Acupuncture is a growing treatment method for menopause related symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness, insomnia and increased anxiety or irritability. Studies increasingly prove that acupuncture is particularly effective for treating hot flashes. Participants actively receiving acupuncture treatments experience decreased severity in their hot flashes. In addition, acupuncture decreases the frequency and severity of nocturnal (night-time) hot flashes thereby improving sleep quality. Anxiety and irritability are also positively influenced by acupuncture treatments due to acupuncture’s ability to guide the patient into the parasympathetic nervous system.

Huang, M. I., Nir, Y., Chen, B., Schnyer, R., & Manber, R. (2006). A randomized controlled pilot study of acupuncture for postmenopausal hot flashes: effect on nocturnal hot flashes and sleep quality. Fertility and sterility, 86(3), 700-710.

Errington-Evans, N. (2015). Randomised controlled trial on the use of acupuncture in adults with chronic, non-responding anxiety symptoms. Acupuncture in Medicine, 33(2), 98-102.

 

Author: Erica Rosen, LAc, EAMP, Dipl. OM