Surviving menopause
To understand how acupuncture theory explains menopause you first need to know what the yin/yang symbol represents.
The white part represents the yang. It’s the energy of light, warmth, upward movement and day. Frequently it is characterized as “male”, whereas the Yin (dark side) is “female”. Yin qualities are cooling, nourishing, quiet and night. For the sake of this lesson, let’s put aside some of the blatant sexism in the male energy being all about action and female energy all about passivity, ok?
Anyway, take a look at the yin/yang figure.
See that black dot in the white part? That demonstrates that there is always yin within yang. Just like the white dot in the black part shows us that we can have no true yin, there is always yang within yin and yin within the yang. Note how the large part of the black circle transitions into the smaller part of the white. This represents how yin flows into yang, and then yang flows into yin. They are a cycle that balance each other out. The way night proceeds into day and vice versa.
Still with me? So what does any of this have to do with menopause? In most of a woman’s life the yin keeps the yang in check. It provides the cooling to balance off the heat of yang. As women age the yin energy naturally decreases. This means that the heat is not as anchored and can rush up (hello hot flashes). It also causes fun things like vaginal dryness, decrease in skin elasticity and loss of libido. This is due to the nourishing/moistening properties of yin starting to wane.
Even though menopause is considered a normal stage of development, there are still some things we can do to make it easier.
Avoid alcohol, it’s rising in nature and makes hot flashes worse
Consider coaching to work on stress management. Anxiety can increase during this time of hormonal flux so a bit of extra attention to our mental health can go a long way
Avoid spicy foods, along with greasy/fried/processed foods. All of these contribute to heat, which you don’t want
Using Chinese Herbal Medicine during perimenopause/menopause can help nourish the body, and more importantly reduce or eliminate hot flashes. Herbal supplements aren’t appropriate for everyone, particularly those with a history of certain types of cancer. This is why it’s a good idea to see a trained practitioner who can let you know if herbs are safe for you.
Get acupuncture. Seriously, you need a lot of tools in your toolbox during this time and acupuncture is a phenomenal one
This is normally where the story ends. You hear how the body is basically shriveling up and given a few tips on how to best muddle through it. There is, however, a positive side. One that allows women to exit menopause in a healthier state than they entered. Next week in the blog we’ll dive into details on how to achieve it.
In the meantime, whether you’re just entering perimenopause or in the thick of it, reach out to me. I can help. Having an experienced practitioner to guide you through this time can truly smooth the transition.