Menopause—it’s something every woman will go through. For some, it’s a natural stage of life, but for others, the thought of hot flashes, mood swings, or insomnia can feel overwhelming. The good news? You don’t have to suffer through it. With a bit of preparation and the right support, you can handle menopause with ease.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menopause is seen as a natural transition rather than a problem. By keeping your body in balance, you can reduce symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, insomnia, dry skin, night sweats, and even osteoporosis. Let’s dive into how you can prepare for this phase.
1. Understand the Changes in Your Body
When you reach menopause, your hormone levels, especially estrogen, start to drop. This hormonal shift can lead to:
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Those sudden waves of heat that leave you feeling sweaty and uncomfortable.
- Mood Swings and Anxiety: You might feel more emotional, irritable, or down than usual.
- Insomnia: Trouble falling asleep or staying asleep becomes more common.
- Dry Skin and Hair: The lack of estrogen affects your skin’s moisture and elasticity.
- Weaker Bones (Osteoporosis): Your bone density decreases, making bones more fragile over time.
In TCM, these symptoms are linked to imbalances like Kidney Yin Deficiency or Liver Qi Stagnation. Strengthening these systems can help ease the discomfort.
2. Nourish Your Body with the Right Foods
What you eat has a direct impact on how well your body copes with menopause. TCM suggests including foods that nourish and balance your body:
- Yin-Nourishing Foods: These help with dryness and cooling the body. Examples include asparagus, pears, lion's mane mushroom, mug bean, white fungus, barley, dried lotus, steamed vegetables, and bone broth soups.
- Black and Purplish-Red Foods: In TCM, black colour is associated with Kidney while purplish-red colour is associated with Liver and Blood. Kidney, Liver and Blood are closely related to the reproductive system. To strengthen reproductive system, try to add blackberries, goji berries, mulberries, black sesame, black fungus, beetroot, seaweeds, kelp and black bean into your daily diet. .
Simple tweaks to your diet can help your body feel more supported during this stage.
3. Manage Stress to Balance Your Emotions
Mood swings, anxiety, and even hot flashes can often be triggered by stress. In TCM, stress impacts the Liver Qi, leading to emotional and physical imbalances.
Here’s how to keep stress in check:
- Try Relaxing Activities: Yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or swimming are gentle ways to relax your mind and body.
- Spend Time Outdoors: A simple walk in the park or listening to nature can work wonders.
- Take Breaks: Read a book, listen to music, or spend time with friends to unwind.
When you take care of your emotions, your body feels the difference too.
4. Acupuncture for Relief
Acupuncture promotes and regulates qi flows, improves body metabolism and stimulates the self-healing functions of our body. Acupuncture able to balance hormones, strengthen reproductive system, reduce inflammation and pain, reduce discomforts during perimenopause and menopause stage. Most importantly, acupuncture helps to regulate nervous system which can help us to destress and sleep better. Here’s how it helps:
- Hot Flashes and Night Sweats: Acupuncture can reduce the intensity and frequency.
- Insomnia and Mood Swings: By calming the nervous system, it improves sleep and emotional stability.
- Osteoporosis Prevention: It supports bone health by improving circulation and reducing inflammation.
Many of our patients who try acupuncture during perimenopause find that their transition to menopause becomes much smoother.
5. Support Your Body with Herbal Medicine
As we age, our bodies naturally become more Yin deficient. This leads to dryness, heatiness, and poor circulation—all of which can worsen menopause symptoms.
TCM herbal formulas, like Liu Wei Di Huang Pills and Zuo Gui Pills, are often prescribed to:
- Nourish Yin: Help with dryness, night sweats, and hot flashes.
- Strengthen Kidneys and Liver: Supporting these systems helps with hormonal balance and reproductive health.
Personalized herbal formula help to balance the Yin and improve overall circulation which support you in perimenopause and menopause stage. Reach out to us for a consultation session!
6. Watch Out for Trigger Foods
Certain foods and drinks can make symptoms worse. In TCM, excessive caffeine, alcohol, or spicy foods burden the Liver and Kidneys, worsening symptoms like hot flashes, insomnia, or mood swings.
Try to cut down on:
- Sugary treats and refined carbs
- Spicy dishes
- Coffee and alcohol
Instead, opt for soothing herbal teas to keep your body cool and hydrated.
7. Take Steps to Protect Your Bones
Osteoporosis is a big concern during menopause as your bones lose density. In addition to acupuncture and herbal remedies, make sure you’re:
- Getting enough calcium and Vitamin D from foods or supplements.
- Staying active with weight-bearing exercises like walking or light jogging.
In TCM, nourishing the Kidneys is key to keeping your bones strong. Incorporate black sesame, walnuts into your meals for added support.
Embrace This New Chapter with Confidence
Menopause isn’t the end; it’s the start of a new stage in life. By taking care of your body, managing stress, and using natural remedies like acupuncture and herbal medicine, you can transition comfortably.
At Xin Le TCM, we’re here to help you every step of the way. Whether it’s through personalized herbal remedies, acupuncture sessions, or simple advice on your diet, our goal is to make this stage as smooth as possible for you.