Researchers found that seven weeks of acupuncture treatment reduced the severity of nighttime hot flashes by 28 percent among menopausal women compared with a six percent decrease among women who had a sham acupuncture treatment.
The effects of acupuncture versus a sham acupuncture (placebo) treatment on the severity and frequency of nighttime hot flashes were compared. Taking part in the study were 29 menopausal women experiencing at least seven moderate-to-severe hot flashes per day.
All of the women underwent nine treatments from trained acupuncturists in sessions over seven weeks. Twelve of the women received real acupuncture using points selected to target hot flashes and sleepiness. The rest of the women received a sham acupuncture treatment using non-penetrating needles at random acupuncture channel points.
Throughout the study, the women reported the number and severity of their hot flashes. The results showed that nighttime hot flash severity decreased significantly (28 percent) among the women who received acupuncture versus a six percent drop among the women who got the sham treatment. However, they did not see a similar finding in the frequency of nighttime hot flashes between the two groups.
Researcher Mary Huang, M.S., of Stanford University, and colleagues say the results suggest acupuncture deserves further study as an alternative treatment for menopausal hot flashes.
Source: Huang, M. Fertility and Sterility, September 2006; Vol. 86: pp. 700-710. News release, American Society of Reproductive Medicine
What can we do for your menopause symptoms at Ping’s Acupuncture?
Meditation: reduce stress level, rebalance mood swings, develop a relaxed attitude and control menopause emotional problems.
Meridians massage: Calm mind, relieve the tension and anxiety, and helps the blood circulation and comfort body aching.
Acupuncture: Improve the healing power of nature in the human body and help nature do her job to improve blood and energy flow, rebalance the hormones and metabolism system, strengthen the body’s immune system and repair systems to sail smoothly through the life transition.
Herbs: The traditional herbs used to ease feminine discomfort and soothe the passage of menopause contain substances that are active in the human hormonal systems. Some herbs have components that correspond exactly to human hormones and other have substances that are not identical to the woman hormones but interact with them.
For more information please call Dr. Liyan Lu with Ping’s Acupuncture and Herbs Center at 661-513-9265.