Kidney Yin and yang Deficiency.  

Principle of Treatment: - nourish KI Yin and Yang

Herbal Medicine Formula: Er Xian Tang (this may be taken long term)

For more in depth information about Menopause please visit the link listed at the top of this page.