Written by Dr. Bruce Eichelberger, OMD |
If you or someone you love is female and approaching 50, menopause is on the horizon. The exceptions are women who have had a hysterectomy earlier in life and have already gone through this change. At some point in her life, every woman experiences this “change of life” process, often with great discomfort.
The average age for the onset of menopause in Western societies is 51, but it can happen as early as the early 40s or as late as the mid 50s. It happens when women stop making egg cells every month, causing menstruation to stop. At the same time, estrogen and progesterone production in the body slows or stops, leading to the classic symptoms of menopause which may include:
• Hot flashes, flushes, night sweats and/or cold flashes, clammy skin
• Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, depression, sudden tears
• Insomnia, dizziness, light-headedness, extreme fatigue
• Incontinence, vaginal dryness, loss of libido
• Difficulty concentrating, poor memory, headaches
• Digestive problems, increased allergies, weight gain
• Osteoporosis, muscle tension, sore body and joints
The most common treatment for menopause in Western medicine is prescribing synthetic estrogens. These are the same drugs typically given to younger women as birth control. While they can be effective in reducing symptoms, these synthetic drugs come with a long list of potential side effects, which include:
• Increased risk of high blood pressure, stroke or heart attack
• Increased risk of breast cancer and endometrial cancer
• Urinary incontinence
• Increased likelihood of liver and gall bladder congestion (cholestasis)
The best natural treatment for the symptoms of menopause varies from person to person, depending on underlying patterns of imbalance and which symptoms are predominate.
An Alternative Approach
In Chinese medicine, menopause symptoms fall into the general category referred to as yin deficiency. In this context, “yin” is the functional equivalent of estrogen, progesterone and related hormones. Supporting this idea is the fact that most of the symptoms listed above can be classified as yin deficiency symptoms.
Natural treatment of menopause in Chinese medicine means supporting the yin in the body with acupuncture and herbal remedies. For example, the classic herbal formula for this is called Liu Wei Di Huang Wan (Six-Ingredient Pill with Rehmannia).
Liu Wei Di Huang Wan is an example of a perfectly balanced herbal combination. It has six herbs in it, hence its name:
• Radix Rehmanniae Glutinosae Conquitae (shu di huang) – strongly enriches the yin in the body, reduces fatigue and increases calmness
• Fructus Corni Officinalis (shan zhu yu) – stops excessive sweating, stabilizes the body
• Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae (shan yao) – increases energy, relieves dryness, improves digestion
• Sclerotium Poriae Cocos (fu ling) – supports the other herbs in the formula, promotes healthy digestion, stabilizes the emotions, calms the mind, supports restful sleep, improves mental focus
• Cortex Moutan Radicis (mu dan pi) – reduces deficiency heat (hot flashes), calms the emotions
• Rhizoma Alismatis Orientalis (ze xie) – improves digestion, helps weight loss, cools hot flashes, supports efficient use of the other herbs in the formula
Because the herbs in this and other Chinese formulas work together, it is good to remember that just taking one or another won’t provide the desired results. These herbs should be taken in combination and in specific proportion to one another.
Also, because this formula focuses primarily on supporting the yin in the body, it doesn’t address all of the wide variety of symptoms typically present in menopause. Each individual is unique in their symptom patterns and usually requires fine-tuning of the herbal formula to get the best results. Because of this, rather than doing trial and error self-prescription (usually with mixed results at best), you’re much better off consulting a trained Chinese herbalist to get exactly the right herbal combination for your situation. In Nevada, a Doctor of Oriental Medicine (OMD) has the training and experience needed to do this for you.
References:
1. Bensky, Dan and Barolet, Randall, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Formulas and Strategies, Eastland Press: Vista, California, 1990
2.Krogulski, S., et al. “Depression in menopausal period – prevalence, classification, terminology,” Ginekol Pol. 74(2):162-167, 2003.
3. Merck Manual, 17th Edition, pp. 1942-1944. John Wiley & Sons: West Point, PA, 1999
For more info, contact Dr. Bruce Eichelberger, OMD, of Reno Alternative Medicine at (775) 827-6901 specializing in Oriental Medicine.
