Menopause syndrome is a set of symptoms that occur in women around the time of menopause.
Symptoms
Hot flushes
Sleep disturbances
Mood swings, nervousness, irritability, depressive moods
Urinary problems
Dizziness, muscle and joint pain, headaches
Western medicine assumes that the disease is mainly due to a decline in ovarian function, a significant drop in oestrogen levels and a weakening of the hypothalamic-pituitary feedback inhibition. This leads to hyperfunction and an increase in gonadotropin secretion. This endocrine alteration impairs the function of the autonomic nervous centre and the organs it controls. The occurrence and severity of symptoms are generally correlated with the speed and extent of the decrease in oestrogen secretion. The duration of the symptoms varies and can last more than 10 years in severe cases.
According to Chinese medicine, women in the period just before menopause suffer from weakness of the internal organs, a deficiency of Qi and Blood and a loss of balance of Yin and Yang. Therefore, the main method of treating menopause is to strengthen the kidney energy and balance Yin and Yang. Acupuncture regulates the autonomic nerves and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis and is very effective in treating menopause syndrome. Symptoms are usually relieved after 3-5 sessions.