Natural Relief for Perimenopause & Menopause: Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine
Menopause is a natural phase in every woman’s life, but the symptoms—like hot flushes, night sweats, mood changes, and trouble sleeping—can have a big impact on daily life. While Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) works well for many women, it’s not the right choice for everyone—due to side effects, personal preferences, or health concerns. Acupuncture and Chinese herbs offer a natural and holistic option that works with your body to restore balance.
If you’re looking for a natural, evidence based, drug-free way to manage these changes, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer gentle and effective support. Many of our clients find that after just a few sessions, they feel more like themselves again—more rested, more centred, and more at ease in their bodies.
How Acupuncture Helps with Menopause Symptoms
Acupuncture is a key part of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that works by stimulating specific points on the body. This helps balance your body’s vital energy (called Qi) and regulate systems like hormones, temperature control, and mood.
A 2019 Danish study published in BMJ Open found that acupuncture significantly reduced hot flushes, sleep problems, and mood swings in women going through menopause. Improvements were seen in just 5 weeks of treatment (Lund et al., 2019, BMJ Open). And a 2015 meta analysis found that acupuncture may help reduce the frequency and intensity of hot flushes, particularly when combined with other TCM therapies (Chiu et al., 2015, Menopause).
Chinese Herbal Medicine for Perimenopause and Menopause
Chinese herbal medicine is another integral TCM treatment strategy for managing the discomforts of perimenopausal and menopausal symptoms. Rather than using a one-size-fits-all approach, a formula will be carefully selected based on your individual symptoms and constitution.
A 2016 clinical in found that Chinese herbal medicine can significantly reduce vasomotor symptoms (like hot flushes) and improve quality of life when compared to placebo ( Fu et al., 2016, Menopause).
What to Expect at Your Appointment
We take the time to understand your full health picture. Your first visit includes a detailed consultation where we discuss your symptoms, health history, and lifestyle. From there, we create a personalised treatment plan, which may include:
• Weekly acupuncture sessions (often recommended for 4–8 weeks)
• A customised herbal formula to take daily
• Gentle lifestyle and dietary advice rooted in Chinese medicine principles
REFERENCES
Lund, K.S., Siersma, V., Broderson, J., & Waldorf, F.B. (2019). Efficacy of a standardised acupuncture approach for women with bothersome menopausal symptoms: a pragmatic randomised study in primary care (the ACOM study). BMJ Open, 9(1). https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/bmjopen/9/1/e023637.full.pdf Chiu, H.-Y., Pan, C.-H., Shyu, Y.-K., Han, B.-C., & Tsai, P.-S. (2015). Effects of acupuncture on menopause-related symptoms and quality of life in women in natural menopause: A meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Menopause, 22(2), 234–244. https://doi.org/10.1097/GME.0000000000000260 Fu, Shu-fei MD; Zhao, Ying-qiang MD; Ren, Ming MD; Zhang, Jun-hua MD; Wang, Yue-fei PhD; Han, Li-feng PhD; Chang, Yan-xu PhD; Fan, Guan-wei MD; Wang, Hong PhD; Huang, Yu-hong MD; Zhai, Jing-bo MSc; Dong, Jin-ying MSc; Li, Xin BM; Ai, Ju-qing MD; Zhang, Han PhD; Zhu, Yan PhD; Zhang, Bo-li MSc; Sun, Li-kang PhD; Fan, Xiang MD; Gao, Xiu-mei MD, PhD (2016) A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of Chinese herbal medicine granules for the treatment of menopausal symptoms by stages. Menopause 23(3):p 311-323, March 2016 https://journals.lww.com/menopausejournal/abstract/2016/03000/a_randomized,_double_blind,_placebo_controlled.14.aspx