Balancing Hormones in Menopause with Acupuncture

Acupuncture and herbal Chinese medicine have today been appreciated as effective methods for regulating hormones imbalance in menopause. There are many factors related to hormonal imbalance apart from menopause. These may include irregular heavy and painful periods, PMS and fertility challenges. These imbalances may be caused by a number of factors. Lack of physical exercise, exposure to harsh elements like heat or cold, inadequate rest emotional stress and a poor diet are some contributory factors.

Balancing hormones in menopause with acupuncture

Traditional Chinese medicine believes that we posses an important life force called Qi. This force circulates through our bodies through channels that are similar to the way blood flows through the veins. These channels are invisible however, they are central to a persons well being. When these channels are blocked, they cause illnesses including hormonal imbalance in menopause. Hormonal imbalance in menopause can be very uncomfortable and acupuncture has become a preferred treatment option for many women today. It helps in nerve, connective tissues, and muscle stimulation. This stimulation on the other hand results in increased and effective blood flow to all areas of the body.

Benefits of acupuncture

Acupuncture is not only a natural Chinese treatment method but also a great pain reliever and widely used to treat other ailments. In spite of the fact that it uses needles, the procedure is painless using hair thin needles. It helps women suppress mood swings, night sweats, and hot flashes which cause discomfort in menopause. Unlike other menopause treatments, this Chinese treatment does not have side effects.
It is also great for treating other gynecological obstetric conditions like heavy irregular and painful periods, fertility conditions, and PMS challenges. These are corrected with acupuncture as a stand alone treatment or combined with other Chinese medicine treatments. This treatment success is greatly accelerated by changes in lifestyle like an exercise regime and a good diet.
In relation to the female hormonal system, acupuncture channels connect the kidneys with the uterus, the brain, and heart restoring health and balance. It also influences the thought patterns, emotions, and the overall hormonal function. It manipulates the production and circulation of hormones within the body, and also has an effect on endorphins which link largely to hormones that affect ones mood during our different life cycles like menopause and pregnancy. In hormonal imbalance treatment, it is used along with herbal treatments to enhance each others results.

Treating other medical conditions

Acupuncture is widely used to balance hormones. However, there are many other conditions like chronic back pain that are treated with Chinese medicine. It is used for non surgical pain relief of spinal stenosis which is pain in the neck and back.  For couples who are having fertility challenges it has also proven to be very helpful. It works by improving blood circulation in the ovaries and the uterus. However it does not work for all infertility disorders, for example some like blocked tubes require surgical treatment. Many women are known to gain weight in menopause. Acupuncture is helpful in balancing hormones and consequent weight loss through increased metabolism in menopause.

Treating Lower Back Pain with Acupuncture

Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medicine that encourages natural lower back pain relief while healing and improving body functions. This treatment is administered by insertion and manipulation of hair thin needles into the body and by applying electric stimulation at particular acupuncture points. This procedure is widely used today in the west as a solution for pain relief for the back.

How the procedure works

The typical Chinese medicine explanation for acupuncture is that is relays energy in regular modes through and over the body’s surface. These channels act like streams of water flowing through the body to hydrate and nourish the cells and tissues. A hindrance to the free movement of the energies behaves like a blocked dam. These channels can be influenced by inserting needles that help unblock the “dam” blockages and reinstate the regular flow of energies through the channels. This procedure helps correct imbalances in digestion, energy production activities, absorption, and the overall energy circulation through the channels.
It is scientifically explained that acupuncture needle points stimulate the nervous system releasing chemicals to the muscles of the spinal cord and brain resulting in pain relief for the back. The chemicals work by changing the whole pain experience or trigger the release of other hormones and chemicals that influence the body’s internal regulating system. In the end, the body’s natural healing abilities are enhanced promoting ones overall well being.

Conditions best suited to treat with acupuncture

The procedure is performed by specially trained practitioners either as stand alone form of treatment or in combination with other methods of treating lower back pain. This treatment influences three major areas of an individual’s health; these include illness prevention, treatment of various conditions and promotion of the overall health.
This treatment is related to lower back pain control while it has broader medical applications that can be explained in clearer details by an acupuncture practitioner. These are:

• Menstrual, urinary, and reproductive disorders
• Respiratory conditions like sore throat, sinusitis, bronchitis, recurrent chest infections, and asthma
• Digestive tract conditions like , diarrhea, spastic, colon gastritis, and hyper-acidity
• Muscular and neurological disorders that include headaches, neck pains, lower back pain frozen shoulder, facial tics, sciatica, osteoarthritis, tennis elbow, and various forms of tendinitis.
• Emotional and tension related physical problems.

Benefits in pain relief for the back

When one is looking for pain relief for the back, then they may consider acupuncture which has a track record running over 2000 years. The procedure relaxes the body muscles relieving lower back pain while stimulating the body to heal itself. Daily stresses accrued to the body through lack of exercise trauma and poor diet weaken the immune system leaving one susceptible to illnesses and bodily pains and aches. Acupuncture helps in improving blood circulation removing blockages to the affected areas that are functioning insufficiently and easing lower back pain.
Pregnancy discomfort consisting of pelvic and lower back pain are also treated effectively with acupuncture. Studies have shown that about 25% of pregnant women seek medical attention for lower back pain related to pregnancy. The basic treatment given that may include physical therapy has proved to be effective in relieving lower back pain during pregnancy and after delivery. Acupuncture is a great alternative to conventional treatments for pain relief for the back and has very limited risks to it.